Essential Outdoor Reading List.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Ok boy's and girl's, what book's do you consider to be essential to all outdoorsey folk

I'll go first with 2 books I consider field essential book's and then a 3rd optional one.

The timeless Sas survival guide
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SAS-Survival-Guide-Survive-Anywhere/dp/0007183305/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212581473&sr=1-1 Set the standard for all following books

Food for free...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Food-Free-Collins-Richard-Mabey/dp/0007183038/ref=pd_sim_b?ie=UTF8&qid=1212581473&sr=1-1 a handy book to have for potential (non running) food source

And lastly, this one...
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Disaster-Survival-Collins-GEM-Uk/dp/0007247362/ref=pd_sim_b_title_20 Not essential, but a subject we can't really ignore these days

So what would you guy's recommend

[FredKJ]

One of my favorites is by one of those Brits, Colin Fletcher, "The Complete Walker IV".  Aside from being informative he makes a nice enjoyable read.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Walker-IV-Colin-Fletcher/dp/0375703233/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212585916&sr=8-1

[FredKJ]

In the gastronomical department I always liked this one.

http://www.amazon.com/Hungry-Hikers-Book-Good-Cooking/dp/0394707745/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212586835&sr=1-1

These aren't survival books.  But then when you are in the outdoors it isn't about survival.  You can actually enjoy it.  In the food department learning how to use a dutch oven can make you a big fan at a campsite.  You can cook everything from cobblers to roasts in those things and do it well. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Thanks mate, I'm sure I've seen that fletcher one before

[FredKJ]

Fletcher is a good book and a fun read.  Nothing like the meanderings of an old fart persnickity Brit.   When he comes to discussing survival with it's own section he says there is not much to say as most of the material in the book covers skills you would need in an outdoor survival situation.  Also essential for outdoor books is some stuff on navigation.  I thought about what book is best.  Don't know of one specific one to recommend.  Having a map and compass isn't enough though.  You have to practice.  And a GPS augments a map and compass, doesn't replace it. 

[ringzero]

One of my favorites is by one of those Brits, Colin Fletcher, "The Complete Walker IV".  Aside from being informative he makes a nice enjoyable read.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Walker-IV-Colin-Fletcher/dp/0375703233/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212585916&sr=8-1

Another excellent book by Colin Fletcher is "The Man Who Walked Through Time."

Describes Colin's solo backpack along the length of the Grand Canyon, which he did in the early 1960s IIRC.

Includes some nice pics and maps of the Canyon and lots of good stuff on the planning and logistics of long solo wilderness treks.

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[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Here's another one, written by my personnel guru, Ray Mears...

http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Bushcraft-Raymond-Mears/dp/0340829710/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1212589981&sr=1-4

Very fine book, and still just about small enough to take with you on the trail

[Mike Micklea]

Here are a couple that I stuff in the pack whenever I go.

A Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness & Travel Medicine

Six Ways In & 12 Ways Out

And I'd definitely suggest reading Cody Lundin's book.  98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Here are a couple that I stuff in the pack whenever I go.

A Comprehensive Guide to Wilderness & Travel Medicine

Six Ways In & 12 Ways Out

And I'd definitely suggest reading Cody Lundin's book.  98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive

Six Ways In And Twelve Ways Out, look's like a good field manual to have, I'll have to add that one to the list cheers

The 98.6 I'm gona see if I can order through work

[FredKJ]

I've read "The Man Who Walked Through Time", excellent.  Not a technical read but gets you in the mood.  One book I generally wouldn't recommend for navigation is Bjorn Kjellstrom's map and compass book.  It's not that it isn't a good book.  It's a bit dated and more directed at sport orienteering. 

[ringzero]

Ok boy's and girl's, what book's do you consider to be essential to all outdoorsey folk

For primitive, live-off-the-land style camping and trekking, everyone should have a look at "Camping and Woodcraft" by Horace Kephart http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_Kephart , published in 1906.

This book is a true classic in the literature of outdoors 'how to' books - Kephart really knew his stuff.

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[FredKJ]

Just a note on living off the land.  It's good to learn stuff like edible plants in your area or how to build shelters.  Thing is these activities burn a lot of calories.  If you are burning more calories collecting the food than you are getting from it it's generally not a good thing.  It takes a long time to master stuff like edible plants.  Most people don't get to that point.  In an emergency survival situation it's more about stabalizing the situation taking care of protection from the elements and injuries.  Then making those tricky decisions about staying put signalling for help or trying to get out. 

[Mike Micklea]

Just a note on living off the land.  It's good to learn stuff like edible plants in your area or how to build shelters.  Thing is these activities burn a lot of calories.  If you are burning more calories collecting the food than you are getting from it it's generally not a good thing.  It takes a long time to master stuff like edible plants.  Most people don't get to that point.  In an emergency survival situation it's more about stabalizing the situation taking care of protection from the elements and injuries.  Then making those tricky decisions about staying put signalling for help or trying to get out. 

That's one of the reasons I like Cody's book.  It's more about 72 hour survival... doing what you need to stay alive until rescue (hopefully)

[NutSAK]

I have a copy of the US Marines survival guide in PDF form (571 pages). 

If anyone would like a copy, PM me.

[ringzero]

Just a note on living off the land....Then making those tricky decisions about staying put signalling for help or trying to get out. 

I shouldn't have used the phrase "live off the land" because wilderness survival and foraging for food is not what Kephart's "Camping and Woodcraft" is about.

It's about the "state of the art" in equipment and technique for wilderness camping and treking - as it was practiced at the turn of the last century (circa 1900.)

Many of the techniques commonly used back then are unethical or illegal to use today on public land.  Nevertheless, the book has a wealth of information on practical woodcraft that is still valuable a century after it was written.

It's especially good for people who like to "roll your own" equipment and take pride in getting by with a minimalist selection of gear.  Maybe to save money, maybe to save weight, maybe for the simple pleasure of building and then using your own stuff out in the wild.

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