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:

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

Your straightforward guide for succesfully enjoying the great outdoors You love the great outdoors, but you’re not always sure the great outdoors loves you. You can pitch a tent, start a campfire, build furniture by lashing tree branches together – in theory anyway! But while you may not have gotten your Girl Scout Gold Award, or your Eagle Scout with cluster, you can still enjoy a night out under the stars with those near and dear to you, or even work towards becoming a more serious outdoorsman, right? Sure as a bear lives in the woods, Camping for Dummies shows you how to get out there and enjoy the best Mother Nature has to offer. With the helpful advice this common sense guide provides, you’ll be prepared when it comes to: Destination Gear Shelter Clothing Food Weather Safety Written by journalist Michael Hodgson, veteran of Utah’s Eco-Challenge and numerous other outdoor adventures, Camping for Dummies cuts out gear-head jargon and antiquated methods to give you, plain and simple, what you need to know to make the smart choices that lead to great adventures. You’ll find out: How to tie a bear bag The delicious caveman style for cooking fresh fish The limitations of GPS How to predict the weather by observing birds, frogs, and insects Ten survival essentials How to go canoe, kayak, or bicycle camping What features make a good backpack, boot, and other equipment When and how to bring along children Whether the dictionary definition of “tenderfoot” has your picture next to it or you already consider wilderness your home away from home, you’ll appreciate this handy, concise reference. Full of illustrations, diagrams, and directions for finding additional camping resources, Camping for Dummies is your complete ticket to America’s great outdoors.

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.

A kid’s guide to camping, including everything from first aid skills to fun campfire songs and recipes. The Pocket Guide to Camping has all the camping basics for kids—or beginners of any age—from setting up a tent to hiking a trail to cooking over the campfire. The book covers camping skills and first aid, along with stories, games, activities, and campfire songs. It also includes great campfire recipes that kids can make. This inclusive, family-oriented guide takes you through planning your trip to getting home safely—and is chock full of information and fun ideas.