[.ca] Backpacking: A Woman's Guide (ISBN 0070260273)

From Amazon.com:
At long last, a detailed and good-humored backpacking guide by and for women! If you've been relying on standard hiking guides that assume a man's physique, the lack of a monthly cycle, and a bare-bones approach to packing and cooking, you're in for a treat. Having trekked the entire length of the Appalachian Trail (2,000-plus miles), Hall is a veritable guru in the areas of pretrip conditioning (step-by-step instructions/photos provided), gear essentials, food packing and preparation, as well as novice conundrums (how, exactly, do you sh-t in the woods?!). In addition to lending her own expertise, she also includes comments, stories, and advice from veteran backpacking women of all ages. Readers are encouraged to start small, take care of their feet, and never wait until they are thirsty or hungry to drink or eat. And leave your deodorant, makeup, and hair products home! Though the author stops short of being an eco-fascist, she is strictly zero tolerance when it comes to high-impact practices such as burying leftovers and washing with soap. A chapter on backpacking with children is chock full of excellent ideas for keeping kids entertained and healthy. So if you're a woman looking for the lowdown on how to be a well-prepared, properly geared, safety-conscious, and low-impact backpacker, this is a good place to start. --Martha Silano

if oyu've ever backpacked before, there's nothing new here:
OK for people looking for a brief introduction - but not more than an overview. It left me wanting more information and turning to other books.

everything you need to know and more:
This book is tailored for the beginner, with enough specifics to make you feel ready to tackle the outdoors. But it also includes information you won't find in other books, like an at-home exercise regimen you can use to prepare your muscles for backpacking and how to pack your backpack to provide balance and stablility and how, exactly, do you walk with a backpack without hurting your joints? These are things you can only learn by taking to the trail with experienced guides, or by reading this book.

\oExcellent book\c!!!:
I just finished reading this book. I did it in about a week, and I rarely finish a book at all! I either become bored of the author's stile, don't relate to what's being written or don't find the topics or information I was expecting. This book had all of that and more. Chapters are just the right size to give you a good overview, guides to where you can find further information, wonderful and inspiring quotes and photos that aim the female outdoor enthusiast. I can't wait 'til my next opportunity to go backpacking..! PS: I also never write reviews, but I as soon as I finished reading this book, I knew I had to write this one...

Well written and useful guide:
This is an excellent "how to" book which is geared towards the novice backpacker. But it's also fun to peruse even if you're a veteran of the trails. Hall writes well and has a good sense of humor about the topic. The way the book is organized is exceptional: each chapter is fairly brief, and there are small "side bars" with additional information on various subjects, such as hydration, bears, food preparation and tending to your gear. If you have never backpacked previously, this is essential reading. I can't imagine attempting any lengthy trek without knowing the info presented here. While much of it is common sense material, there is an abundance of other topics which don't seem to be addressed in other backpacking guides. As for the title, it's misleading. Men can get just as much enjoyment from the book as the ladies. There really is not much gender-specific commentary in the book. If you want a funny, yet absorbing, look at backpacking, this is your book.

Great book! A must for women who want to backpack!:
I bought this book before my first backpacking trip, and it was extremely usefull. It covered every topic from getting fit before you leave to gear selection and first aid. A super usefull "what to bring" checklist, to make sure you don't forget anything before you leave, is included at the end of the book, as well as an excellent resource directory. I love the emphasis on specifics for women, as well as the quotes all through the book. Although I think it is true that no book can cover all there is to know about the subject, overall, the book is awsome and a must for beginners. It offers tips that I haven't seen in any other book, so it could be usefull to experienced hikers as well.