Best of
Outdoors

2000

The Secret Knowledge of Water


Craig Childs - 2000
    A desert, by definition, lacks it, but when water does come, it comes in torrential, sometimes devastating abundance. Childs, a thirtysomething desert rat with a vast knowledge of the Southwest's remote corners, knows this fact well. "Most rain falling anywhere but the desert comes slow enough that it is swallowed by the soil without comment," he observes. "Desert rains, powerful and sporadic, tend to hit the ground, gather into floods, and are gone before the water can sink five inches into the ground."The travels that Childs recounts in this vivid narrative take him from places sometimes parched, sometimes swimming, from the depths of the Grand Canyon to the dry limestone tanks of the lava-strewn Sonoran Desert. As he travels, Childs gives a close reading of the desert landscape ("the moral," he writes at one point, "is that if you know the land and its maps, you might live"), observing the rocks, plants, animals, and people that call it home. Some of his adventures will remind readers of Edward Abbey's Desert Solitaire—save that Childs writes without Abbey's bluster, and with a measured lyricism that well suits the achingly lovely back canyons and cactus forests of the Southwest. By turns travelogue, ecological treatise, and meditative essay, Childs's book will speak to anyone who has spent time under desert skies, wondering when the next drop of rain might fall.

The Kenneth Anderson Omnibus: Volume 1: Tales from the Indian Jungle, Man-Eaters and Jungle Killers, The Call of the Man-Eater


Kenneth Anderson - 2000
    Beautifully written and informative.

Death, Taxes, and Leaky Waders: A John Gierach Fly-Fishing Treasury


John Gierach - 2000
    Like all his writing, these essays are seasoned by a keen sense of observation and a deep knowledge and love of fishing lore, leavened by a wonderfully wry sense of humor. Gierach often begins with an observation that soon leads to something below the surface, which he finds and successfully lands. As Gierach says, writing is a lot like fishing. This is the first anthology of John Gierach’s work, a collection that is sure to delight both die-hard fans and new readers alike. To enter Gierach’s world is to experience the daily wonder, challenge, and occasional absurdity of the fishing life—from such rituals as the preparation of camp coffee (for best results, serve in a tin cup) to the random, revelatory surprises, such as the flashing beauty of a grayling leaping out of the water. Whether he’s catching fish or musing on the ones that got away, Gierach is always entertaining and enlightening, writing with his own inimitable blend of grace and style, passion and wit.

Snow in the Kingdom: My Storm Years on Everest


Ed Webster - 2000
    A milestone in American mountaineering literature, Snow in the Kingdom will appeal to climbers and "armchair climbers" alike. It's an adventure story penned in the tradition of the great explorers; a seminal document on modern lightweight, ethical Himalayan climbing; and a deeply personal account of one man's search for redemption and achievement while pioneering an uncharted route up Everest's most dangerous side. An astounding 150 pages of vivid color photographs -- over 450 photographs in all -- add depth and beauty to the compelling narrative. Webster attempted Everest from three sides: the West, North, and East, from both Nepal and Tibet. Webster soloed Everest's north peak, Changtse, then pioneered a new route up the 12,000-foot precipices of Mount Everest's Kangshung Face in Tibet, with a 4-man team and without bottled oxygen, radios, or Sherpa support. Also included are the unpublished 1921 and 1924 Everest photographs of the legendary British pioneers George Mallory and Noel Odell, plus the never-before-told story of Tenzing Norgay's birthplace and boyhood home in Moyun Village, Tibet -- and the astounding assertion that in 1921, Mallory and Tenzing met one another in Tibet.

Teewinot: A Year in the Teton Range


Jack Turner - 2000
    As a young man, he climbed the peaks of this singular range with basic climbing gear friends. Later in life, he led treks in India, Pakistan, Nepal, China, Tibet, and Peru, but he always returned to the mountains of his youth. He continues to climb the Tetons as a guide for Exum Mountain, Guides, the oldest and most prestigious guide service in America. Teewinot is his ode to forty years in the mountains that he loves. Like Thoreau and Muir, Turner has contemplated the essential nature of a landscape. Teewinot is a book about a mountain range, its austere temper, its seasons, its flora and fauna, a few of its climbs, its weather, and the glory of the wildness. It is also about a small group of guides and rangers, nomads who inhabit the range each summer and know the mountains as intimately as they will ever be known. It is also a remarkable account of what it is like to live and work in a national park. Teewinot has something for everyone: spellbinding accounts of classic climbs, awe at the beauty of nature, and passion for some of the environmental issues facing America today. In this series of recollections, one of America's most beautiful national parks comes alive with beauty, mystery, and power. The beauty, mystery, and power of the Grand Tetons come alive in Jack Turner's memoir of a year on America's most beautiful mountain range.

Pacific Crest Trail Data Book: Mileages, Landmarks, Facilities, Resupply Data, and Essential Trail Information for the Entire Pacific Crest Trail, from Mexico to Canada


Benedict Go - 2000
    Packed with trail-tested features, it’s useful both on and off the trail, covering pre-trip planning for resupply stops, how to set daily on-the-trail mileage goals by knowing trail gradient and the locations of campsites, water sources, and facilities, and how to easily calculate distances between any two points on the trail, and how to planning both north-bound and south-bound hiking trips.

Birds of Indiana Field Guide


Stan Tekiela - 2000
    There's no need to look through dozens of photos of birds that don't live in Indiana. This book features 112 species of Indiana birds, organized by color for ease of use. Do you see a yellow bird and don't know what it is? Go to the yellow section to find out. Fact-filled information, a compare feature, range maps and detailed photographs help to ensure that you positively identify the birds that you see.

Not Without Peril: 150 Years of Misadventure on the Presidential Range of New Hampshire


Nicholas Howe - 2000
    These compelling profiles of 22 adventurous¿yet unlucky¿climbers chronicle more than a century of exploration, recreation, and tragedy in New Hampshire¿s Presidential Range.

The Photographer's Guide to Yosemite


Michael Frye - 2000
    An indispensable and handy resource for anyone who wants to take better pictures in Yosemite and elsewhere.

Bushcraft: An Inspirational Guide to Surviving the Wilderness


Ray Mears - 2000
    The book contains step-by-step guides to a wide range of survival techniques, as well as accounts of Ray's own experiences and his bushcraft philosophy.

Fixing Your Feet: Prevention and Treatments for Athletes


John Vonhof - 2000
    Foot expert John Vonhof discredits the conventional wisdom of "no pain, no gain," teaching instead how the interplay of anatomy, biomechanics, and footwear can lead to happy or hurting feet. With a focus on individual and team care, this fifth edition covers everything that an active person needs for immediate and long-term foot care solutions. Vonhof's advice comes not only from his own experience but also from many foot experts and endurance athletes. He offers numerous solutions for each problem, as there is no one best solution — different treatments work for different feet. This comprehensive resource covers footwear basics, prevention, and treatments along with clear diagrams, photos, and charts that demonstrate techniques and solutions. If it can happen to a foot, it's covered in this book.

The Family Butterfly Book: Projects, activities, and a field guide to 40 favorite North American species


Rick Mikula - 2000
    Providing a comprehensive overview of the butterfly lifecycle and close-up photography of 40 stunning North American species, this guide teaches you everything you need to know to identify, care for, and raise these beautiful and fascinating insects.

Heartsblood


David Petersen - 2000
    In Heartsblood, nationally acclaimed nature writer and veteran outdoorsman David Petersen draws clear distinctions between true hunting and contemporary hunter behavior, praising what's right about the former and damning what's wrong with the latter, as he seeks to render the terms "hunter" and "anti-hunter" palpable.

Survival Skills of Native California


Paul Campbell - 2000
    Included Are Sections On The Basic Skills of Survival, The Tools of Gathering and Food Preparation, The Implements of Household and Personal Necessity, As Well As The Arts of Hunting and Fishing. Sample Topics Include: * Shelter: A Continuum of Simplicity * Greens, Beans, Flowers and Other Vegetables * Meat Preparation * How To Make and Shoot An Indian Bow

Expedition Canoeing: A Guide to Canoeing Wild Rivers in North America


Cliff Jacobson - 2000
    This updated 20th anniversary edition covers route and trip planning, paddling and camping gear, dealing with bears, canoe hazards and rescue, barren-land travel, and much more.

Secrets of Droon Box Set


Tony Abbott - 2000
    read.Watch the magic unfold in books #1-#4 of THE SECRETS OF DROON. Eric and his two friends, Neal and Julie, discover a secret doorway in Eric's basement that leads to the rainbow stairs. The stairs reach down into the wondrous world of Droon - a land where all kinds of amazing things occur. A cast of magical characters appears to guide the kids on their journeys. And one thing is for sure-magical, fantastic adventure is in store!

John Muir: Nature's Visionary


Gretel Ehrlich - 2000
    After a factory accident in his early twenties left him temporarily blind, Muir left behind what he saw as the degradations of cities and farms and set out for unspoiled territory. And the rest, as they say, is ecological and conservation history.The untouched lands of the Sierra Nevada, which he christened the "Range of Light", became Muir's lifelong passion. As the nation's most revered spokesman for the wilderness and a founder of the Sierra Club, Muir made immeasurable contributions to the beauty and preservation of our continent. And this exquisite book captures as never before the extraordinary nature of his life. Prize-winning photographer Lynn Johnson brings the matchless vitality of this bearded warrior to thrilling life. The visual odyssey is further enriched by reproductions of Muir's own drawings as well as the rarely seen and recently rediscovered images of Carleton Watkins. Showcasing its legendary subject's own rhapsodic writings, John Muir: Nature's Visionary bears powerful witness to Muir's enduring contributions to the American landscape.

Colorado Campgrounds: The 100 Best and All the Rest


Gil Folsom - 2000
    Whether you're pitching your tent or parking your RV, this guide is all you'll ever need. Color-coded regions and practical information regarding directions, facilities, and facts about the area make planning a snap. Full-color scenic photographs will whet your appetite before you even leave home! Let Gil lead you to Colorado's 100 best -- in addition to the 334 other campgrounds that make Colorado one of the best camping states in the country.

All the Wild and Lonely Places: Journeys In A Desert Landscape


Lawrence Hogue - 2000
    Journalist Hogue describes Anza-Borrego and the people who have lived there, including the Cahuilla and Kumeyaay Indians and European newcomers including soldiers, miners, cowboys, canal-builders

The Complete Encyclopedia of Soccer


Keir Radnedge - 2000
    The Complete Encyclopedia of Soccer is a celebration of the sport, describing the history, organization, legendary players, clubs, notable coaches and stadium, as well as providing in-depth information on the major competitions and highlighting the laws and tactics as they have evolved over the past 130 years.

Highpoints of the United States: A Guide to the Fifty State Summits


Don Holmes - 2000
    Some highpoints, such as Mount Mitchell in North Carolina and New Hampshire’s Mount Washington can be reached by automobile on a sightseeing drive. Others such as Colorado’s Mount Elbert or Mount Marcy in New York are accessible as wilderness day hikes. Still others, such as Mount Rainier in Washington or Gannett Peak in Wyoming, are strenuous and risky mountaineering challenges that should be attempted only by experienced climbers. Whatever your level of skill and interest, Highpoints of the United States offers a diverse range of experiences.Arranged alphabetically by state, each listing has a map, photographs, and information on trailhead, main and alternative routes, elevation gain, and conditions. Historical and natural history notes are also included, as are suggestions for specific guidebooks to a region or climb. Appendices include a list of highpoints by region, by elevation, and a personal log for the unashamed "peak-bagger."Whether you’re an armchair hiker or a seasoned climber, interested only in your state’s highest point or all fifty, this book will be an invaluable companion and reference.

The Guide to Yellowstone Waterfalls and Their Discovery


Paul Rubinstein - 2000
    These trailblazers are the first to document the existence of these spectacular natural features -- at least 25 of which tower to heights of 100 feet or more -- and the authors do so through striking photographs, engaging text, and detailed maps. The book also features the park's 50 known waterfalls and reveals the untold stories surrounding many of them. For nature-lovers, adventure-seekers, and Yellowstone aficionados alike, Yellowstone: The Discovery of its Waterfalls is a landmark work, combining natural and human histories with unbelievably rare geographical discoveries.

Fearless on Everest: The Quest for Sandy Irvine


Julie Summers - 2000
    These two names have been inextricably joined since the two climbers disappeared on Mount Everest more than 75 years ago. Could they have been the first to reach the summit of the world's highest mountains-some 30 years earlier than Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay? Mallory's story has been well chronicled, but Irvine has always been overshadowed by his more famous climbing partner and little has been written about him. Who was he? Why was he invited by the British Everest Committee to join the 1924 expedition despite his limited mountaineering experience? And why did Mallory, 16 years his senior, select Irvine as his partner for the final assault on the summit? Julie Summers, great niece of Sandy Irvine, has been fascinated since childhood by the story of Uncle Sandy. In May 2000, Julie made an astonishing discovery: a long forgotten and unopened trunk containing Irvine's letters and photographs from Everest. Drawing on these and other material, Julie writes a revealing story of a fearless young adventurer whose life and death linked him with one of the greatest mountaineering legends of all time.

Trout Friends and Other Riff-Raff


Bill Stokes - 2000
    It is an activity, possibly a madness, that moves him, time and again, to stand knee-deep in cold and murky waters, offer himself up to clouds of hungry mosquitoes, and attempt to keep from snagging his line in overhanging limbs while trying to outwit a wily rainbow or brook trout. And then remembering where the car is parked. All trout anglers will, like Stephen Born, revel in these evocative and entertaining stories.Stephen Born, chair, National Resources Board, Trout Unlimited, and co-author, Exploring Wisconsin Trout Streams - Few writers can capture in words the feel, the special friendships and characters, and the deep-seated emotions of trout angling and everything else associated with the trout fishing experience. In Trout Friends, Bill Stokes does. I can't imagine a Midwestern trought fisher who won't "connect" with and revel in the stores - representing a lifetime of angling pursuits found in this fine book

101 Hikes in Northern California: Exploring Mountains, Valley, and Seashore


Matt Heid - 2000
    All trips have been thoroughly updated for the second edition, and 26 trips have been significantly expanded or reworked. Each hike description includes an easy-to-use header outlining the trip basics, driving directions, an in-depth trail description, up-to-date map, and the locations of the nearest visitor center and campground.

The Explorer's Guide to Algonquin Park


Michael Runtz - 2000
    This idyllic haven from urban life features 1,500 lakes and is easily accessible from dozens of major U.S. and Canadian population centers.Michael Runtz has spent decades exploring Algonquin Provincial Park and chronicling its flora and fauna in all seasons. He is the ideal guide to everything a visitor might want to know about and experience within Algonquin. The features of this guidebook include:Access routes, hiking trails and canoe routes indicated on easy-to-read full-color maps Special chapters on seasonal highlights such as fall colors, wolf-howling sessions, and Northern Lights displays Points of historical interest, such as ranger cabins and aboriginal rock paintings Where, when and how to see moose, wolves, birds and other wildlife A complete list of park facilities, services and publications. The new, expanded color edition of The Explorer's Guide to Algonquin Park includes dozens of the author's award-winning photographs and chapters on local animal species and their habitats.

The Advanced Backpacker: A Handbook of Year Round, Long-Distance Hiking


Chris Townsend - 2000
    This book aims to give you the tools you need for group or solo hiking on the long trail, the trackless wilderness, or the most remote and exotic corners of the planet.

Animal Tracks: A Folding Pocket Guide to the Tracks & Signs of Familiar North American Species


James Kavanagh - 2000
    Updated with a new cover design, it also features a ruler for measuring the tracks. This beautifully illustrated guide is an excellent source of portable information and ideal for field use by visitors and residents alike. Made in the USA.

Cutting Corporate Welfare


Ralph Nader - 2000
    Cutting Corporate Welfare details numerous appalling examples of corporate welfare, including: the giveaway of the public airwaves, which by definition belong to the people, to private radio and television stations (including the latest $70 billion gift of the digital spectrum); taxpayer subsidies for giant defense corporation mergers and commercial weapons exports to governments overseas; and the practice of making patients pay twice for drugs—first, as taxpayers subsidize the drugs’ development, and again, as patients, after the federal government gives monopolistic control over the chemical’s manufacture to a price-gouging drug company. Cutting Corporate Welfare sounds a wake-up call for those concerned about how we are being pick-pocketed by big business, and what we can do to stop it.

Naturalist's Guide to Canyon Country


David B. Williams - 2000
    Comprehensive and beautifully illustrated trailside refernce to plants, animals, and geology of an area that includes nine national parks and monuments

Hiking Colorado's Geology


Ralph Lee Hopkins - 2000
    In 50 hikes, you'll see first-hand evidence of the most dramatic geologic events that created and continue to shape the terrain of this beautiful state.You'll benefit, too, from the authors' long experience as guides and lecturers, sharing their passion for the natural world. The guide is easy to use, with each hike headlined with the geologic features profiled. You'll also find an introductory section on geologic principles you'll see on the trail.

Native American Crafts and Skills: A Fully Illustrated Guide to Wilderness Living and Survival


David R. Montgomery - 2000
    Describes the crafts and outdoor skills of Native Americans, including beadwork, tanning, and jewelry craft, and provides instructions on how to utilize these skills through wilderness training and survival.

Good Flies: Favorite Trout Patterns and How They Got That Way


John Gierach - 2000
    A great writer, some great flies--and more practical and amusing observations on flies and fly tying.

Guide to the Colorado Mountains, 10th Edition


Randy Jacobs - 2000
    This latest edition compiles updated route descriptions for more than 1,500 hiking and climbing destinations -- peaks, passes, lakes, and trails-from the expert trip leaders of the Colorado Mountain Club. All the ranges are covered, with trails and peaks grouped by access and with new maps, photos, and a detailed index. A checklist ranks the peaks in order, and special sections cover climbing history, geology, backcountry use, recommended equipment, and much more. "For anyone thinking of going to the mountains, this guide is a must." -Wyoming Tribune-Eagle

Idaho: A Climbing Guide


Tom Lopez - 2000
    At each new printing, Tom Lopez has updated and expanded his encyclopedic guide to more than 800 summits. All the features that made the first edition so popular are here -- detailed route descriptions, difficulty ratings, summit heights, access information to hundreds of roads and trails, extensive sections on history and geology, and much, much more. You won't find a more thorough guide anywhere!Learn more about climbing in Idaho by visiting the author's website: www.idahoaclimbingguide.com.

Discover Acadia National Park: A Guide to the Best Hiking, Biking, and Paddling


Jerry Monkman - 2000
    Discover cobblestone beaches, glacial ponds, granite peaks, and ocean-side cliffs where the mountains meet the sea. Whether you're on foot, on a bike, or in a boat, this guide is perfect for first-time visitors and veteran explorers alike. From short one-hour excursions to day-long adventures, you'll get the inside scoop on where to go and what to do during your visit to this magnificent park. Covers all of Acadia National Park - Mount Desert Island, Isle au Haut, and Schoodic Peninsula. Detailed trip descriptions, trip times, distances, and difficulty levels - for 15 hikes, 12 bike trips, and 13 paddling and sea-kayak trips. Includes a full-color, pull out map of Acadia National Park, showing all hiking trails, carriage roads, park roads, and parking areas. This guide also includes descriptions for all the hiking trails in Acadia National Park, sidebars on natural and local history, trip highlights chart for easy planning and access, campground and lodging suggestions, local outfitters and resources, safety and gear tips, National Park Service information and guidelines for protecting the environment. (6 x 9, 296 pages, b&w photos, pull out map)

Ten Million Steps: Nimblewill Nomad's Epic 10-Month Trek from the Florida Keys to Québec


M.J. Eberhart - 2000
    J. Eberhart, aka the Nimblewill Nomad, was a 60-year-old retired doctor in January 1998 when he set off on a foot journey that carried him 4,400 miles (twice the length of the Appalachian Trail) from the Florida Keys to the far north of Quebec. Written in a vivid journal style, the author unabashedly recounts the good (friendships with other hikers he met), the bad (sore legs, cutting winds and rain), and the godawful (those dispiriting doubts) aspects of his days of walking along what has since become known as the Eastern Continental Trail (ECT). An amazing tale of self-discovery and insight into the magic that reverberates from intense physical exertion and a high goal, Eberhart’s is the only written account of a thru-hike along the ECT. Covering 16 states and 2 Canadian provinces, Ten Million Steps deftly mixes practical considerations of an almost unimaginable undertaking with the author’s trademark humor and philosophical musings.

Trapping the Boundary Waters: A Tenderfoot in the Border Country 1919-1920


Charles Ira Cook - 2000
    Soon abandoned by his comfort-loving companion, the restless World War I veteran spent an enlightening year learning--often the hard way--how to paddle and sail on windy lakes, hunt and fish for food, bake "rough delicacies" in a reflector oven, and build winter-proof shelters. His how-to descriptions of trapping beaver, mink, and other game are unsurpassed in their detail.Cook also found his way into the border community of Ojibwe and mixed-blood families and a motley assortment of mysterious travelers, game wardens, and loners, including trapper Bill Berglund (who "adopted" Cook until the tenderfoot's eagerness to harvest pelts came between them).Cook's adventure climaxed in a 700-mile expedition by dogsled north into Canada, where he reached the limits of his endurance--and just barely lived to tell the tale.For anyone who loves the Boundary Waters or wonders what this rugged region was like not so long ago, Cook's story reveals a world still ruled by nature but on the brink of change.

Windows Into the Earth: The Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks


Robert Baer Smith - 2000
    Generating cataclysmic volcanic eruptions and large earthquakes, the hotspot helped lift the Yellowstone Plateau to more than 7,000 feet and pushed the northern Rockies to new heights, forming unusually large glaciers to carve the landscape. It also created the jewel of the U.S. national park system: Yellowstone. Meanwhile, forces stretching apart the western U.S. created the mountainous glory of Grand Teton National Park. These two parks, with their majestic mountains, dazzling geysers, and picturesque hot springs, are windows into the Earth's interior, revealing the violent power of the dynamic processes within. Smith and Siegel offer expert guidance through this awe-inspiring terrain, bringing to life the grandeur of these geologic phenomena as they reveal the forces that have shaped--and continue to shape--the greater Yellowstone-Teton region. Over seventy illustrations--including fifty-two in full color--illuminate the breathtaking beauty of the landscape, while two final chapters provide driving tours of the parks to help visitors enjoy and understand the regions wonders. Fascinating and informative, this book affords us a striking new perspective on Earth's creative forces.