Best of
Outdoors

2014

The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volume 1: Big Game


Steven Rinella - 2014
    In this first-ever complete guide to hunting—from hunting an animal to butchering and cooking it—the host of the popular hunting show MeatEater shares his own expertise with us, and imparts strategies and tactics from many of the most experienced hunters in the United States as well.   This invaluable book includes • recommendations on what equipment you will need—and what you can do without—from clothing to cutlery to camping gear to weapons • basic and advanced hunting strategies, including spot-and-stalk hunting, ambush hunting, still hunting, drive hunting, and backpack hunting • how to effectively use decoys and calling for big game • how to find hunting locations, on both public and private land, and how to locate areas that other hunters aren’t using • how and when to scout hunting locations for maximum effectiveness • basic information on procuring hunting tags, including limited-entry “draw” tags • a species-by-species description of fourteen big-game animals, from their mating rituals and preferred habitats to the best hunting techniques—both firearm and archery—for each species • how to plan and pack for backcountry hunts • instructions on how to break down any big-game animal and transport it from your hunting site • how to butcher your own big-game animals and select the proper cuts for sausages, roasts, and steaks, and how to utilize underappreciated cuts such as ribs and shanks • cooking techniques and recipes, for both outdoor and indoor preparation of wild game

Training for the New Alpinism: A Manual for the Climber as Athlete


Steve House - 2014
    National Champions and World Cup Nordic Skiers, translate training theory into practice to allow you to coach yourself to any mountaineering goal. Applying training practices from other endurance sports, House and Johnston demonstrate that following a carefully designed regimen is as effective for alpinism as it is for any other endurance sport and leads to better performance. They deliver detailed instruction on how to plan and execute training tailored to your individual circumstances. Whether you work as a banker or a mountain guide, live in the city or the country, are an ice climber, a mountaineer heading to Denali, or a veteran of 8,000-meter peaks, your understanding of how to achieve your goals grows exponentially as you work with this book. Chapters cover endurance and strength training theory and methodology, application and planning, nutrition, altitude, mental fitness, and assessing your goals and your strengths. Chapters are augmented with inspiring essays by world-renowned climbers, including Ueli Steck, Mark Twight, Peter Habeler, Voytek Kurtyka, and Will Gadd. Filled with photos, graphs, and illustrations.

The Tower: A Chronicle of Climbing and Controversy on Cerro Torre


Kelly Cordes - 2014
    But controversy has swirled around this ice-capped peak since Cesare Maestri claimed first ascent in 1959. Since then a debate has raged, with world-class climbers attempting to retrace his route but finding only contradictions. This chronicle of hubris, heroism, controversies and epic journeys offers a glimpse into the human condition, and why some pursue extreme endeavors that at face value have no worth.

All Fishermen Are Liars


John Gierach - 2014
    But fishing is only part of his job. The other part is writing about his fishing adventures. And that’s the part we readers get to enjoy.In All Fishermen Are Liars, Gierach travels across North America from the Pacific Northwest to the Canadian Maritimes to seek out quintessential fishing experiences. Whether he’s fishing a busy stream or a secluded lake amid snow-capped mountains, Gierach insists that fishing is always the answer—even when it’s not clear what the question is. All Fishermen Are Liars covers fishing topics large and small: the art of fly-tying and the quest for the perfect steelhead fly; fishing in the Presidential Pools previously fished by the first President George Bush; and the importance of traveling with like-minded companions when caught in a soaking downpour. (“At this point someone is required to say, ‘You know, there are people who wouldn’t think this is fun.’”)Gierach may occasionally lose a fish, but he never loses his passion for fishing or his sense of humor. All Fishermen Are Liars proves yet again that life’s most valuable lessons—and some of its best experiences— can be found while fly-fishing.

Rusch to Glory: Adventure, Risk, & Triumph on the Path Less Traveled


Rebecca Rusch - 2014
    Known today as the Queen of Pain for her perseverance as a relentlessly fast runner, paddler, and mountain bike racer, Rusch was a normal kid from Chicago who abandoned a predictable life for one of adventure. In her new book Rusch to Glory: Adventure, Risk & Triumph on the Path Less Traveled, Rusch weaves her fascinating life's story among the exotic locales and extreme conditions that forged an extraordinary athlete from ordinary roots.Rusch has run the gauntlet of endurance sports over her career as a professional athlete-- climbing, adventure racing, whitewater rafting, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking--racking up world championships along the way. But while she might seem like just another superhuman playing out a fistful of aces, her empowering story proves that anyone can rise above self-doubt and find their true potential.First turning heads with her rock climbing and paddling skills, Rusch soon found herself spearheading adventure racing teams like Mark Burnett's Eco-Challenge series. As she fought her way through the jungles of Borneo, raced camels across Morocco, threaded the rugged Tian Shan mountains, and river-boarded the Grand Canyon in the dead of winter, she was forced to stare down her own demons. Through it all, Rusch continually redefined her limits, pushing deep into the pain cave and emerging ready for the next great challenge.At age 38, Rusch faced a tough decision: retire or reinvent herself yet again. Determined to go for broke, she shifted her focus to endurance mountain bike racing and rode straight into the record books at a moment when most athletes walk away. Rusch to Glory is more than an epic story of adventure; it is a testament to the rewards of hard work, determination, and resilience on the long road to personal and professional triumph.

The Killing of Wolf Number Ten: The True Story


Thomas McNamee - 2014
    A manhunt. The triumph of justice and of the wolf.The greatest event in Yellowstone history. Greater Yellowstone was the last great truly intact ecosystem in the temperate zones of the earth—until, in the 1920s, U.S. government agents exterminated its top predator, the gray wolf. With traps and rifles, even torching pups in their dens, the killing campaign was entirely successful. The howl of the “evil” wolf was heard no more. The “good” animals—elk, deer, bison—proliferated, until they too had to be “managed.” Two decades later, recognizing that ecosystems lacking their keystone predators tend to unravel, the visionary naturalist Aldo Leopold called for the return of the wolf to Yellowstone. It would take another fifty years for his vision to come true. In the early 1990s, as the movement for Yellowstone wolf restoration gained momentum, rage against it grew apace. When at last, in February 1995, fifteen wolves were trapped in Alberta and brought to acclimation pens in Yellowstone, even then legal and political challenges continued. There was also a lot of talk in the bars about “shoot, shovel, and shut up.” While the wolves’ enemies worked to return them to Canada, the biologists in charge of the project feared that the wolves might well return on their own. Once they were released, two packs remained in the national park, but one bore only one pup and the other none. The other, comprising Wolves Nine and Ten and Nine’s yearling daughter, disappeared. They were in fact heading home. As they emerged from protected federal land, an unemployed ne’er-do-well from Red Lodge, Montana, trained a high-powered rifle on Wolf Number Ten and shot him through the chest. Number Nine dug a den next to the body of her mate, and gave birth to eight pups. The story of their rescue and the manhunt for the killer is the heart of The Killing of Wolf Number Ten. + Read this book, and if you are ever fortunate enough to hear the howling of Yellowstone wolves, you will always think of Wolves Nine and Ten. If you ever see a Yellowstone wolf, chance are it will be carrying their DNA. The restoration of the wolf to Yellowstone is now recognized as one of conservation’s greatest achievements, and Wolves Nine and Ten will always be known as its emblematic heroes.

Hikertrash: Life on the Pacific Crest Trail


Erin Miller - 2014
    Suddenly finding themselves completely free of responsibilities, jobless, and with a little spare cash in the bank, it didn't take long before their serious search for a new life took some unexpected twists and turns."What do you think we should do when we return to the States?" Erin asked Carl, as they sat outside a tiny cafe sipping coffee. It was a question that had been plaguing her for weeks as they budget travelled across South East Asia in an attempt to avoid winter (and reality)."I've been thinking about it, and I think we should thru-hike the Pacific Crest Trail." Was Carl's totally unexpected reply.Spend months on end traipsing through the wilderness, petting bunnies and chasing rainbows, as they hiked 2,660 miles from Mexico to Canada? How could Erin possibly say no? Life Rule #1: Never, ever, turn down an adventure.Friends wagered they wouldn't last a week, but before they knew it, days turned into months as they made their way across America at three miles an hour. As Carl and Erin morphed into Bearclaw and Hummingbird, they found that being hikertrash suited them.Though they will both admit the trail was life altering, there were no great epiphanies, no magic answers to all of life's burning questions, no "ah-ha!" moments when suddenly life made sense. This is not a tale of personal growth.Through blisters and shin splints, jaw-dropping landscapes and craptastically unspectacular forests, searing heat and pouring rain, complete hilarity and utter exhaustion, this is the story of what day-to-day life is really like on one of America's greatest trails.As told through Hummingbird's journal entries, this is the story of life on the trail - the people you meet, the things you see, and how, mile by mile, you eventually become Hikertrash.Includes: 6 Overview Maps to Follow our Journey 19 Black & White Photos of Sights Along the Trail Leave No Trace Tips Our Gear Lists Our Trail RecipesWhat Is Hikertrash?Hikertrash: a long distance hiker, shabby and homeless in appearance, rarely bathed and rank in odor, more at home outdoors than in society, with a deep reverence and respect for all things wild."

Microadventures: Local Discoveries for Great Escapes


Alastair Humphreys - 2014
    Adventures change you and how you see the world, and all you need is an open mind, bags of enthusiasm and boundless curiosity.So what’s a microadventure? It’s close to home, cheap, simple, short and 100% guaranteed to refresh your life. A microadventure takes the spirit of a big adventure and squeezes it into a day or even a few hours.The point of a microadventure is that you don’t need lots of time and money to meet a new challenge. This practical guide is filled with ideas for microadventures – for you to experience on your own or with friends and family – and over 150 stunning photographs, plus tips and advice on safety and kit.Whether it’s sleeping on a hilltop or going for a wild swim, cycling a lap of the Isle of Wight or walking home for Christmas, it’s time you discovered something new about yourself and the world outside your window. Adventure is everywhere, every day and it is up to us to find it.

Earth Is My Witness: The Photography of Art Wolfe


Art Wolfe - 2014
    For the first time, Wolfe presents the three subjects at the heart of his work—landscapes, wildlife, and cultures on the edge of extinction—in a single masterpiece that takes us through the world’s ecosystems and geographical regions in a vivid display of the fragility and interconnectivity of life on Earth, while simultaneously exploring his evolution as an artist and the techniques he uses to capture the nuances and rhythms of nature. Earth Is My Witness is the most extensive collection of Art Wolfe photography ever compiled. This lavishly produced work spans the globe, bringing the beauty of the planet’s fast-disappearing landscapes, wildlife, and cultures into stunning focus. Containing unpublished work from throughout Wolfe’s widely celebrated career, Earth Is My Witness offers a riveting and comprehensive look at the world’s ecosystems and geographical regions. Here Wolfe presents an encyclopedic selection of his photography along with intimate stories that exemplify his boundless curiosity. From rich sights and smells of the Pushkar Camel Fair to the exact moment when a polar bear and her cubs leave their Arctic den, these images represents what Wolfe has lived for: moments when circumstance, light, and subject miraculously collide to form an iconic image. These photographs and the stories behind them explore the delicate interconnectivity of life across our planet. Setting the stage for this fascinating journey is award-winning author Wade Davis. Together, they present a world that borders on the fantastic but is all the more precious for its fragility. At the heart of Wolfe’s work is the appeal for environmental, cultural, and wildlife preservation, which he makes with beautiful, far-reaching precision in this definitive opus.

Funny Shit in the Woods and Other Stories: The Best of Semi-Rad.com


Brendan Leonard - 2014
    Since 2011, more than one million visitors have read and shared Leonard's writing, making Semi-Rad.com stories some of the most viral outdoor content on the internet. Funny Shit in the Woods collects 40 of Semi-Rad's most popular stories in one volume: a single portable archive without the mouse clicks or internet searches-complete with all-new amateurish illustrations hand-drawn by the author, usually while in the front seat of a moving car. If you've ever considered the absurdity of sleeping on the ground in a place where bears live, pooping in a bag on a glacier, or trying to teach someone you love a sport that could scare them to the point of loudly threatening to kill you in front of strangers-or if you find yourself inexplicably drawn to adjust the burning logs in a campfire every two minutes, Funny Shit in the Woods will make you laugh, and might inspire you to get outside a little bit more.

Bushcraft 101: A Field Guide to the Art of Wilderness Survival


Dave Canterbury - 2014
    Based on the 5Cs of Survivability--cutting tools, covering, combustion devices, containers, and cordages--this valuable guide offers only the most important survival skills to help you craft resources from your surroundings and truly experience the beauty and thrill of the wilderness. Inside, you'll also discover detailed information on: Choosing the right items for your kit. Manufacturing needed tools and supplies. Collecting and cooking food. Protecting yourself from the elements. With Canterbury's guidance, you'll not only prepare yourself for any climate and situation, you'll also learn how to use the art of bushcraft to reconnect with nature in ways you've never imagined.

Running and Stuff


James Adams - 2014
    I could not trust even my closest friends to do the job for me. I was worried that they might try to sell you a lie. I feared that they might come up with some words like “James is an above average runner” or worse still, “James is actually quite good at this running thing”. I am not. But I have run across America, 3200 miles in ten weeks during the worst heat wave in living memory. Not many people have done that. I have run in many amazing places over really long distances. Ernest Hemmingway said “there is no skill to writing, you just have to sit at the typewriter and bleed”. That has been my approach to both my running and my writing. I am not sure Churchill had ultra running in mind when he famously quoted his qualifications but that is all I have to offer you here: no skill or talent just blood, sweat, toil and tears smeared over 350 pages and six years. This is not a treatise on how to achieve ultra marathon awesomeness. It is an honest account of what ultra marathon running does to a person. I sincerely hope you don’t finish reading this book with the opinion that I am any good at this. I hope you don’t describe me as being “super human “ or “crazy” or other terms I have grown used to over the years. Instead, my goal is that you might complete the fourth line of this series of logical statements in a similar way to the way that I did at the start of this journey: 1. James is a pretty regular guy 2. He’s done some amazing stuff 3.I’m a pretty regular guy/girl 4. -

Rock Climbing: The AMGA Single Pitch Manual


Bob Gaines - 2014
    The book builds upon Bob Gaines'  book, Toproping, to more specifically address the needs of the professional cilmbing instructor and advanced recreational climbers. It presents the most current, internationally recognized standards for technical climbing systems used in single pitch rock terrain. Included are chapters on effective teaching in the outdoor environment, risk management, professionalism, environmental awareness, and rescue

Wild


Kim Pritekel - 2014
    That meeting sparks a summer-long friendship filled with laughter, stories, adventures and, of course, spinning. Fourteen years later they meet again, and after a rocky introduction, strengthen that bond of friendship formed so many years ago. Abel loves introducing Zac to the world she’s barely glimpsed from her overlook in the woods, and Zac, in turn, shares her love of the outdoors. Together they explore not just their surroundings, but their fears, hopes and feelings. When Abel nears the end of college and her regular trips to the cabin, will she be able to convince Zac to leave her beloved woods and join her in the bustling city of Boston? Or will Zac decide to remain in her comfort zone, hidden behind the branches and tree trunks, safe from the chaos of civilization?

The Calling: A Life Rocked by Mountains


Barry Blanchard - 2014
    At thirteen, he learned to rappel when he joined the 1292 Lord Strathcone’s Horse Army Cadets. Soon kicked out for insubordination, he was already hooked on climbing and saw alpinism as a way to make his single mother proud and end his family’s cycle of poverty. He describes early climbs attempted with nothing to guide him but written trail descriptions and the cajones of youth. He slowly acquires the skills, equipment and partners necessary to tackle more and more difficult climbs, farther and farther afield: throughout the Canadian Rockies, into Alaska and the French Alps and on to Everest, Peru, and the challenging mountains in Pakistan. From each he learns lessons that only nature and extreme endeavor can teach. This is the story of the culture of climbing in the days of punk rock, spurred on by the rhythm of adrenaline and the arrogance of youth. It is also a portrait of the power of the mountains to lift us – physically, emotionally, intellectually,

Native Plants of the Southeast: A Comprehensive Guide to the Best 460 Species for the Garden


Larry Mellichamp - 2014
    They attract beneficial wildlife and insects, they allow a gardener to create a garden that reflects the native beauty of the region, and they make a garden more sustainable. Because of all this, they are an increasingly popular plant choice for home and public gardens. Native Plants of the Southeast shows you how to choose the best native plants and how to use them in the garden. This complete guide is an invaluable resource, with plant profiles for over 460 species of trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, grasses, and wildflowers. Each plant description includes information about cultivation and propagation, ranges, and hardiness. Comprehensive lists recommend particular plants for difficult situations, as well as plants for attracting butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife. Native Plants of the Southeast will be the definitive reference on the region's native flora for years to come.

Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors


Carolyn Finney - 2014
    Bridging the fields of environmental history, cultural studies, critical race studies, and geography, Finney argues that the legacies of slavery, Jim Crow, and racial violence have shaped cultural understandings of the great outdoors and determined who should and can have access to natural spaces. Drawing on a variety of sources from film, literature, and popular culture, and analyzing different historical moments, including the establishment of the Wilderness Act in 1964 and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Finney reveals the perceived and real ways in which nature and the environment are racialized in America. Looking toward the future, she also highlights the work of African Americans who are opening doors to greater participation in environmental and conservation concerns.

America's Great Hiking Trails: Appalachian, Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, North Country, Ice Age, Potomac Heritage, Florida, Natchez Trace, Arizona, Pacific Northwest, New England


Karen Berger - 2014
    Celebrating the forty most important trails in America, this volume takes the reader through forty-nine states and eight national parks. Literally tens of millions of tourists and hikers visit these trails each year, some of which wind through the country’s most scenic natural wonders and virtually every major ecosystem in America. Each featured trail has its own section, complete with a map and photo gallery, and the reader explores what makes it one of the most magnificent hiking experiences anywhere in the world. Trail histories accompany detailed hiker-friendly descriptions that highlight the most scenic spots, with suggestions for shorter weekend and day hikes. The stunning photographs take the reader on a visual adventure conducted by Bart Smith, the first person to hike all eleven National Scenic Trails from end to end. America’s Great Hiking Trails is perfect for anyone interested in outdoor recreation and conservation.

California Foraging: Easy-To-Find Wild Edibles from Coast Strawberries to Wild Spinach


Judith Larner Lowry - 2014
    Part of the Timber Press Regional Foraging book series, this is for foragers in the diverse climates of California.

Appalachian Odyssey: A 28-year hike on America's trail


Jeffrey H. Ryan - 2014
    Grabbing weeks here and days off there, it took Jeffrey twenty-eight years to finish the trail one section at a time. Along the way he learned much about himself and made many new friends, including his best friend, Wayne, who made the journey with him from start to finish. Including 75 color photos and profile maps that add a sense of the terrain covered, this engaging book is part memoir, part natural history and lore, and part practical advice. Whether you've hiked the AT, are planning to hike it, or only wish to dream of hiking it, this is the book to read.

Backpacking with the Saints: Wilderness Hiking as Spiritual Practice


Belden C. Lane - 2014
    Lane embarks on solitary spiritual treks through the Ozarks and across the American Southwest. For companions, he has only such teachers as Rumi, John of the Cross, Hildegard of Bingen, Dag Hammarskj�ld, and Thomas Merton, and as he walks, he engages their writings with the natural wonders he encounters--Bell Mountain Wilderness with S�ren Kierkegaard, Moonshine Hollow with Thich Nhat Hanh--demonstrating how being alone in the wild opens a rare view onto one's interior landscape, and how the saints' writings reveal the divine in nature.The discipline of backpacking, Lane shows, is a metaphor for a spiritual journey. Just as the wilderness offered revelations to the early Desert Christians, backpacking hones crucial spiritual skills: paying attention, traveling light, practicing silence, and exercising wonder. Lane engages the practice not only with a wide range of spiritual writings--Celtic, Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, Hindu, and Sufi Muslim--but with the fascination of other lovers of the backcountry, from John Muir and Ed Abbey to Bill Plotkin and Cheryl Strayed. In this intimate and down-to-earth narrative, backpacking is shown to be a spiritual practice that allows the discovery of God amidst the beauty and unexpected terrors of nature. Adoration, Lane suggests, is the most appropriate human response to what we cannot explain, but have nonetheless learned to love.An enchanting narrative for Christians of all denominations, Backpacking with the Saints is an inspiring exploration of how solitude, simplicity, and mindfulness are illuminated and encouraged by the discipline of backcountry wandering, and of how the wilderness itself becomes a way of knowing-an ecology of the soul.

You're Not Lost if You Can Still See the Truck: The Further Adventures of America's Everyman Outdoorsman


Bill Heavey - 2014
    This new book, again co-published with Field & Stream, collects more of Heavey’s top pieces from the magazine, as well as the best of his writing from the Washington Post and elsewhere. In this far-ranging read, Heavey’s adventures include nearly freezing to death in Eastern Alaska, hunting ants in the urban jungles of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and reconnecting to cherished memories of his grandfather through an inherited gun collection.With Heavey’s trademark witty candor, You're Not Lost if You Can Still See the Truck traces a life lived outdoors through the good, the bad, and the downright hilarious.

Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests


Jonah McDonald - 2014
    It focuses on natural areas within Atlanta's perimeter and just beyond, with destinations that include historic ruins, urban art, waterfalls, wetlands and Civil War battlefields. Of the 60 hikes, 20 are inside the perimeter and nearly half have never before appeared in a guidebook. Routes range from under a mile to more than 12 miles, making many routes suitable for casual walkers as well as experienced hikers. Each hike entry includes maps, complete driving and hiking directions, trail highlights, public transportation access information, and notable trees along the way; many also list birds commonly seen. From the well-known trails of Stone Mountain Park to the secluded paths of Hahn Woods, Hiking Atlanta's Hidden Forests provides the information outdoor lovers need to get out on the trail without leaving the metro area.

Slick Water: Fracking and One Insider’s Stand Against the World’s Most Powerful Industry


Andrew Nikiforuk - 2014
    Since then, her ongoing lawsuit against Encana, Alberta Environment, and the Energy Resources Conservation Board has made her a folk hero in many places worldwide where fracking is underway. In this powerful work of investigative journalism, Andrew Nikiforuk interweaves Ernst’s story with the science of fracking and stories of human and environmental repercussions left in its wake. Slick Water raises dramatic questions about the role of Big Oil in government, society’s obsession with rapidly depleting supplies of unconventional oil and gas, and the future of civil society.

John Muir Trail Topographic Map Guide


NOT A BOOK - 2014
    Expertly researched and created in partnership with local land management agencies, this product provides detailed topographic maps, interesting history, a waypoint table, information about wilderness safety, and key points of interest you will encounter along the trail. A resupply location chart shows shipping address/contact information, distances, and services available at each resupply point. Each map page has a detailed trail profile that shows the elevation changes you will encounter. Also, the John Muir Trail is highlighted and centered on each page so you can easily track your progress.The maps start at the northern terminus in Yosemite Valley and progress along the ridge of the Sierra Nevada, past Devils Postpile, and end at the highest point in the lower 48 on the top of Mount Whitney. Along the way you will pass through; Yosemite National Park, Ansel Adams Wilderness, Devils Postpile National Monument, John Muir Wilderness, Kings Canyon National Park, and finally, Sequoia National Park and Mount Whitney. A 21-day sample itinerary is included as well.Every Topographic Map Guide is printed on -Backcountry Tough- waterproof, tear-resistant paper. A full UTM grid is printed on the map to aid with GPS navigation.Other features found on this map include: Ansel Adams Wilderness, Bridalveil Fall, El Capitan, Illilouette Falls, Inyo National Forest, John Muir Wilderness, Kings Canyon National Park, Lake Thomas A Edison, Lower Yosemite Fall, Middle Palisade, Mount Agassiz, Mount Darwin, Mount Muir, Mount Pinchot, Mount Powell, Mount Ritter, Mount Russell, Mount Tyndall, Mount Whitney, Mount Williamson, Nevada Fall, North Palisade, Ribbon Fall, Ritter Range, Sequoia National Park, Sierra National Forest, Sierra Nevada, Split Mountain, Upper Yosemite Falls, Vernal Fall, Yosemite National Park, Yosemite Valley.Map Scale = 1:63,360Folded Size = 4.25- x 9.25-

Hillwalking: The Official Handbook of the Mountain Training Walking Schemes


Steve Long - 2014
    Hillwalking

Simple Fly Fishing: Techniques for Tenkara and Rod and Reel


Yvon Chouinard - 2014
    This book reveals that the best way to catch trout is simply, with a rod and a fly and not much else. The wisdom in this book comes from a simpler time, when the premise was: the more you know, the less you need. It teaches the reader how to discover where the fish are, at what depth, and what they are feeding on. Then it describes the techniques needed to present a fly at that depth, make it look lifelike, and hook the fish. With chapters on wet flies, nymphs, and dry flies, its authors employ both the tenkara rod as well as regular fly fishing gear to cover all the bases. Illustrated by renowned fish artist James Prosek, with inspiring photographs and stories throughout, Simple Fly Fishing reveals the secrets and the soul of this captivating sport. Winner, Guidebooks, Banff Mountain Book Competition 2014

8,000 Miles Across Alaska: A Runner's Journeys on the Iditarod Trail


Jill Homer - 2014
    Alaska remains a mysterious place that, thanks to reality television, has captured the imagination of millions. Yet a minuscule fraction have acquired an understanding of the land afforded by exploring in their most vulnerable state — on foot, towing all of their supplies, wholly independent. This is the perspective of Tim Hewitt, an employment lawyer from Pennsylvania with a unique hobby — racing across Alaska on the Iditarod Trail. What compels a man to run, walk, and trudge a thousand miles across Alaska? “Because it’s there” isn't an adequate explanation. “As a challenge” or “for the adventure of it” are closer, but still too vague. The thousand-mile dog sled race on the Iditarod Trail is often called “The Last Great Race” — but there’s another, more obscure race, where participants don’t even have the help of dogs. The Iditarod Trail Invitational challenges cyclists, skiers, and runners to complete the distance under their own power and without much outside support. Tim Hewitt is the only person to have completed it more than three times. His actual number? An astonishing eight. Six of those, he won or tied. But no one who sees Tim Hewitt on the street near his law firm in Pittsburgh would ever suspect that battling hurricane-force blizzards is something he does in his spare time. Fifty-nine years old with a slim build, a bright smile, and cropped gray hair, he isn’t the stereotype of a grizzled Arctic explorer. He’s a talented amateur runner, a father to four daughters, a husband to an equally adventurous wife, and achiever of a truly distinctive accomplishment. Far more people have reached the summit of Mount Everest than Nome under their own power, and it’s incredibly unlikely that another person will ever try for eight. "8,000 Miles Across Alaska: A Runner's Journeys on the Iditarod Trail" chronicles Tim Hewitt's adventures across Alaska — the harrowing weather conditions, breathtaking scenery, kindness of strangers, humorous misadventures, humbling setbacks and heroic victories. From fierce competition with his fellow racers, to traveling backward on the trail to ensure the safety of his wife, to battling for his own survival, Tim Hewitt has amassed a lifetime of experiences amid the harsh miles of the Iditarod Trail. This is his story.

50 Best Short Hikes in Utah's National Parks


Greg Witt - 2014
    Each park offers visitors the dramatic scenery that invites exploration and discovery.In 50 Best Short Hikes in Utah’s National Parks, veteran hiking guide Greg Witt shares the best routes in each park, hikes that are both “must see” and accessible. Park visitors who are short on time will find this book to be the ideal traveling companion, quickly helping readers identify the hikes and sights, making the best use of their time and provide maximum enjoyment.Each hike in the book includes distances, highlights, area maps, and easy-to-follow trailhead directions to make hike selection fast and efficient. Once on the trail, the detailed maps, route description, and interpretive details insure that hikers get the most out of their trip.Even avid hikers and experienced desert explorers will find new insights and discoveries as Witt’s interesting and approachable style details the geologic forces that created this landscape. He brings to life the human history—prehistoric cliff-dwellers, native tribes, ranchers, farmers, loggers, miners, and outlaws—that adds to the color of the Colorado Plateau where these five parks are set.

Mountains in My Heart: A Passion for Climbing


Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner - 2014
    Her love of being in the mountains shines through in her writing: For Gerlinde the important thing was not the race to be the first woman to climb the 8,000-meter peaks, but rather to experience the mountains and climb them in her self-sufficient style. Self-sufficiency did not, however, mean climbing without her husband, Ralf Dujmovits; in 2009, Lhotse became her twelfth and his fourteenth 8,000-meter peak!Kaltenbrunner shares the challenges, dangers, and euphoria of her high-altitude climbs, detailing medical emergencies and her own feelings about being high in the mountains. Her writing is honest, captivating, and unrestrained.

A Christmas Proposal


Rhavensfyre - 2014
    Plans change and Chase is still learning a lot about family, but when it comes to Rowan, she has a steep learning curve. This romantic novelette is exactly what it says, all you have to do is read till the end to find out if it's a yes or no. Of course, getting there is the best part of the story.

The Herbalist's Bible: John Parkinson's Lost Classic Rediscovered


Julie Bruton-Seal - 2014
    Famous in his own lifetime for his influential books, his magnum opus, the Theatrum Botanicum, was published in 1640 and ran to 1,766 large pages. The sheer scope and size was perhaps to prove the book’s downfall, because while it was much revered—and plagiarized—it was never reprinted and, centuries later, has attained the status of an extremely rare and valuable book. Parkinson was writing at a time when Western herbalism was at its zenith, and his skills as a gardener (from his grounds in Covent Garden) combined perfectly with his passion for science, observation, and historical scholarship.In the The Herbalist’s Bible, Julie Bruton-Seal and Matthew Seal have beautifully combined selections from Parkinson’s book with their own modern commentary on how each plant is used today to create a truly one-of-a-kind, comprehensive collection of herbal information old and new. Parkinson’s clear and lively description of a chosen plant’s “vertues” or healing properties side-by-side with the editors’ notes—including copious herbal recipes—make this the perfect book for students and practitioners of herbalism, historians, and gardeners, all of whom will welcome this restoration of Parkinson’s lost classic.

People Before the Park: The Kootenai and Blackfeet before Glacier National Park


Sally Thompson - 2014
    For countless years, they made their seasonal rounds in the landscape that is now Glacier National Park. In People Before the Park, the Kootenai and Blackfeet tribes share their traditions—stories and legends, foodways and hunting techniques, games and spiritual beliefs. Readers will discover a new respect for the people who were at home in these mountains, all around the seasons.

Running Hot & Cold


Doug Richards - 2014
    Doug Richards was indifferent to exercise until, approaching his middle years, he became increasingly aware of his declining fitness. So Doug took up running. Rather slowly at first; but he made steady progress. Follow Doug's journey – overcoming modern-life obstacles including a marriage breakdown, work-related stress, anxiety and depression – from that very first one-mile run to marathons at home and abroad. And so on to wider and wilder horizons. How do you prepare for running 140 miles across the Sahara Desert? How does a bus-pass-bearing pensioner stay upright running on Greenland's polar ice-cap? Read of a confrontation with elephants in South Africa, puddles in the desert in China and the emotional rollercoaster of running in tsunami-ravaged Sri Lanka. About the Author Doug Richards is a retired University of Birmingham lecturer with a long track record of academic publishing, though Running Hot & Cold is his first venture into non-fiction. Doug's background lies in medical research, which led to his teaching pharmacology and neuroscience. He recently qualified as a run leader with the Run England project.

Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Routes: Washington


Martin Volken - 2014
    It features routes ranging from accessible day trips suitable for relative beginners to more challenging multiday traverses. It’s a guide to the very best routes available to skiers and boarders throughout the state. Each route includes the following elements:* Starting elevation and high point* Elevation gain and loss* Route distance* Time required* Recommended skill and fitness levels* Best season to ski* Maps and permits info* Driving directions, from nearest major town or junction* Detailed route description* Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Routes: Washington also includes an introduction by legendary Northwest skier Lowell Skoog.

60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Portland: Including the Coast, Mount Hood, St. Helens, and the Santiam River


Paul Gerald - 2014
    60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Portland profiles 60 select trails that give outdoor adventurers a little of everything there is to enjoy around Portland: mountain views, forest solitude, picturesque streams, strenuous workouts, casual strolls, fascinating history, fields of flowers, awesome waterfalls, and ocean beaches. Whether readers want a convenient city bus ride to the flat and fascinating Washington Park, a bumpy drive to Lookout Mountain, or the thigh-burning experiences that are Kings and Elk Mountains, this book lets them know what to bring, how to get to the trailhead, where to go on the trail, and what to look for while they’re hiking.

The North Cascades: Finding Beauty and Renewal in the Wild Nearby


William Dietrich - 2014
     - Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Dietrich presents the rich history and challenges facing this rugged habitat just hours from Seattle. - In his foreword, Richard Louv examines the importance of preserving our local wilderness areas for generations to come. - Poet Gary Snyder shares musings from his time spent as a fire lookout in the region. - Guidebook author Craig Romano encourages boots-on-the-ground exploration, from day hikes to more ambitious backcountry travel. - Christian Martin, of North Cascades Institute, profiles leaders dedicated to protecting this landscape. - Twenty photographers, including Art Wolfe, Ethan Welty, Benj Drummond, Paul Bannick, Amy Gulick, and Steven Gnam, bring the North Cascades to stunning visual life. From the summit of Mount Baker to the sandy bottom of the Skagit River, Washington's North Cascades hold some of the most sublime mountain summits, lowland old growth forests, and pristine rivers on the planet. Some of these features are safely contained within national park boundaries or federally designated wilderness areas, but few people realize how many acres remain unprotected to this day. With a growing regional population, and development putting more pressure on this region, The North Cascades draws our attention to the many reasons that the integrity of this rich ecosystem must remain intact. Released in 2014 in honor of the 50th anniversary of the landmark Wilderness Act, and the 50th anniversary of the original North Cascades photo book by The Mountaineers that helped inspire the creation of North Cascades National Park. More than twenty conservation and recreation organizations working in the North Cascades lent their perspective to this book.

The Last Great Wild Places: Forty Years of Wildlife Photography by Thomas D. Mangelsen


Thomas D. Mangelsen - 2014
    Capturing the splendor of wild places and intimate moments with animals, this luxurious volume chronicles legendary nature photographer Thomas D. Mangelsen’s photographic adventures in the field. Driven by a passion for sharing and preserving the Earth’s last great wild places, Mangelsen is as much a conservationist as a natural history photographer and artist. From majestic elephants and giraffes on the plains of Kilimanjaro to polar bears in the Arctic, and from mountains and prairies to primordial jungles, Mangelsen invites us to witness fleeting wildness. A quiet call to action, an inventory of our planet as it battles climate change, and a celebration of wildness and its intrinsic value, The Last Great Wild Places is a record of the Earth’s last great locales, one that will inspire present and future generations with the message that what we have can, and must, be saved.

Dreaming Bears: A Gwich'in Indian Storyteller, a Southern Doctor, a Wild Corner of Alaska


J. Michael Holloway - 2014
    In 1961, Mike Holloway, his brother Ted, and a college friend set out from South Carolina to spend the summer hiking in arctic Alaska, intending to live off the land. They end up in the homeland of the Gwich’in – the northernmost Indians in North America. The young men charter a small plane into the isolated village of Venetie, and are directed to the remote cabins of Johnny and Sarah Frank, an elderly Gwich’in couple who lived a thirty-five mile walk from the village. Johnny was a well-known storyteller and former medicine man. Sarah made their home welcoming with warm, calm kindness. Mike’s rich encounters in Gwich’in country deepen his love of wild land and his respect for those who depend upon it for their survival. The experience alters his life. He becomes the adopted grandson of Johnny and Sarah, returning to Alaska as a doctor and an advocate for the land and its people.

The Achievable Epic: Thru-Hiking the Colorado Trail


Jim Rahtz - 2014
    For those that backpack, the dream is likely a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Unfortunately, the reality is that spending six months on a hike is not possible for most. However, there is a truly epic adventure waiting on the Colorado Trail. And the good news is that it is achievable.This book is your window into the “most beautiful long trail in the world.” Explore, along with author Jim (Simba) Rahtz, the challenges, rewards and laughs of preparing for and walking 500 miles through eight mountain ranges, six wilderness areas and some of the most incredible scenery imaginable.

We Love Nature!: A Keepsake Journal for Families Who Love to Explore the Outdoors


Stacy Tornio - 2014
    In this interactive journal, parents and kids have opportunities to spark curiosity about nature and are given space to record their discoveries. Part keepsake journal, part activity book, We Love Nature! offers a year’s worth of fresh, fun ways to explore nature that lead to profound memories. Lay back, look up, and invent stories from the shapes in the clouds • Play in the mud until you’re covered head to toe • Sing campfire songs, and put on a show by the fire •  Dance in the rain • Predict the weather, and then track your accuracy • Discover the night sky with an astronomy calendar • Hang up a birdhouse to see which birds you attract to nest

A Children's Guide to Arctic Birds (English)


Mia Pelletier - 2014
    In this book, young readers learn about twelve of the birds that call the Arctic home, whether that be for all or part of the year. With a simple layout and easy-to-follow headings for each bird, this beautiful book is filled with fun, useful facts, including where to look for eggs and nests during the short Arctic summer and how to recognize each bird's call on the wind. Because migratory birds live in the Arctic for part of the year, many of the feathered friends covered in A Children's Guide to Arctic Birds can be seen at various times of the year throughout North America.

In Pursuit: Devotions for the Hunter and Fisherman


Zeke Pipher - 2014
    In that moment they know if they will experience the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat. The 90 devotions in In Pursuit are written specifically for this outdoorsman. Each devotion expertly weaves scriptural truth into true hunting and fishing stories that capture the thrill of the great outdoors and work on the hearts of men who are zealous in their drive to get out on the lake or up in the deer blind. These reflections on the active life help prepare men for success and significance both spiritually and in their sport. It is the perfect gift for the outdoorsman. Foreword by Steve Chapman.

The Orvis Beginner's Guide to Carp Flies: 101 Patterns How and When to Use Them


Dan C. Frasier - 2014
    Their prodigious size and habit of finning in shallow water make them appear to be easy fly-fishing targets. In reality, most anglers quickly discover that they are extremely difficult to hook on a fly. It takes years to discover how to catch them consistently. The reason? Carp can be very selective about what flies they will take.This book will help to short-circuit that learning curve. Carp's selectivity can be boiled down to diet. Understanding what they are eating allows the angler to choose and tie a fly that will produce. The Orvis Beginner’s Guide to Carp Flies walks the flyfisherman through the steps of identifying the most likely food source, illustrating the best patterns that imitate that food, and discussing how to effectively present those flies. With detailed information on tying all of the important carp flies, this book eliminates months of trial and error in your fly selection.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 Herbal Medic


Sam Coffman - 2014
    

Salt: Coastal and Flats Fly Fishing: Coastal and Flats Fishing Photography of Andy Anderson


Andy Anderson - 2014
    As close to a first-hand experience as a reader can get without getting wet, Salt: Coastal and Flats Fly Fishing is a visually stunning journey to America's most epic saltwater fishing hot spots. Featuring photography from the Atlantic Northeast, Pacific Northwest, Bahamas, Gulf Coast, and Florida Keys-and highlighting fish such as striped bass, tuna, bonefish, permit, and tarpon-this is a life's compilation of saltwater fly-fishing photography by one of the most acclaimed outdoors photographers. Each section has an accompanying essay by Tom Rosenbauer that takes the reader along on a memorable trip to the world's greatest fishing destinations. For the serious fly fisherman, it is an album of shared experiences. For those new to the sport, it is an artfully crafted guidebook to the exotic world that exists on the waters of American coastlines and islands.

The Art of Adventure: Outdoor Sports from Sea to Summit


Ian Shive - 2014
    Rock climbing the coastal crags of Southeast Asia, free diving the freshwater caves of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, surfing a reef pass in the South Pacific, and skiing an untouched alpine chute are among the many lifestyle-defining, adrenaline-pumping pursuits chronicled in this one-of-a-kind, comprehensive volume. Through firsthand accounts by photographers and explorers, breathtaking photography, and contributions by leading commentators—including Keri Bascetta (SKI and Skiing), Amy Silverman (Outside), Julie Ellison (Climbing), Genny Fullerton (Backpacker), Aaron Schmidt (Canoe & Kayak), among others—The Art of Adventure reveals the culture, inspiration, and drive behind those dedicated to living an adventurous life. Complete with insights from behind the lens and far afield, this riveting collection captures the spirit of outdoor recreation like never before. Filled with wisdom and colored by both epic and quiet moments, The Art of Adventure is a gripping reminder of the vast playground awaiting those willing to live on the edge.

Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C.


Howard Youth - 2014
    In parks large and small, within the District's gardens, and on public streets, there is tremendous biodiversity. In Field Guide to the Natural World of Washington, D.C., naturalist Howard Youth takes us on an urban safari, describing the wild side of the nation's capital.Beyond the abundant wildlife that can be seen in every neighborhood, Washington boasts a large park network rich in natural wonders. A hike along the trails of Rock Creek Park, one of the country’s largest and oldest urban forests, quickly reveals white-tailed deer, eastern gray squirrels, and little brown bats. Mayapples, Virginia bluebells, and red mulberry trees are but a few of the treasures found growing at the National Arboretum. A stroll along the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers might reveal stealthy denizens such as bullfrogs, largemouth bass, and common snapping turtles. Detailed drawings by Carnegie artist Mark A. Klingler and photography by Robert E. Mumford, Jr., reveal the rich color and stunning beauty of the flora and fauna awaiting every D.C. naturalist.Whether seeking a secluded jog or an adventurous outing, residents and tourists alike will find this handsome guide indispensable for finding oases away from the noise of the city.

Great Sedona Hikes


William Bohan - 2014
    The Sedona hiking trail system is constantly changing. Other Sedona hiking guides books are printed in China which can result in long delays in incorporating changes, we keep Great Sedona Hikes Revised Fourth Edition up-to-date by constantly hiking the trails and updating our book. Our book is printed in the U.S. and our print-on-demand format allows us to quickly make necessary revisions to the trail maps and descriptions so you are assured of having the most up-to-date information on the trails. This Fourth Edition is a complete update and expansion of Great Sedona Hikes, Third Edition. We've added several new trails just recently opened by the Forest Service. It now includes 65 of Sedona's greatest hikes and includes many new photos, updated trail descriptions, more-detailed maps including cumulative ascent data and trail elevation profiles. It includes estimated hiking times, trail popularity and QR Code Technology with links to additional color photos for each of the 65 included hikes. Why settle for only 10 Top hikes? Our Top 12 Favorite Sedona Hikes are featured among the best 65 hikes in the Sedona area. The trails are organized by level of difficulty (easy, easy to moderate, moderate, hard). The trails are also organized by feature: trails suitable for hiking after a rainstorm trails that provide shade for summer hiking trails that lead to vortexes trails near water and trails leading to arches suggestions for loop hikesr This organization and directions to the trail heads are easy to understand to help you choose the perfect hike for your Sedona adventure. Great Sedona Hikes, Revised Fourth Edition contains specific directions and mileage to the trailheads, comprehensive trail descriptions complete with GPS waypoints, and colorful commentary about 65 of the most striking trails, including many trails not found in any other hiking guides. The individual trail maps are based on actual GPS “tracks." For those who new to hiking, we have included hiking tips, Sedona weather information, sunrise/sunset data, and parking pass requirements to help you plan your hikes. The authors are Sedona residents who have hiked these trails multiple times along with other good trails that didn't make the cut for inclusion among the 65 Great Sedona Hikes. When you are in Sedona, we invite you to contact us at hikebook@greatsedonahikes.com and perhaps go on a hike together. For your maximum enjoyment and safety, be sure to carry an up-to-date hiking guide while on the trails -- Great Sedona Hikes, Revised Fourth Edition.

Outdoor Life: Prepare for Anything Survival Manual: 338 Essential Survival Skills


Tim MacWelch - 2014
    Be a Survivor.Are you preparing for the collapse of society? If so, you are definitely not alone. In this timely follow-up to The Ultimate Survival Manual, Prepare for Anything is packed with hundreds of gear, skills, and survival tips and strategies to help you be ready for anything, from economic collapse and terrorism to natural disasters and government surveillance.All over America, families are transforming spare rooms into long-term storage pantries, planting survival gardens, unplugging from the grid, converting their homes to alternative sources of energy, taking self-defense courses, and stocking up on just about everything and anything imaginable. So what are all of these people preparing for? The motivations may vary, but the general consensus is that our world is becoming increasingly unstable, and there are a whole host of civilization-endangering events to be concerned about. Outdoor Life: Prepare for Anything will take you through these potential threats and teach you how to become prepared for them, from how to strategize and the right gear to your actions in the wake of a disaster—or simply how to get back to the land and become less dependent on the system. This is the book for the growing prepper movement, with hands-on hints, easy-to-use checklists, and engaging first-person stories to break down the crucial do’s and don’ts, educate yourself on various threats, and help to ensure that you ride out whatever Mother Nature, the government, foreign powers, or modern society can throw at you.Includes vital information on:• How to Prepare Skills to know in order to prep for a natural disaster, economic collapse, or societal restructuring.• Stock Up What should be in your house, pantry, basement, bunker, and go-bag.• What to Do How to handle yourself and your family in the wake of disaster, from creating a plan to leading your neighborhood watch.

Complete Outdoors Encyclopedia: Camping, Fishing, Hunting, Boating, Wilderness Survival, First Aid


Vin T. Sparano - 2014
    This latest (fifth) edition of the award-winning Complete Outdoors Encyclopedia will again prove to be the most effective outdoor skills instruction book ever published. This monumental guide to the outdoors is produced for the first time in full color, featuring more than 1,300 photographs and 1,000 diagrams and illustrations. Totally revised and updated, this indispensable resource offers in-depth coverage of hunting, shooting, fishing, camping, boating, survival, first aid, bowhunting, and species profiles of game animals, birds, fish, and sporting dogs. This book is a must-have reference guide for both novice and experienced sportsmen as well as any person planning to learn outdoor skills. To broaden the scope of this established reference work, author Vin T. Sparano has compiled brand-new sections on wilderness survival, all-terrain vehicles, and boating. He has included new information on GPS and increased focus on specialty sections such as flyfishing, sporting clays, backpacking, nutrition, and first-aid breakthroughs for outdoors emergencies. Complete Outdoors Encyclopedia clearly explains and illustrates the latest technologies and trends in the outdoors.

AMC's Best Backpacking in New England: A Guide To 37 Of The Best Multiday Trips From Maine To Connecticut


Matt Heid - 2014
    Whether looking for an introductory overnight trek or a more challenging multi-day excursion, backpackers of all levels will find hikes suited to their interests and abilities. Appealing to both visitors to and residents of New England, this guide includes helpful new features like GPS waypoints for parking lots, fully updated trail descriptions accounting for recent rerouting and trailwork, and new topographic maps designed to help plan trips. New trips include the New England National Scenic Trail, Carrigain Notch-Mount Carrigain Loop, Grafton Loop Trail, and more. With photos for each trip, this reliable guide to low-cost adventure will have hikers exploring some of the wildest, least-traveled trails New England has to offer.

Hiking Waterfalls in Oregon: A Guide to the State's Best Waterfall Hikes


Adam Sawyer - 2014
    This beautiful, full-color guidebook features 64 of the best waterfall hikes in the Beaver State, with another 19 honorable mentions. From the Coast Range to the Cascades, along with the breathtaking Columbia River Gorge, you can explore those special places where water cascades over cliffs. Some waterfalls are remote while others are just a short hike from the trailhead, some are gentle trickles and others are roaring giants. Yet all of them offer a peaceful escape and are worth seeking out.

Walking in the Cotswolds: 30 Classic Hill and Valley Routes


Damian Hall - 2014
    Many are along the Edge (the most prominent part of England's largest continuous geological feature) and take in splendid sights, from the wildflower-dotted Cleeve Common grasslands to the dramatic Uley Bury hill fort. The gentle hills and honey-hued villages give the Cotswolds a quintessential Olde England feel, while the stout hills and secret valleys described in this guide give plenty of satisfying remoteness and authentic wilderness. The Cotswolds hill chain is sometimes dismissed by veteran walkers, but there are testing gradients here, and the views from the tops are wide-ranging. If you want to visit spectacular locations without too much strenuousness, it's easily done with this guide. If you want a thigh-burning hilly workout, that's easily done too. Set the clichés to one side. This is hill country.

Right Lane Ends: Bike Around The World Volume I Seattle to Boston (1)


Darby Roach - 2014
    You'll climb to the highest reaches of the Rockies, struggle through a Montana blizzard and do battle with a rogue raccoon on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi. "Right Lane Ends" is the story of Darby Roach's 71-day bicycle trip across the USA. He's closed up his marketing business, sold or given away everything he owns and is attempting to ride around the world. This is his first long-distance bike tour and he's not in very good shape. What could possibly go wrong?

The Official Guide to Rescuing and Maintaining Damsels in Distress


K. Alexander - 2014
    Especially if they've been waiting patiently up in a tower for their knight in shining armour to rescue them ... only to find the result completely unacceptable. Knights are not exactly known for delicacy and tact. Especially when they've risked life and limb (well, nearly) to rescue fair maidens ... who turn out to be rather less than grateful. Three-headed beasts, thorny vines, clanking armour and very bad singing are only the beginning of a somewhat odd and wholly untraditional fairytale. You may have heard it before ... but you've never heard it like this!

North Shore: A Natural History of Minnesota's Superior Coast


Chel Anderson - 2014
    Some plants and animals have taken up residence in the region’s ancient mountains, others in its lakes and flowing rivers. Together, they weave a living fabric of sublime and fascinating beauty. These organisms come to life in North Shore, a comprehensive environmental history of one of Minnesota’s most beloved places.The story of this region unfolds through the five interconnected areas of Minnesota’s North Shore watershed—the meandering rivers of the Headwaters, the deep and dense forest of the Highlands, the rocky Nearshore, the drama of Lake Superior, and its mysterious islands, including Isle Royale and Susie Island archipelagos. Each section begins with an overview of the forces that have shaped the area, then the focus turns to a wide range of inhabitants, such as chorus frogs and star-nosed moles, butterworts and coaster brook trout, jeweled diatoms and pitcher plants, black bears and blue-spotted salamanders. Each chapter links to the region’s broader history, from the sculpting of the land by mile-high glaciers to the role of scientific exploration, the advent of logging, the development of tourism, and the changing global climate.North Shore reminds us that the natural history of this extraordinary region is still being created and that each of us—individually and collectively—are the authors of this ongoing narrative. Compelling and accessible, the book will provide readers with a science-based knowledge of the Minnesota North Shore watershed so that together we can write a new, hopeful chapter for its inhabitants, both human and wild.

Phytomedicines, Herbal Drugs, and Poisons


Ben-Erik van Wyk - 2014
    On a clay slab that dates back approximately five thousand years, the Sumerians recorded medicinal recipes that made use of hundreds of plants, including poppy, henbane, and mandrake. During the Middle Ages, monks commonly grew and prescribed plants such as sage, anise, and mint in their monasteries. And as the market for herbal remedies and natural medicine grows, we continue to search the globe for plants and plant compounds to combat our various ailments.             In Phytomedicines, Herbal Drugs, and Poisons, Ben-Erik van Wyk offers a richly illustrated, scientific guide to medicinal and poisonous plants, including those used for their mind-altering effects. Van Wyk covers approximately 350 species—from Aloe vera and Ephedra sinica to Cannabis sativa and Coffea arabica—detailing their botanical, geographical, pharmacological, and toxicological data as well as the chemical structures of the active compounds in each. Readers learn, for example, that Acacia senegal, or gum acacia, is used primarily in Sudan and Ethiopia as a topical ointment to protect the skin and mucosa from bacterial and fungal infections, and that Aconitum napellus, more commonly known as aconite, is used in cough syrups but can be psychedelic when smoked or absorbed through the skin.                  With 350 full-color photographs featuring the plants and some of their derivative products, Phytomedicines, Herbal Drugs, and Poisons will be an invaluable reference not only for those in the health care field but also for those growing their own medicinal herb gardens, as well as anyone who needs a quick answer to whether a plant is a panacea or a poison.

Outdoor Life: Hunting & Gathering Survival Manual: 221 Primitive & Wilderness Survival Skills


Tim MacWelch - 2014
    Harvest nature's bounty and turn it into a gourmet meal; hunt and fish in the wild, with weapons or with your own two hands; and prepare for any outdoor adventure or emergency, whether you're lost in the woods or in need of herbal medicine. This book identifies it all, with step-by-step instructions and skills to make you a self-sufficient survivor—in your backyard and in the wild.

Hiking Waterfalls in New England: A Guide to the Region's Best Waterfall Hikes


Eli Burakian - 2014
    Hike descriptions also include history, local trivia, and GPS coordinates.Hiking Waterfalls in New England will take you through state and national parks, forests, monuments and wilderness areas, and from popular city parks to the most remote and secluded corners of the area to view the most spectacular waterfalls.

How to Read the Landscape


Patrick Whitefield - 2014
    It is remarkable, therefore, that no one has written about the landscapes they're walking through and enjoying . . . until now.Patrick Whitefield has spent a lifetime living and working in the countryside and twenty years of that taking notes of what he sees, everywhere from the Isle of Wight to the Scottish Highlands. This book is the fruit of those years of experience.In How to Read the Landscape, Patrick explains everything from the details, such as the signs that wild animals leave as their signatures and the meaning behind the shapes of different trees, to how whole landscapes, including woodland, grassland, and moorland, fit together and function as a whole. Rivers and lakes, roads and paths, hedgerows and field walls are also explained, as well as the influence of different rocks, the soil, and the ever-changing climate. There's even a chapter on the fascinating history of the landscape and one about natural succession, how the landscape changes of its own accord when we leave it alone. The landscape will never look the same again. You will not only appreciate its beauty, it will also come alive with a whole new depth of appreciation and understanding.The lively text is supported by 50 color photographs, 140 line drawings by the author, and extracts from his notebooks illustrating actual examples of the landscapes he describes. Opening How to Read the Landscape is like opening a window on a whole new way of seeing the living world around you.