The Backpacker's Field Manual
A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Backcountry Skills
by Rick Curtis, Director, Princeton University Outdoor Action
Program
Published by Three Rivers Press division of Random House, March 1998
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From the Publisher
The Backpacker's Field Manual is a comprehensive guide to backpacking skills and
equipment by the director of one of the country's most respected college outdoor programs.
Advanced and novice backpackers alike will value it for its readability and huge range of
information. The book includes over 100 detailed illustrations and dozens of "Tricks
of the Trail" sidebar information for backpackers. Chapters include:
- Trip Planning: planning routes, estimating travel
times, packing necessities
- Equipment: not just what to bring, but exactly
how it works (with illustrated instructions on what to do if it breaks)
- Cooking and Nutrition: recipes and menus for 2-
to 10-day trips, plus tips on cooking and cleaning and a high list of energy foods
- Wilderness Travel: with instructions on
navigating with a map and compass through all different kinds of country and terrain and
how to use cloud types and wind direction to help predict the weather. You can check out a
sample of the Map & Compass Section of the manual.
(Please note, graphics on the Web are provided in color. The illustrations in the book are
in black and white)
- First Aid: more than 100 pages of extremely
in-depth wilderness first aid techniques. See Dealing with
Emergencies for more information.
From the Author
The Backpacker's Field Manual is the only book of it's kind. There are many
excellent books on backpacking, but none designed especially to be usable in the field. The
Backpacker's Field Manual was written to be "the book" that you take with
you on a trip. It is excellent for pre-trip planning as well as the best on-trail
reference for everything from map & compass to stove repair and first aid. This is an
excellent field resource both for individual backpacker's and for outdoor programs and is
considered to be the best backpacking field manual available for University outdoor
programs in the U.S. The Table of Contents is included below and you can see a sample of
the book by checking out the Map & Compass Section
of Chapter 6 - Wilderness Travel or Dealing with
Emergencies section from Chapter 8 - Safety & Emergency Procedures.
The Backpacker's Field Manual grew out of the Outdoor Action Program Leaders
Manual which has served as a teaching and field book for trip leaders in Princeton
University's outdoor education program. It has been field tested and revised over the past
ten years by trip leaders on hundreds of outdoor trips across the country. The book
has been completely rewritten and updated to provide the most up-to-date information
available.
In order to accommodate all the new information in the book, previous sections from the
third edition that focused specifically on outdoor education programs are not included in
the new edition. This material will still be available here on the Web with continuing
revisions. I am exploring the possibility of a Special Edition for Outdoor Programs that
includes these additional chapters.
- The Backpacker's Field Manual will be available in March 1998 for $14.95
paperback (Canada: $21.00). ISBN 0-517-88783-5
- Buy it now
from Amazon.Com
- For quantity orders for resale (25 copy minimum), call Special Sales at 888-591-1200.
- For bulk orders for outdoor programs, contact Premium Sales at 800-800-3246. In Canada
call 905-624-0672. Note this is not for resale.
- Professors interested in purchases for academic institutions or an examination copy
should contact Random House Academic Marketing. Fax your request to 212-572-6030 or email acmart@randomhouse.com for information on
academic discounts.
These sections are not included in the retail version of the book but are provided here
on-line for reference for outdoor programs:
Chapter 1 - Trip Planning
- Basic Trip Planning
- Group Size and Ability
- Activities
- Location & weather
- Flexibility
- Equipment
- Food
- Teaching plan
- Trip preparation checklist
- Pre-trip
- During the trip
- On return
- Determining physical condition
- Trip Difficulty Rating
- Planning a Route
Chapter 2 - Equipment
- Equipment Assessment
- Personal Equipment
- Group Equipment
- The Twelve Essentials
- Clothing
- Regulating Your Body Temperature
- The Layering Principal
- Clothing Layers
- Clothing Techniques
- Boots
- Fitting
- Breaking In
- Boot Care
- The Backpack
- External Frame Packs
- Internal Frame Packs
- Sizing a Pack
- Loading a Pack
- Putting on a Heavy Pack
- Sleeping Equipment
- Sleeping Bags
- Temperature Ratings
- Sleeping Bag Styles
- Sleeping Bag Fit
- Insulation types
- Sleeping Bag Care
- Sleeping Pads
- Shelter
- General Shelter Tips
- Tarps
- Tents
- Cooking Equipment
- General Cooking Equipment
- Outdoor Baking Equipment
- Backpacking Stoves
- Stove Types
- How Liquid Fuel Stoves Work
- Stove Safety Guidelines
- Liquid Fuel Guidelines
- The Coleman Peak 1 Stove
- The MSR Whisperlite Stove
Chapter 3 - Food & Nutrition
- Energy and Nutritional Requirements
- Caloric Requirements
- Sources for Calories
- Food Guide Pyramid
- Servings
- Grain Products Group
- Vegetable Group
- Fruit Group
- Milk Group
- Meat and Beans Group
- Sweets Group
- Complete Protein Combinations
- Basic Fluid Recommendations
- Menu Planning
- How long are you going to be out?
- Ease of Preparation
- Weight
- Packaging/Re-packaging
- Spoilage
- Cost
- Special Dietary Considerations
- Vegetarianism
- Food Allergies
- Kosher Meal Planning
- Cooking Directions
- General Cooking Guidelines, Ingredients, and Recipes
- Sample Menu Items
- Breakfast
- Trail Food & Lunch
- Dinner
- Outdoor Baking
- Food Equivalents
- Measurement Equivalents
Chapter 4 - Hygiene & Water Purification
- Keeping Yourself Clean
- The Hand Washing Station
- Personal Bathing
- Washing Clothes
- Washing Dishes, Pots, Utensils
- Cleaning Equipment
- Pot Cleaning System
- Women's Hygiene Issues
- Tampons vs. Pads
- Disposing of Tampons or Pads
- Water Purification
- Biological Contaminated vs. Toxic Water
- Boiling
- Chemical Purification
- Iodine Treatment
- Chlorine Treatment
- Filtration
- PUR Hiker and PUR Voyageur Water Filter
- MSR Waterworks II and Miniworks Water Filter
Chapter 5 - Leave No Trace Camping
- General Principles
- Guidelines for Temperate Forests
- Backcountry Travel
- General Travel Guidelines
- Travel Guidelines for Pristine or Highly Fragile Areas
- Campsite Selection
- High Impact Campsites
- Pristine Campsites
- General Campsite Guidelines
- Dealing with Human Waste
- Urine
- Feces
- Toilet Paper
- Natural TP Materials
- Locations
- How to dig a Cathole or Latrine
- Packing Out Feces
- Women and Menstruation
- Other Types of Waste
- Medical Waste
- Garbage
- Waste Water
- Campfires
- When Not to Have a Fire
- When to Have a Fire
- General Guidelines for Fire Building
- Fires in Highly Impacted Areas
- Fires in Pristine Areas
- The Mound Fire
- Fire Pans
- Firewood Selection
- Cleaning Up After a Fire
- At the End of the Trip
Chapter 6 - Wilderness Travel
- Maps & Map Reading
- Latitude and Longitude
- Scale
- Map Symbols and Colors
- Map Legend
- Contour Lines
- Measuring Distances
- Using a Compass
- What is North?
- Declination
- Which North to Use
- Using Map and Compass
- What's your Map Declination?
- Bearings
- Map Bearings & Magnetic Bearings
- West Declination
- East Declination
- Adjusting Your Compass for the Local Declination
- Using Map and Compass Together
- Wilderness Navigation
- Check Your Position Regularly
- Orienting the Map
- Identify Terrain Features
- Real Life Scenarios
- Scenario 1 - Lost in the Fog
- Scenario 2 - Heading to the Summit
- Techniques for Walking a Bearing
- Scenario 3 - Retracing Your Steps to Camp
- Scenario 4 - There's a Swamp in your Way
- Scenario 5 - Now You are Really Lost
- Other Tools
- Altimeters
- Watches
- Global Positioning Systems (GPS)
- Backcountry Travel
- Energy Conservation
- Splitting a Large Group into Smaller Groups
- Pace
- Rest Breaks
- Hiking Techniques
- Stretches for Hiking
- Off Trail Hiking
- General Backcountry Conditions
- Hiking through Thick Forest of Brush
- Hiking on Rocky Slopes and Trails
- Hiking on Snow and Ice
- River Crossings
- Setting Up Camp
- Traveling in Bear Country
- Bear Encounters
- How to Bearproof Your Camp
- Knots
- Two Half Hitches
- Bowline
- Tautline Hitch
- Square Knot
- Sheet Bend
- Truckers Hitch
Chapter 7 - Weather and Nature
- Wind
- Mountain Winds
- Coastal Winds
- Changes in Wind Direction
- Beaufort Wind Scale
- Clouds
- Barometric Pressure
- Fronts
- Warm Fronts
- Cold Fronts
- Occluded Fronts
- Thunderstorms
- The Physics of Lightning
- Lightning Dangers
- Predicting the Weather
- Natural Signs of Time and Direction
- Common Trees
- Leaf Attachment
- Leaf Type
- Tree Identification Key
- Broadleaf Trees
- Conifers
- Common Plants
- Wild Edibles
- Plants to Avoid
- Spotting Wildlife
- Tips for Spotting Wildlife
- Animal Signs
- Hazards of Animal Observation
Chapter 8 - Safety & Emergency Procedures
- Dealing with Emergencies - Who's in charge?
- How Accidents Happen
- Environmental Hazards
- Human Factor Hazards
- Sample Accident Scenario
- Teaching the Dynamics of Accidents Model
- Environmental Briefing
- Reducing the Accident Potential
- Accident Analysis - Closing the Circle
- General Safety Guidelines
- Preventive Measures to Minimize Accident Potentials
- Sending for Help
- Evacuation Procedures
- Possible Evacuation Scenarios
- Choosing to Evacuate
- What to do if Someone Gets Lost
- If the Group Gets Lost
- If an Individual in the Group Gets Lost
- If You are Hiking Solo and Get Lost
- Signaling for Help
- Locating Lost Persons
- Extreme Weather Conditions
- Forest Fires
- The Dynamics of Forest Fires
- Fire Safety Plan
- Wilderness Survival
- The Five Elements of Survival
- Shelter
- Water
- Accident Scenario Analysis
Chapter 9 - First Aid and Emergency Care
- Backcountry First Aid
- The Wilderness Context
- Good Samaritan Laws
- Patient Assessment
- Patient Exam
- Assess the Scene
- Primary Assessment
- Secondary Assessment
- Vital Signs
- Patient History
- Assessing the Patient's Pain
- Treatment Plan
- General First Aid Principles
- Shock
- Swelling
- Ischemia
- Shell/Core Response
- Bleeding
- Wound Care
- Universal Precautions for Working with Blood and Body Fluids
- Basic Life Support
- Moving a Patient
- The In-line Drag
- The Log Roll
- Major Body Systems
- Respiratory System
- Circulatory System
- Nervous System
- The Musculoskeletal System
- Sprains, Strains and Fractures
- Tendonitis
- Sprains
- General Fracture Treatment
- Fracture Sites & Treatment
- Splinting
- SAM Splint Guidelines
- Sling & Swathe
- Lower Leg Splint
- Fractures at Joints
- Angulated Fractures
- Open Fractures
- Femur Fractures & Traction Splint
- Dislocations
- Shoulder Dislocation
- Kneecap Dislocation
- Digit Dislocation
- Spinal Injuries
- Injuries to the Central Nervous System
- Fainting
- Head Injuries
- Concussion
- Skull Fractures
- Seizures
- Chest Injuries
- Broken Ribs
- Flail Chest
- Pneumothorax
- Sucking Chest Wound
- Impaled Object in the Chest
- Soft Tissue Injuries
- Thermal Burns
- First-Degree Burns
- Second-Degree Burns
- Third-Degree Burns
- Impaled Objects
- Rashes
- Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac
- Friction Rashes
- Eye Injuries
- Thermal Burns
- Chemical Burns
- Foreign Objects
- Impaled Objects
- Contact Lens Problems
- Conjunctivitis
- Snowblindness
- Nosebleeds
- Dental Problems
- Toothaches
- Broken Tooth
- Fractured Tooth
- Knocked out Tooth
- Lost Filling
- Infection
- Environmental Injuries and Illnesses
- Fluid Balance
- Thermoregulation
- Cold Challenge
- Heat Challenge
- Heat Illnesses
- Heat Cramps
- Heat Syncope
- Heat Exhaustion
- Heat Strokes
- Hypothermia
- Immersion Hypothermia
- Drowning & Near Drowning
- Cold Weather Injuries
- Frostbite
- First-Degree Frostbite
- Second-Degree Frostbite
- Third-Degree Frostbite
- Immersion Foot or Trenchfoot
- Toxins
- General Treatment for Toxins and Poisons
- Acids and Bases
- Petroleum Products
- Medicines or Plants
- Iodine Crystals
- Carbon Monoxide
- White Gas
- Animal and Insect Bites and Stings
- Rabies
- Snake Bites
- Insect Bites
- Black Widow Spider
- Brown Recluse Spider
- Scorpions
- Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases
- Bee Stings
- Anaphylaxis
- General Medical issues
- Abdominal Injuries and Gastrointestinal Problems
- Conditions with Abdominal Pain Requiring Evacuation
- Appendicitis
- Constipation
- Diarrhea or Vomiting
- Gastrointestinal Infections
- Giardia
- Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora
- Other Infectious Diseases
- Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS)
- Genitourinary Tract and Women's Health Issues
- Urinary Tract Disorders
- Vaginitis
- Diabetes
- Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)
- Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar)
- Altitude Illnesses
- Acclimatization
- Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)
- High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE)
- High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE)
- Medications Profiles
- Organizations Providing Training in Wilderness First Aid
Buy it now
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Copyright © 2001 Outdoor Action Program, Princeton University.
