Best of
Outdoors

2010

At the Loch of the Green Corrie


Andrew Greig - 2010
    'Go to Lochinver and ask for a man named Norman MacAskill - if he likes you he may tell you where it is. If you catch a fish, I shall be delighted. If you fail, then looking down from a place in which I do not believe, I shall be most amused.' The quest sounds simple and irresistible, but the loch is as demanding as it is beautiful. In the course of days of outdoor living, meetings, and fishing with friends in the remote hill lochs of far North-West Scotland, the search broadens. The waters of the Green Corrie finally reflect personal memoir, joy and loss, poetry, geology, land ownership in the Highlands, the ambiguous roles of whisky, love and friendship. At the Loch of the Green Corrie is a richly atmospheric narrative, a celebration of losing and recovering oneself in a unique landscape, the consideration of a particular culture, and a homage to a remarkable poet and his world.

The Journey in Between


Keith Foskett - 2010
    A thousand-mile hike. A life forever changed. Keith Foskett was the definition of restless. Drifting aimlessly, he knew a piece was missing from his life. But when a stranger in a Greek bar tells him about a world-famous pilgrim’s trail, the chance encounter sets Foskett’s life in a new 1,000-mile direction. On El Camino de Santiago, the wanderer copes with extreme temperatures, fake faith healers, and insatiable kleptomaniacs. Threatened with arrest for ‘not sleeping’ and suffering with excruciating blisters, Foskett pushes himself to new limits. Can he find what he’s looking for and make it to the other side?Keith Foskett’s travelogues have been shortlisted for Outdoor Book of the Year multiple times by The Great Outdoors magazine. Awash with vivid descriptions and a cast of engaging real-life characters, the author delivers a humorous and mesmerizing tale of adventure and metamorphosis. The Journey in Between is a daring travel memoir. If you like indulging your inner adventurer, taking the less popular fork in the road, and visiting foreign locations, then you’ll love Keith Foskett’s transformative tale. Pick up The Journey in Between to take your first step today.

Wild Comfort: The Solace of Nature


Kathleen Dean Moore - 2010
    This book is the record of her experiences. It’s a stunning collection of carefully observed accounts of her life—tracking otters on the beach, cooking breakfast in the desert, canoeing in a snow squall, wading among migrating salmon in the dark—but it is also a profound meditation on the healing power of nature.

Blood Knots


Luke Jennings - 2010
    Beneath their surfaces, it seemed to him, waited alien and mysterious worlds. With library books as his guide, he applied himself to the task of learning to fish. His progress was slow, and for years, he caught nothing. But then a series of teachers presented themselves, including an inspirational young intelligence officer, from whom Jennings learned stealth, deception, and the art of the dry fly. So began an enlightening but often dark-shadowed journey of discovery. It would lead to bright streams and wild country, but would end with his mentor s capture, torture, and execution by the IRA. Blood Knots is a memoir of angling, of great fish caught and lost, but it is also a story of friendship, honour, and coming of age. As an adult, Jennings has sought out lost and secretive waterways, probing waters 'as deep as England' at dead of night in search of giant pike. The quest, as always, is for more than the living quarry. For only by searching far beneath the surface, he suggests in this most moving and thought-provoking of memoirs, can we connect with your own deep history.

Breaking into the Backcountry


Steve Edwards - 2010
    The prize was seven months of “unparalleled solitude” as the caretaker of a ninety-two-acre backcountry homestead along the Rogue National Wild and Scenic River in southwestern Oregon. Young, recently divorced, and humbled by the prospect of so much time alone, he left behind his job as a college English teacher in Indiana and headed west for a remote but comfortable cabin in the rugged Klamath Mountains. Well aware of what could go wrong living two hours from town with no electricity and no neighbors, Edwards was surprised by what could go right. In prose that is by turns lyrical, introspective, and funny, Breaking into the Backcountry is the story of what he discovered: that alone, in a wild place, each day is a challenge and a gift. Whether chronicling the pleasures of a day-long fishing trip, his first encounter with a black bear, a lightning storm and the threat of fire, the beauty of a steelhead, the attacks of 9/11, or a silence so profound that a black-tailed deer chewing grass outside his window could wake him from sleep, Edwards’s careful evocation of the river canyon and its effect on him testifies to the enduring power of wilderness to transform a life.

The Little Red Book of Fly Fishing


Kirk Deeter - 2010
    There are no complicated physics lessons here. Rather, conceived in the “take dead aim” spirit of Harvey Penick’s classic instructional on golf, The Little Red Book of Fly Fishing offers a simple, digestible primer on the basic elements of fly fishing: the cast, presentation, reading water, and selecting flies. The Table of Contents includes:Part One: The Cast: 45 Tips to Help You Cast Straighter, Longer, and More AccuratelyPart Two: Presentation: 60 Tips to Help you Place and Drift Your Flies So that Trout Will Want to Eat ThemPart Three: Reading Water: 37 Tips to Help You Find Trout in a Rive and Effectively Cast to themPart Four: 43 Tips to Help You Select, Rig, and Fish the Right Fly at the Right Time in the Right WayPart Five: Miscellaneous: 65 Tips on Fighting Fish, Wading, Choosing Ger, and Everything Else That MattersIn the end, this collection of 240 tips is one of the most insightful, plainly spoken, and entertaining works on this sport—one that will serve both novices and experts alike in helping them reflect and hone-in their approaches to fly fishing.

National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Wildflowers of North America


David M. Brandenburg - 2010
    North America alone is home to thousands of species—and the National Wildlife Federation Field Guide celebrates that wide diversity in grand fashion. From Acanthaceae to Zygophyllaceaei, this beautiful, portable volume provides the common and scientific names for each flower family; information on the flowering season; leaf, stalk, and blossom descriptions, with measurements; and color range maps of more than 700 species for both native and introduced types. There’s no better guide to take along while camping, hiking, or enjoying a nature walk.- More than 2,200 species of- More than 2,200 species of wildflowers in a single, portable volume- 4,019 stunning color photographs by leading nature photographers- Wildflowers arranged by genus and include genus descriptions and range maps- Captions highlight important field marks- Information on season and habitat for each species- Fruit illustrations included for several plant families- Range map shows U.S. distribution- Separate section on species introduced into North America- Quick-identification key arranged by color and shape- Detailed, illustrated visual glossary of flower parts and leaf types- Essays on wildflower habitats and conservation- Waterproof cover for use in the field

Death In Big Bend: True Stories of Death & Rescue in the Big Bend National Park


Laurence Parent - 2010
    They drive for hours from all across Texas and beyond, sometimes for just a short weekend of wilderness. They bring everything needed for camping, boating, hiking, birding, and backpacking stuffed into or strapped to their vehicles. Most importantly, this loyal group of visitors brings a strong sense of caring and respect for the park.Most visitors to Big Bend National Park enjoy a wonderful, incident-free vacation and return home with great photos, thrilling memories, and stories of excitement and adventure. But accidents, even catastrophes, can happen. For a rare few Park visitors, a simple mistake, a lack of adequate preparation, or just plain hard luck has lead to deadly or near deadly outcomes. Heat stroke, dehydration, hypothermia, drowning, falls, lightning, and even murder have claimed victims at Big Bend. This book chronicles selected serious injuries, dramatic rescues, and tragic fatalities that have occurred in the Park since the early 1980s.Death In Big Bend contains useful information that could one day save your life.

Home Waters: A Year of Recompenses on the Provo River


George B. Handley - 2010
    In prose that reads like the flowing current of a river, scholar and essayist George Handley blends nature writing, local history, theology, environmental history, and personal memoir in his new book Home Waters: A Year of Recompenses on the Provo River. Handley’s meditations on the local Provo River watershed present the argument that a sense of place requires more than a strong sense of history and belonging, it requires awareness and commitment. Handley traces a history of settlement along the Provo that has profoundly transformed the landscape and yet neglected its Native American and environmental legacies. As a descendent of one of the first pioneers to irrigate the area, and as a witness to the loss of orchards, open space, and an eroded environmental ethic, Handley weaves his own personal and family history into the landscape to argue for sustainable belonging. In avoiding the exclusionist and environmentally harmful attitudes that come with the territorial claims to a homeland, the flyfishing term, “home waters,” is offered as an alternative, a kind of belonging that is informed by deference to others, to the mysteries of deep time, and to a fragile dependence on water. While it has sometimes been mistakenly assumed that the Mormon faith is inimical to good environmental stewardship, Handley explores the faith’s openness to science, its recognition of the holiness of the creation, and its call for an ethical engagement with nature. A metaphysical approach to the physical world is offered as an antidote to the suicidal impulses of modern society and our persistent ambivalence about the facts of our biology and earthly condition. Home Waters contributes a perspective from within the Mormon religious experience to the tradition of such Western writers as Wallace Stegner, Terry Tempest Williams, Steven Trimble, and Amy Irvine. Winner of the Mormon Letters Award for Memoir.

Becoming Odyssa: Adventures on the Appalachian Trail


Jennifer Pharr Davis - 2010
    She is drawn to the Appalachian Trail, a 2175-mile footpath that stretches from Georgia to Maine. Though her friends and family think she's crazy, she sets out alone to hike the trail, hoping it will give her time to think about what she wants to do next. The next four months are the most physically and emotionally challenging of her life. She quickly discovers that thru-hiking is harder than she had imagined: coping with blisters and aching shoulders from the 30-pound pack she carries; sleeping on the hard wooden floors of trail shelters; hiking through endless torrents of rain and even a blizzard. With every step she takes, Jennifer transitions from an over-confident college graduate to a student of the trail, braving situations she never imagined before her thru-hike. The trail is full of unexpected kindness, generosity, and humor. And when tragedy strikes, she learns that she can depend on other people to help her in times of need.

Great Mountain Days in Snowdonia: 40 classic routes Exploring Snowdonia


Terry Marsh - 2010
    These inspirational new routes along the valleys and along the tops range right across the National Park and are divided into 8 geographical regions: Snowdon and Moel Eilio, the Glyderau, the Carneddau, Eifionydd, Siabod and the Moelwynion, Rhinogydd (the Harlech Dome), Migneint and the Arans and Cadair Idris and the Tarrens. All routes are graded, from moderate to strenuous, and illustrated with Harvey map extracts, topo diagrams by Mark Richards and lots of stunning photographs. Inviting the reader to experience less well-known regions as much as those that are eternally popular, these mainly circular day walks have been chosen to encourage independent exploration of the National Park, while offering clear guidance for those who prefer their walking days to be tailor-made. The author's deep knowledge of and passion for this much-loved region shines through.Some routes include mild scrambling or long days in rugged country, and many can be enjoyed all year round.

Matching the Hatch: A Practical Guide to Imitation of Insects Found on Eastern and Western Trout Waters


Ernest Schwiebert - 2010
    

I'll Climb Mount Everest Alone: The Story of Maurice Wilson


Dennis Roberts - 2010
    It tells of a mad, misguided adventure: one man's attempt to conquer Mount Everest.Maurice Wilson belonged to the 'lost generation'. He fought in the First World War, winning the Military Cross, but found the transition to civilian life difficult. He led a restless, rootless life and suffered ill-health. This changed mysteriously in 1932 when through, it would seem, a combination of prayer and fasting he cured himself. His Mount Everest ambitions started to take shape. They could not have been more ambitious. His odyssey was to begin in Britain. He bought himself an airplane. He couldn't fly, was a poor student, but finally learnt the rudiments. Despite all the odds, and much official obstruction, he managed to fly to India. More obstacles followed, but on 21 March, 1934 Maurice Wilson and three Sherpas slipped out of Darjeeling disguises as Buddhist monks. Wilson's first attempt on Mount Everest was solo. It failed. He tried again this time with the three Sherpas. They made better progress initially. From the base camp, Wilson made two more attempts on the final ascent. A year later Eric Shipton's reconnaissance party found his body at the approaches to the North Col. They also found his diary: the final entry read, 'Off again, gorgeous day.' The diary provides an astonishing record of persistence, courage, and a faith that never wavered in the face of appalling hardship and adversity.Although this is a chronicle of failure, the achievement can still be marvelled at. Here was a man with no flying or mountaineering experience whatsoever who managed to fly from Britain to India and then nearly conquers Mount Everest : there are even those who speculate he might have done so but even without that fanciful embellishment it is an extraordinary story.This book, first published in 1957, has been out of print for a very long time. Its renewed availability will delight not just those interested in mountaineering but also connoisseurs of adventure stories.

Treasure Hunter: Caches, Curses and Deadly Confrontations


W.C. Jameson - 2010
    Jameson's account of one intrepid man's efforts to find the lost treasures of North America and beyond. Jameson and his partners piece together centuries-old histories through documents, maps, and stories passed down from one generation to the next, facing life-threatening danger time and again. These riveting stories, told with humor and candor, are a portal to another time, and are a testament to the spirited independence of risk-takers, a few of whom still exist in what we think of as the modern age.

In That Sweet Country: Uncollected Writings of Harry Middleton


Harry Middleton - 2010
    When he died in 1993, Middleton left behind a legacy rich with mountain streams, wild trout, and fishermen’s dreams.In That Sweet Country is a fresh, exhilarating collection of a renowned fishing writer’s previously published works. A recognized name in outdoor writing, Middleton brings us inspiring selections such as “An Angler’s Lament” from Southern Living (1987), “Spring on the Miramichi” from The Flyfisher (1991), “A Haunting Obsession with Brown Trout” from the New York Times (1992), and many more. Readers who love Middleton’s work will cherish this compilation, while novice fishermen will gain a view of the world as Middleton saw it: “There are so few left, so few who believe the earth is enough.”Skyhorse Publishing is proud to publish a broad range of books for fishermen. Our books for anglers include titles that focus on fly fishing, bait fishing, fly-casting, spin casting, deep sea fishing, and surf fishing. Our books offer both practical advice on tackle, techniques, knots, and more, as well as lyrical prose on fishing for bass, trout, salmon, crappie, baitfish, catfish, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

The Camper Van Cookbook: Life on 4 wheels, Cooking on 2 rings


Martin Dorey - 2010
    

Afield: American Writers on Bird Dogs


Robert DeMottCraig Matthews - 2010
    For the first time, the stories of acclaimed writers such as Richard Ford, Tom Brokaw, Howell Raines, Rick Bass, Sydney Lea, Jim Harrison, Tom McGuane, Phil Caputo, and Chris Camuto, come together in one collection. Hunters and non-hunters alike will recognize in these poignant tales the universal aspects of owning dogs: companionship, triumph, joy, forgiveness, and loss. The hunter’s outdoor spirit meets the writer’s passion for detail in these honest, fresh pieces of storytelling. Here are the days spent on the trail, shotgun in hand with Fido on point—the thrills and memories that fill the hearts of bird hunters. Here is the perfect gift for dog lovers, hunters, and bibliophiles of every makeup. This is a delightful, handsome volume that captures the wild spirit of dogs and those who love them.

Trails of Crater Lake National Park & Oregon Caves National Monument


William L. Sullivan - 2010
    p. verso.

Best Easy Day Hikes Richmond, Virginia


Johnny Molloy - 2010
    The 20 hikes in this guide are generally short, easy to follow, and guaranteed to please.

100 Classic Hikes in New England: Maine / New Hampshire / Vermont / Massachusetts / Rhode Island / Connecticut


Jeffrey Romano - 2010
    Historic trails are well-worn into the landscape, inviting outdoor enthusiasts to undertake epic backpacking adventures or short, satisfying day hikes. This new guide covers the best trails in six states, including jaunts on the Appalachian Trail, the lush hills of Maine, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Long Trail in Vermont, the Massachusetts coast, the dense forests of Connecticut, and the wildlife sanctuaries of Rhode Island. Written by a New England native, the book provides measured distances and times for each hike, as well as difficulty ratings, elevation gain, permitting information, and more.

New York Waterfalls: A Guide for Hikers & Photographers


Scott E. Brown - 2010
    Guide to 122 hikes to more than 300 publicly accessible waterfallsDetailed descriptions of each hike, with information on distance, difficulty, elevation change, best time of year to visit, and highlightsMore than 120 helpful maps for guidanceBeautiful full-color photos of the falls, with tips on composition, exposures, unique perspectives, lighting, and gear

The UK Trailwalker's Handbook


Paul Lawrence - 2010
    Each one links individual footpath sections into a continuous trail that is actively promoted. Some, like The Monarch's Way, are linked with a historical figure and others with a landscape feature such as The Thames or Offa's Dyke. Compiled by the experts of the UK's Long Distance Walkers' Association, this new edition of the UK Trailwalker's Handbook is an up-to-date directory of all of these routes, across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It combines descriptions and profiles, by region, of hundreds of waymarked routes, including the 19 National Trails and many hundreds more enthusiasts' routes, with holiday ideas, inspirational articles, photographs and overview maps. In all, the guide covers over 700 routes and more than 40,000 miles. Over 16 million people a year walk along these routes and this book provides all the detail you need to plan some great days out hiking!

Captured: Lessons from Behind the Lens of a Legendary Wildlife Photographer


B. Moose Peterson - 2010
    You'll also find a healthy dose of inspiration as the stories behind the photos are revealed as only Moose can tell them.In the end, you'll come away with invaluable photographic techniques gained through a lifetime of experience and a new appreciation for the passion of wildlife photography. You'll gain knowledge that you can put to use on your next excursion into the wild, your local or state park, or even your own backyard.

Plains Indians Regalia & Customs


Bad Hand - 2010
    The author juxtaposes the sources with new research and modern color photography of specific replica items. Thereby, the past comes to life and today's readers learn this history with concrete examples to which they relate. The comprehensive text documents the seven major tribes: Blackfeet, Cheyenne, Comanche, Crow, Hidatsa, Mandan, and Lakota. Observations of Plains Indian men's and women's habits include procuring food, dancing, developing spiritual beliefs, and experiencing daily life. Prominent leaders and average members of the tribes are introduced and major incidents are explained. True stories come to light through objects that relate to each incident and personality. With an understanding of these cultures, readers learn basic similarities of all people, ancient to present, including today's multi-cultural society.

The Will of the Land


Peter A. Dettling - 2010
    .Peter Dettling first visited Canada’s internationally renowned Rocky Mountains national parks as a Swiss tourist in 1993. Immediately, he fell in love with the untouched wilderness, breathtaking landscapes, diverse flora and abundant animal life, all seemingly free from human intervention and manipulation. .With wide-eyed exuberance, Dettling moved to the heart of the Canadian Rockies in 2003, working as an artist and nature photographer. For years he documented the beauty and splendour of life in the mountains of western Canada, selling his art and photography to countless tourists and locals. In time, however, he gained insight into the realities of nature’s growing struggle against developing tourism, ill-conceived transportation routes and questionable wildlife management practices.

Backpacker magazine's Trailside Navigation: Map and Compass


Molly Absolon - 2010
    Perfect for pack or pocket, this book breaks down its subject into the essential topics, providing practical and portable information useful in the field.

Guide to Taxidermy


Charles K. Reed - 2010
    The Complete Guide to Traditional Taxidermy will show you the pleasure of performing taxidermy work for yourself and the profit to be gained in performing the art for others.The authors’ thirty-five years of experience support every explanation and detailed instruction as they break down what it takes to be a collector, properly use the tools of the trade, and clean, skin, and mount a wide variety of game. Inside are all the original instructions for handling game from start to finish, including sections on mounting heads, fish, and reptiles, tanning skins, collecting and exhibiting insects and eggs, using tools and gathering materials, selecting eyes and wires, and much more.Complete with hundreds of illustrations, there’s no better foundation for the beginning home taxidermist.

Met Office Pocket Cloud Book: How To Understand The Skies


Richard Hamblyn - 2010
    Beautifully illustrated with lovely images from the Met Office, this handy pocket-sized book provides you with all the information you need to identify different kinds of clouds and the kind of weather that may be on its way. Full of useful information, this book provides: quick reference pages for rapid identification; a cloud classification chart and a guide to the unique cloud identification system; clear informative explanations from weather experts; a simple, easy-to-understand progression from low clouds to high stratus clouds, as well as covering unusual cloud phenomena; a detailed introduction on the history of cloud classification and an introduction to the three principle cloud forms, with clear explanations of the atmospheric processes that create them. This is an invaluable companion for the casual cloud-spotter and for all those fascinated by the variety and beauty of clouds and cloud names. Take it with you on walks and have it handy in the garden so that you can enjoy sky-gazing every day. This book is the ideal daytime partner for our book on the night sky - The Star Book by Peter Grego.

The Living Landscape: How To Read And Understand It


Patrick Whitefield - 2010
    He will inspire you to reconnect with the land as a living entity, not a collection of different scenery, and develop an active relationship with nature and the countryside.The Living Landscape opens with a chapter on how to go about reading the landscape. The following chapters then go on to look in detail into landscape formation, from rocks, through soil, to vegetation, and the intricate web of interactions among plants, animals, climate, and people that makes the landscape around us. Each chapter is interspersed with diagrams, sketches, and notes that Patrick has taken over two decades of living and working in the countryside.This book invites you to engage actively with nature and experience it firsthand. Understanding how landscapes evolve is a useful skill for landscape designers, gardeners, and farmers large and small, but it is also a life-enhancing skill all of us can enjoy. Whitefield offers us the enduring pleasure that costs nothing and yet offers everything.