A guide so thorough it will send you packing... Backpacking remains one of the most popular, and inexpensive, outdoor activities in America. The Complete Idiot's Guide (r) to Backpacking and Hiking helps anyone prepare and plan for a rewarding adventure. Covers planning, training, shopping and packing for the trip. -How to live on the trail -First aid and other safety tips -Practical time- and money-saving hints -What gear is necessary and what isn't -Special considerations when travelling with groups or pets

You're no idiot, of course. You know how to make the bed, start the oven, even keep the squirrels out of the backyard bird feeder. But when it comes to pitching a tent, lighting a campfire, and warding off bears, you feel like Lucy and Ricky on their camping trip. Don't try to 'splain just yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Camping and Hiking, Second Edition, teaches you the simple skills you need to take the trauma out of camping. This updated edition can help you feel confident about choosing and using your equipment...even in the middle of winter! In this Complete Idiot's guide, you get:

Offers advice on the selection of gear, emergency and safety precautions, and camping techniques

Hit the trails with all the backpacking and hiking information you need You know there's nothing quite like spending time with nature, enjoying the fresh air and magnificent vistas. But thinking about where to go, what to bring, and how to protect yourself from the elements might have you feeling less adventurous than you'd like. Well, it's time to get off the couch and onto the trail with Outdoor Adventure Guides: Backpacking and Hiking. Filled with practical tips, this guide gives you all the information you need to survive and thrive in the great outdoors. Packed with information ranging from preparing your body and choosing what to bring to handling the elements and knowing your first aid, this no-nonsense guide has everything you've been looking for in a trail buddy--and its travel-friendly size means it fits in any backpack you bring! So what are you waiting for? Go have an adventure!

Want to know why a forest smells different before it starts to rain? Or how long a pair of hiking boots should actually last? Find these answers and more in this pack-perfect book.More Everyday Wisdom provides brilliant improvisations for worst-case scenarios and advice to avoid the most common (and obscure) problems. These backcountry basics will help you plan your trips, become a better problem-solver, and learn to how to stay comfortable.

Backpacker Magazine’sThe Complete Guide to Backpacking combines and distills the most useful and relevant skills necessary for backpacking in one easy to use guide, from the most respected authority on backpacking— Backpacker magazine. From detailed descriptions of what to pack and how to pack it, to navigation and campsite cooking, to managing outdoor hazards and more, The Complete Guide to Backpacking is the definitive resource for Backpacking-related know-how.