Backpacking Overnights--North Carolina Mountains, South Carolina Upstate
Milestone Press continues its mission of publishing quality outdoor guides with Jim Parham's Backpacking Overnights. From the best of the Great Smoky Mountains National Parks to Gorges State Park, Jim describes overnight backpacks in a clear, concise, and lively manner. I love the format.I've only met one person who learned how to backpack from a book. Most hikers learn from others. Sometimes the advice is sound and other times it's lousy and every once in a while, it's dangerous. Jim Parham's new book offers detailed sound advice for the novice and experienced backpackers. Jim takes you by the hand, shows you that you can backpack, and gets you on the trail. He almost promises that you'll have a good time.The section in his book on choosing and using gear is invaluable. Who knew that a closed-cell foam pad (the kind I use) could double as lightning protection in a thunderstorm? He discusses water purification systems while telling the reader that no matter how clear the water in the stream looks, chances are that there may be something that could make you sick.Jim's book is the voice of experience. He remembers to pack a scrub pad to clean his cook pots. He reminds readers not to get too large a pack because "space provided usually equals space filled." And he's not afraid to have a section on "Toilet Needs," even if he does call bodily functions number one and number two. He's so thorough in his approach to backpacking that I expected him to have a section on sex in the woods.No matter how many hiking books you have on your shelf, get Backpacking Overnights. I'll meet you on the trail. --Danny Bernstein --hike leader, outdoor writer, and author of Hiking The Carolina Mountains