Collins Complete Hiking and Camping Manual

Field tested by one of the most respected outdoor programmes in the world, ‘Collins Complete Hiking and Camping Manual’ is the most comprehensive guides available. It is broad in scope, while still focused on the essential skills and information that you need to travel safely and comfortably in any wilderness.

Any backpacker knows that space in your rucksack is limited, but on your next trip pack the only guide that you will need. Use it for:
before you start your trip – for deciding on an itinerary, selecting equipment and figuring out what food, clothing and other supplies to pack, depending on whether you are going some where tropical or temperateonce you’re out in the wilderness – for choosing a campsite, setting up camp, navigating with map and compass, identifying trees and plants and preparing mealsif something unexpected happens – for finding a lost person, seeking shelter in bad weather (like thunderstorms) and first aid for common injuries
Scattered throughout are Tricks of the Trail – additional tips for successful wilderness camping.

CONTENTS
Trip Planning, Equipment, Cooking, Nutrition, First Aid, Navigation, Wilderness Travel, Safety, Weather

Sample Tricks of the Trail
Cotton What’s the worst thing to bring on a backpacking trip? Blue jeans. In most climates and environments, you should minimize your use of cotton clothing. Although cotton is comfortable to wear, cotton fibers absorb and retain water. Once wet, cotton loses heat 25 times faster than dry clothing. Wet cotton clothing can be a significant factor in hypothermia (see Hypothermia, page 293).

Reviews

‘Wow, talk about thorough … this guide really does have it all, and a good bit more as well.’
Real Travel Magazine

‘If you're planning any treks into the wild, this book more than makes up for the precious space it takes up in your rucksack.’ Travel Africa Magazine

About the author

Rick Curtis has been the director of the Outdoor Action Program at Princeton University since 1981. He lectures regularly on topics such as outdoor safety, running a wilderness orientation program, training college wilderness leaders and building Web sites. He has been backpacking and camping for the past thirty years.