home » Campfire Wisdom - Books Worth Reading
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Books Worth Reading
The Internet has made a wealth of information available to the world but it cannot replace the experience of reading a good book. The emphasis here is on the word “good”. Not all books are worth reading. Here are some that have been previewed and approved.
Greg's Personal Selections
I have personally selected all of these books. I either own or have borrowed them all and I have read or am in the process of reading them. My goal here is to provide some insights into what inspires me and to share what I believe are great books. If you have the chance, borrow these from a friend or buy a copy for your home library. For your convenience I have provided links to each book on Amazon.com so you don't have to dig around for them yourself.
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What I'm Currently Reading
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Nols Wilderness Wisdom:
Quotes for Inspirational Exploration (NOLS Library)
- John Gookin
This is a small book of inspirational quotes about the wilderness. This isn't a book that you would pick up and read cover to cover, instead go to the section you are interested in at the time and read a few entries. The quotes are grouped by wilderness activities.
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Instructional
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Nols Soft Paths
How to Enjoy the Wilderness Without Harming It
- Bruce Hampton
This book is an excellent resource for Leave No Trace techniques. It has chapters dedicated to almost any environment you will be traveling in. The book explains the philosophy and reasons for Leave No Trace and gives you options as a opposed to just giving you strict “do this or else” rules.
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Tom Brown's Field Guide to Wilderness Survival
- Tom Brown, Jr.
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Guide Books
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Country Walks Near Baltimore
- Alan Fisher
This is a must have book if you plan on spending time in the Baltimore area.
The hikes in this book are all day hikes, no overnighters here. The author
does a great job including directions to the hikes, maps, history, and facts about
the area around the trails.
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50 Hikes in Western Pennsylvania
Walks and Day Hikes from the Laurel Highlands to Lake Erie
- Tom Thwaites
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50 Hikes in Central Pennsylvania
Day Hikes and Backpacking Trips
- Tom Thwaites
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50 Hikes in Eastern Pennsylvania
From the Mason-Dixon Line to the Poconos and North Mountain
- Tom Thwaites
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Magazines
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Backpacker Magazine
This Magazine has lots of great advice about backpacking, reviews of backpacking gear, trail descriptions, and full length articles. They release the magazine in regional editions so you are guaranteed to have hikes included that are close to home.
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Personal Experiences
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The Man Who Walked Through Time
The Story of the First Trip Afoot Through the Grand Canyon
- Colin Fletcher
I can really relate to Colin Fletcher, he loves the solitude of hiking.
The story in this book takes place
long before backpacking gained the popularity it has now. This book isn't
for beginners; wait until you have
had some of your own adventures backpacking before settling in to read this one.
Otherwise, you will have problems relating to the experiences and thoughts he shares.
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Between a Rock and a Hard Place
- Aron Ralston
You have probably heard of Aron Ralston, he's the guy who got his arm trapped by a falling rock while climbing alone and rather than die in the wilderness he cut off his own arm and walked to safety. This is his autobiography of that experience and how his life led him to that moment. It's a surprisingly well written book, among his other talents, Aron is an excellent story teller.
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Hike For Discovery
