Hiking Adventures

When it was first published in 1998, The Backpacker's Field Manual set the standard for comprehensive backpacking books. Now exhaustively updated to offer a more complete view of backpacking today, it covers the latest developments in gear - such as Global Positioning Systems and ultralight hiking equipment - first aid, and Leave No Trace comping, and includes a chapter devoted to outdoor leadership resources and basics. Beginners and experienced hikers alike will find this book indispensable for trip planning strategies.

At 23, Andrew Forsthoefel headed out the back door of his home in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, with a backpack, an audio recorder, his copies of Whitman and Rilke, and a sign that read "Walking to Listen". He had just graduated from Middlebury College and was ready to begin his adult life, but he didn't know how. So he decided to take a cross-country quest for guidance, one where everyone he met would be his guide. In the year that followed, he faced an Appalachian winter and a Mojave summer. He met beasts inside: fear, loneliness, doubt.

Disillusioned by the corporate lifestyle, David finds himself unemployed and desperate for change. Bradley, his older, more adventurous, and slightly-wreckless college fraternity brother presents an enticing offer. Just a few weeks later, the two inexperienced hopefuls abandon society and plunge into a soul-searching sojourn to thru-hike the Pacific Crest trail, a 2,650-mile Mexico-to-Canada footpath - barefoot. At the trail’s mercy from day one, the two hikers face the endless pains of walking, rising tensions, and falling behind to the coming winter.

A dream fulfilled Traveling overseas and backpacking around Europe seemed like an out-of-reach dream for John Clark, until he learned of the Camino de Santiago in Spain, a 500-mile pilgrimage across the country that dates back more than 1,200 years. With encouragement from family and friends, never having traveled outside the United States, the self-proclaimed homebody from Texas hopped on a plane at age 53 alone and headed for the Iberian Peninsula. It wasn’t just the beginning of a month-long journey, but also, as he would discover, the beginning of a new life. Facing fear, regret and ...

In 1834, Osborne Russell joined an expedition from Boston, which proceeded to the Rocky Mountains to capitalize on the lucrative salmon and fur trade. Beginning at the age of 20, he detailed the life of a trapper in his journal and recorded his adventures through treacherous terrain, encounters with dangerous wildlife, and confrontations with the Rockies natives of the Rockies. Osbourne would remain there for the next nine years. Journal of a Trapper is his remarkable account as he developed into an experienced trapper and a seasoned mountain man of the Rockies.

The conception and building of the Appalachian Trail is a story of unforgettable characters who explored it, defined it, and captured national attention by hiking it. From Grandma Gatewood—a mother of eleven who thru-hiked in canvas sneakers and a drawstring duffle—to Bill Bryson, author of the best-selling A Walk in the Woods, the AT has seized the American imagination like no other hiking path. The 2,000-mile-long hike from Georgia to Maine is not just a trail through the woods, but a set of ideas about nature etched in the forest floor.

In 2010 my wife, our young daughter, and a good friend of mine embarked on the journey of a lifetime. We chose the famous Appalachian Trail (AT) as our destination to make personal history. Being experienced hikers, and my friend and I being ex-military, we were well prepared for the hike ahead. My wife and I had some idea of what we were all getting into, but this was the first AT visit, for my friend and my daughter. I kept day-by-day journal entries of those 24 adventurous days, and 12 years later have turned those into this book. Book 1 of a new series I have titled, "An Appalachian ...

In the era of screens and devices, the average American spends 90 percent of their time indoors, and children are no exception. Not only does this phenomenon have consequences for kids’ physical and mental health, it jeopardizes their ability to understand and engage with anything beyond the built environment. Thankfully, with the right mind-set, families can find beauty, meaning, and connection in a life lived outdoors. Here, outdoors expert Steven Rinella shares the parenting wisdom he has garnered as a father whose family has lived amid the biggest cities and wildest corners of America.

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT )is the perfect place for an average person to do something extraordinary. Bill Walker ("Skywalker"), who stands 6'11", might seem like anything but average. Yet in a brutally honest tone, he lays to bare all his considerable weaknesses and fears. Among these are crushing weight loss and fatigue, along with a fear of getting lost or a bear stealing his food. Nonetheless, he is bound and determined to hike the PCT which - at 2,663 miles - runs all the way from Mexico to Canada.

Jeff Alt takes you along every step of his 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail adventure. This entertaining journey includes bears, bugs, blisters, captivating characters, skunk bedmates, and hilarious food cravings. Alt walked more than five million steps in tribute to his brother, who has cerebral palsy and lives in a home called Sunshine. This trail adventure has inspired an annual event that has raised more than $200,000 for Sunshine. It includes hiking tips for the whole family.

After Paul Stutzman finished hiking the Appalachian Trail, he found himself longing for another challenge, another adventure. Trading his hiking boots for a bicycle, Paul set off to discover more of America. Starting at Neah Bay, Washington, and ending at Key West, Florida, Paul traversed the 5,000 mile distance between the two farthest points in the contiguous United States.

"Very entertaining...we truly felt like we were hiking along with them." "His love of the trail and its adventures shines through, yet he is humorous and practical...if you are interested in getting out there, train, research, read Reg's books, then get out there!" "A great read for experienced and aspiring trekkers." --Amazon reviewers As a child of the Sixties, Reg Spittle was no stranger to unrest and rebellion. So it was no surprise that, at age 60, when he closed his office door for the last time and left the working world behind, his restlessness would lead him to a path less traveled...

Alexandra Collister came to her estranged cousins' B and B in Falls Lake, Alaska, looking for a fresh start. The surrounding forest can be harsh and unforgiving - luckily, rugged wilderness tracker Quinn Mantell offers to be her guide. Still recovering from a toxic previous relationship, Alex is wary of getting too close, but when savagely deep claw marks appear outside her bedroom window, keeping her distance from Quinn is no longer an option.

After 20 years in Britain, Bryson returned to the U.S. and decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. This is his humorous, inspiring account.

Schmall World Publishing in conjunction with Bite-Sized Books brings you; Shadows in the Forest: Encounters with Bigfoot. THE MYTH OF Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, has captured the imagination of countless individuals over the years, drawing interest from outdoor enthusiasts, researchers, and the general public alike. The origins of this enigmatic creature can be traced back to various indigenous cultures across North America, where stories of large, hairy beings living in the wilderness have persisted for centuries. These tales often served as cautionary fables, warning of the dangers ...

Bite-Sized Books, in conjunction with Schmall World Publishing brings you - Vanished Trails: Unsolved Disappearances in National Parks THE ALLURE OF national parks lies in their stunning natural beauty, diverse ecosystems, and opportunities for adventure. These protected areas, often characterized by breath-taking landscapes, towering mountains, and serene lakes, draw millions of visitors each year. For hikers, campers, and RV users, national parks offer a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, reconnect with nature, and explore the great outdoors. However... the vastness ...

No one writes about mountaineering and its attendant victories and hardships more brilliantly than Jon Krakauer. In this collection of his finest essays and reporting, Krakauer writes of mountains from the memorable perspective of one who has himself struggled with solo madness to scale Alaska's notorious Devils Thumb.

World War II, Korea, Vietnam. All wars massive in scope change society on the whole and yet really just one life at a time. Some choose their path, while others stumble onto it. All trails lead somewhere, all trials end. Do you know where your trail leads? This novel is one man's journey. Russ has been running all his life. His secrets and guilt have scarred him, hampering relationships with family, friends, and God. But to his nephew—someone Russ has never met, he is a mysterious hero. When his nephew tracks him down, Russ agrees to accompany him on a hike to ascend Mt. Humphreys and ...

Like a well-crafted stage play, Just Passin' Thru delivers one suspenseful scene after another. But in this historic setting a store on the Appalachian Trail called Mountain Crossings the characters who show up are no fictional creations. Like any good drama, there are the good guys (and gals) and the weirdos, too. Some show up once (and that’s enough), and some appear again and again. But all are united by two things: the author’s story-capturing talent, and whatever it is that lures them to attempt (or conquer) a 2,200-mile path that climbs and plummets from Georgia to Maine.

Learn to avoid common mistakes in the mountains: preparation advice on hiking, backpacking and summiting your first, or even your tenth, big mountain! Experienced trekkers know that preparation is half the battle in reaching the summit. You have to be fit to succeed in the mountains, however, many trekkers fail to reach their full potential in the mountains because they focus their prep on improving just their physical strength. After years of trekking and summiting some of the world’s most challenging mountains, author Mark Santino realized there are actually seven interconnected ...