Introduction

Acknowledgments

Backpacking Basics

Before You Go

What to Take; Leave a Plan Behind; Trailhead Car Safety

Heading Out

Packing; Putting on Your Pack; Trail Etiquette; Distances and Turnaround Time

On and Off the Trail

Reading the Terrain; Rhythm and Pace; Taking Breaks

Weather

Forecasting; Reading the Wind; Lightning; Hail; Staying Warm; Staying Dry; Staying Cool

Difficult Terrain

Ascending Steep Terrain; Descending Steep Terrain; Talus, Scree, and Boulders; Fording Rivers and Creeks; Bushwhacking; Snow

Encounters with Wildlife

Keep Your Distance; Snakes and Scorpions; Flying Insects and Ticks; Bears

Where Are We?

Navigation

Keeping Track on the Map; Taking Bearings; GPS; The Sun as Compass and Watch

When You're Lost

What to Do; Signaling Aids; Emergency Shelter

Campcraft

Setting up Camp

Choosing a Campsite; Setting Up a Tent or Tarp; Condensation; Knots to Know; The Campsite Bathroom; Breaking Camp

Campsite Challenges

Darkness; Rain; Strong Winds; Snow; Freezing Temperatures

Water, Water Everywhere

How Much Water?; Finding Water; Collecting Water; Judging Water Safety; Filtration, Purification, and Boiling

Campfires and Stoves

Campfire Basics; Stove Use; Carrying Fuel; Stove Troubleshooting

Food and Camp Cooking

The Campsite Kitchen; When and What to Eat; Safe Food Storage in Camp; Protecting Food from Bears; Sample Meals

Field Repairs

Basic Mending; Zippers; Footwear; Packs; Tents and Tarps; Sleeping Bags; Sleeping Pads; Hiking Poles; Stoves and Water Filters

First Aid

First-Aid Kit

Foot Care

Avoiding Blisters; Treating Blisters

Aches and Breaks

Shoulder Aches; Backaches; Sprains and Tears; Broken Bones and Dislocations

Heat and Cold

Sunburn; Heat Exhaustion (Hyperthermia); Hypothermia; Frostbite; Snow Blindness

Other Common Complaints

Altitude Sickness; Cuts; Burns; Snakebite; Tick Bite; Bee and Wasp Stings; Scorpion Stings; Sickness; Poisonous Plants

Evacuation

Getting Help; Carries

Index