Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. Equipment and supplies    3. Handicraft    4. Outdoor Life    5. Outdoor Skills    6. Social life and customs    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Trappers    9. West (U.S.)    10. Wilderness survival   

Reviews (7)

EMT and Wilderness Survival Instructor from Colorado
As an EMT who has considerable experience in Mountain Rescue and dealing with victims of hypothermia, I found this very informative.It is well written in very easy to understand with many excellent and interesting stories. It addresses not only solutions to survival situations but offers many preventative ideas.Well worth the money.

EMT and Wilderness Survival Instructor from Colorado
As an EMT who has considerable experience in Mountain Rescue and dealing with victims of hypothermia, I found this very informative.It is well written in very easy to understand with many excellent and interesting stories. It addresses not only solutions to survival situations but offers many preventative ideas.Well worth the money.

EMT and Wilderness Survival Instructor from Colorado
As an EMT who has considerable experience in Mountain Rescue and dealing with victims of hypothermia, I found this very informative.It is well written in very easy to understand with many excellent and interesting stories. It addresses not only solutions to survival situations but offers many preventative ideas.Well worth the money. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Handbooks, manuals, etc    2. Outdoor Skills    3. Reference    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Wilderness survival   

Reviews (1)

Better off buying the boyscout handbook
Seriously you are better off buying the boyscout handbook. If I was on Survivor Island I would want the boyscout handbook with me. I grew up in Alaska and am a former Marine and as such I have a very hard time believing the author was a Marine. The first two chapters of the book are spent explaining USGS map legends in a very limited way. Save your money on those first two chapters with the free pamphlet the USGS will send you when you buy one of their maps. The third and fourth chapters deal with compass work but in no better detail than the standard boyscout handbook or any of the easy to get military manuals on navigation. So far in the first four chapters most of the them have been spent with the author either trying to convince you he knows what he's talking about or that he is funny so you can skip the first three paragraphs of any chapter. He does actually spend twenty pages very briefly outlining methods of finding the cardinal points without a compass but doesn't explain why they work or how to get anything more than basic north south(Kemosabe the sun comes up we go other way we find California). And his chapters on finding water are just down right deadly. He tells some mythical tale about how it rains all the time in the Mojave and digging on the far side of bends in dry stream beds about three feet down will keep you alive. There are illustrations vaugely instructing you on how to get water from plastic stills, but doesn't explain how to get water into them. If you do manage to have a sheet of plastic dig a shallow pit the plastic can cover an hour or so before sunset and fill it with vegitation and your own urine and place a can or cup in the center then cover with the plastic and place a rock over the cup. In the morning you have collected water but you won't ever learn that from this book. And the truly laughable thing about the chapter comes next where he advocates following wild mustangs and deer to watering holes. And in the next chapter he advocates hunting deer for food or rabbits which is just fine assuming you brought a gun.
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Subjects:  1. Outdoor Skills    2. Reference    3. Reference - General    4. Safety    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Travel    7. Wilderness survival    8. Encyclopaedias & Reference Works    9. Outdoor survival skills    10. Sports & Recreation / Outdoor Skills    11. TRAVEL & HOLIDAY   

Subjects:  1. First Aid    2. General    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Safety    6. Search and rescue operations    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Wilderness survival   

Reviews (1)

Exciting true story of the Alaskan wilderness
Andy Nault was my uncle, having left Montana to appreciate the aloneness and wilderness of Alaska. His vivid description of his encounters with nature, awesome cold, wild animals and hardships made me feel that I was a part of his adventures. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alaska    2. Hunting    3. Trapping    4. Wilderness survival   

Reviews (1)

Individual skills still important
I think it is amazing, perhaps instructive, that as we enter the new millennium, with its high tech hardware and eye-glazing promises, there is a growing interest in learning skills that depend more on the individualand less on machines. This interest to be self-sufficient, indeed in somecases to survive, cuts across socio-economic lines and relies on theability and resources of the individual and not so much on the much-touted20th century technology and its attendant costs. The genesis of many ofthese skills may be traced to the early mountain men of America. Recentexperience teaches us that many of these skills must be re-learned, ortaught anew, to most Americans. Fortunately, there is a good teacher fromwestern Colorado that has taken the time to pack a lifetime of learning andskills into "Lighting Grandma's Fire." Cunningham is a lifelongpractitioner of early mountain man skills. He grew up in Maine and hasbecome a recognized authority on basic survival skills of American Mountainmen. The book is chock full of basic information that will vastly imporvethe skills, and perhaps chances of survival, of anyone who contemplatesever going into the outdoors. In 16 easy-to-read chapters you will learnhow to do everything from making a Slouch Hat to the basics of Scrimshaw.Also, you will learn to light a fire without matches; sharpen a knife; makeleather trousers and Indian moccasins; build your own Bucksaw; make a gourdcantee; use a Dutch oven; make snowshoes and a host of other skills thatwill amaze you. Cunninghaw writes in an informative, highly readable style.Unlike other books dealing with these subjects, this book is written insuch a manner that you feel you are in the woods with the author, learningtogether in a fun, non-technical setting. As a bonus, there is abibliography, a comprehensive list of suppliers and some wonderfulgraphics. If the reader has the remotest interest in early day mountainmen, outdoor skills, or learning to be more self-sufficient, and don't wantto spend a lot of money on the basics, get this book. You can spend morebut you cant buy better. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 19th century    2. Design - General    3. Equipment and supplies    4. General    5. Handicraft    6. History    7. History - General History    8. Social life and customs    9. Sports    10. Sports & Recreation    11. Sports & Recreation / Outdoor Skills    12. Trappers    13. West (U.S.)    14. Wilderness survival    15. Outdoor Skills    16. Patterns    17. Survival skills   

Subjects:  1. Education    2. Outdoor Education    3. Outdoor recreation    4. Recreation leadership    5. Study and teaching    6. Wilderness survival   

Reviews (3)

I am the author of this book
I wrote this book with priorities in mind. First I should let you know that I was a full time emergency medical services provider (EMT, Paramedic and related instructor) for over 20 years and have been a law enforcement officer for over 15 years. I now work full time as a conservation officer. Hobbies have included flying, camping, canoeing, hunting, fishing and photography. The photography expanded to a business that now includes writing.With all of that mentioned to give something about my background, I will mention that my first priority with this book is to save lives. The most important life saving skills and preventative measures are basic. This book covers them. I am the author of this book
I wrote this book with priorities in mind. First I should let you know that I was a full time emergency medical services provider (EMT, Paramedic and related instructor) for over 20 years and have been a law enforcement officer for over 15 years. I now work full time as a conservation officer. Hobbies have included flying, camping, canoeing, hunting, fishing and photography. The photography expanded to a business that now includes writing.With all of that mentioned to give something about my background, I will mention that my first priority with this book is to save lives. The most important life saving skills and preventative measures are basic. This book covers them. Help Has Arrived
Where was this book when I needed it?While photographing outdoors, I have had hypothermia, heat stroke and dehydration. Twice I have been hopelessly lost. This book does an excellent job of zeroing in on issuesfor outdoor photographers -- and that means a combination of outdoorphotography and survival skills.The authors clearly are veryknowledgeable about their subject.The book is well-organized andwell-written. It even gave me new ideas to try and included other helpfulresources. Don't leave the paved trail without this book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Nature photography    2. Outdoor Skills    3. Outdoor photography    4. Photo Techniques    5. Photography    6. Techniques - General    7. Wilderness survival   

Subjects:  1. Camping    2. Equipment and supplies    3. Maintenance and repair    4. Outdoor Survival Techniques    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Tents    8. Wilderness survival   

Subjects:  1. Outdoor life    2. Survival after airplane accide    3. Survival after airplane accidents, shipwrecks, etc    4. Wilderness survival   

Subjects:  1. Children's 9-12 - Sports / Recreation / Outdoors    2. Children's Books/Ages 9-12 Nonfiction    3. Children: Grades 2-3    4. Everest, Mount (China and Nepal)    5. Juvenile Nonfiction    6. Juvenile literature    7. Mountaineering    8. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences    9. Science & Nature - Earth Sciences - Geography    10. Science & Technology - Earth Sciences    11. Sports & Recreation - General    12. Wilderness survival   

Reviews (3)

okay, but needs updating
I found this to be a decent source of information on basic hiking and backpacking skills, but felt it was somewhat lacking in detail.I picked up a few good tips here and there, but anyone looking for detailed information on the topics covered in this book would be better off looking elsewhere.Also, the book is starting to show signs of age, especially in the chapter on equipment - example; GPS navigation is not covered in the book.A revised or new addition should solve this problem.A good book, but not outstanding.

Not enough detail!!!
Although Wilderness Basics covers the essential topics regarding roughing it in the outdoors, it lacks sufficient detail for novice campers. The authors should have added more depth to the gear section, particularly about tents. Furthermore, they failed to adequately discuss weatherproofing for tents, a definite basic for me! There are some topics that are informative, and campers should know them, but I was looking for a book to keep in my pack for reference. This book was not it. Happy travels!

Not enough detail!!!
Although Wilderness Basics covers the essential topics regarding roughing it in the outdoors, it lacks sufficient detail for novice campers. The authors should have added more depth to the gear section, particularly about tents. Furthermore, they failed to adequately discuss weatherproofing for tents. There are some topics that are good, and campers should no them, but I was looking for a book to keep in my pack for reference. This book was not it. Happy travels! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Skills    2. Outdoor life    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. West (U.S.)    6. Wilderness survival   

Reviews (1)

Excellent review of basic skills!
Having been involved in Scouting and camping since 1965 I found this book to be a great review of the basic skills I was taught as a youth. In todays world of high tech camping gadgets this book brings you back to"bucket stoves". While I realy enjoyed this book I found it to betoo heavey into outdoor baking and lacking in certain areas such as outdoorsanition and how to set up a tarp without it blowing down. But I guesseverything can't be covered in one book.I felt this book was well worthreading for everyone who ventures farther than their backyard on a campingtrip. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Camping    2. Hiking    3. Outdoor Survival Techniques    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Wilderness survival   

Subjects:  1. Camping    2. Mountaineering    3. Nature/Ecology    4. Outdoor Life    5. Outdoor Skills    6. Reference    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Wilderness survival    9. Active outdoor pursuits   

Subjects:  1. Outdoor Life    2. Outdoor recreation    3. Outward bound schools    4. Study and teaching    5. United States    6. Wilderness survival   

Reviews (4)

Excellent, and PRACTICAL
I venture into the boreal wilderness twice a year, so this book is a natural fit (the book's setting is mainly boreal/sub-boreal).What is best about the book is it's practicality.Though there is enough information on bare-bones survival, Alan Fry assumes that, if you've headed into the wilderness whether by foot, watercraft, or bush plane, you've had enough sense about you to bring some essentials (and attached to your person!).This is a needed contrast to all the wilderness survival books out there that teach survival techniques assuming you are veritably buck naked.Why would that ever happen to you?Exactly how did you wind up in such a situation?There can only be one reason: poor planning and sheer stupidity.Thus, this book generally assumes that you've got at least some basic items strapped on to you (e.g., knife, matches, rations, compass, fishing accouterments, saw, medical kit, snare wire, and RIFLE!).AS to the latter, many survival books don't address the use of firearms at all and, the fact is, if you've got one, your chances of survival just increased 10-fold.Plus, Fry doesn't inundate the reader with pet religious philosophies (ala Tom Brown!) that have nothing to do with why you purchased the book.
very informative
I have alot of books on the topic but this has to be one of my favorites. The author really knows what he's talking about and lies it down what works in the real world of Northern outdoor survival/camping without all the fancy story telling aproach. It is well written, step by step along with very informative drawings which are the best I've seen. It contains tons of useful info from clothing materials to traps and shelter making methods. Really beefy stuff and all clearly explained. There's a reason this book has gone out of print, find out why.

very informative
I have alot of books on the topic but this has to be one of my favorites. The author really lies it down what works in the real world of Northern outdoor survival and long term camping. It is really well written, step by step along with very informative drawings which are the best I've seen. It contains tons of traps and shelter making methods. There's a reason it has gone out of print, find out why. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Canada    2. Handbooks, manuals, etc    3. Nature/Ecology    4. Outdoor Skills    5. Outdoor Survival Techniques    6. Sports & Recreation    7. United States    8. Wilderness survival    9. Sports & Recreation / Outdoor Skills   

Subjects:  1. Handbooks, manuals, etc    2. Outdoor Skills    3. Outdoor Survival Techniques    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Wilderness survival    7. Active outdoor pursuits   

Subjects:  1. Frontier and pioneer life    2. History    3. History - Military / War    4. History: American    5. Military - Weapons    6. United States - Colonial Period    7. West (U.S.)    8. Wilderness survival    9. History / Military / Weapons   

Reviews (1)

A great way to introduce kids to hiking and camping.
Kids Outdoors does a great job at teaching kids the basics of hiking,camping and even canoeing, weather signs and more. My daughter loves thebook. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Backpacking    2. Children: Grades 4-6    3. Hiking    4. Juvenile Nonfiction    5. Juvenile literature    6. Outdoor Skills    7. Sports & Recreation    8. Sports & Recreation - General    9. Wilderness survival    10. Active outdoor pursuits   

Reviews (3)

Excellent and comprehensive on important details
As always, Molvar gives us an in-depth look at what we need to know: the weather, the terrain, the animals and their normal habitats, reading from maps, packing supplies, essentials on clothing, what foods on the trail to avoid and what to watch for, how to interpret the forests, etc. There is very little in the book that a backpacker or angler would not find pertinent to his visit to Alaska. The writing flows smoothly and evenly, and no part gets greater treatment than the rest. I recommend this as a useful manual to hikers and campers ready to visit Alaska, both novice and veteran. Molvar's firsthand experience shows on every page.

Great First Book on Hiking Alaska
This book gives a brief overview of the various regions in Alaska to consider, but focuses more on providing knowledge needed to backpack successfully in the state.The chapters on techniques (including river crossing, snowfield travel, and glacial travel) and wildlife are particularly useful. There is also a chapter on navigating via compass and map, which is helpful since there are very few trails in Alaska.This is a good first read for someone planning their initial backpacking expedition in the nation's largest state.For the more advanced Alaskan, it probably would not be too helpful.

GOOD GUIDE FOR AK!
THis book is almost perfact for those people who arelooking for an Alaska guide book. Some information good be more specific though.. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alaska    2. Backpacking    3. Camping    4. Safety measures    5. Travel    6. Travel - United States    7. United States - Pacific - Alaska    8. United States - West - Pacific (General)    9. Walking    10. Wilderness survival    11. North America    12. Travel & holiday guides    13. Walking, hiking, trekking