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How to Survive Your First Trip in the Wild: Backpacking for Beginners Paperback – September 3, 2019

by Paul Magnanti (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 359 ratings
See all formats and editions
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There and back―what every new backpacker needs to know.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single book. How to Survive Your First Trip in the Wild bundles up everything you need to prep for your first-ever backpacking adventure―so you can explore the backcountry with confidence.

Start strong with an essential equipment guide geared toward beginners. Discover how to choose a campsite and follow along with camp setup and breakdown directions. Water treatment info, outdoor cooking basics, snacking suggestions, and a sample three-day backpacking food plan supply you with vital knowledge to survive in the wilderness.

This beginners' backpacking handbook includes:

Expert tips―Learn how to "Leave No Trace," navigate rough terrain, deal with wildlife, and other practical backpacking advice.

Gear checklists―Track down the right gear with guides to clothing, footwear, backpacks, and shelters―even on a budget.

Plan ahead―Handy cheat sheets help you pick the best time of year and the perfect starter trail for backpacking in your state.

Start your backpacking experience now with How to Survive Your First Trip in the Wild.

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  1. Print length
    152 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Callisto
  4. Publication date
    September 3, 2019
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.38 x 7 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1641526823
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1641526821
  8. Lexile measure
    1020L
  9. See all details
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From the Publisher

backpacking, backpacking, backpacking, backpacking, backpacking, backpacking, backpacking,
backpacking, backpacking, backpacking, backpacking, backpacking, backpacking, backpacking,

SAMPLE GUIDES: Trail Etiquette

Trail etiquette is not a set of rules, but rather practices that create pleasant interactions with others on the trail. Here are some backcountry etiquette principles to follow:

  • Be courteous of other hikers. Try not to speak loudly when others are nearby and wear headphones for music.
  • Move off the trail to rest or get your bearings. Don’t block the path for other hikers.
  • Leave no trace. Even organic food waste like apple cores should be packed out.
  • Be courteous of other people at high use areas such as mountain summits. Don’t hog the summit or viewpoint.
  • Don’t feed the wildlife. It's dangerous for you and especially them.
  • When going to the bathroom, stay 200 feet away from the trail and 200 feet away from any water sources.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"You can learn to backpack in one of two ways: the hard way, through miserable and expensive trial and error; or from an expert like Paul, who has hiked tens of thousands of miles and has spent hundreds of days in the field. This book is full of honest, practical, and accurate advice that is ideally suited for first-time and beginner backpackers."―Andrew Skurka, Guide, writer, and National Geographic "Adventurer of the Year"

"With humor, no-nonsense explanations, and fun illustrations, Paul Magnanti's book takes you step-by-step through the process of planning, preparing for, and executing an outdoor trip. Keeping budget and time in mind, his approachable and unintimidating explanations make being outdoors seem simple and reasonable, as it should. Paul's experience as a guide shines through as he anticipates what can go wrong that most wouldn't think about. How to Survive Your First Trip in the Wild is a modern handbook for life in the outdoors and is destined to bring the outdoors within reach of today's 'outdoor curious' person."―Liz Thomas, Author of Long Trails: Mastering the Art of the Thru-Hike (winner of the 2017 National Outdoor Book Award), www.eathomas.com

"Full of practical, to-the-point advice, How to Survive Your First Trip into the Wild, is ideal for those looking to make the transition from day hikes to overnight backpacking excursions. Magnanti's decades of field experience combined with an often humorous writing style, make this book not only a great resource for beginners, but also brings home the fact that as long as you are well prepared, heading out into the woods is an experience to be enjoyed, rather than simply endured."―Cam Honan, Author of The Hiking Life

About the Author

PAUL MAGNANTI is an avid outdoors person based in Moab, Utah, who has completed “The Triple Crown of Backpacking”―the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide trails. Paul enjoys backcountry skiing, camping in remote areas, and backpacking whenever he can.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Callisto (September 3, 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 152 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1641526823
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1641526821
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1020L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.38 x 7 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 359 ratings

About the author

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Paul Magnanti

Paul Magnanti

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Paul Magnanti is an avid outdoors person based in Moab, Utah.

He’s completed “The Triple Crown of Backpacking”—the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails— and regional trails such as the Great Divide Trail in the Canadian Rockies, the Colorado Trail, a solo backpacking trip across Utah, and many other longer walks.

Paul enjoys backcountry skiing, dispersed camping in remote areas, backpacking whenever he can, and exploring Ancient Puebloan sites.

When not out in the backcountry, Paul is searching for the perfect pint, eating the most scrumptious post-trail burger, or trying to find the best chile relleno. Paul can be found online at PMags.com.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
359 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book provides a good knowledge base and helpful tips for backpacking. It is a fantastic resource for beginners and offers a variety of resources to explore. The writing is simple and easy to read, making it an enjoyable and quick read.

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Information qualityReadability
9 customers mention "Information quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's information quality. They say it provides a good knowledge base and tips for beginners. It's a fantastic resource for anyone who wants to try backpacking, providing checklists and suggestions about where to start hiking at what time of year. The book is a great primer into backpacking and offers a lot of resources to explore as you begin to prepare for your first trip.

"...It also has great suggestions about where to start hiking at what time of year and where to find more info." Read more

"...’s a super fast and easy read, while still managing to include the essentials of backpacking...." Read more

"...than that, I enjoyed the book & feel it will be helpful planning my first overnight backpacking trip." Read more

"...It is a good book with plenty of information to help folks get started backpacking." Read more

7 customers mention "Readability"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They appreciate the concise writing and basic advice. The book provides a lot of resources and is considered a decent primer.

"...It was very easy to read and has a lot of basic info that you might not find else where...." Read more

"...I have read a few others but this one is the most succinct. Read this before you head out on your first backpacking trip." Read more

"...It is a good book with plenty of information to help folks get started backpacking." Read more

"...The book is well laid out, enjoyable to read, and provides a bunch of resources to explore as you begin to prepare for and learn backpacking...." Read more

The Essential Book for Beginnier Backpackers!
5 out of 5 stars
The Essential Book for Beginnier Backpackers!
The author is a highly experienced backpacker and brings a lot of credibility to the table. His goal in writing the book is to inspire the same passion for the wild in the reader that he developed after his first backpacking trip. The tools and suggestions he goes over help the reader avoid the same "rookie" mistakes he made coming up. By being better prepared, the reader will be able to relax and enjoy the backpacking experience. Ultimately, his goal is to get the reader on the trail, where much of the real learning happens.The book is designed to walk the reader through the steps needed to plan their first short backpacking trip from start to finish in the beautiful, varied wilderness of the United States. The reader will learn: How to pick the best destination; Maneuver the difficult permit process; navigate trails; and The basics, including how to set up and break camp, how to stay warm, dry, and well-fed for a weekend of hiking, and the seven "Leave No Trace" principles (covered in depth).All backpacking journeys start with a single step… the first step will be planning the trip. Pick a destination, figure out the itinerary, gather the appropriate equipment, plan a route, procure the proper permits, book campsites, and figure out how to get to the trailhead. If the idea of preparing for a satisfying, safe trip feels daunting, fear not. This book will break down the first steps into easy-to-tackle tasks. Each chapter is simply illustrated and well-detailed.The book covers: Planning a trip; Gearing up; Getting trail-ready; Hitting the trail; Setting up Camp; and Cooking and camp life. It includes lots of expert tips, insights, hacks, and cheatsheets that would take the average beginner years to figure out. Avoid all the backpacking pitfalls by owning and reading this book before the next backpacking endeavor.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Haylee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Starter
    Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I think this is going to be incredibly helpful for my first backpacking trip. It was very easy to read and has a lot of basic info that you might not find else where. It also has great suggestions about where to start hiking at what time of year and where to find more info.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Serean81
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource for beginners!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I really enjoyed this. It’s a super fast and easy read, while still managing to include the essentials of backpacking. I have read a few others but this one is the most succinct. Read this before you head out on your first backpacking trip.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Ellen Winchester-Warren
    4.0 out of 5 stars Not happy with a sticker as big as the book almost stuck to the front of the book
    Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I was not pleased to have a big sticker right across the front of the book & when I tried to peel it off it took some of the book with it & left a gummy mess on the book. Other than that, I enjoyed the book & feel it will be helpful planning my first overnight backpacking trip.
    One person found this helpful
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  • monks1979
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative
    Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I first listened to the audio version of this then decided to purchase the book primarily for the lists & resources in the back. It is a good book with plenty of information to help folks get started backpacking.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Tyler Rivera
    5.0 out of 5 stars Solid primer
    Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is a great primer into backpacking and provides tons of great knowledge and tips to give you a good knowledge base. The book is well laid out, enjoyable to read, and provides a bunch of resources to explore as you begin to prepare for and learn backpacking. Would definitely recommend.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • J.C.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Info and Not Too Long
    Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I knew most of the info in this book, but did learn one or two things. I was thinking it was a more advanced book. Aside from that it definitely is a fantastic resource for beginners and offers a plethora of information. I also love that it has a list of states and a place to start in that state. That's something you don't usually see in a book.
    Helpful
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  • Dale Bone
    4.0 out of 5 stars good
    Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    good book, look forward to implementing some of this knowledge on next trip. Hope to try Desoto in Alabam or Amicola in Georgia
    One person found this helpful
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  • Noel B. Yegian
    5.0 out of 5 stars highly recommended intro to backpacking
    Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to try backpacking. Reading it and following the author's no nonsense advice will make it a more pleasant and easier experience. I've introduced many Boy Scouts, friends and family members to backpacking and whole heartedly recommend this book! I especially liked the checklists and the collection of places to backpack in each state.
    7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Mar
    3.0 out of 5 stars Básico
    Reviewed in Spain on August 18, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Aporta muy poco...buen regalo para críos.
    Report
  • Ana Carolina de Martins e Beaumont
    5.0 out of 5 stars GOOD size
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 27, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Perfect, justin how i Imagined.
    Report