Posts tagged mountaineering skills
High Altitude Adventures
Stephen Gorman:The Winter Camping Handbook
The Winter Camping Handbook is a great book to dive into winter camping, and backcountry use. In this book the author Stephen Gorman who is also a outdoor photographer goes through the process of winter backcountry travel how to prepare and how to stay safe.
He has written this book in a manner that takes you step by step through the process of winter travel. Discussing trip planning and understanding the diversity of a group and the importance of communication and leadership. The gear that is essential for travel from layering of clothing to tents, sleeping bags, and cook wear; as well as structures to be used to protect yourself from the elements. He also goes into a bit of detail on food and the nutritional importance that is necessary to keep warm and energized in the colder months. Also he ads a nice section on how to travel in terrain whether it be making a homemade sled to pull gear or understanding the ability differences between skis and snowshoes. Also I was impressed with the extensive imput he had on clean winter travel which is something that many books leave out. He talked on how fragile winter environments can be and the importance of leave no trace; from the simple rules most should know on pack it in pack it out to the more complex thoughts on how to have a clean fire.
Overall I though this would a great book to get your mind going on the thoughts of winter travel and what are good ways to do so. I know it is only summer but I think that it is always good to continue to read up on different peoples practice for mountain travel, mountaineering techniques or any other skill you might find necessary when in the backcountry. Also the off season can be a great time to do so, it will allow you time to more completely digest the information instead of just rushing out thinking you have the new fix for your trip.
Cheers!
