Out of Print

ISBN 0-9632359-3-1
Published 2000 by AdventureLore Press
Forth Printing 2002

Beyond Backpacking is a major upgrade to The Pacific Crest Trail Hiker's Handbook. The PCT specific details have been removed, and a great deal of general info has been added, making it universally applicable to all trails, long or short. Most importantly, this book is for all hikers at all levels of experience, from beginners to the most advanced.

In Beyond Backpacking we learn about the myths in today's heavy-duty hiking and camping gear and clothing, and we see - with several examples - how we tend to acquire our equipment-related mis-beliefs from the advertising industry. Heavy gear, Ray says, saps energy and strength. It makes us more prone to injury. And it reduces our potential for enjoyment. And according to Ray, heavy, clumsy gear tends to discourage us from venturing into the backcountry.

With these myths bulldozed aside, Ray proceeds to detail his light-weight hiking clothing and gear. In one of the latter chapters he describes, step by step, how to make this clothing and equipment. In the book he also details the use of the gear. And of course he explains how the gear ties in with his lightweight hiking philosophies.

In this new book we find a very full chapter on food. We learn how vitally important nourishing food is for the hiker, and that most backpacking-type foods fall miserably short in providing nutrition. The book identifies what foods to steer clear of, and what foods are best. Another chapter describes the pros and cons of various backpacking stoves, and it describes the "cook-fire" method of cooking on an open fire with almost no adverse ecological impact.

In another of the book's 55 chapters we learn that running shoes are far more suitable for hiking any trail, long or short - and exactly why. Another chapter describes the author's techniques of "stealth camping," and shows how this method reduces our impact on the land while at the same time helping us avoid bears and other marauding animals large and small. Also covered are chapters on dealing easily with "obstacles" encountered in the wilderness such as rain, cold, snow, mosquitoes and blackflies, snakes, ticks, poison ivy and oak, and a host of others. We also find invaluable advice on personal security, with tips on preventing theft, avoiding assault, and so forth.

One chapter is devoted to personal hygiene in the wilds, and it shows how good hygiene can improve our comfort level dramatically, with such things as bathing with soap - "dundo style" and laundering our clothing easily. The book also covers hiking-related stress injuries, how to avoid them and what to do in the event of one.

For those thinking of setting off on a longer journey afoot, Ray shows how to turn those dreams into reality. He tells how to finance such a journey, how to find partners, how to organize the resupplies, how to stay focused, and how to supercharge that daily mileage. And in a most interesting chapter he shows that achieving hiking enjoyment is a skill, and he gives a number of ways to achieve the most enjoyment from any wilderness outing.

Like Ray's previous books, Beyond Backpacking is unique. The information it contains is original, and not available anywhere else. So whether you plan to head into the wilds for an afternoon or an entire summer, this book will help you get the most from your precious time in the backcountry.

The book's Introduction

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Updates

BACKPACKER magazine, Feb 1998: The Ray Way