(Part 2) Reddit mentions: The best hiking & camping books

Hey there, I think I may be able to help you!

I spent a month in Japan hiking and hitch-hiking, as well as over 6 months living/working there. Mt.Fuji was very high on my to-do list, but I'd missed the season and was strongly advised against doing it, despite having a fair level of experience and being just about a month too late. The official season is from July 1st - August 31st. It's fairly obvious why you can't go in winter, and the main reason for being unable to go in Autumn and Spring would be unreliable/bad weather and the facilities closing down. People do go outside of the season of course, and one of the best times may be two weeks either end of the season - you won't be fighting the crowds, conditions should be alright.

As for going in May, I would advise against it and wouldn't do it myself despite having done plenty of hiking elsewhere. As far as I know, nothing is physically stopping you going whenever you want, so it will never be closed as such. Some enthusiasts (and professionals) will go up mid-winter.

I'll answer the rest of your questions anyway though, and then give you a few pointers/other ideas.


Getting There/Base

Getting a train or bus from Tokyo is easy, there are plenty of them (a lot more during the season though). A bus would be cheaper. I don't think you'll be able to get public transport to the 5th base (where most people hike from to the top) easily off season, so it might require taking a return taxi from Fujiyoshida. If you want more specifics, I can look into this quite easily. If you're not travelling onwards and further south, or planning on staying in the area, it's very easy just to use Tokyo as a base. I'm pretty sure this is the thing most people do - just make it an overnight trip from Tokyo.


Sunrise/Sunset

Sunrise is the one people go to Mt.Fuji to see, and in season most of the transport from Tokyo is geared up for this - they'll take you to the right place to walk up in time for the sunrise, then you can hike back down and get back.


Alternatives

Like I said, I don't think going in May is the best of ideas unless you have a good level of experience under your belt. If you decide to go ahead with it, make sure you leave your information with the police in Yoshida.

A great alternative would be doing a hike in the Fuji 5 Lakes area. This is at the base of Mt.Fuji, so you'll have amazing views of the mountain and the surrounding area. I haven't hiked there myself, but I can find more info if this sounds interesting to you. You can do this as a day trip from Tokyo, or spend a little longer if you have the time.

From your post it sounds like you're looking for a 2 day trip from Tokyo with hiking involved. A place I can't recommend enough would be Nikko National Park a few hours by train to the north of Tokyo. You'll be spoiled for choices of things to do here and I would go again at the drop of a hat. There are some amazing hikes around the area and plenty of shrines and historical sites to see as well if that's your thing. One hike near there which I did takes you through a stunning marsh with all kinds of flora and leads to the hot spring town of Yumoto Onsen, a great place to soak your bones after a long day's walk. Again, if you'd like more info about these places just ask and I'll flesh it out a bit more.



Further Info

• Wikitravel - Mt.Fuji
  
  
• Wikitravel - Nikko
  
  
• Hiking In Japan - Lonley Planet - An amazing and invaluable resource, anybody thinking of hiking in Japan should buy this. Full of info, maps and ideas, you'll very quickly grow to love and cherish this book.

I wouldn't say one of the most scientifically precise and experience-proven books on bushcraft, from one of the legends of survival lore, who many of the greats cite as their influence or teacher, is "lacking" or "geared towards weekend bushcrafters". I would say instead that you were maybe expecting a different book.

I think you're mistaking the book as an overall guide to survival, perhaps misled by the subtitle "Outdoor Skills And Wilderness Survival", which wasn't included on earlier editions of the book (first published as Northern Bushcraft). This is how publishers, in hopes of luring more buyers, can obscure the aim and sphere of an author's work.

The focus of Bushcraft is narrower than the catch-all guides like Lofty's SAS Survival Guide, but by the same token the book contributes a great deal of instruction that those other guides leave out in terms of the hands-on skills of bushcraft. The book focuses on the fundamentals of fashioning your survival and comfort from resources found in the wilderness (particularly, but not exclusively, the boreal forest). It focuses on the craft part of bushcraft: developing the skills to create (craft) the things you need with your hands or with the tools you carry. Given the focus of the book, it irks me to read the word 'lacking' in reference to this revered classic by Kochanski. To my mind, the book is more for the person who wants to spend extended time in the bush, free to work, travel, or reside, unburdened by many of the items carried by backpackers and casual campers.

Re. water purification: it might be easy to overlook Kochanski's first comment (in the introduction) that boiling is the most reliable method. (Therefore firemaking skills come into play and a metal pot is of great value, if not indispensable).

Also in the introduction, Mors mentions the decision not to include broad information on various animal species. Adding enough information on hunting to be useful would have made it a completely different and much larger book, or rather a multi-volume set. Whether the choice was a matter of subject focus, marketability, or publisher concerns, it's clear what the book is and is not.

Similarly, Kochanski has said many times that plant lore comprises 70% to 80% of survival knowledge, if by survival we mean the ability to comfortably sustain oneself indefinitely in the wilderness; but his Bushcraft also leaves out the many volumes of encyclopedic knowledge he could impart on this topic. Again, the scope and focus of the book are clear. It was never meant to be an all-encompassing reference; and I think Kochanski himself would find such an idea laughable, since he himself continues to research, conceive, and test survival knowledge and strategies even after many decades of expertise, and continues to make use of many reference sources as well as teach on many platforms. Anyway, books are only the jumping-off point for further study and practice, not an assurance that you will fare any better in dire circumstances.

This is a book on the craft part of bushcraft; and one of the best you're likely to find on the subject.

Edit: From the seller's description of Northern Bushcraft:
>This book provides practical advice on skills required for prolonged stays in the wilderness, using a minimum of materials and tools.

Hiking the Wasatch has been an indispensable guide for me.

My favorite local hike, step for step, is Mt. Raymond. It's long and meandering rather than straight up, you get to climb on the rocks near the peak, and you don't see a single ski lift. Just nature. In the next couple of weeks, the fall color should be great. I love Mt. Raymond from Butler Fork (Big Cottonwood Canyon) or Bowman Fork (Millcreek Canyon).

Lake Blanch (BCC) and The Pfeifferhorn (Little Cottonwood Canyon) are staggeringly beautiful. Silver Fork up to the ridgeline (BCC) and White Pine Lake (LCC) are pretty impressive, too.

For short hikes, I'd suggest Catherine Pass and Cecret Lake in Albion Basin (LCC); Doughnut Falls in BCC; Silver Lake in American Fork; Stewarts Falls near Sundance; Alexander Basin in Millcreek; and Killyon Canyon in Emigration for a little stroll after class.

For backpacking, I've mostly gone to the Uintas. If I were backpacking here, I'd probably do something in the mountains between American Fork & Little Cottonwood. Someday I'll finally do the beloved Timpanogos. Maybe an easy overnight on the mountains between Millcreek & Big Cottonwood Canyon. The meadow atop Neff's Canyon would be a nice camping spot, I think.

The sunny, town-adjacent hikes you dislike are quite nice in the fall and spring. I did Mt. Olympus one October, and it was a great day. The foothills have a haunting beauty during the "dead" months. They also have little surprises. The old cars, the Living Room, Jack's Mountain Mailboxes, the Pencil Peak fort. Explore the hills that are closest to you, and you will find your own secrets.

Lone Star Hiking Trail, just north of Houston. Easy 7 day thru hike, 5 days if you do 20 miles a day (its been done in 3). No extreme terrain, little change in elevation. The biggest changes in elevation come when you get to a creek bed and have to climb down and then back out again.

No campsite restrictions (except during deer season), you can camp anywhere on the trail as long as you're 100 feet away from the trail. That maximizes your potential daily mileage as you can go dawn till dusk. The flat terrain means there are generally few bad places to put a tent, and its extremely freindly to hammock camping.

Water can be dicey in certain sections, but there are enough places where the trail crosses a road that with good planning you can cache water and never run out. Good weather in March with cold to cool nights and cool to warm days. Close to civilization and within an hour to a major airport. Easy navigation on a well marked trail. The maps are on Maprika, an app that will show your position on the maps without using a data connection on your phone.

http://lonestartrail.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/963582880392121/

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/LSHT/info;_ylc=X3oDMTJlYjBmOWRhBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzE4NTEzOTA1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NjAwNQRzZWMDaGRyBHNsawNocGgEc3RpbWUDMTQ3OTk3NTk3NQ--

Here's a couple of pages where you can network with locals, perhaps get some support:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/30652247683/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TexasHammockHangers/

http://hammockhangers.net/viewforum.php?f=34&sid=b77d465240f4424da4290ec9d96386d7

Two trail guides are available, although the one on the club website is good as well:

https://www.amazon.com/Lone-Star-Hiking-Trail-Wilderness/dp/0899975046/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480258998&sr=8-1&keywords=lone+star+trail+guide

This is the most recent:

https://www.amazon.com/Plan-Lone-Star-Hiking-Trail/dp/1943126011/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480258998&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=lone+star+trail+guide

This isn't "backpacking for dummies" but its an excellent resources, as is his blog:

http://andrewskurka.com/product/ultimate-hikers-gear-guide/

Honestly March is still ski season for me. If you are going to Eugene Spencer Butte wouldn't be what I would climb. I would go for Mt pisgah instead. That is going to have best views of thew mountains in that area. On a clear day you can see the three sisters.

Another thing you will be contending with is weather. It is very likely it will be cloudy and raining as well. It will be a good idea to have a backup so you can still go see something cool and not end up on a cloudy peak. You would missing quite the opportunity if you are in Salem and you don't go to silver falls state park. For the Salem area I would recommend picking up 100 hikes in the central Oregon Cascade. It has a lot of good trail suggestions plus the seasons that you are most likely able to hike them. Oregon Hikers is another fantastic resource and is pretty searchable with categories.

Another word of caution is you will legally need chains or traction tires (in your case I'm assuming chains since you are in a rental) in your car to go over passes. The snow zone requirement doesn't go away until the end of march. You can purchase a set of chains at Les Schwab and you can return them for a full refund if unused.

Youtube is loaded with videos on the subject:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Map+and+Compass+Skills


Also: http://www.amazon.com/Staying-Found-Complete-Compass-Handbook/dp/0898867851

http://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Navigation-Finding-Altimeter-Mountaineers/dp/1594859450/ref

http://www.amazon.com/Expert-Map-Compass-Bjorn-Kjellstrom/dp/0470407654/ref


One great practice to get into is to use your more advanced navigational aids primarily to confirm or correct what you have already determined by more basic methods.


For instance, get used to reflexively observing your surroundings (Especially stopping every 100 paces or so to look at and study your back trail). Practice estimating the distances/direction that you have walked and the times elapsed. Become aware of the position of the sun or the prevailing winds (Observing the effect that these winds have over time on local vegetation).


Even jets flying overhead can provide clues as to general directions. In my area of Upstate NY, the vast majority of jets flying at altitude maintain a roughly east/west flight path. Even on a cloudy night when the stars and the moon are totally hidden, I can often see the lights of jets blinking through the cloud cover, giving me a clue as to whether or not I have begun traveling in a circle in the dark.


A GREAT read: http://www.naturalnavigator.com/tristan-gooley

http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Navigator-Rediscovered-Letting-Nature/dp/1615190465/ref


Several times a day, without looking at your map estimate your location and heading direction/distance to your starting point and your destination. Once you have done this, take out your map and confirm your estimates. If you have a good vantage point, take several bearings with your compass on significant features (Focusing on contour features on your topo map) and then triangulate to determine your location.


The most important practice is to primarily rely on your GPS as a means of confirming and correcting your earlier navigational estimates. As you get more accomplished and as your confidence levels rise, you will find that observational navigation will become second nature to you.

I found I was able to walk, bike, or take lyft/bus most anywhere and ended up driving only once or twice a month. There's so many great places to find and explore just by moving a little slower. Enjoy living in the city.

Loved walking up and down the hills, there's hidden stairs everywhere. Walnut Hills, Prospect and Mt. Auburn, Mt. Adams, all have great places to check out. Loved walking across the bridges, so much beauty to see from above the river. Don't forget to walk around Covington and Newport too, they're right there and have super cool neighborhoods in their own right.

Like someone else said, there's events and parades all the time down there, so there's always something to do.

Edit: Check out this great book

I was talking with my friend who did half of the trip with me and we went through all the fantastic things about Idaho together. He reminded me that the group of bad ass hot springs along a river deep in the woods where he stayed for 5 days. The hot springs were fantastic. The hot water flowed out of the hillside and into a pool where big rocks were circled. Another tiny stream of cold spring water ran right along it and you could move a single 5 pound rock to adjust the temperature of the natural hot tub. The sand below it was very hot and you could just bury your feet in it and relax for hours. If you got too hot you could just roll out of it and into the snow melt water river which was alongside it. A moose would walk up to us and drink from the river. 2 naked old men accompanied us for a few hours. When we got to Olympic National Park I spotted a book with a picture on the cover of the exact place where we were days before. The naked old men agreed that this was the best hot springs of any they've been to, and they've been to many.

My picture

The Book

Atop a random pile of giant boulders in the idaho forest.

I love the Smokies. My favorite campground is the Cattaloochee horse camp (there's a non-horse camp there too). I love it because there are elk in the area that sometimes even wander into camp! The downside is it's a long drive up the side of a mountain on a narrow twisty road.

My other favorite campground is Elkmont. It's a pretty popular frontcountry campground but there are a LOT of trails to hike right out of the area so you don't have to drive to a trailhead. There are RV sites, tent sites, and walk-in tent spots (you park your car and carry your tent/supplies a short distance to your site).

There's also backcountry camping with a permit. You are supposed to use recognized sites and bear precautions everywhere in the backcountry.

All frontcountry campsites require a reservation. Sometimes backcountry areas are closed due to bear activity so check with the ranger station before you set out for your destination.

I totally recommend you get this trail guidebook, it's the best trail guide I've ever read for any state/national park.

Hiking Trails of the Smokies https://www.amazon.com/dp/0937207152/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_RzNYDbTPWSRC8

The Hiking the Wasatch book has a companion map that is pretty good for the area. I usually go to the State Map Store on N Temple just before Redwood Road. An awesome resource for all the surrounding states. They have a huge selection of 7.5 minute quads if you really want details. Good luck.

Not off the top of my head as I'm fairly new here and plan to get more into hiking the area this summer season. However, I find www.localhikes.com to be a good resource for finding hikes to do subsequent research on. Also, the ADK Trails (Forest Preserve Series) are good guides (e.g., Amazon Link).

A very short hike would be Vroman's Nose a little SE of Albany. A fairly nice (but flat) trail is around Peeble's Island NE of Albany. Otherwise, the Lake George area ADKs would be a good bet for day hikes.

Good luck and hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I comes along.

Here are some of my recommendations, taking into account that some of the mountain parks (Rainier, St Helens, and Crater Lake) will still be partially closed due to snow:

Columbia River Gorge - Just east of Portland, full of spectacular waterfalls and trails, some nice small-ish towns, and some hot springs (Bonneville, Carson, Wind River)

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - and undervisited gem in Central Oregon, home of the beautiful Painted Hills, and you may even time it right to catch the spring wildflower bloom there

Oregon Caves National Monument - it's in far SW Oregon, and one of the few, if not only, limestone caves in the PNW.

Olympic NP - Beautiful coastline, rain forests, alpine scenery (still snow in the higher elevations, though)

A few other cave recommendations are Ape Cave near Mt St Helens, Craters of the Moon NM in Idaho, Lava River Cave near Bend, OR, and Lava Beds NM just over the Oregon Border in California.

For hot springs, I'd highly recommend this guidebook

There's probably no way you could even do all of these in 4 days, so you might want to pick an area and focus in on that. Or fly to Portland or Seattle and rent a car, the extra days might be worth the extra expense.

The only other official resort in Idaho is Sun Meadow in Worley, 260 miles from Boise. Oregon has a few, but I don't know if any are in the Eastern half, so it depends on how far you're willing to drive. Utah has none, haven't heard of any in Nevada. Don't know about the other neighboring states.

Idaho's big advantage is the hot springs. It's known for having some of the best hot springs in the country, and many of them are traditionally clothing optional. The trick is that none of them, to my knowledge, are officially clothing optional, so it takes familiarity and experience to know which ones are nude-friendly in practice and which are not. I have two books, Hiking Hot Springs in the Pacific Northwest and Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Northwest, that have extensive information on the whole region, including notes on the trend of clothed vs nude at each one, but I take that with a grain of salt given that it's been a few years since the most recent editions. I can't advise on any of the Idaho springs, since I've really only gone to one in Oregon. It's closer than any of the Idaho springs, but it's a mixed bag at best when it comes to nudity.

I got this book to plan my trip: Kev Reynolds

And I've spent a lot of time on this site: http://www.autourdumontblanc.com/en/

This site has been pretty helpful as well: https://www.chamonix.net/

There are scores of trip reports, videos, and reviews of this trail. It's very easy to fall down the research rabbit hole. Have a great trip!

From McCall, you have trail Creek that is 20 miles out of cascade and then keep going out to warm Lake and hit up mile 16 springs.. That loop has about 10 or so springs in varying conditions and popularity. If you keep going further south towards Boise and turn on the banks-lowmen Highway and head towards crouch/garden Valley there are another 25 or so springs from there.. Crouch/garden Valley would be the real place to base out of if your going to do a trip specifically to soak.. From there my favorites are Kirkham, pine flats, pine burl, and skinnerdipper. Once again all varieties of conditions and popularity.


I highly recommend the Falcon Guide "Hot Springs in the Pacific Northwest" it's an awesome guidebook with all the info you need on any springs in BC/Washington/Oregon/Idaho..



EDIT: Here is the Amazon link. Sorry for the ugly formating.. On my phone.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0762783702/ref=pd_aw_sims_7?pi=SY115&simLd=1

So I asked a similar question to the LSHT Facebook group way back in the day, and they suggested the book I'll link below. Basically they said this book was written more recently, where as the one you linked is somewhat dated. The one I have gives really good information about the trail, as well as general tips for backpacking, and how to plan trips. Very beginner friendly stuff. Lol. But still helpful to me when I was starting out. If youd like, you can PM me your address and I'll let you have my copy: )

Plan & Go | Lone Star Hiking Trail: All you need to know to complete Texas’ longest wilderness footpath (Plan & Go Hiking) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1943126011/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1w-QCbEER24BK

Brooklyn Brainery has some interesting walking tours when the weather is better. I've only done one walking tour through them so far (Crimes in NYC) but the guide was incredibly knowledgeable and the tour was interesting. I recommend all their classes, really. There are also plenty of books with guides to tours, I recently bought myself a City Walks book and while I haven't taken myself on any of the trips yet, it's a good starting point for ideas.

Shared on the original thread, but thought people in K-town might like the same info:

If you're coming in March, the weather can be very volatile. East TN itself will be 70 one day and in the 30s and snowing the next. (We were this week.) Your main concern will be spring storms on that front.

So, here are some relevant links. Let us know where you are looking to go & when. I'm sure we can help you out.

National Park Service site on the campsites

Another look at the campgrounds and back country sites

Clickable Trail Map (printed in 1997, anyone who's been to the park has seen this map.) It still doesn't beat the little brown book.

Trail listing (site is not working correctly)

Download maps from the NPS. Includes Trail, park, and campground maps.

And the NPS GSMNP Hiking page. Has some important information, including how to find out road and facilities closings.

A good general overview of BC's history, geography, etc with maps & photos.

If you plan to return and do some hiking this is great as well.

For super cool photos of what Vancouver used to look like, try to find a Fred Herzog collection book online. Modern Colour and Vancouver Photographs are my favourites.

The Sykes Hot Springs in the Ventana Wilderness (Big Sur) you can backpack to. It's about 20 miles out and back or you can drop your car off on the backside and walk from the ocean through China Camp if you're feeling adventurous. My only advice is to go on a weekday if possible. The trail has gotten really popular over the years and gets really crowded. Water is still hot but often too many people to accommodate.

http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/hotsprings.html[1]

Here's a quick map from the parking lot to the springs if you're interested here

Also, this book is worth picking up if natural hot springs are your thing

Yeah, the snow camping around here is great. I'd suggest picking up a copy of 100 Hikes in Oregon as a start. Once you hit August I recommend pretty much anywhere in the Three Sisters Wilderness for backpacking.

Yep!! Can I suggest this book as well. I just purchased it and it's pretty amazing.

• Do water filters on the market make all stream water safe to drink?
  No. No one backcountry water purification method can handle every single situation. No filter is capable of removing ALL chemical contaminants (some remove none), and many filters do not remove viruses. If you are hiking in North America viruses are not generally considered a problem. (See: 1)
  
  
• How do i know if a stream or lake i'm hiking near contains contaminated water?(biological and chemical)
  You don't. But you can minimize the risk by only purifying water that you would feel reasonably comfortable drinking without purification -- eg: running water, no funny smells, some small wildlife living in the water (lack of toxins), no strange colors.
  
  
• How much water do i need to bring on an all day hike for two people?
  Depending on weather and conditions, I'd go with no less than 3 liters per person for an all-day (dusk to dawn) affair. SectionHiker goes into great detail about managing water on a hike.
  
  
• How do i get a hold of maps for the areas i plan on hiking in?
  You can buy maps at a local outfitters, from National Geographic, or download and learn to read the USGS maps. If you are asking this question, you should also learn how to stay found -- I recommend Be Expert with Map and Compass
  
  
• How do i know if i can have a campfire?
  Ask the regulatory agency responsible for the lands you are on.
  
  
• What about going to the bathroom? Do i just make a hole go or..?
  For pooping: Dig a hole with a small trowel about 8 inches deep and 6 inches wide. Do your business. Put your toilet paper in the hole, and using a found stick mix it up with a splash of liquid (pee or water) and some dirt. Cover the hole thoroughly and pack it down. For peeing: Take care to pee on rocks or sturdy trees. Don't pee on fragile plants.
  
  
• What kind of soap or hand cleaners are the best to bring?
  Biodegradable soap or Dr. Bronners if you must use soap. Most people use Purell instead to save water.
  
  
• How do i know if animals are a danger in the area?
  Consult the regulatory agency responsible for the lands you are on or local experts (gear stores).
  
  
• How do i deal with a potentially dangerous animal?(bears, cougars, snakes, or spiders)
  Leave them alone. Make plenty of noise so you don't surprise them. If you are wearing your pack and attacked by a stalking-type animal, curl up into a ball and cover your neck and get on your hands and knees. Cook and store your food about 50 feet downwind of where you make your camp.
  
  (1) Water purification: Keep in mind that none of these will work on chemicals found in the water like arsenic or toxins made by blue-green algae.
  
  
• UV works on: bacteria, protozoa, viruses. (Doesn't work on tapeworm eggs, which are typically only a problem in Isle Royale.)
  
  
• Filters work on: bacteria, protozoa, parasites, maybe viruses. (Works on viruses if it has a 0.1 micron filter or an iodine membrane.)
  
  
• Chlorine dioxide works on: all biological entities.
  

You may think this is funny, but I really got a lot out of the book Wilderness Survival for Dummies: http://amzn.to/1cBG4M3 .
I have started inventorying my survival gear:
https://www.facebook.com/qollector

This is my "Get Home Bag" with many items that can be used for camping: http://qol.lt/1G4vyF0 .

• I keep everything in Dry Bags: http://qol.lt/1GgcyZN
  
• My Essentials kit also useful for camping: http://qol.lt/1Gh0vp8
  
• My first aid kit: http://qol.lt/1GiIlh2
  
• Additional safety item: http://qol.lt/1GjBdxv
  
• Learn to read a compass: http://qol.lt/1GnxTVe
  
• Learn to start a fire (where its allowed), it can take a long time to get a fire going: http://qol.lt/1LsnxBV
  
• A great little stove if you don't want to bring fuel along: http://qol.lt/1GK45t4
  
  This is just a little bit of what I have covered in my collections so far. I still have to go over water equipment, tents, and sleeping bags. I realize that each persons kit is going to be different so YMMV.
  
  TL;DR: You can spend a lot of money getting prepared for the out doors.

I can't recommend the book "Beyond Mt. Si: The Best Hikes Within 85 Miles of Seattle" enough. It's a great book and has very detailed trail descriptions, with indexes both by difficulty and geographical location. It's definitely worth getting a copy.

These are your best bets for "on the map" places in rough order of increasing distance from Morgantown. You can google any of them.

• Baker's Ridge Trails
  
• West Virginia Botanic Garden
  
• Coopers Rock State Forest
  
• Quebec Run Wild Area
  
• Ohiopyle State Park
  
• Otter Creek Wilderness Area
  
  And these are all a bit further away:
  
  
• Blackwater Falls State Park
  
• Laurel Creek Wilderness Area
  
• Savage River State Park
  
• Canaan Valley State Park
  
• Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge
  
• Dolly Sods Wilderness Area
  
• Seneca Backcountry near Spruce Knob
  
• THE NORTH FORK MOUNTAIN TRAIL
  
  Of these, Otter Creek Wilderness is, in my opinion, the best place you could go within 1.5 hrs of Morgantown for a hike. Bring good maps and a compass, because there is no signage. I recommend scanning this book's maps from the WVU library if you can.

On Rope looks like a pretty good book. I think I might have to add that one to my library! For anyone else looking:

http://www.amazon.com/Rope-American-Vertical-Techniques-Rappellers/dp/1879961059/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1343399155&sr=1-1&keywords=1879961059

There are no clean water sources along the way. There are a few brooks but the water is not 100% safe (we didn't risk drinking from them)...its really a nonissue if you just plan it out a little better than we did.

Edit: I should add that we didn't see any clean water sources and there were none indicated on the map I had, but I could still be mistaken.

Edit2: Its an awesome hike and the views are spectacular!

Edit3: If you don't have it already, I think the ADK Mountain Club High Peaks guide is worth the money. Available on Amazon

The local climb shop (Summit Hut, Tucson, AZ) recommended On Rope when I asked this same question. I never bought it, but did page through it. Seems very detailed. Probably the best book about climbing rope. Lots of knots, too. Even if it is about caving.

For the Sods the best resource is - http://www.wvhighlands.org/ (but their site seems to be down).

Alternatively there's a map from the forest service: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5152038.pdf

This site looks like they might have maps: http://www.jtphillips.com/DollySodsMaps/

As does this if you ahve GPS device: http://www.trailgraphics.com/mnf-trail-network-kml-for-google-earth/

As far as a general guide for the area, you can't beat: http://www.amazon.com/Monongahela-National-Forest-Hiking-Guide/dp/0961655321

Not sailing specific, but "On Rope" by Bruce Smith and Allen Padgett was my first real exposure to Knot Tying. I was a member of the National Speleological Society at the time, and also knew Allen from Hang Gliding at Lookout Mountain Flight Park.

Then, my wife bought me The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Knots and Ropework. I love this book. It's not too huge, and covers quite a range of knots and rope techniques.

I also have a PDF version of Ashleys.

Northern bushcraft, as i live in alberta canada it's a perfect fit for my options

https://www.amazon.ca/Northern-Bushcraft-Expanded-Mors-Kochanski/dp/0919433510

the SAS guys book is pretty good: http://www.amazon.com/SAS-Survival-Guide-Handbook-Collins/dp/0060849827

I think there should be one of these http://www.amazon.com/SAS-Survival-Guide-Handbook-Collins/dp/0060849827 in every purse/backpack. Good reading when there's nothing to do and you're bound to learn something useful.

I recommend getting this guide book, it has lots of useful information https://www.amazon.com/Tour-Mont-Blanc-Complete-trekking/dp/1852847794/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467369262&sr=8-1&keywords=tour+of+mont+blanc+cicerone

Here's a good book about stair walks with a fair bit of history included:

https://www.amazon.com/Walking-Steps-Cincinnati-Mary-Dusablon/dp/082142081X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

Actually it's a thread on survival tips. Not a thread on survival methods.

And the tip I've given you is: prepare your self.

If you'd like to know how, buy a book. I recommend The SAS Survival Guide.

I don't know too much about it but there is lots of hiking in most areas of Japan. If you can find it check out Lonely Plant's Hiking in Japan book or something similar. There isn't too much detailed information on hiking in Japan in English that I know of. Maybe someone might know of a good info site.

Here are 50 free self-guided walking tours of NY.

Check out this book - it is pretty much the bible for single rope technique for caving.

http://www.amazon.com/Gardening-Free-Range-Chickens-Dummies-Bonnie/dp/1118547543/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1458198551&tag=hotogobr-20&sr=8-4&keywords=how+to+garden+for+dummies

And this guy:

http://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Survival-Dummies-Cameron-Smith/dp/0470453060?tag=hotogobr-20&sr=8-4&keywords=how+to

Also some related ebooks on popular torrent sites

Here are some books for you to get started:

Latest "105 Hikes in SW BC"

Backroad Mapbook - SW BC

These two books should help you get started on your research.

TLDR: There's LOTS to do 'round here.

If you go into an outdoors/sportsman outlet, you could ask some of the employees where you can get some lessons in your community, or find a local orienteering club. Learning from a text resource gives you the foundation, but you should not try and get lost to see if you can find your way out with that sort of knowledge. By working with the right people and equipment in a real life environment you will learn many strategies and tips, and may even pick up a new hobby. "Survival for dummies" actually has quite a good orienteering section in it for instrument use, and "oh shit i don't have a map or compass" situation.

EDIT: here is the book. Im a fairly experienced outdoorsman and found this book quite helpful in some areas. Especially on finding direction with no compass, and how to deal with psychological factors of being in a survival situation. They have it in the iTunes book store. Could be a good one to have on the iPhone if you happen to have that with you.

It's not too complicated, you could also just pick up a book like this one.

City Walks: New York: 50 Adventures on Foot

OP, you also need this:

http://www.amazon.com/Zwilling-Henckels-Complete-Knife-Skills/dp/0778802566/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451086748&sr=8-1&keywords=knife+skills+book

Hell, everyone who uses knives should know the skills in this book, at least in the kitchen.


Those interested in knife usage for the outdoors (non-cooking) see if you can locate a copy of this:

http://www.amazon.com/Northern-Bushcraft-Mors-L-Kochanski/dp/0919433510

Yours, a knife skills snob. ;)

I'd rather have this.

I believe you're looking for this.

http://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Hot-Springs-Pacific-Northwest/dp/0762783702/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452037899&sr=8-2&keywords=idaho+hot+springs

This book should help

The brown book...

I'm reading this book now: Expert with Map and Compass and then will be look at this one: Wilderness Navigation

edit: readability

People going for a "drift in a small boat" in the Pacific Ocean generally prepare first

No problem, for planning 100% buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Tour-Mont-Blanc-Complete-trekking/dp/1852847794/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=N26P7HE46ES9PEQF16M5

Also, book way ahead of time to make sure you get the huts/hotels you want. It's possible to find lodging day-of, but you'll never know where and you likely won't get the accommodations you're looking for (unless you're tent camping the whole thing)

Further, try to work it out so you stay the night at Les Mottets, Bonatti, and Lac Blanc (our favorites) and skip Elisabetta if you can help it as it was our least favorite night.

All but the absolute cheapest compasses have declination adjustment. A $9 Silva or Suunto has the adjustment and to suggest that someone needs to spend Brunton money to get an accurate compass is ridiculous (and I HAVE a Brunton). Fake edit: I just remembered that Brunton makes normal compasses and not just transits and geology tools, not all their products are $300+ although they’re REALLY nice!

My Brunton transit is the only compass I have with E/W flipped because it’s a direct read compass. None of my others, including my Suunto MC-2G read that way. The majority of compasses that anyone will ever have will read normally, there’s no need to complicate this.

Here is more compass than most people will ever need and includes the clinometer functionality of the higher-end Brunton compasses. Less than $40.

Spend half that on a cheaper compass and buy a book like this and/or this one (I have no preference, I own both) and spend some time with them.

Also, if you print your own maps it doesn’t hurt to invest in waterproofing, it also makes them last longer!

If you REALLY want to hone your nav skills, find a local orienteering club! It’s a lot of fun, and once you’re past the initial investment (a compass) there’s not really any other cost other than time.

Source: Have been wandering around in the woods for 30-odd years and have spent much time teaching other people to not get lost in the woods.

No offense to climbers, but you need to be asking cavers instead, this is really their sort of thing.

You're looking at SRT, single rope technique, ascent. The cheapest way is a pair of long prussiks, one for each foot, plus a chest harness to keep you upright. Another similar option is one long prussik for both feet, and a prussik off the chest harness linked to the seat harness, this would be similar to a Frog System that cavers use. It will be hard going, dangerous, but possible.

If you want a book about it, check out On Rope, which has more info than you'll ever need.

EDIT: I also just realized something. If you have a good length of static line, use that instead of climbing rope. Ascending on bouncing climbing road is a pain in the ass.