(Part 2) Best hiking & camping books according to redditors

I live in Arizona and can confirm that a lot of people disregard those signs.

It's dark, but our local subreddit a year or so back even had a poll on where we thought the first dead tourists of the season would be from.

If anyone's interested in reading more on the topic, this book is a really good read. I convinced my mom to get it for me when I was a kid, and while it was a bit of a morbid read for someone so young, it really teaches you not to underestimate the desert.

There are loads of hiking trails in the White region, and several primitive camp areas. I highly recommend one of these books to get started. They will tell you the hiking difficulty and have very good maps.

White Mountain Guide: AMC’s Comprehensive Guide to Hiking Trails in the White Mountain National Forest https://www.amazon.com/dp/1934028851/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qd1-BbG5WQQB9

AMC's Best Day Hikes in the White Mountains: Four-season Guide to 60 of the Best Trails in the White Mountain National Forest https://www.amazon.com/dp/1628420286/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ee1-BbKJAZCXB

Also this website has some great info and resources: https://www.visitwhitemountains.com/attractions/hiking-the-whites

My favorite short hike is Mt Willard. The summit has a beautifully stunning view of the notch and the highway below. It’s the best bang for the lowest amount of effort.

Please do not underestimate the weather in the Whites. Even in the summer the high peaks can get very cold and experience sudden weather changes. If you see signs at a trail head warning to be prepared, make sure you are. People require rescue every year.

That being said, enjoy yourself and good luck

City Walks: New York: 50 Adventures on Foot

I like Valley Falls in Vernon. Mansfield Hollow is solid. Backpacking up at Bear Mountain in Salisbury.

In the south, I really love Westwood Reserve in Guilford.

I'd highly recommend you pick up AMC's Best Day Hikes in Connecticut, they have some great recommendations all over the state, including specific loops and what's on them.

You guys should also check out

http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Manliness-Classic-Manners/dp/1600614620/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344199802&sr=8-1&keywords=art+of+manliness

and

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Mans-Survival-Guide-Rediscovering/dp/1596985704/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1344199802&sr=8-4&keywords=art+of+manliness

Hey there, I think I may be able to help you!

I spent a month in Japan hiking and hitch-hiking, as well as over 6 months living/working there. Mt.Fuji was very high on my to-do list, but I'd missed the season and was strongly advised against doing it, despite having a fair level of experience and being just about a month too late. The official season is from July 1st - August 31st. It's fairly obvious why you can't go in winter, and the main reason for being unable to go in Autumn and Spring would be unreliable/bad weather and the facilities closing down. People do go outside of the season of course, and one of the best times may be two weeks either end of the season - you won't be fighting the crowds, conditions should be alright.

As for going in May, I would advise against it and wouldn't do it myself despite having done plenty of hiking elsewhere. As far as I know, nothing is physically stopping you going whenever you want, so it will never be closed as such. Some enthusiasts (and professionals) will go up mid-winter.

I'll answer the rest of your questions anyway though, and then give you a few pointers/other ideas.


Getting There/Base

Getting a train or bus from Tokyo is easy, there are plenty of them (a lot more during the season though). A bus would be cheaper. I don't think you'll be able to get public transport to the 5th base (where most people hike from to the top) easily off season, so it might require taking a return taxi from Fujiyoshida. If you want more specifics, I can look into this quite easily. If you're not travelling onwards and further south, or planning on staying in the area, it's very easy just to use Tokyo as a base. I'm pretty sure this is the thing most people do - just make it an overnight trip from Tokyo.


Sunrise/Sunset

Sunrise is the one people go to Mt.Fuji to see, and in season most of the transport from Tokyo is geared up for this - they'll take you to the right place to walk up in time for the sunrise, then you can hike back down and get back.


Alternatives

Like I said, I don't think going in May is the best of ideas unless you have a good level of experience under your belt. If you decide to go ahead with it, make sure you leave your information with the police in Yoshida.

A great alternative would be doing a hike in the Fuji 5 Lakes area. This is at the base of Mt.Fuji, so you'll have amazing views of the mountain and the surrounding area. I haven't hiked there myself, but I can find more info if this sounds interesting to you. You can do this as a day trip from Tokyo, or spend a little longer if you have the time.

From your post it sounds like you're looking for a 2 day trip from Tokyo with hiking involved. A place I can't recommend enough would be Nikko National Park a few hours by train to the north of Tokyo. You'll be spoiled for choices of things to do here and I would go again at the drop of a hat. There are some amazing hikes around the area and plenty of shrines and historical sites to see as well if that's your thing. One hike near there which I did takes you through a stunning marsh with all kinds of flora and leads to the hot spring town of Yumoto Onsen, a great place to soak your bones after a long day's walk. Again, if you'd like more info about these places just ask and I'll flesh it out a bit more.



Further Info

• Wikitravel - Mt.Fuji
  
  
• Wikitravel - Nikko
  
  
• Hiking In Japan - Lonley Planet - An amazing and invaluable resource, anybody thinking of hiking in Japan should buy this. Full of info, maps and ideas, you'll very quickly grow to love and cherish this book.

The only other official resort in Idaho is Sun Meadow in Worley, 260 miles from Boise. Oregon has a few, but I don't know if any are in the Eastern half, so it depends on how far you're willing to drive. Utah has none, haven't heard of any in Nevada. Don't know about the other neighboring states.

Idaho's big advantage is the hot springs. It's known for having some of the best hot springs in the country, and many of them are traditionally clothing optional. The trick is that none of them, to my knowledge, are officially clothing optional, so it takes familiarity and experience to know which ones are nude-friendly in practice and which are not. I have two books, Hiking Hot Springs in the Pacific Northwest and Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Northwest, that have extensive information on the whole region, including notes on the trend of clothed vs nude at each one, but I take that with a grain of salt given that it's been a few years since the most recent editions. I can't advise on any of the Idaho springs, since I've really only gone to one in Oregon. It's closer than any of the Idaho springs, but it's a mixed bag at best when it comes to nudity.

This book is pretty good https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934028770/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I'm currently away from my maps, so these areas will unfortunately be general, and the first things I come up with off the top of my head. If you'll be staying in the area longtime, there is a guidebook/map pack you can buy that is Bible for hiking in the Whites.

https://www.amazon.com/White-Mountain-Guide-Comprehensive-National/dp/1934028851/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=white+mountain+guide+book&qid=1566347864&s=gateway&sr=8-1

1. The Mahoosucs in Maine are considered the hardest part of the Appalachian Trail. I haven't done them myself, but I hear there's some boulder scrambling, rugged trails, and few people. I hear the views aren't that great though.
   
2. There are a variety of great itineraries in the Northern Presidentials, and the hiking there is some of my favorite in the world (King Ravine, Castle Ravine, Six Husbands Trail). The key is to stay off the AT on the main ridge, as that's the most heavily trafficked. If you can stay at Crag Camp, you'll likely have some other guests with you, but that is my favorite hut in the Northeast. Some of those steeper ravines I mentioned aren't fit for hiking with an overnight pack, so read some trail descriptions and make your own judgement. That being said, King Ravine is my favorite hike, and absolutely worth the day hike. You could probably do a really good loop from Rte 2, over and south into the Great Gulf Wilderness, back up and over the ridge to Rte 2.
   
3. Honestly, Maine is much less trafficked almost everywhere between the NH border and Mt Katahdin. Could be worth the trip, if you can do some more research. I'm personally less familiar with the area.
   
   Hope that helps!

This is an awesome book on Grand Canyon deaths and I read it before my trip there. I was scared to get within 5 feet of the edge of any drop.

I saw it at the Museum of Arts and Design but ended up putting it on my Amazon wishlist instead of buying it there.

This is the link, it actually dropped a dollar or so in price since I last looked on Sunday.

So I asked a similar question to the LSHT Facebook group way back in the day, and they suggested the book I'll link below. Basically they said this book was written more recently, where as the one you linked is somewhat dated. The one I have gives really good information about the trail, as well as general tips for backpacking, and how to plan trips. Very beginner friendly stuff. Lol. But still helpful to me when I was starting out. If youd like, you can PM me your address and I'll let you have my copy: )

Plan & Go | Lone Star Hiking Trail: All you need to know to complete Texas’ longest wilderness footpath (Plan & Go Hiking) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1943126011/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1w-QCbEER24BK

Anywhere in the Columbia River Gorge is always beautiful. Eagle Creek and Hamilton Mountain are two of my favorites. Check out this book for some of the best hikes in the area.

I love the Smokies. My favorite campground is the Cattaloochee horse camp (there's a non-horse camp there too). I love it because there are elk in the area that sometimes even wander into camp! The downside is it's a long drive up the side of a mountain on a narrow twisty road.

My other favorite campground is Elkmont. It's a pretty popular frontcountry campground but there are a LOT of trails to hike right out of the area so you don't have to drive to a trailhead. There are RV sites, tent sites, and walk-in tent spots (you park your car and carry your tent/supplies a short distance to your site).

There's also backcountry camping with a permit. You are supposed to use recognized sites and bear precautions everywhere in the backcountry.

All frontcountry campsites require a reservation. Sometimes backcountry areas are closed due to bear activity so check with the ranger station before you set out for your destination.

I totally recommend you get this trail guidebook, it's the best trail guide I've ever read for any state/national park.

Hiking Trails of the Smokies https://www.amazon.com/dp/0937207152/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_RzNYDbTPWSRC8

So I was drafting a blog post on books this weekend. Copypasta:

Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide - Andrew Skurka

Ultralight Backpacking Tips - Mike Clelland

Lightweight Backpacking and Camping - Ryan Jordan

Trail Life: Ray Jardine's Lighweight Bapackpacking

Beyond Backpacking: Ray Jardine's Guide to Lightweight Hiking

Here are some books for you to get started:

Latest "105 Hikes in SW BC"

Backroad Mapbook - SW BC

These two books should help you get started on your research.

TLDR: There's LOTS to do 'round here.

The brown book...

A good general overview of BC's history, geography, etc with maps & photos.

If you plan to return and do some hiking this is great as well.

For super cool photos of what Vancouver used to look like, try to find a Fred Herzog collection book online. Modern Colour and Vancouver Photographs are my favourites.

I can't recommend the book "Beyond Mt. Si: The Best Hikes Within 85 Miles of Seattle" enough. It's a great book and has very detailed trail descriptions, with indexes both by difficulty and geographical location. It's definitely worth getting a copy.

No problem, for planning 100% buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Tour-Mont-Blanc-Complete-trekking/dp/1852847794/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=N26P7HE46ES9PEQF16M5

Also, book way ahead of time to make sure you get the huts/hotels you want. It's possible to find lodging day-of, but you'll never know where and you likely won't get the accommodations you're looking for (unless you're tent camping the whole thing)

Further, try to work it out so you stay the night at Les Mottets, Bonatti, and Lac Blanc (our favorites) and skip Elisabetta if you can help it as it was our least favorite night.

http://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Hot-Springs-Pacific-Northwest/dp/0762783702/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452037899&sr=8-2&keywords=idaho+hot+springs

Sounds like a lot for a beginner with a short time to prepare. Im assuming you are in excellent physical conditjon as well.

I practice ulralight hiking, using light equipment and careful selection of everything packed to keep the load to an absolute minimum. It is possible to have a kit that is 3kg excluding food, water, and fuel. My typical weekend kit is about 10kg with everything. Ryan Jordan's book is very good: https://www.amazon.com/Lightweight-Backpacking-Camping-Ryan-Jordan-ebook/dp/B004SOYVMC



You can learn more at http://backpackinglight.com. The forums there would be helpful.


The Mountaineers is a US based organization. There must be some Australian outdoor organizations with classes too. My concern is that you have so many skills to aquire in a few months: navigation, first aid, gear selection and use, back country cooking and food selction, shelter and site selection, clothing layering techniques, insect and wild animal protection, etc. Get busy!

I wouldn't say one of the most scientifically precise and experience-proven books on bushcraft, from one of the legends of survival lore, who many of the greats cite as their influence or teacher, is "lacking" or "geared towards weekend bushcrafters". I would say instead that you were maybe expecting a different book.

I think you're mistaking the book as an overall guide to survival, perhaps misled by the subtitle "Outdoor Skills And Wilderness Survival", which wasn't included on earlier editions of the book (first published as Northern Bushcraft). This is how publishers, in hopes of luring more buyers, can obscure the aim and sphere of an author's work.

The focus of Bushcraft is narrower than the catch-all guides like Lofty's SAS Survival Guide, but by the same token the book contributes a great deal of instruction that those other guides leave out in terms of the hands-on skills of bushcraft. The book focuses on the fundamentals of fashioning your survival and comfort from resources found in the wilderness (particularly, but not exclusively, the boreal forest). It focuses on the craft part of bushcraft: developing the skills to create (craft) the things you need with your hands or with the tools you carry. Given the focus of the book, it irks me to read the word 'lacking' in reference to this revered classic by Kochanski. To my mind, the book is more for the person who wants to spend extended time in the bush, free to work, travel, or reside, unburdened by many of the items carried by backpackers and casual campers.

Re. water purification: it might be easy to overlook Kochanski's first comment (in the introduction) that boiling is the most reliable method. (Therefore firemaking skills come into play and a metal pot is of great value, if not indispensable).

Also in the introduction, Mors mentions the decision not to include broad information on various animal species. Adding enough information on hunting to be useful would have made it a completely different and much larger book, or rather a multi-volume set. Whether the choice was a matter of subject focus, marketability, or publisher concerns, it's clear what the book is and is not.

Similarly, Kochanski has said many times that plant lore comprises 70% to 80% of survival knowledge, if by survival we mean the ability to comfortably sustain oneself indefinitely in the wilderness; but his Bushcraft also leaves out the many volumes of encyclopedic knowledge he could impart on this topic. Again, the scope and focus of the book are clear. It was never meant to be an all-encompassing reference; and I think Kochanski himself would find such an idea laughable, since he himself continues to research, conceive, and test survival knowledge and strategies even after many decades of expertise, and continues to make use of many reference sources as well as teach on many platforms. Anyway, books are only the jumping-off point for further study and practice, not an assurance that you will fare any better in dire circumstances.

This is a book on the craft part of bushcraft; and one of the best you're likely to find on the subject.

Edit: From the seller's description of Northern Bushcraft:
>This book provides practical advice on skills required for prolonged stays in the wilderness, using a minimum of materials and tools.

I'd go to Powells (or any other bookstore) and pick up William Sullivan's book on the area. He's got every sort of hike you could imagine in there. Also, check out Mount Jefferson Wilderness area, its really beautiful out there.

And links I throw out whenever someone asks for GSMNP info:


National Park Service site on the campsites

Another look at the campgrounds and back country sites

Clickable Trail Map (printed in 1997, anyone who's been to the park has seen this map.) It still doesn't beat the little brown book.

Downloadable Trail GPX files for GPS devices


Download maps from the NPS. Includes Trail, park, and campground maps.

And the NPS GSMNP Hiking page. Has some important information, including how to find out road and facilities closings.

This book has what you're looking for: http://www.amazon.com/AMCs-Hikes-Catskills-Hudson-Valley/dp/1934028452

Also check his other books, for example this is free currently and I think the PCT one too:

Getting High: The Annapurna Circuit in Nepal
https://www.amazon.com/Getting-High-Annapurna-Circuit-Nepal-ebook/dp/B00CGMZ1O0/

[update]

PCT: https://www.amazon.com/Skywalker-Highs-Pacific-Crest-Trail-ebook/dp/B004HZXYX4/

Get yourself a copy of this book or this one and just start banging them out. Pro tip: don't just look in Oregon. At least half of the best hikes in your radius are in Washington. Both of those books have solid southern Washington sections.

Speaking of Washington, I wouldn't take the time to drive to Crater Lake until you've been to Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens. Both are closer to Portland and I my opinion more interesting areas to explore.

I'm not spending a single weekend in the city this summer and I couldn't be happier.

Northern bushcraft, as i live in alberta canada it's a perfect fit for my options

https://www.amazon.ca/Northern-Bushcraft-Expanded-Mors-Kochanski/dp/0919433510

Second the Appalachian Trail tip with an additional shoutout for the ATC paperback book that serves as a MA/CT guide. It points out loads of detail on trail areas as well as identifying trail shelters and primitive campsites.

The tough thing about finding good dispersed camping in CT is basically that it's all there out in the open but there aren't a ton of good resources for organizing that information. I've been trying to figure this out myself a lot more recently because I just moved back from living in PA a long while. Most of what comes up when you look online is what appeals to RV campers and families: KOA campgrounds and the like. That's where business is so that floats to the top of a web search.

I'd suggest starting with this one, and then also you might find some info here, but even though the second book is mostly focused on day hikes it still identifies places to camp, if i remember correctly.

As for specific places, I can recommend Sage's Ravine, which sits on the MA/CT border. There's a nice set of sites there and it's all easy to use. There are bear boxes for protecting your food without having to rig a bag. I'm also fairly sure there's a no campfire policy. I wouldn't suggest messing with that if you plan to go, though I'm also fairly certain I've seen some people with small fires there now and then.

From McCall, you have trail Creek that is 20 miles out of cascade and then keep going out to warm Lake and hit up mile 16 springs.. That loop has about 10 or so springs in varying conditions and popularity. If you keep going further south towards Boise and turn on the banks-lowmen Highway and head towards crouch/garden Valley there are another 25 or so springs from there.. Crouch/garden Valley would be the real place to base out of if your going to do a trip specifically to soak.. From there my favorites are Kirkham, pine flats, pine burl, and skinnerdipper. Once again all varieties of conditions and popularity.


I highly recommend the Falcon Guide "Hot Springs in the Pacific Northwest" it's an awesome guidebook with all the info you need on any springs in BC/Washington/Oregon/Idaho..



EDIT: Here is the Amazon link. Sorry for the ugly formating.. On my phone.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0762783702/ref=pd_aw_sims_7?pi=SY115&simLd=1

I don't know too much about it but there is lots of hiking in most areas of Japan. If you can find it check out Lonely Plant's Hiking in Japan book or something similar. There isn't too much detailed information on hiking in Japan in English that I know of. Maybe someone might know of a good info site.

Not off the top of my head as I'm fairly new here and plan to get more into hiking the area this summer season. However, I find www.localhikes.com to be a good resource for finding hikes to do subsequent research on. Also, the ADK Trails (Forest Preserve Series) are good guides (e.g., Amazon Link).

A very short hike would be Vroman's Nose a little SE of Albany. A fairly nice (but flat) trail is around Peeble's Island NE of Albany. Otherwise, the Lake George area ADKs would be a good bet for day hikes.

Good luck and hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I comes along.

Right here bro.

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Mans-Survival-Guide-Rediscovering/dp/1596985704/ref=sr_1_32?ie=UTF8&qid=1373509075&sr=8-32&keywords=manly+gifts

You may think this is funny, but I really got a lot out of the book Wilderness Survival for Dummies: http://amzn.to/1cBG4M3 .
I have started inventorying my survival gear:
https://www.facebook.com/qollector

This is my "Get Home Bag" with many items that can be used for camping: http://qol.lt/1G4vyF0 .

• I keep everything in Dry Bags: http://qol.lt/1GgcyZN
  
• My Essentials kit also useful for camping: http://qol.lt/1Gh0vp8
  
• My first aid kit: http://qol.lt/1GiIlh2
  
• Additional safety item: http://qol.lt/1GjBdxv
  
• Learn to read a compass: http://qol.lt/1GnxTVe
  
• Learn to start a fire (where its allowed), it can take a long time to get a fire going: http://qol.lt/1LsnxBV
  
• A great little stove if you don't want to bring fuel along: http://qol.lt/1GK45t4
  
  This is just a little bit of what I have covered in my collections so far. I still have to go over water equipment, tents, and sleeping bags. I realize that each persons kit is going to be different so YMMV.
  
  TL;DR: You can spend a lot of money getting prepared for the out doors.

I got this book to plan my trip: Kev Reynolds

And I've spent a lot of time on this site: http://www.autourdumontblanc.com/en/

This site has been pretty helpful as well: https://www.chamonix.net/

There are scores of trip reports, videos, and reviews of this trail. It's very easy to fall down the research rabbit hole. Have a great trip!

O shoot, Is this the one you mean? I've been using this one to plan it out ahead of time. That being said I still am about a month and change out from the trip so plenty of time to re-adjust plans.

I'm planning on starting in San Sebastian although we might start at Gernika depending on the other member or my party's schedule.
Not sure whether I'll be making it all the way to Finisterre although I'd like to. I'm starting the trip on the 13th of June and have my flight booked back from Madrid (Barajas) on the 20th I actually have family in Oviedo and my old man lived there/ my grandfather is from there (or a town right on the outskirts, Pravia)I might be avoiding Oviedo altogether and sticking to the coast through Gijon as it's one of my favorite cities in Spain.

I recommend getting this guide book, it has lots of useful information https://www.amazon.com/Tour-Mont-Blanc-Complete-trekking/dp/1852847794/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467369262&sr=8-1&keywords=tour+of+mont+blanc+cicerone

I HAVE heard of them now that you mention it. My friends love going to lake 22 in the summer its beautiful and there is a jumping rock into the crystal clear water.

Have you heard of a book called,"Beyond Mount Si"?


http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Mount-Si-Within-Seattle/dp/1881583082


we use it to find new spots. We usually go with a pretty big hippy group so its always a hoot. If you remember PM me and I will inform my fellow hippies via smoke signals and owls.

Top Book picks:

• Crochet Stitches Book $15.50
  
• Summer Hiking Adventure book $12.75
  

http://www.amazon.com/Gardening-Free-Range-Chickens-Dummies-Bonnie/dp/1118547543/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1458198551&tag=hotogobr-20&sr=8-4&keywords=how+to+garden+for+dummies

And this guy:

http://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Survival-Dummies-Cameron-Smith/dp/0470453060?tag=hotogobr-20&sr=8-4&keywords=how+to

Also some related ebooks on popular torrent sites

If you go into an outdoors/sportsman outlet, you could ask some of the employees where you can get some lessons in your community, or find a local orienteering club. Learning from a text resource gives you the foundation, but you should not try and get lost to see if you can find your way out with that sort of knowledge. By working with the right people and equipment in a real life environment you will learn many strategies and tips, and may even pick up a new hobby. "Survival for dummies" actually has quite a good orienteering section in it for instrument use, and "oh shit i don't have a map or compass" situation.

EDIT: here is the book. Im a fairly experienced outdoorsman and found this book quite helpful in some areas. Especially on finding direction with no compass, and how to deal with psychological factors of being in a survival situation. They have it in the iTunes book store. Could be a good one to have on the iPhone if you happen to have that with you.

I used this one and found it very helpful: https://www.amazon.com/Northern-Caminos-Primitivo-Ingl%C3%A9s-Cicerone/dp/185284681X

Lone Star Hiking Trail, just north of Houston. Easy 7 day thru hike, 5 days if you do 20 miles a day (its been done in 3). No extreme terrain, little change in elevation. The biggest changes in elevation come when you get to a creek bed and have to climb down and then back out again.

No campsite restrictions (except during deer season), you can camp anywhere on the trail as long as you're 100 feet away from the trail. That maximizes your potential daily mileage as you can go dawn till dusk. The flat terrain means there are generally few bad places to put a tent, and its extremely freindly to hammock camping.

Water can be dicey in certain sections, but there are enough places where the trail crosses a road that with good planning you can cache water and never run out. Good weather in March with cold to cool nights and cool to warm days. Close to civilization and within an hour to a major airport. Easy navigation on a well marked trail. The maps are on Maprika, an app that will show your position on the maps without using a data connection on your phone.

http://lonestartrail.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/963582880392121/

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/LSHT/info;_ylc=X3oDMTJlYjBmOWRhBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzE4NTEzOTA1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NjAwNQRzZWMDaGRyBHNsawNocGgEc3RpbWUDMTQ3OTk3NTk3NQ--

Here's a couple of pages where you can network with locals, perhaps get some support:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/30652247683/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TexasHammockHangers/

http://hammockhangers.net/viewforum.php?f=34&sid=b77d465240f4424da4290ec9d96386d7

Two trail guides are available, although the one on the club website is good as well:

https://www.amazon.com/Lone-Star-Hiking-Trail-Wilderness/dp/0899975046/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480258998&sr=8-1&keywords=lone+star+trail+guide

This is the most recent:

https://www.amazon.com/Plan-Lone-Star-Hiking-Trail/dp/1943126011/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480258998&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=lone+star+trail+guide

This isn't "backpacking for dummies" but its an excellent resources, as is his blog:

http://andrewskurka.com/product/ultimate-hikers-gear-guide/

Here are 50 free self-guided walking tours of NY.

I wonder if that is in "The Ultimate Man's Survival Guide."

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Mans-Survival-Guide-Rediscovering/dp/1596985704

There are no clean water sources along the way. There are a few brooks but the water is not 100% safe (we didn't risk drinking from them)...its really a nonissue if you just plan it out a little better than we did.

Edit: I should add that we didn't see any clean water sources and there were none indicated on the map I had, but I could still be mistaken.

Edit2: Its an awesome hike and the views are spectacular!

Edit3: If you don't have it already, I think the ADK Mountain Club High Peaks guide is worth the money. Available on Amazon

His two other books are free today, too.

• Skywalker--Highs and Lows on the Pacific Crest Trail
  
• The Best Way

OP, you also need this:

http://www.amazon.com/Zwilling-Henckels-Complete-Knife-Skills/dp/0778802566/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1451086748&sr=8-1&keywords=knife+skills+book

Hell, everyone who uses knives should know the skills in this book, at least in the kitchen.


Those interested in knife usage for the outdoors (non-cooking) see if you can locate a copy of this:

http://www.amazon.com/Northern-Bushcraft-Mors-L-Kochanski/dp/0919433510

Yours, a knife skills snob. ;)

This book should help

People going for a "drift in a small boat" in the Pacific Ocean generally prepare first