The Backpacker's Handbook, 2nd Edition

Winner of the Outdoor Writers Guild award for excellence, this inspired guide from one of the world's best-traveled adventurers offers essential, up-to-the-minute information and advice on all aspects of backcountry trekking for hikers and backpackers of every stripe. From planning and techniques to gear, it's all covered in succinct, highly readable fashion in an expanded, visually arresting update of a proven bestseller. The Backpacker's Handbook is the only major guide to deliver an in-depth look at all backpacking styles, from ultralight to long-distance hiking. New material on trekking in challenging environments such as deserts and mountains will appeal to hikers who love to push the envelope. Chris Townsend's anecdotal style makes for a book that invites reading from cover to cover, yet is designed to let readers find specific topics quickly. The Backpacker's Handbook teaches us how to make traveling through the wild truly enjoyable and fulfilling while protecting its natural beauty.

One of the world's best-known and most experienced rough-terrain hikers, Chris Townsend has been backpacking for more than 25 years. His most notable adventures include a 1988 trek spanning the 1,600-mile length of the Canadian Rockies, a 1,000-mile walk through the Yukon, and a monumental 3,000-mile expedition from Canada to Mexico along the Continental Divide Trail. Townsend is the author of Wilderness Skiing and Winter Camping and Walking the Yukon, also by Ragged Mountain Press, and of High Summer, Adventure Treks: Western North America, and The Great Backpacking Adventure. When not on the trail, Townsend lives in Scotland.