The National Outdoor Leadership School's Wilderness Guide: The Classic Handbook, Revised and Updated

by Mark W.T. Harvey, Peter Simer

The classic backpacker's handbook -- revised and updated -- providing expert guidelines for anyone who loves the outdoors. The Wilderness Guide brings the savvy of the world's most famous and respected outdoor organization to everyone -- from the 16 million backpacking Americans to the more than 265 million people, tenderfeet and trail-hardened hikers, who visit our national parks annually. It covers:
Selecting equipment -- including discussions of the advantages and disadvantages of products such as the internal frame pack, lighter-weight boots, and freestanding tents
The latest "leave no trace" camping techniques
Traveling safely and sensibly -- including vital information on maps, compasses, and tips on crossing difficult terrain
Backcountry cooking, with tips on building fires and tricks for making gourmet meals
Search-and-rescue techniques, including how to organize a self-sufficient search group and when to call in professional rescue teams
Illustrated throughout with instructional drawings and photos and featuring lists of equipment, the Wilderness Guide is a must-have for anyone planning to explore the great outdoors.

Genres: Nonfiction, Outdoors, How To

268 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 1999

Reviews

[Laura Flett · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great outdoors-man read (or reference book) for those that enjoy the back-country on foot (backpacking). Although some of these concepts would be review to the avid person who spends their time in the outdoors some of the information such as how to calculate latitude when hiking into time, suggested amounts of water to drink when at rest per weight, when cotton is better than other known outdoor fabrics and when outdoor fabrics are not so great for the outdoors, etc. I think that the book is set up in such a way that you need to read the other NOLS book for sections that are more in depth, but each section does provide a great taster. The technology talked about in this book is somewhat out of date and it would be nice to see it be featured in an up to date book. This book just makes me want to take a NOLS course that much more. I will definitely be looking into the suggested reads at the end of the book as well.

[Kellye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the book a bit dated (In particular: The way the author describes the internet and the reference to 15-minute USGS maps), but the basic information was quite good.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

While a bit dated, the principles of prepared hiking and backpacking still ring true. This book goes into great detail of Leave No Trace and it’s a book every outdoor enthusiast should read.

[Garth Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wrote this review in Dubai, and it originally appeared on "Garth's Blog": http://garthhamilton.blogspot.com/201....

As a hiking/expedition leader for local Pacific NW organizations myself, I was curious as to what wisdom Mark Harvey would impart to aspiring outdoor leaders. Turns out that the advice here is very basic, but the (occasionally dated) information is presented with a good sense of humor and some amusing stories.

Outdoor skills covered in this volume include how to: Plan expeditions (goals, routes), select equipment and clothing, set up camp, get along with others on trips, use maps and compasses (I’m still an old-school map guy, so I would’ve appreciated an updated edition covering GPS units), deal with emergencies, anticipate and prepare for weather, cook food in the backcountry, and preserve the land.

Though the majority of Harvey’s advice would be common sense for outdoor junkies like myself, I read this book from cover to cover and even jotted down a few notes into Evernote. For a more detailed how-to guide pertaining to my more specific passion for mountaineering, check out The Mountaineer's Mountaineering: Freedom of the Hills. I’m currently rereading "Freedom of the Hills" on Kindle for the second time within the past 10 months… It’s THAT helpful.


Verdict: Recommended for outdoor newbies and relatively inexperienced outdoor enthusiasts who’d like to brush up on their backcountry skills, as well as learn the basics of leading groups into the wilderness.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and often entertaining beginner's guide to backpacking, camping, and general outdoorsmanship. I read this in part because I'm contemplating a NOLS trip even now, nearing the ripe old age of 30… because as much as I love being out-of-doors, I generally end up outside with more experienced and very helpful friends who end up leading (telling me what to pack, route-finding, showing me how to rainproof my pack, choosing a campsite, building the fire, etc.) while I march behind cheerfully. And that's fun, but I think I'd like to gain a little more experience and confidence.

One area where I can hold my own is planning provisions and camp cooking, but even in these areas, I learned plenty from the straightforward, thoughtful section on planning and packing rations.

I liked Harvey's voice and his personal asides... it made me want to take a NOLS trip even more, to hang out with someone practical and knowledgeable with a healthy sense of humor.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had to put this one aside and re-request it from the library ~ so it took 7ish months to actually finish it... Not one of my prouder moments.

This was a pretty solid read and I wouldn't mind having it on my shelf as a home-library reference for trip planning / camp-craft.

NOLS is a great resource for those that live a portion of their lives out-of-doors, and while you can learn a great deal from their author-instructors like Mr. Harvey ~ I'm sure there's no real substitute for getting out into the field with them and participating in their excursions to learn in a supervised environment.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to read books on survival and camping, but this one is in a separate class both for the depth of the writer's knowledge and also for the tone. I've always had a dream of attending a NOLS course, and I'm so please to have accomplished the first part of that goal when I attended a wilderness medicine course by their instructors in the summer of 2008. They really are the premier outdoor wilderness leadership school.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic resource for those planning excursions into the wilds of the world. I took pages of notes. The organization makes it simple to skip to needed parts, but their are all kinds of hidden nuggets scattered throughout - so read the whole thing. Even seasoned weekend-warriors will find plenty of new information to sink their teeth into.

[Trent Rock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the 1st survial book I ever got..And it is still one of the best..some of the equipment part is outdated..but, it has solid survival skills info....

[Jenn S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably the best outdoors book I've read even though it was published over 10 years ago.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential read for outdoor camping, travel, and wilderness excursion.

[Gary D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basic, introduction to the outdoors.

[Grace]

I have never slept one night outside in my life but I wanted to know about how people plan big backpacking trips. It seemed like a huge and expensive undertaking. And it turns out, it is.