Reading this one a little at a time & almost done with it now. Many surprisingly beautiful passages for a reference book about hiking. Example: the description of the author's experience of very briefly feeling empathy for a snake because he witnesses it yawning & napping. ( )

Nicely illustrated, well written, and broken down into logical subjects. I read, or rather skimmed, an older version, Complete Walker II or III. Outdoor gear changes so much that those additions aren't much use anymore. In this addition the original author has brought in a second, younger author to help keep the information up to date. What's more they've turned it into an almost conversational volume. It's like sitting at the feet of two experts and listening as they chat, simply soaking in their wisdom. ( )