A Trailside Guide: Hiking & Backpacking

I'm new to backpacking. I bought a few backpacking books recently, and none of them are more interesting and clearly written than this book. Karen Berger has a great, down to earth writing style without being too "breathy" or wordy. She gets down to the point, shows specific examples,and breaks things down in a way that can be understood by anybody.

This book is a terrific resource for those just starting out or those who would like to know more about hiking and backpacking. The author's topics cover everything from the complete basics like, why you should hike, straight through to the more complex, like how to adjust your compass for declination. She also makes extremely helpful suggestions on purchasing products such as tents, sleeping bags, water purifiers, stoves, and basically all types of gear. The author has a writing style that generates interest in the reading material. She also focuses on particular topics, like handling problems only women encounter in the outdoors, or what you should know before taking children hiking. This book is a must have.

I bought this book on a whim for my first ever backpacking expedition, and I loved it the second I cracked the front cover. It covers everything and anything a beginning hiker/backpacker could ever need. (It made my excursion with my husband-to-be on Valentine's Day weekend a blast!) While I still think cotton is just as invaluable as all the high-tech materials out there, she definitely makes her "expert" opinion a time and money saver. I give her little section on women and kids an A++ for motivation. Oh, and did I mention it was awesome.

Although I've been backpacking for many years, I felt sure this book could teach an old dog a few new tricks. And it did! Karen Berger does what many others don't do and that is give very specific details about purchasing equpment, technics to hiking and backpacking. Specifics on food selection and preparation along with useful information about camping and leave no trace. Her thoughtful insite is your ticket to a most enjoyable experience in the outdoors.

I've been backpacking for about ten years and continue to find this book a useful tool. The writing, pictures and illustrations somehow manage to get me enthused about backpacking every time I pick up the book.Great intro book (what equipment you need to get started, how to read a compass, etc...), but also a lot of practical tips on what to look for when buying gear (including how to save $$$, something that backpackers of all skill levels can appreciate!). The author's "minimum impact" tips are useful reminders for all backpackers and obviously come from a person with great respect for the outdoors. This alone should make this book required reading for new folks on the trail.