101 Essential Tips for Hiking: A Backpacker's Companion - Prof. Maryedith Mcfarlin, Study notes of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences

Download 101 Essential Tips for Hiking: A Backpacker's Companion - Prof. Maryedith Mcfarlin and more Study notes Physical Activity and Sport Sciences in PDF only on Docsity! Backpacking Book Review 1 Backpacking Book Review Taylor Cheney Middle Tennessee State University Backpacking Book Review 2 Backpacking Book Review 101 Essential Tips for Hiking is a guidebook for anyone considering embarking on a hiking or backpacking trip, and provides tips for even the experienced outdoorsman. In the book, Hugh McFadden covers a wide range of topics to be mindful of before leaving for a trip as well as very useful information that can be referenced while on the trail. It is obvious from the quality and conciseness of the information provided throughout the book that the author is a true lifelong trail enthusiast. He appears to have accrued a wealth of knowledge about the growing sport dubbed backpacking, and luckily for the reader Mr. McFadden was willing to share his knowledge in a simple and entertaining format. The book is composed of 101 mini-articles that each highlight a specific tip relating to hiking. The mini-articles cover nearly the entire spectrum of skills that one may want or need to know when preparing for either a hike or overnight stay in the the backcountry. With so many articles to cover, it is easy to assume that it would be hard to distinguish one tip from another, or that reading the book would get boring. As with any good backpacker, the content itself probably would have been enough to hold my attention, but there were plenty of pictures to help reinforce the text and keep each page interesting because each page looks different. There are two methods that the author employs to organize the information contained within the book. First, as the title suggests, each individual (or series of) tip is indexed by incrementing numbers; the first tip of the book is 1 and the last tip is 101. The second method is the universal page number located at the outside bottom corners of each page. The dual system of labeling tips has made locating information quickly a simple task, and the book itself is quite small which makes it ideal for carrying Backpacking Book Review 5 rated up to military standards. One simple reason turns even an indestructible phone into dead weight: no service. For this reason, I typically do not carry my phone with me into the wilderness, so I never know exactly what time it is. If I had a watch I wouldn't have that problem, and I would also gain another advantage. McFadden (1998) reminds readers that you can use the sun in a pinch to determine east and west, but he also mentions a tip that uses your watch to determine your heading more accurately by pointing you North. To do this, hold the watch level and point the hour hand directly at the sun. Split the amount of space between the current position of the hour hand and 12:00 down the middle to determine which way is south (pg. 40). Most outdoor enthusiasts enjoy watching and being in the presence of the local wildlife. I am no different and will frequently pause on the trail to watch birds perform aerobatic feats in the air or squirrels playing amongst the trees with the agility of an experienced ninja. Even though I love nature and I love those critters who reside in nature's natural habitat, I do not want them in my personal space. I would consider my boots personal space and I've always been slightly paranoid about drying out my boots or leaving them outside overnight. McFadden (1998) lists a very simple yet effective tip that I had never considered for some strange reason, I will leave them hanging upside down to prevent any debris or curious creature from making a shelter out of my most important protective layer of clothing (pg. 53). The author appears to have considered the many facets associated with the sport of backpacking, and even goes so far as to mention the most effective ways of walking up or down difficult terrain while carrying a heavy load on your back. Utilizing a walking stick while on the trail is ideal to take stress off of the knees and provide extra stability on rocky surfaces or water crossings. When walking uphill, lean forward and take short steps, placing your feet flat on the ground before Backpacking Book Review 6 pushing upward. Try to avoid walking on your toes. When walking downhill, take short steps and move steadily, leaning backward to take the strain off your knees. Using your walking stick will also relieve some of the strain being placed on your knees. When walking over steep slopes or soft surfaces, climb it with your feet placed sideways, using your walking stick downhill of your body as an extra support (McFadden, 1998, p. 43). In conclusion, 101 Essential Tips for Backpacking by Hugh McFadden is definitely worth the read and may even make a good trail companion due to its small size and light weight. The author is familiar and comfortable on the trails, and is able to provide a wealth of helpful information for those new to the sport as well as those with years of experience behind them already. It is laid out in a simple and convenient manner with colorful images throughout the entire text, which holds the reader's attention and adds some liveliness to a book that covers topics about one of the most exhilarating experiences one can partake in: backpacking. See you on the trails! Backpacking Book Review 7 References McManners, H. (1998). 101 essential tips of hiking. New York, NY: DK Publishing, Inc.