Nature Hiking

You may worry that previous hiking guides felt too advanced or didn't touch on all the scenarios new hikers face. That's why this book was crafted with a mix of expertise and beginner-friendly guidance, ensuring that each piece of advice is actionable and practical for your first hikes.

It was 1993, Suzanne Roberts had just finished college, and when her friend suggested they hike California's John Muir Trail, the adventure sounded like the perfect distraction from a difficult home life and thoughts about the future. But she never imagined that the twenty-eight-day hike would change her life. Part memoir, part nature writing, part travelogue, Almost Somewhere is Roberts's account of that hike.

When it was first published in 1998, The Backpacker's Field Manual set the standard for comprehensive backpacking books. Now exhaustively updated to offer a more complete view of backpacking today, it covers the latest developments in gear - such as Global Positioning Systems and ultralight hiking equipment - first aid, and Leave No Trace comping, and includes a chapter devoted to outdoor leadership resources and basics. Beginners and experienced hikers alike will find this book indispensable for trip planning strategies.

In Movement There Is Peace is a powerful tale of travel, adventure, and unexpected faith. It begins with a doctor who walks away from her practice in order to cure her own paralyzing anxiety. Once free, she discovers that leaving is really only fleeing if there's no new direction. Could this be the reason for her husband's sudden inspiration?

After losing her job due to the coronavirus pandemic, a vet tech decides to confront the roots of her childhood traumas by hiking the Appalachian Trail. Pack Light follows a woman's journey changing the narrative of hiking while Black—because the great outdoors belongs to everyone.

Have you ever wanted to visit Machu Picchu, or witness the Northern Lights? To explore remote landscapes where no boot has tread, no shutter ever snapped? You can.... Before he became Green Giant on the Appalachian Trail, Gary Sizer was a Marine, a computer nerd, and a guy with a problem. No matter how much time he spends outside, it's never enough. Whether being thrashed by drill instructors at Parris Island or drenched by a squall in a high tundra, the same calming thought always prevailed: It's good to be outside.

An honest account of a woman's trek on the John Muir Trail is captured in this lively trail journal. Celebrate her joy as the beauty of the High Sierra in California is slowly revealed, feel the comradery of trail friends she meets along the way, and sympathize with her when all she wants is for the trail to end. Along the way — hikers of all ages — but especially mature hikers, will see how she and her husband met challenges head-on, lightened their load, planned meals and managed daily logistics for more than three weeks on the trail.

The conception and building of the Appalachian Trail is a story of unforgettable characters who explored it, defined it, and captured national attention by hiking it. From Grandma Gatewood—a mother of eleven who thru-hiked in canvas sneakers and a drawstring duffle—to Bill Bryson, author of the best-selling A Walk in the Woods, the AT has seized the American imagination like no other hiking path. The 2,000-mile-long hike from Georgia to Maine is not just a trail through the woods, but a set of ideas about nature etched in the forest floor.

For 18 years Ed Viesturs pursued climbing's holy grail: to stand atop the world's 14 8,000-meter peaks, without the aid of bottled oxygen. But No Shortcuts to the Top is as much about the man who would become the first American to achieve that goal as it is about his stunning quest. As Viesturs recounts the stories of his most harrowing climbs, he reveals a man torn between the flat, safe world he and his loved ones share and the majestic and deadly places where only he can go.

A young Zuni girl named Carlie teaches her friend Dan about hiking through the desert and the plants and animals they find there.

Discover the hidden gems and breathtaking vistas of Harriman State Park with "Connecting Trails," your ultimate guide to exploring one of New York's most captivating outdoor destinations. Lose yourself in the park's lush forests and majestic hills as you navigate the intricate web of trails that tell stories of history, geology, and biodiversity. Begin your journey with an introduction to the park's trail network, and uncover the rich history and stunning natural diversity found along your path. Delve into the famous Appalachian Trail as it traverses through the park, revealing its storied ...

With three hearts and blue blood, its gelatinous body unconstrained by jointed limbs or gravity, the octopus seems to be an alien, an inhabitant of another world. It’s baggy, boneless body sprouts eight arms covered with thousands of suckers—suckers that can taste as well as feel. The octopus also has the powers of a superhero: it can shape-shift, change color, squirt ink, pour itself through the tiniest of openings, or jet away through the sea faster than a swimmer can follow.

Since my visit to The Great State of Alaska in 2000, which was one of my life time dreams. I realized that it was truly Americas last frontier with wonders and beauties beyond compare. My book attempts to share some bitter sweet experiences of living in Alaska as I have through the eyes of a native in spirit. If I compared Alaska's beauty with a rainbow I fear that Alaska would suffer since Alaskan beauty is totally in the eyes of the beholder with your imagination being the only limits. Yes there are hardships as my book depicts but for every hardship there are ten times more benefits, the...

Enlightenment is elusive, but he plans on finding it. David and his monastic friend Bradley accept a mysterious invitation to Nepal, but soon find themselves faced with an immense task: navigate the chaotic streets of Kathmandu and the perilous Himalayan peaks in pursuit of profound truth. Following the sage wisdom of a local spiritual teacher and a Tibetan Lama as their guides, the two friends must face their shadows or leave empty handed.

In the arid plains of the Middle East, Jesus famously looked at his followers and said, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." In an old-growth forest of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Central Kentucky, I finally began to understand what Jesus' invitation was all about. Part memoir, part sermon, 22 Pounds invites the reader on the journey of discovery about the real weight of discipleship and the heart of what it truly means to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Jesus.

Mountain search-and-rescue volunteer Bree Loewen's to-do list isn't quite the same as most people's. A former Mount Rainier climbing ranger and trained leader in mountain search-and-rescue, Bree shares the drama and the camaraderie of this work, as well as the challenges of trying to fit her other roles as wife and mother into what is still largely a masculine environment. In a fearless voice - disarming yet laced with dark humor - Bree guides us through intense recoveries, vivid wilderness landscapes, and the warmth she discovers in motherhood, community, and purpose.

In this journey of self-discovery, Sam Heughan sets out along the West Highland Way to explore his heritage and reflect on the personal waypoints that define him. The result is a love letter to the wild Scottish landscape that means so much to Sam, and a charming, funny, wise and searching insight to the world through his eyes. Waypoints is a deeply personal journey that reveals as much to Sam about himself as it does to his audience.

The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT )is the perfect place for an average person to do something extraordinary. Bill Walker ("Skywalker"), who stands 6'11", might seem like anything but average. Yet in a brutally honest tone, he lays to bare all his considerable weaknesses and fears. Among these are crushing weight loss and fatigue, along with a fear of getting lost or a bear stealing his food. Nonetheless, he is bound and determined to hike the PCT which - at 2,663 miles - runs all the way from Mexico to Canada.

Heading for a hike? Make sure you equip yourself with these skills to help you navigate any terrain like a pro. The pull of exploring nature and the unknown is part of being a human–the desire to explore has shaped much of human history. And now, for you, it is also the foundation of many adventures.

Don't let age be a barrier to your love of hiking, or to trying it out for the first time. "50 Tips for Hikers Over 50" is your passport to a world of outdoor exploration, filled with inspiration, encouragement, and practical guidance. Whether you're seeking solitude in serene landscapes or the camaraderie of fellow hikers, this book is your go-to resource for an enriching and fulfilling hiking experience after 50. Lace up your boots, embrace the trail, and let the adventure begin!