Camping Books

I bought this book before my first backpacking trip, and it was extremely usefull. It covered every topic from getting fit before you leave to gear selection and first aid. A super usefull "what to bring" checklist, to make sure you don't forget anything before you leave, is included at the end of the book, as well as an excellent resource directory. I love the emphasis on specifics for women, as well as the quotes all through the book. Although I think it is true that no book can cover all there is to know about the subject, overall, the book is awsome and a must for beginners. It offers tips that I haven't seen in any other book, so it could be usefull to experienced hikers as well.

I just finished reading this book. I did it in about a week, and I rarely finish a book at all! I either become bored of the author's stile, don't relate to what's being written or don't find the topics or information I was expecting.
This book had all of that and more. Chapters are just the right size to give you a good overview, guides to where you can find further information, wonderful and inspiring quotes and photos that aim the female outdoor enthusiast. I can't wait 'til my next opportunity to go backpacking..!

PS: I also never write reviews, but I as soon as I finished reading this book, I knew I had to write this one...

OK for people looking for a brief introduction - but not more than an overview. It left me wanting more information and turning to other books.

I was okay with the contents of the book until I got to the section about personal protection. The blunt statement is made that women backpackers should never carry a gun. I disagree with the author on this point. This is a personal choice that thank God, women are able to make for themselves in many areas of the USA. A small revolver is not very heavy, and if a woman is trained and can legally carry a firearm, it is very approriate for many hikes in this day in age.

This is an excellent "how to" book which is geared towards the novice backpacker. But it's also fun to peruse even if you're a veteran of the trails. Hall writes well and has a good sense of humor about the topic. The way the book is organized is exceptional: each chapter is fairly brief, and there are small "side bars" with additional information on various subjects, such as hydration, bears, food preparation and tending to your gear. If you have never backpacked previously, this is essential reading. I can't imagine attempting any lengthy trek without knowing the info presented here. While much of it is common sense material, there is an abundance of other topics which don't seem to be addressed in other backpacking guides.

As for the title, it's misleading. Men can get just as much enjoyment from the book as the ladies. There really is not much gender-specific commentary in the book. If you want a funny, yet absorbing, look at backpacking, this is your book.

The first time I read this book I was in 5th grade and I filled out the check-out card checking it out from the library over and over again. A few years ago, I was browsing through amazon.com and stumbled across it and so I bought it. A while later, my neice (who was probably 10 or 11 at the time) was over visiting me and saw it and borrowed it from me to read and she loved it. She wanted my copy, but instead I bought her another copy and gave it to her for her birthday ... like her aunt it has become her favorite book!

I read this book when I was 12 and still, 16 years later, I love it. This is a preteen book about a very sheltered 13 yr.old girl named Melanie who is forced to go away to camp for about 6 weeks.( Her Aunt Katherine,a pyschologist, strongly suggest that to her folks and they finally agree that Mel needs to grow up a bit and learn new things and meet new people.) At first Mel is quite homesick and scared of all the new activities, but she starts to really enjoy herself and grow up.She makes new friends and learns assertiveness,especially when it comes to dealing with a bully.
I could definitely relate to shy, sheltered, insecure Melanie when I was a preteen, which is partly why I adored it so much. I did attend summer camp when I was 10, 12 and 13. When I was 12 and 13 I had a mad crush on 1 hot blonde guy at the camp. His good looks and cool demeanor reminded me of "Steve", Melanie's boyfriend in the book.
Even though this book was written in the 70's, it is still relevant for today's preteens. I hope this book comes back in print some day and I hope no changes are made. I think this would also make a great made for tv movie.
Parents, do your preteens(especially girls) a favor and buy them this book. I can't see how any kid couldn't relate to the story.

Around 1978 I found this book. I purchased it brand new from the book store shelf. Over the next 9 years, I read it again and again and again. By the time I headed off to college the book was almost in tatters. It went with me to college but I only managed to read it once or twice by sandwiching it in between text books and classes. After I was married, I packed it away.

Fast forward to May 2006. Ok, call me overly dramatic. I was scheduled for surgery and I had time to read one book before going under the knife. I had to chose what might be the last book I'd ever read. I chose Hail, Hail Camp Timberwood. I couldn't find my own copy so I turned to the local library system. They had one copy about 45 miles away. I put in my request.

It was almost 30 years after the first time I read the book. Here I was, almost 37 and worried that this "young adult" book would dissapoint me. Had I made the wrong selection? Would I be bored? Would it still be my favorite book?

I made the right selection. I wasn't bored. It was still my favorite book - even decades later. As I turned each page, I remembered every thing in the book. As I read each word, it came spilling out of my memory as though I had just read the book the day before.

As you can surmise, I survived the surgery (or at least I am in the process of recovering). So, technically, this wasn't my "one last read". However, I think I'll find my copy and make sure I have it around just incase the situtation ever arises again.

Ellen: If you read these reviews, thank you for an incredible book!

I read this book for the first time when I was in elementary school, I actually filled up the library card for the book, that was how many times I checked it out, and read it. I never got to go to summer camp, but I always wanted to, and Timberwood was as close as I ever got. I am 31 now, and I still remember this book, I can't wait to get mine so I can visit Camp Timberwood all over again. I am going to try to get my boys to read it, I don't know how interested they will be though. An excellent read, I highly recommend it!!!

My friend gave my this book to read before we went to Camp Classen on a school trip. Her grandmother works at a library and gave it to her. She was dying to read it and told me I should when she finished. I simply loved it. The author put emotions in it that were exactly like those of a real teenager.
In this book, Melanie is leaving her parents, with whom she thinks of as best friends, and goes to Camp Timberwood. She meets a good friend there and an enemy. But when a little boy she meets in swimming class sends her on an errand she comes face to face with romance. You can not put this book down. It is completely mesmerizing. You will absolutely love it!

I liked this book. Kristy should have told the campers to leave her alone about makeup. Claudia likes a boy named Will, Mary Anne's campers try to perice her ears(Gross), Stacey gets poisen ivy, Dawn gets lost in the woods, and Jessi and Mallory can't do anything right. There's even two chapters about... Logan! Neat!

This book is really good. It showed all the problems and hardships people have when they're away from home. So this book had a lot of action to it, was fun, and had a lot of humor. Good job you're doing, Ms.Martin, and keep up the good work!

This summer, the Baby-sitters and a whole bunch of the kids they sit for are goingg to Camp Mohawk! With the girls as counselors-in-training, and the kids as campers, it'll be just like baby-sitting-in the woods!

The Baby-Sitters soon discover that camp isn't just nature walks and making lanyards. Dawn gets lost in the wilderness overnight. kristy learns how to use mascara, and Mary Anne gets caught sneaking over to the boys' side of the camp. Stacey spends the two weeks with poison ivy... and Claudia falls in love with a boy CIT.

This is one summer vacation the Baby-sitters will never forget!

I loved this book! All the BSC has great adventures! My favorite part is when Logan instigates a food fight which gets the whole boys' mess hall started! It was such a RIOT I laughed myself silly! I was 13 when it came out. I think that Mal and Jessi were kind of dull in this one and that they should have just let them be regular campers. WHo ever heard of JR. CITS? A CIT is as low as you can go, and if two people decide they can be CITS while they're underage then other people will feel it isn't fair and they will want to be CITs too. Also I felt like this book looked down on girls, since it seemed like the boy's side got all the luxaries while the girls side roughed it. WHat makes those boys so qualified anyway? Also it seemed a ridiculous extravagance for one whole half of the lake to consist of boys on one side and girls on the other. When i went to camp it was separated by units and boys and girls were separated that way. Also, the camp did not even take up all the lake, it was just another plot of land on a lake with houses on the other side. In this book, either it's a pretty big camp, or a teenie tiny lake. Also, it seems pretty spendy the way they have to wear uniforms. THat is kinda dumb. WHy? But don't let these gripes get in your way of enjoying the good parts!

I thought this book was about the best super special ever. The Baby-sitters go to camp Mohawk. The Baby-Sitters go as Cits and Jessi and Mallory go as Junior Cits. All the baby-sitters (except Mall and Jessi) end up making new friends because there in different cabins.The other Cits Mary Anne meets don't believe she has a boyfriend so she sneaks around the lake to the boys side to deliver a letter to Logan. Dawn gets lost while overnight camping trip with her cabin. The other Cits in Krist's cabin cabin decide she needs a makeover.Stacey gets poison Ivy and has to spend most of her trip in the infirmary. Claudia meets the boy of her dreams. Mallory and Jessi have to put together a play for the parents on the last day of camp.None of the girls can wait for the CIT dance. Does Stacet have Lyme disease,will Claudia meet the boy of her dreams,will Logan dump mmmary Anne, will Dawn find her way back,will Jessi and Mallory have the play ready for the parents,will Kristy refuse to go to the dance and will the Baby-sitters ever hear from there new friend again after camp. Read the book,I know you will absolutely LOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEE it.

The Baby Sitters go to Camp Mohawk in this story. Mallory and Jessi are in their cabins and they end up making other friends. Meanwhile, Dawn gets lost. Then, Mary Anne sneaks up to write a letter to Logan. In Kristy's cabin, Her cabin decides she has to make a makeover. Then we go to Stacey, Stacey gets POISON IVY has to spend more of her infirmary. Claudia meets the boy of her dreams. Will Stacey get Lyme disease?. Will Claudia meet the boy of her dreams?. Will Kristy refuse to the dance? Find out!!!

This book is a must have for anybody who enjoys the outdoors and is invaluable to people in leadership positions who want to share their passion with others.

This book has valuable information for the person who is far from a rookie at backpacking, but not quite an AT through-hiker. It is filled with what I can only describe as "Sophomore level" backpacking knowledge and helps get that person who enjoys backpacking to the next level in enjoying the sport.

A interesting feature I found upon reading this book is it is full of excellent information for the person who is well established as a backpacker and wants to introduce new people to the sport. Rick Curtis, the author, is the director of the Outdoor Action Program at Princeton and he shares his knowledge of teaching outdoor skills in this book. He lays out a wonderful base on which to share one's passion for backpacking with others and breaks it down for any learning curve and physical ability.

As an added bonus Curtis has included on the book's website numerous documents to assist you in your trip planning and other aspects of backpacking.

This book is crammed full of information on a wide variety of backpacking topics, from weather forcasting to group dynamics, however it goes into very limited detail about each one.
It is in my oppinion a good resource for the inexperienced.
Anyone that already has a good deal of backcountry savy would be better off getting more specialized information on select topics they wanted to know more about.

Whether you're just becoming interested in backpacking, or you've been backpacking all of your life, this book is a great addition. When researching a reliable book for the outdoors, I was concerned with whether or not this book addressed survival adequately. Well, it pretty much covers everything. Seriously, anywhere from feminine hygiene problems while backpacking to creating a watch out of a compass. It also address any preperation questions you may have as far as buying gear or planning your trip. Great book, I can't put it down.

This book is good for someone that wanted to get started hiking and backpacking. I feel that it has good source of information for starting out.

This book was written by Rick Curtis, director of the Outdoor Action Program at Princeton University, one of the most succesful college outdoor programs around. It's not the kind of book you sit down and read, rather it's a good reference to keep handy when you have questions about things. Here's a bit of what it covers:

-backpacking equipment
-cooking and nutrition
-hygiene and water purification
-"leave-no-trace" hiking and camping
-weather
-safety and emergency procedures
-first aid
-trip planning

Every backpacker knows that space is limited and you can only carry the essentials- which definitely includes this book. In 10 chapters, a mid-size font, and 440 pages, it covers it all and will be the only backpacking guide you'll ever need. Hikers suffering with plantar fasciitis might also be interested in The 5-Minute Plantar Fasciitis Solution.

We love this book. It has helped us sort through all the choices of campgrounds out there. Fun to read and imagine all the places we can go!

Maybe this Foghorn publication, California Camping by Tom Steinstra, is the bible of camping, at least for California, but it probably needs another good scrubbing or at least an editor. I have purchased this book twice, 03 and 05 editions, and a few things changed, e.g., when the listing for Palomar Mtn SP mentioned that Reserve America honored this park as one its Top 200 Family Campgrounds. This was a nice addendum to the last edition. But, in some cases, the editors, more than Steinstra, need to make the rounds, at least at the more popular sites. For example, California Camping mentions that El Capitan SB has one of the "best fishing" sites, but from what we have understood over the last few years is that fishing no longer even takes place in the nearby stream - due mostly to drought. Though, if someone said El Capitan is the best for Dolphin watching that would be entirely accurate. Also, Tillie Creek is rated "9" for scenery, apparently, but all the upper front and near the lake sites were closed this year not to mention there is no "creek running" in the summer. However, this book has proven over and over to be accurate in about 90% plus of its content which is great when you have kids. A couple of suggestions might help if, for example, in addition to the scenery rating, could there just be an overall rating, i.e. 1-10 based on Steinstra's standards or the type of campground? And, could the editors create a means by which campers and readers could report their findings back to the publisher? Could the editors make sure to get an accurate update from park rangers, agencies, and private campsites for any basic changes that might have occurred? Okay, so no matter what I say, California Camping is probably the best camping guide out there, in my opinion. I just would like author, editor, and publisher to make it a bit more current and relevent for the next edition, which, of course,I will most likely purchase.

I can't speak for the person who disagreed with some of the ratings. In my experience, this is an invaluable reference, and the personal descriptions of each campground are extremely helpful. Few references will go the extra mile to provide ratings and personal observations about each site like this one does. It's clear that the author has actually visited most of these sites, which is not always the case. It's a great book, and the anecdotes & camping advice in the introduction are very well-written. This book covers every kind of campsite in California, from hike-in primitive sites to RV parking lots. I highly recommend it.

I have owned several editions of this book and have passed the old ones on to family and friends. Just the intro is wonderful for people starting to camp. (Key piece of advise from Tom - Schedule your camping time just like you schedule anything else, otherwise it won't happen.) It's fun to check out nearby campgrounds when you bring the book camping with you. I have enjoyed many nights turning the pages and deciding where to camp next. There are books like this for other states, but the California book is the gold stadard. The book will never be 100% accurate, but that's the nature of the beast. It would be great if this info was on a website with amazon-like feedback and google earth views of the campground, photos and maps -- plus a way to access it all in your car! Until then, this is the best. Get his California Hiking book, too. Thanks for writing them and keeping them up to date, Tom! They have lead to many wonderful, memorable trips and hikes for me, my wife and my camping buddies of various ages over many years.

As indicated by other reviewers, the Foghorn (Moon) series of campground guides is not without flaws. Even so, we know of no directories which do a better job of addressing campground aesthetics than these wonderful guides. In our experience, the look and feel of a campground is often the single greatest factor influencing the quality of a camping experience . . . and the factor totally ignored by nearly all other campground guides.

There are a number of directories which rate facilities, provide directions, tell you how to make reservations and give you an idea of the cost for a night's stay in a specific campground. This series gives similar basic information and then goes beyond that. The Foghorn (Moon)guides actually give you a feel of what it is like to stay in a specific campground - a bit of a narrative description and a "scenic beauty rating" for each campground plus information about nearby recreation opportunities. We like that a lot.

Have we found instances where we liked a campground more or less than the book's author? Of course. Tastes differ and things change over time. Even so, we would rather have an admittedly subjective rating of a campground's intangibles than to have nothing to go on but a recitation of facts and figures.

Are the Foghorn (Moon) Outdoors the only guides we carry? No. But they are ALWAYS the first place we turn when selecting a destination campground.

This perfectly written pirate adventure story ranks favorably with Treasure Island. As a sea tale, the detail and description of the voyage of the schooner "Wild Cat" from Lowestoft, on England's East Coast, across the Atlantic to the Caribbean could stand alone without the added excitement of a ripping good pirate story populated with well developed and believable characters,

This book is actually a fantasy within the context of the series. In the previous book, SWALLOWDALE, we encounter Peter Duck as a fictional character and how he was the star of a story made up by the children and Captain Flint during a winter stay in a boat.

That aside, this is good adventure. The children assemble for a summer holiday sailing in the English Channel, and are joined by a crusty old seaman who's being pursued by some criminals, who know that he knows where a treasure is buried in the Caribbean. After some misadventures, the crew sets off across the Atlantic, along the way picking up a small boy who was part of the criminal's crew.

In the Caribbean, they encounter some eerie crabs and some harrowing scenes that are the aftermath of a volcanic explosion at some distance. The treasure is found and the villains are dispatched in a rather overly convenient deus ex machina ending that I rather disliked; it's the only reason I chopped a star off this otherwise grand entertainment.

This book has the usual S&A series messages about the joys of adventure and of being outdoors, and the importance of courage and self-reliance as well as teamwork. Next in the series: WINTER HOLIDAY.

This is supposed to be "just a children's book", but I was about 30 when I first read this book, and I tell you... it was ABSOLUTELY AWESOME and WILDLY EXCITING to me! The author is really good at writing this series about the exciting outdoor adventures of the Walker and Blackett children, and this is one of his most intensely thrilling tales. His vivid descriptions of the various scenes are extremely good, and the unexpected and clever plot twists are very satisfying and enjoyable. Highly recommended!

It's the best book i've ever read! Everyone must read it!

I remember reading Peter Duck as a child and being a little disappointed. As a child the adventures of the Swallows & Amazons was best when they were as far away from adults as possible. Battling Uncle Jim / Captain Flint for his houseboat was one thing - going on a sea voyage with him in charge was quite another.

Re-reading the series as an adult, however, I see this in a whole new perspective. Simply put the actual story, and the story-telling, racks amongst the highest in the series. The scope of the book, running from the mouth of the broads which we come to love later in the series, right down to Crab Island in the Caribbean is wonderful. The intrigue and adventure is at a higher level to match too.

Arthur Ransome is one of the story tellers who believes in dealing with "bad people" head on - and in this tale, Black Jake and his crew are really some of the most despicable characters in children's literature. We always hope they will meet a sticky end. However, the writing is a little out of date now in terms of some derogatory words used for black people and Spaniards. I believe such language can be used as an important educational tool to explain why we no longer use these words (it should be noted that it is the rough characters that use these terms).

The book never comments on this as being "fictional". Of course they are all fictional tales, but this is fiction within fiction because we find out in other books that this was a tale made up by everyone. However, it is still written very realisitically and anyone with a love for sailing will find the chapters about the setup of the boat or the sailing down the North Sea and the English Channel wonderful.

This is more of a recommended shopping list than a long term emergency survival guide. Having said that, it does offer more than a few helpful hints if and when disaster strikes. It could be greatly expanded as it mostly caters to those in urban areas; also no mention is given to what may be used as money if calamity strikes the nation at large, or where to get food and water from etc.. Again this is more geared to 'small' scale events like Katrina, California quakes etc. It is nonetheless a great book to have and I did buy a few things after reading it. 5 stars if expanded to cover complete breakdown of America, did enjoy it a lot though. Check out the website for a few more hints.

Great product. The lists and explinations are a supurb starting point for anyone who wants to be prepared when bad things happen. The author is very careful to emphasize that physical fitness and acquiring certain skills are key to survival; just good common sense. He also provides web sites and resources for items on his list. I've used all of his lists to build my car, home and personal kits. In an all electronic age, we are VERY reliant on electricity...which gets knocked out when grids are overloaded. Well written and easy to read, I would recommend this book to anyone as an initial intro to self-reliance and disaster preparedness. Be prepared!

While promising, this book has some serious flaws.

In addition to a leftist philisophical and political bent which is out of place among the facts, the urban-focused survival orientation limits the value of the information to non-city dwellers.

Some of the information presented is just factually wrong. For example, his comments about firearms are clearly acquired from someone with limited knowledge of the technical aspects of firearms, and regurgitate a number of misconceptions and urban myths about them. These errors cause me to question the validity of many of his other perspectives, especially when they seem to be politically driven.

There is some good information here, but it must be gleaned from the chaff and outright propogandizing in order to find it. Unfortunately, the reader must already be knowledgable about the subject matter in order to determine preparedness fact from fiction.

The book has merit for those who already posess good survival knowledge, and might make a decent addition to a good preparedness library. A good resource for those living in cities, who will suffer the worst should disaster strike. At the very least, it makes the reader consider personal preparedness planning and take stock of one's degree of readiness.

For a novice who does not live in an urban area, or belong to the Green Party, the book would not be among my top recommendations.

The information found in this book is very useful, exact, correct and spot on. I can find no flaw in the INFORMATION of this book what-so-ever. I recommend this book to everyone who is interested in the subject matter. That said, there is one fatal flaw. Overt Liberalism from the author (which, I guess for Liberals make this a great book!). From claiming to know something bad (i.e. 9-11) was going to happen to the World Trade Centers and warning all his family and friends to stay away as early as Feb. 01, to commenting on Weapons of Mass destruction--saying something along the lines of "real WMD's, not imaginary ones that weren't found in Iraq" the author proves again and again that he's always right and that everyone else (i.e. the government) is always wrong. But, again, the Author's writing style is my only complaint.

As an M.D. involved in disaster planning, and who lives in a hurricane zone in Florida I have read extensively in the field and this is one of the best survival books I have found. It is not an "arm yourself to the teeth and build a bomb shelter" book. It is a book all Americans should own and read. Practical, sensible advice, and excellent list of quality equipment sources.

This book is a classic Adirondack outdoor skills book that really puts you into the mood to be out in the woods! In fact, I carry it with me into the woods on a regular basis. My copy is in tatters and I had to buy a new one. The information on what to carry, how to's and so on are as true today as they were when the book was written. Proof positive you dont need high tech gadgets to have a safe and enjoyable time in the outdoors! I use very similar equipment to this day on my trips to the woods~!~ Oh...dont be fooled, the price of a canoe has gone up! LOL
Shawn A. Merritt
http://www.woodlandsurvival.com

Great old school camping/survival book. However, it may not be for everyone. If you want a hard core survival book, or something to help you choose gear, this isn't the right book. This book is around 100 years old, so its not exactly up-to-date on gear and supplies. It is a great book that covers the basics and philosophy of hiking and camping. This isn't the only book I would buy, but it is a must for a collection.

"Nessmuk" wrote for an era when much of the lower 48 was still wilderness, and his writings are an entertaining time machine trip to a long-gone era. Myself, I enjoyed reading the book very, very much. But you can no longer start a campsite by cutting down a half-dozen trees!

Talk about a look back in time; this little book makes you appreciate the times Sears was living. It's amazing how much some things have changed, yet so much has remained the same. Nothing really profound here, just a great expression of the ways things were in that period of time. The writing style of that period is refreshing, as well.

In this book, "Nessmuk" (a pseudonym for George W. Sears) provides a moderately entertaining read. He writes during, and was an active participant in, the "back to nature movement" during the Victorian period. He writes about the glory and romance of camping, woodcraft, woods travel, and flyfishing using minimalist methods. The info on reflector fire-building, hatchets, fishing with worms/grubs is good, basic lore that everyone needs to learn; however, the book lacks detail on many other basic aspects of woodcraft and Northwoods style camping and outdoor survival, especially collecting and storing food and winter living. If the reader follows the author's recommendations during a lengthy outing in the Northwoods or boreal forest, they'd likely get into major trouble. More info is needed than presented here by Nessmuk if one plans their own 10-day adventure crossing a big stretch of woods. In summary, yes, it's a quaint and entertaining read, but if you want less romanticizing/glorification and more detail, check out "Camp and Trail Methods" by E. Kreps and "Northern Bushcraft" by Mors Kochanski. (Note: This review written by a primitive survival expert and former fur trapper. I gave this book 2 stars to make a point regarding safety. Many a person has died or nearly died in the outdoors by following the ways of romantics/mystics rather than seeking knowledge from and following the ways of realists -- the practitioners. Although Nessmuk teaches solid methods, he leaves too many important things unsaid for students of the outdoors. If you just want to be entertained, then buy the book.

This is probably the most exhaustive and authoritative book on outdoor craft that I have read. Very dry and detail oriented so you have to be interested in the science for it to work. It is not extreme lke the 60/70's survivalist dogma but presented matter of fact and unpretentiously by someone who lived it. With this book you could eke out a living off the land just about anywhere. There are many books that are a better casual read. But it will be hard to beat this book for its pure reference capacity. A classic that makes a great gift to anyone who is outdoors person, wants to know more, about how and why or just curious.

Not just one of the classics, one of the best of the classics. If you're serious about the outdoors, this should be on your bookshelf.

This is a must for any library of outdoor books. It may lack a lot of modern day political correctness but, it was how it was done back then. A great look into outdoor history, this was THE handbook for outdoor wilderness skills and recreation. Any student of wilderness skills MUST have a copy.

You won't find reviews of the latest or lightest gear here. The wisdom though is timeless. For years it has continually provided me a "new" way of doing something in the outdoors, by looking back on how it had been done successfully. Unless your great-grandfather was a camper and left you his memoirs, this belongs on your shelf for ready reference.

The book is really old- getting close to a century- but some of the practical advice is sound. Some of course is bereft of anything but historical value. If you want a practical guide, you can find better.

This has a lot of helpful ideas and ways to go about climbing up Mt. Shasta for a first timer/novice. Probably wouldn't need it if you're an experienced climber or have already made the accent a few times.

After reading the review titled "A big disappointment" it seems the reviewer has misconceptions about the book. From his eyes, not knowing anything at all about Mt. Shasta and never climbing it before, he was looking for a book that would match climbing Mt. Everest or one that is so advanced that the reader climbing Mt. Shasta for the first time would have no choice but to "look elsewhere." It would be like writing a guide book and then adding a review that condemns the book because it does not have information about the American presidents. The reviewer talks about his extensive climbing experience in his bio.

The fact is there are at least 15,000 people (first time climbers) that attempt to climb Mt. Shasta a year and only a third make it. I would say at least 95 per cent of those that climb have never used an ice axe or crampons. The book is written for those people and it's designed to cover the Avalanche Gulch route only. Mountaineering is a sport and like most sports, you must understand the game. The book helps you understand the mountain and gives you the information that you need to make a safe and successful climb to he summit. It's a companion in your backpack!

.... This guide of 170 pages devotes about 63 pages to climbing Mt. Shasta. The rest includes: discussions of internal frame vs. external frame packs, how to pack your pack, whether snow shoes are necessary in the summer (!), and such profound statements as "Good quality clothing protects your body from the cold and fierce winds that can generate on the Mountain." Beware of a book with two pages of acknowledgements including two acknowledgements to dogs! Or a climbing guide with a glossary that defines "peak," "run, "trailhead," and "summit." For a climbing guide to Shasta I expect more than just one detailed photo illustrating the route. I expect maps. And I expect the discussion of more than just one route up the mountain. Want to climb Shasta in the winter? Look elsewhere. Want the mileage and elevation gain in detail? Look elsewhere. The list goes on. Is this guide useful for anyone? Yes, it is useful for someone with no climbing experience at all. Anyone else, wait for the next guidebook to be published.

I am planning to Summit Mt. Shasta in the upcoming year; however, I cannot even consider myself a novice--beginner, maybe. I have NEVER climbed before--this book gave me basic information that will help me to plan my trip...everything from general mountain climate to a packing list. Without reading this book, I am afraid I may have not known the essentials (basics) to take with me!

After reading the review titled "A big disappointment" it seems the reviewer has misconceptions about the book. From his eyes, not knowing anything at all about Mt. Shasta and never climbing it before, he was looking for a book that would match climbing Mt. Everest or one that is so advanced that the reader climbing Mt. Shasta for the first time would have no choice but to "look elsewhere." It would be like writing a guide book and then adding a review that condemns the book because it does not have information about the American presidents. The reviewer talks about his extensive climbing experience in his bio.

The fact is there are at least 15,000 people (first time climbers) that attempt to climb Mt. Shasta a year and only a third make it. I would say at least 95 per cent of those that climb have never used an ice axe or crampons. The book is written for those people and it's designed to cover the Avalanche Gulch route only. Mountaineering is a sport and like most sports, you must understand the game. The book helps you understand the mountain and gives you the information that you need to make a safe and successful climb to he summit. It's a companion in your backpack!