Active outdoor pursuits and activities Books

Book SynopsisThis book is not about aspirational living; it's about practical living. It's about looking at the world around you and finding where it's at fault, rather than blaming yourself. It's about dropping the comfortable prisons we create for ourselves to find the real freedom and happiness we deserve. We live in a world that is overfed but malnourished, sunlight deficient, overly competitive, sedentary, and sleep deprived. Our blood pressure and stress levels are at record highs, our mental health at record lows. Our eyes are strained from looking at screens all the time, and our backs are killing us. We buy far too much of what we don't need, and we aren't even pooing in the right position!Yet step outside, maybe walk a few minutes down the road, and you will inevitably see plants bursting with nourishment, hear calming birdsong, breath in fresh air, move your stiff body. Perhaps we have the answer to all our modern malaises right here, outside our own homes. Perhaps it is time for a New Wild Order. Join forager, author, dad, and everyday fella Andy Hamilton, as he answers his own call of the wild, and discovers how it might just save his life and yours.

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Book SynopsisWhat makes the perfect swim?It's all about the most magical locations (and how to protect them), finessing your kitbag, keeping yourself and others safe . . . and maybe discovering a nice place for a warm-up cuppa and cake.Whether you're a seasoned dipper or a fledgling, The Art of Wild Swimming is the ultimate guide to becoming an awesome, joyful and responsible swimmer.From the otherworldly fens of the east to the vast dramatic waters of the Lake District, the thundering icy waterfalls of Snowdonia to the secluded sandy coves of Cornwall. Locals who know the secrets of their patch share over 100 spectacular swim spots across England and Wales. Now they are yours to explore too.

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Book Synopsis'The definitive guide to Britain’s quirky and rugged islands. Islands have always had a mysterious allure – Peter has managed to capture the magical essence of our old favourites and lesser known gems.' Ed Stafford Islands represent adventure, mystery, wilderness and escapism. Surrounded by water, they’re somewhere to run away to, to be marooned on, to find a paradise… The British Isles includes some 194 inhabited islands (out of a total of over 6,000), ranging from remote lost worlds to famous and popular holiday spots. And Treasured Islands includes them all, in one enticing package. This wonderfully comprehensive and inspiring guide starts off with a Best of… section, highlighting the ten best islands for foodies, wildlife, adrenaline-junkies and pure escapism. Then, region by region, the author explores the UK’s most wonderful islands, including: Shetlands, Fair Isle, Orkneys, Outer Hebrides, Inner Hebrides, Isle of Arran Lindisfarne, Isle of Man, Walney Island Anglesey, Pembrokeshire Island Foulness and Canvey Islands Isle of Sheppey, Lundy Isle of Wight, Isles of Scilly, Channel Islands, Islands of Ireland Tidal Islands (to include Burgh Island, Holy Island and St Michael’s Mount) Inland Islands (to include Eel Pie, Derwent Isle and Peel Island in the Lake District) Remote Islands Illustrated with beautiful colour photography, the text ensures you won’t miss out on must-see attractions, wildlife and natural features, local food specialties, sporting activities, best places to stay and eat, and all-important transport links to and from the mainland, and other nearby islands. For some light relief, there are interesting historical and cultural anecdotes woven through, giving a fascinating insight into the way of life on these sometimes remote settlements. 'A wonderful book filled with hidden gems, helping us to connect with the majestic beauty of the British coastline.' Levison WoodTrade ReviewThe definitive guide to Britain’s quirky and rugged islands. Islands have always had a mysterious allure – Peter has managed to capture the magical essence of our old favourites and lesser known gems. -- Ed StaffordA wonderful book filled with hidden gems, helping us to connect with the majestic beauty of the British coastline. -- Levison WoodThis guide outlines 200 of the most intriguing isles...complete with useful travel link information. * Wanderlust *Hopefully, though, 2021 might prove to be a bumper year for tourism as people explore the many treasures that can be found without having to travel halfway around the world. * The Yorkshire Post *Treasured Islands is engaging, easy to read and a publication you will want to constantly dip in and out of when planning trips, looking for inspiration or simply wishing to get away. Peter Naldrett has undertaken a huge project bringing this book to fruition and like the islands featured, it is to be treasured. -- Allison Alderton * Towpath Talk *Who doesn’t want to grow up and become an explorer? The 320-page book lists attractions, nature spots, foodie highlights, sporting activities, places to eat and historical titbits. * Motorcaravan Motorhome Monthly *Naldrett skippers us on a voyage around these shores and inland waters to discover more than 200 islands, revealing their history, topography, culture, wildlife and folklore, supported by a wealth of photographs * Saga *A pleasure to leaf through... you might discover next year's cruising inspiration, or somewhere water bound to visit when you're not on your boat. * Yachting Monthly *Peter Naldrett's informative and entertaining text ensures you won't miss out on must-see attractions, picturesque nature spots, local food specialities and the best places to stay and eat... * The Dalesman *Who doesn't want to grow up and become an explorer? * Campervan Magazine *There's something for every aspiring traveller ready to create an island-hopping bucket list * Coast *Detailed and inspiring * Coast *Whether sailing or taking a staycation during the non-sailing season this is a book to appeal to your adventurous spirit. Just reading it made me want to get up and go. * Cruising *This book would be a functional addition to the library of any UK-based yacht, especially if on a Round Britain adventure. * Cruising *Treasured Islands is illustrated throughout with often stunning photos, and Peter Naldrett’s research is impressive. A lovely book and definitely recommended. * Flying Fish *Table of ContentsIntroduction How to use this book Acknowledgements Key to the icons Top Ten Islands for... SCOTLAND Inner Hebrides Eilean Shona Eriska Islay Group Colonsay Danna Islay Isle of Gigha Jura Oronsay Mull Group Coll Erraid Gometra Iona Isle of Mull Lismore Staffa Tiree Ulva Remote Islands Eilean Donan Isle of Ewe Skye Group Eilean Bàn Isle of Scalpay Raasay Skye Soay South Rona Slate Islands Belnahua Easdale Kerrera Luing Seil Shuna Small Isles Canna Eigg Muck Rum Sanday Summer Isles Priest Island Tanera Mòr Islands of the Clyde Isle of Arran Davaar Great Cumbrae Holy Island Isle of Bute Islands of the Forth Inchcolm Orkney Auskerry Brough of Birsay Burray Eday Egilsay Flotta Graemsay Holm of Papay Hoy Lamb Holm North Ronaldsay Orkney Mainland Papa Westray Rousay Sanday Shapinsay South Ronaldsay Stronsay Westray Wyre Outer Hebrides Baleshare Barra Benbecula Berneray Eriskay Flodaigh Great Bernera Grimsay Lewis and Harris Isle of Lewis Isle of Harris North Uist Scalpay South Uist Taransay Vatersay Outlying St Kilda Shetland Fair Isle Shetland Group Bressay Fetlar Foula Isle of Noss Mainland Muckle Roe Papa Stour Unst Whalsay Yell Out Skerries Group Bruray Housay Scalloway Group East Burra Trondra West Burra ENGLAND Islands of the Thames Desborough Island Eel Pie Island Formosa Hurley Lock Nag’s Head Island Osney Island Pipers Island Rivermead Island Sashes Sonning Eye Temple Mill Island Northern England Farne Islands Brownsman Inner Farne Longstone Staple Island Islands of the Lake District Belle Isle Derwent Island Lord’s Island Peel Island St Herbert’s Island Kelham Island Lindisfarne Spike Island Spurn St Mary’s Island, Whitley Bay The Furness Islands Piel Island Roa Island Walney Island South and South West England Hayling Island Isle of Wight Lundy Isle of Portland Portsea Island St Michael’s Mount Thorney Island Whale Island South East England Canvey Island Isle of Sheppey Mersea Northey Island Two Tree Island WALES Anglesey Anglesey Church Island Cribinau Holy Island Llanddwyn Island Middle Mouse Puffin Island Salt Island Skerries South Stack North Wales Bardsey Island South Wales Caldey Island St Catherine’s Island St Margaret’s Island Worm’s Head FAROE ISLANDS Borðoy Kalsoy Koltur Mykines Streymoy Suðuroy Vágar NORTHERN IRELAND Carrick-a-Rede Rathlin Island IRELAND Aran Islands Inisheer Inishmore Atlantic Ocean Achill Island Arranmore Bere Island Fastnet Rock Inishbiggle Inishbofin Inishmurray Inishturk Skellig Michael Valentia Island Blasket Islands Great Blasket Island Carbery’s Hundred Isles Cape Clear Island Heir Island Sherkin Island Clew Bay Clare Island Cork Harbour Fota Great Island Gorumna Lettermore Lettermullen Other Inch Island Innisfree ISLE OF MAN Calf of Man Isle of Man St Mary’s Isle St Patrick’s Isle ISLES OF SCILLY Annet Bryher Burnt Island Gugh Island Hangman’s Island Rat Island Samson St Agnes St Helen’s St Martin’s St Mary’s Teän Tresco CHANNEL ISLANDS Alderney Guernsey Herm Jersey Sark Index Photo credits

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Book SynopsisThe Bushcraft Boxed Set brings together four titles from wilderness expert and New York Times bestselling author Dave Canterbury.The collection includes: Bushcraft 101: The primer to wilderness survival based on the author’s 5Cs of Survivability (cutting tools, covering, combustion devices, containers, and cordages) Advanced Bushcraft: Takes it to the next level with self-reliance skills that teach you how to survive with little to no equipment The Bushcraft Guide to Trapping, Gathering, and Cooking in the Wild: Provides everything you need to know about packing, finding, and preparing food while trekking Bushcraft First Aid: Written with Jason A. Hunt, PhD, it’s the go-to first aid resource for anyone headed into the woods With this boxed set, you’ll be prepped and ready for your next outdoor adventure—wherever it takes you!

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Book SynopsisThis wonderfully appealing and practical gift book features step-by-step instructions on how to tie over 50 knots and when and where to use them. The beautiful two colour illustrations and clear instructions quickly teach you how to tie classic knots, such as the Reef Knot and Bowline, through to more specialist knots such as the Alpine Butterfly and the Taut Line Hitch. The knots are clearly organised for safe application across a range of activities including sailing, climbing, fishing, camping or for decoration. The useful introduction and reference section tells you all you need to know about knot work; including an explanation of the key terms, recommended techniques and a complexity rating for tying each knot. So, if you want to make a rope ladder with your kids, sail the oceans, be safe climbing in the mountains or make a True Lovers' knot then this book has every knot you should know how to tie, plus many more. The perfect gift for craftsmen and women alike and the adventurer in all of us. Featuring an exclusive foreword from Tim Treloar of TT Adventures, co-presenter of the BAFTA-winning Survival School with Bear Grylls.Trade ReviewA great book. I've recently started fishing and knew nothing about knots but this book covers all the basics and much more, definitely recommend to anyone wanting to pick up some knots quickly. -- Aaron RBeautiful illustrations and clear instructions. A lovely gift for anybody searching for a new hobby. -- Debbie48speedy delivery nice book -- JOCKOMOJOTable of Contents1 Foreword by Tim Treloar 7 2 Introduction 9 3 Understanding the basics of ropework 12 4 Bowline Knot 14 5 Bowline on a Bight 16 6 Clove Hitch 18 7 Figure of Eight Knot 20 8 Overhand Knot 22 9 Reef Knot 24 10 Rolling Hitch 26 11 Round Turn and Two Half Hitches 28 12 Sheet Bend 30 13 Double Sheet Bend 32 14 Heaving Line Knot 34 15 Monkey's Fist Knot 36 16 Double Overhand Knot 38 17 Stevedore Knot 40 18 Alpine Butterfly 42 19 Figure of Eight Loop 44 20 Overhand Loop 46 21 Perfection Loop 48 22 Portuguese Bowline 50 23 Clove Hitch on a Bight 52 24 Gripping Sailor's Hitch 54 25 Ground-Line Hitch 56 26 Snuggle Hitch 58 27 Square Lashing 60 28 Boom Hitch 62 29 Cat's Paw Knot 64 30 Constrictor Knot 66 31 Fisherman's Bend 68 32 Prusik Loop 70 33 French Prusik Loop 72 34 Taut Line Hitch 74 35 Timber Hitch 76 36 Blood Knot 78 37 Double Bowline 80 38 Carrick Bend 82 39 Fisherman's Knot 84 40 Double Fisherman's Knot 86 41 Rigger's Knot 88 42 Running Bowline 90 43 Surgeon's Knot 92 44 Tape Knot 94 45 Zeppelin Bend 96 46 Chain Sennit 98 47 Chinese Button Knot 100 48 Jury Mast Knot 104 49 Plait Sennit 106 50 Square Knot 108 51 True Lovers' Knot 110 52 Turk's Head Knot 112 53 Bottle Sling 114 54 Cow Hitch 116 55 Eye Splice 118 56 Sheepshank Knot 122 57 Tom Fool's Knot 124 58 Index 126 59 Bibliography 127

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Book SynopsisDiscover the best runs and races around the globe with this beautifully illustrated, expertly curated collection from National Geographic. Runners of all skill levelseven those going from couch to 5kwill find something unforgettable among these 100 runs and races, including all six of the iconic World Marathon Majors to courses that traverse Hawaii, Iceland, and Italy's stunning Amalfi Coast. See you at the starting line! This extraordinary guidebook contains 100 of the best running routes around the globe. With one-of-a-kind experiences for every type of runner, from novices to seasoned marathoners, runners will find the best routes for scenic views, on-course entertainment, and new PRs. Including tried-and-true favorites, such as the Boston Marathon and a race through the Colorado's Gardens of the Gods, you'll also discover a variety of hidden gems and more, including:The Lewa Safari Marathon, an epic run through a conservation area in Kenya where you may spot the Big FiveThe A

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Book SynopsisThe manual every amateur wild swimmer needs to read before diving in.Whether you want to explore remote beaches and mountain lochs, improve your confidence in open water, refine your swimming technique, or have a race or long-distance swim challenge coming up, How to Wild Swim offers the perfect practical foundation to help you find your perfect adventure and achieve your goal.This body conditioning sport is praised for not only making us stronger and healthier but also happier too. Wetsuits are optional, in fact no expensive gear is essential. Nailing the how-to, however, is key. Expert wild swimmer Ella Foote offers the ultimate guide to mastering the practicalities and techniques, and answers your most frequently asked questions so that you can feel safe, have fun, and re-energize.So no matter what your goal - short wild swims and weekend breaks, to full adventure swimming expeditions and off-grid holidays - dive right in and submerge yoursel

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Book SynopsisManskills covers everything a man needs to know in today’s world. You’ll find essential tips on home repair, car repair, electronics, cleaning, personal grooming, fine dining, traveling, etiquette, outdoor skills, and the fine art of conversation. It’s your comprehensive guide to impressing the masses! Author Chris Peterson returns with even more tips, tricks, and all the core knowledge the modern man is looking for. In the all-new edition of Manskills, you’ll find page after page of tried-and-true information for every aspect of life: Whether you don’t know the first thing about your home or have already mastered the plumbing arts, learn the home skills to be king of your castle. Order wine, decipher place settings, and learn how to dine with style. Or skip the fancy restaurant and learn the tips and tricks you need to impress with the grill.  Increase your v

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Book SynopsisThe author of the bestselling Fifty Places series (more than 500,000 copies sold) returns with a globe-trotting guide to the best and most beautiful places to run around the world, as recommended by running insidersTrade Review"A collection of incredible running courses in the world. There are marathons, 10km, and endurance runs to be enjoyed off the beaten track, or more well-known routes. Highlights include the Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc in France, the New York City Marathon and the Grand Canyon. Interviews with runners completes the package." The Sun “A great present for any runner, and also good to boost motivation” Outdoor Fitness

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Book SynopsisThe author of the bestselling Fifty Places series returns with a collection of the most meditative and relaxing locales for every type of yoga practiceFifty Places to Practice Yoga Before You Die is the seventeenth entry in Chris Santella’s bestselling Fifty Places series. The book shares yogis’ recommendations for the best and most beautiful places to do yoga as well as tips for how to plan the trip. It covers a variety of venues around the world that cater to many different classes and styles of yoga, including Anusara, Ashtanga, Bikram, hot yoga, Iyengar, Restorative, and Vinyasa. The following breathtaking, diverse locales are explored throughout: Haines, Alaska - Lake Louise, Alberta - Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica - Sedona, Arizona - Melbourne, Australia - Uluru, Australia - Austria, St. Anton - Nassau, Bahamas - Paro, Bhutan - Welgevonden Game Reserve/Tuli Reserve, Botswana - Salt Spring Island, British Columbia - J

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Book SynopsisAround the Coast in 80 Days is an indispensable guide to the very best of Britain’s diverse coastline. Whether you have just an afternoon, a whole day, a free weekend, or a whole week to explore our wonderful country, this book will guide you to 80 of the most interesting, fun and picturesque seaside spots our coast has to offer. Starting at Liverpool, one of the most fashionable tourist destinations in Europe, the book travels clockwise up to Scotland, down the east coast, across the southern shores, up through Wales and back to the northwest of England. It calls in at exciting seaside towns like Blackpool, Brighton and Newquay, and also invites you to explore the more tranquil coastal stretches, such as Balnakeil, Gower Peninsula and the Lizard. Covering nine coastal regions of Britain, chapters provide insights into the history, culture and key features of each place, how to get to there, where to eat – including the best places for fish and chips, and where to stay. Accompanied by beautiful photography and a handy map, and introduced with an entertaining and evocative Foreword by Ian McMillan, the book will delight families, couples and solo explorers of all ages and with all budgets. We all know there’s so much more to explore and enjoy in our beautiful country – this book will help you do just that.Trade ReviewA journey around the best of Britain's coastline...here in the UK we are blessed with a coastline that is staggering in its sheer variety and scale – from secluded coves and inlets, to dramatic headlands and epic, windswept beaches.... It’s something that travel writer Peter Naldrett explores with fondness and gusto in his new book Around The Coast in 80 Days. * Yorkshire Post *A clever and vibrant guide to highlights of the British seaside. Whether your ideal seaside location has amusement arcades, rock and donkey rides or windswept beaches where you can hear the eerie calling of seals, and there’s only your footsteps in the wet sand, this is the guide for you. Each entry is accompanied by easily digestible information boxes covering reasons to visit, how to get there and suggestions on where to stay. It’s impossible to read this book without beginning to plan new journeys. -- David Schuster * On Yorkshire magazine *A whistle-stop guide to coastal attractions around the British mainland... a light, breezy and readable compendium. * Countryfile Magazine *

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Book SynopsisFrom the comfort of an armchair and with the aid of this new book, the reader can travel to the Breadalbane and Argyll of Duncan Ban Macintyre; the Skye and Raasay of Sorley Maclean; and the Caithness and Sutherland of Neil M. Gunn. Photographs, maps and place-names linked to key passages in the texts will immerse readers in the landscapes which songs, poems and tales have described and enlivened over the ages.For those who wish to brave the weather, the insects, the sheer drops, the morasses and the vast spaces, the book can be used as a field guide taking the same walks followed by the author. The touch, smell and landmarks of song, poem and tale can be experienced.The author has immersed himself further in the Gaelic literature of place so that readers, with book in hand, can make the past come alive and appreciate the extracts about a place and what has happened there. As an adult, Neil M. Gunn saw himself as a boy, sitting on a slab in the middle of the river cracking hazelnuts with a stone. Through the eyes of Duncan Ban Macintyre see Ben Dobhrain and the journey of the deer to the holy spring, from the vantage point of Patrick's stone. On Dun Cana sit at the centre of the swirl of place-names in Sorley Maclean's Hallaig. Journey around the north and east coasts of Caithness and Sutherland in the wake of the White Heather and the Seafoam, in the Silver Darlings.Trade Review`…a distinct and original contribution. Murray’s work is a stimulating contribution that raises fundamental questions about land, places, names, language and memory and will repay close reading and further thought’. Scottish Literary Review ------------------- `...for Gaels the importance of place is particularly strong. Murray explains how place names in the Highlands are linked to experiences and legend, and how this is expressed in Gaelic poetry. If, as you walk the bens and glens of the Scottish Highlands, you would like to visit to improve your understanding of the cultural heritage of the places that you visit, Gaelic Landscape is the book to read'. Scottish Mountaineering Club Journal -------------------- `...makes startling use of place-names to illuminate some of the profoundest questions to literature. ...he shows how place-names can relate to memory, community, culture and the self. ...this masterly book... ...the book's greatest satisfaction in giving concrete evidence for much that we have hitherto on inferred'. Scottish Place Names Society Newsletter -------------------- `...is equally informative and recommended... ...for anyone learning the Gaelic... ...we learn how those Highland folk - now mostly gone - understood, celebrated and remembered the Gaelic Landscape in word and song'. Mountain Bothies Association Newsletter -------------------- `...once begun I couldn't put it down. It is an absorbing read. The book, explores and expands on the close links and ties of the Gaelic language with the landscape, is well-considered and researched. ...a gem of a read. ...John Murray's insightful book will certainly grace any book shelf'. The Munro Society Newsletter -------------------- `...shows very clearly why Gaelic is so important to Scotland as a nation as a whole... His latest book is equally remarkable, and equally enlightening. The end result is a book or truly lasting value, and an important book that shows why the Gaelic language matters to all of us'. Undiscovered Scotland -------------------- `...John Murray explores how the Gaelic language, rooted in a sense of place makes poetry of the Highlands. ... Drawing and abstracting the pattern of place-name narratives or song-lines makes possible a new and different understanding of Gaelic literature'. The ScotsmanTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. Prologue. Introduction. Place, Place-naming and Stories. Places, Mapping and Wayfinding. Toponymy, Mnemonics and Topo-mnemonics. Landscapes of Finn MacCoul - Fionn mac - Chumhail and the Fianna, Laoidh Fhraoch and Laoidh Dhiarmaid - The Lay of Fraoch and the Lay of Diarmaid. Donald Mackinlay of the Songs - Domhnuill mac Fhionnlaidh nan Dan, Song of the Owl - Oran na Comhachaig. Duncan Ban Macintyre - Donncha Ban Mac an t-Saoir, Oran do Ghunna Ainm Nic Coiseim, Oran do Chaora, Coire Cheathaich, Moladh Beinn Dobhrain and Cead Deirreanach nam Beann Song to Gun named NicCoshem, Song to a Sheep, Misty Corrie, Praise of Ben Dorain and Final Farewell to the Bens. Sorley MacLean - Somhairle Mac 'ille Eathain, The Cuillin - An Cuilithionn and Hallaig. Praise of Beinn Dobhrain / Moladh Beinn Dobhrain and Hallaig compared. Neil Gunn - Butcher's Broom, The Silver Darlings, Highland River and Young Art and Old Hector. Conclusion: Staging the Gaelic Landscape. References. Index of Place-names

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Book SynopsisHunter Gather Cook aims to set you on a fulfilling, lifelong path of culinary adventures and food DIY, and show you how to embrace the lifestyle that surrounds the 21st-century hunter-gatherer. It will make wild food accessible to you, and take away any sense of trepidation at making your first brew, burger or carpaccio. And if you're already a 21st-century hunter-gatherer, then it will help you to expand your culinary repertoire, taking your experimentation and enjoyment to the next level. A cookbook for those wishing to reconnect with nature and the source of their food Includes butchery guides and wild-plant indexes Recipes include wild meats, vegetables, sauces, sides, oils and cocktails While there's no doubt the world is a very different place to how it was 10,000 years ago, some things have remained the same. We are still hunter-gatherers, just like our ancestors.

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Book SynopsisThere’s never been a better time to be prepared. "This book is an indispensable basic manual for the real-life issues that await us in the decades to come. . . [A] treasure trove of practical wisdom."—James Howard Kunstler, author of The Geography of Nowhere Matthew Stein’s comprehensive primer on sustainable living skills—from food and water to shelter and energy to first-aid and crisis-management skills—prepares you to embark on the path toward sustainability. But unlike any other book, Stein not only shows you how to live green in seemingly stable times, but to live in the face of potential disasters, lasting days or years, coming in the form of social upheaval, economic meltdown, or environmental catastrophe. When Technology Fails covers the gamut. Inside, you’ll learn: The basics of installing a renewable energy system for your home or business How to find and sterilize water in the face of utility failure How to keep warm if you’ve been left temporarily homeless Practical information for dealing with water-quality issues Alternative health and first-aid techniques Each chapter describes skills for self-reliance in good times and bad. Chapters Include: A survey of the risks to the status quo Supplies and preparation for short- and long-term emergencies Emergency measures for survival Prepping water, food, shelter, and clothing First aid, low-tech medicine, and healing Securing energy, heat, and power Metalworking Utensils and storage Low-tech chemistry engineering, machines, and materials Fully revised and expanded, When Technology Fails ends on a positive, proactive note with a chapter on “Making the Shift to Sustainability,” which offers practical suggestions for changing our world on personal, community and global levels.Trade ReviewReview From John Egan, proprietor of the website SurvivalistBooks.com- Matthew Stein has written a clear, concise book on the subject of survival that, while educating, also does what few others have managed to do - entertain and engage the reader. Throughout the book you'll find personal stories accompanying the text to further illustrate or drive home a point. The use of these asides brings you into Matthew Stein's life, as he recounts personal stories of survival and tells the stories of others who have managed to overcome the odds to survive. Not just a survival book, Matthew also covers topics like alternative therapies; how to create a survival mindset; survival strategies; renewable energy; companion gardening; prophecies etc. as well as all the regular topics found in such books - edible plants; first aid; making a survival kit; growing, hunting and foraging; making tools; creating shelters; spinning/weaving/tanning etc. The book has some great illustrations that make plant identification and first aid that much easier to understand and each chapter finishes with a reference section listing books (along with a short review) and resources (with web addresses where available). "If you've been wondering about how to respond to the twin dangers of peak oil and global warming, one of your best choices would be to read this book."--Greg Pahl, author of The Citizen-Powered Energy Handbook: Community Solutions to a Global Crisis"We imagine that we live in the age of information, but this engrossing book reminds us of how comparatively little we know. Most human communities used to know how to provide water and food and energy for themselves, but most of the tips in this comprehensive account will come as news to most Americans. You may never need to put them into practice (or you may need them this winter when home heating prices soar) but at the very least they illuminate the state of our comparative ignorance."--Bill McKibben, author of Deep Economy "You don't need to be a survivalist to appreciate this book. If you are thoughtful. If you seek a simpler, more sustainable life or if you feel as though technology has already failed us in the ways that matter, this is a book you want in your personal library."--Kathy Harrison, author of Just In Case: How to Be Self-Sufficient When the Unexpected Happens "This book is an indispensable basic manual for the real-life issues that await us in the decades to come. Those who read it, and pay attention to its treasure trove of practical wisdom, will enjoy a huge advantage as the cheap oil fiesta winds down and circumstances compel us to live differently."--James Howard Kunstler, author of The Long Emergency "A fascinating collection of concepts and skills that will satisfy everyone from the casual do-it-yourself enthusiast to someone who wants to attempt self-reliance and the ultimate emergency preparedness."--Howard Backer, MD, author of Wilderness First Aid: Emergency Care for Wilderness Locations and past president of the Wilderness Medical Society "I have no children because I read M. King Hubbert's analyses on the future of oil and other fossil fuels in 1969, and Limits to Growth shortly thereafter. It was clear to me then and in every year since that our whole economy, and all of our economic principles, were based on cheap oil that would not last. The reason that economists could get away with criticizing Hubbert and LTG as well promoting their basically absurd theories that often disregarded and even belittled natural resources was that, in fact, more oil could be pulled out of the ground to make ANY economic theory or policy work, no matter how stupid. Now that the oil spigot is sputtering the economists' theories and policies are increasingly shown to be failures. We need a whole new way to think about how we do our economies. In the spirit of the old Whole Earth Catalogues Matt Stein does a marvelous and diverse job of helping us to think about how we might go about generating an approach to our economies that can make sense. This is a great book to have on your bookshelf as we enter the post-peak second half of the age of oil."--Professor Charles A.S. Hall, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry "When Technology Fails is the roadmap that you want and need to navigate whatever may lie ahead."--John L. Chunta, PeakOilResources.com "We may all need a survival reference when technology fails. Matthew provides one--fact-filled, with useful tips on all aspects of survival, clothing, food, shelter, water, etc., including such vital subjects as grazing and the green pharmacy."--James A. Duke, economic botanist, USDA (ret.), and author of The Green Pharmacy "A marvelous guidebook for helping us through the worst of times, and even improving on the best of times."--Thom Hartmann, syndicated radio host and author of The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight"When the grid goes down, having this book with you could be the difference between life and death."--Matt Savinar, author of Life After the Oil Crash"Stein's excellent guide to simplifying your life, reducing your environmental impact, and pulling yourself out of a jam is sure to gather no dust on your bookshelf... This book is a personal and planetary empowerment tool."--Richard Heede, Ph.D., author, Homemade Money: How to Save Energy and Dollars in Your Home "I liked this book. It's carefully researched, comprehensive, well illustrated, and readable. It presents much needed alternate information, for, in my opinion, technology has already 'failed' ...So replacement of polluting 'high' technologies with non-polluting 'low' ones is urgent, and Matthew Stein's handbook systematically and accurately surveys a wide array of possible low-tech options. Much hard work, time, and talent went into the building of this basic reference survey of low-tech options."--Carla Emery, author, The Encyclopedia of Country Living: An Old-Fashioned Recipe Book "When Technology Fails is a massive project done well. First the book gives a superb presentation of WHY one should be more aware and prepared--and then HOW one should go about this. The scope of this book... is thorough. Not only is the information presented well, but a solid bibliography can carry the student as far as he desires in any particular area of interest."--John McPherson, author, Primitive Wilderness Living and Survival Skills "Matthew Stein has done us all a tremendous favor by searching far and wide for useful knowledge. In this era of specialization, personal and social viability depend on expansive thinking. When Technology Fails is itself a powerful expression of the technology of sustainable living. It teaches more skills than I thought possible in just one book and rightly combines the immediacy of an emergency escape plan with the urgency for long-term thinking."--Mathis Wackernagel, Executive Director of the Global Footprint Network "When Technology Fails is a comprehensive guide and compendium of the tools society will require as it reaches the convergence of hyper-inflation, oil depletion, and environmental limitations; in other words, at the point where technology fails."--William Kemp, author of The Renewable Energy Handbook"When Technology Fails. . . Like that's some sort of unlikely future possibility! Technology is always failing while people stand around befuddled about what to do. With Mat Stein's book, when push comes to shove, you can be your own veritable MacGyver. Not only does it provide us with the information we need to plan for, and deal with, potential emergencies and disasters, it also shows us how we can live more sustainably and self-reliantly in today's world of climate change and gas prices that are going through the ceiling. This is the sort of ingenuity for which Americans have been famous. When Technology Fails is to the mechanical world what Joy of Cooking is to the world of cooking. In other words, the encyclopedia every home should have on hand. Keep it right next to the emergency flashlight and your Swiss Army knife."--David Blume, permaculturist and author of Alcohol Can Be A Gas!"Whether you are seeking self-reliance and a simpler life or fear the collapse of social services, this compendium of practical information for sustainable living belongs on your bookshelf..."--Fred C. Walters, editor, Acres U.S.A. magazine "The depth of this book, covering everything from building materials to spiritual healing, is astounding. It is a one-stop source... to create a self-sufficient, earth-friendly lifestyle. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in preserving the health of themselves and the planet--and moving toward a sustainable, sane way of living."--Robyn Griggs Lawrence, editor-in-chief, Natural Home magazine "Matthew Stein gives us a readable, updated wake-up call for sustainability practices in the best tradition of Paul Ehrlich, Lester Brown, and Jared Diamond."--Stephen Schneider, Ph.D., Melvin and Joan Lane Professor for Interdisciplinary Environmental Studies at Stanford University and coordinating lead author in IPCC summary papers on climate change "In this age of over-consumption, truth is lost in a myriad of commercialized details. Matthew Stein picks up and assembles these shattered shards, and by examining each in the meticulous manner of a crime scene investigator, offers valuable insight and practical tools to survive in a world at the brink of chaos. In doing so, he helps maintain sanity in a time of hardening denial about the state of the world--and helps throw open the door to Plato's Cave where so many of us remain uncomfortably shackled."--Peter Droege, author of The Renewable City and Urban Energy TransitionTable of ContentsForeword by Richard Heinberg. An Introduction to Self-Reliance. Present Trends, Possible Futures. Supplies and Preparations. Emergency Measures for Survival. Water. Food: Growing, Foraging, Hunting and Storing. Shelter and Buildings. First Aid. When High-Tech Medicine Fails. Clothing and Textiles. Energy, Heat and Power. Metalworking. Utensils and Storage. Better Living Through Not-So-Modern Chemistry. Engineering, Machines and Materials. Making the Shift to Sustainability.

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Book SynopsisUltralight Bike Touring and Bikepacking is the result of over 100,000 miles of lightweight human-powered travel undertaken domestically and internationally by Justin Lichter and Justin Kline. Together they detail backcountry skills, bikepacking gear, and lightweight traveling techniques for self-supported cycling adventures, whether you're planning an overnighter or multi-month adventure. Whether you are a beginner or a veteran, this is the most comprehensive book yet on traveling further and lighter.

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Book SynopsisAs a follow-up to his hugely popular 2016 autobiography Trailblazer; Ryan Sandes' new book explores the gripping and often life-threatening adventures this extraordinary ultra-trail runner has experienced around the globe since then.

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Book SynopsisAn adventurous best mate in book form, The Girl Outdoors is a rip-roaring guide to the wider, wilder world. Whether you’re going on a physically demanding expedition or making cordial from foraged berries, this beautiful book is packed with inspiring and attainable ideas and advice. Follow Sian’s guide to getting active outdoors, from mountain biking to climbing, surfing, kayaking and more. Planning a wild adventure? You’ll find chapters on everything from wild camping and cycle touring to holding mini festivals and scrumptious campfire recipes. Then we’re off round the world with trip-planning advice, essential kit lists and tips on long-term backpacking and working abroad. Scattered throughout are enticing ideas for global adventures, from swimming on Scottish islands to canoe camping in Canada. The Girl Outdoors warmly welcomes you to a wilder way of life and ensures you’ll never again have to experience FOMA (Fear Of Missing Adventures).Trade ReviewAll about finding happiness outside and championing easy adventures that we can all try. Sian covers it all from how to travel solo to specific suggestions for active women's holidays, plus advice on how to forage and cook in the wild, travel in a campervan, create a shelter, rock climb and take the perfect outdoor photo. * Project Calm *Lewis is as enthusiastic about campfire cooking as cliff jumping and cross-country skiing, and will inspire you to do whatever you fancy ... [her] chatty, can-do attitude and her intolerance of posers of all stripes is refreshing. -- Stephanie Cross * BBC Countryfile *

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Book SynopsisThis is the first-ever Forest School-themed activity card deck, offering 48 games, crafts and skill-building activities to enjoy outdoors. Aimed at parents, carers, teachers and Forest School group leaders, this is a uniquely handy reference tool to tuck into a pocket and take out into the woods to inspire outdoor fun. It complements Jane Worroll & Peter Houghton's two previous books (Play the Forest School Way and A Year of Forest School), containing activities from those books in abbreviated form. The cards are grouped into four "suits", each with 12 cards: Team Games (fun, high-energy games to play together); Survival Skills (working together to build dens, make fires, gather wild food and cook it); Nature Spotlight (exploring the natural world in more detail); and Forest Craft (woodland-themed makes). A booklet explains how to use the deck: forest school leaders or parents can get kids involved in leading the play (flicking through the cards and choosing an activity) and the suits will also help adults in considering how a session might be structured (with the kids getting final say looking at the cards). The booklet also gives notes on safety, the Forest School ethos, basic kit and other key need-to-knows.

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Book SynopsisWritten by world renowned rock climbers and veteran Falcon authors John Long and Bob Gaines, this slim volume will be the go-to resource for the necessities of rock climbing safety. By getting back to basics, it will be a great resource for both beginners and experienced climbers looking to brush up on their skills.

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Book Synopsis365 inspirational suggestions for enjoying nature. These ''Random Acts of Wildness'' will encourage you to fall in love with, learn about or even help wildlife and wild places near you.A Random Act of Wildness is any little thing that you can do as part of your day, to enjoy nature. It can take a few seconds like smelling a wildflower on the way to work; or a few hours like creating a whole area for wildlife in your garden. Some Random Acts of Wildness don't take any time at all, but instead are little changes to your daily routine that will ultimately be better for wildlife, like buying a reusable coffee cup.The best Random Acts of Wildness immerse you (if only for a few seconds) in nature, setting your senses alight. Smelling freshly fallen rain, tasting the sweet explosion of a fresh blackberry as you pop it in your mouth, wriggling your toes in the icy waters of a stream, waking up to bird song. It's not just about seeing, but experiencing the wild in every way possible. Let thisTrade Review'Taking part in the 30 Days Wild campaign improves health, happiness, nature connection and conservation behaviours … and the benefits last well after the month has ended.'Dr Miles Richardson, University of Derby ‘As the rise of herbicides and insecticides destroys aspects of nature, embracing these acts could be more necessary than ever’Guardian

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Book Synopsis''Armed with this intrepid survey, we can see a brave new world down there on the beach ... Exquisite revelation, of the most wonderful, watery kind.'' - Philip HoareFor many, the highlights of seaside holidays are rockpooling and gathering the glorious array of shells left strewn on the beach after the receding tide. Attracted by the infinite variety of shapes and colours, visitors can never resist making a souvenir collection of their own - but little do they suspect the fascinating lives of the animals who once occupied them. What if each shell had a story of its own to tell us, if only we knew the language? Mr Street's delightful, informative guide uncovers the secret history of each common shell, revealing not only which marine creature once inhabited it but the unique challenges of its watery habitat it had to solve. From barnacles to oysters, cockles to

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Book SynopsisFrom park run to ultras, this book gives you the support and encouragement you need to start and keep you running injury-freeThis thorough handbook gives detailed practical advice to all adult runners. It covers everything you need to embark on a running career, but goes further and explains training needs and regimes to established runners. Written in an accessible easy style, it answers all your questions before you've thought of them and encourages everyone to get fit and enjoy your running safely.

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Book SynopsisTells the story of the author's 2700 kilometre ski up the entire length of Norway, followed by his 3100 kilometre kayak down the whole of Norway's coast. In this guide, the entire 6200 kilometres of the outdoor expedition has been split into 35 sections. Each section is around 200 kilometres, or a week's duration.

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Book SynopsisExploring Ireland is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the outdoors, from families looking for gentle Sunday strolls to experienced adventurers seeking out challenging hikes, paddles and cycles.

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Book SynopsisTHE ULTIMATE SURVIVAL GUIDE for anyone who thinks they''d survive the world''s most hostile environments - or at least imagine they could do.-----------------------------First issued to airmen in the 1950s, the Air Ministry''s Sea Survival guide includes original and authentic emergency advice to crew operating over the ocean. With original illustrations and text, these survival guides provide an insight to military survival techniques from a by-gone era. Packed with original line drawings and instruction in: - How to punch man-eating sharks. Which are ''cowards'' - The pros and cons of drinking ''fish juice'' - When to smoke Focussing on one of the most challenging environments on Earth, Sea Survival is one of four reprints of The Air Ministry''s emergency survival pamphlets. Others include: Jungle Survival Desert Survival Arctic SurvivalTrade Review**The Air Ministry's emergency survival series makes the perfect gift for those who think they'd survive the world's most hostile environments - or at least imagine they could do!**First issued to airmen in the 1950s, the Air Ministry's Sea Survival guide includes original and authentic emergency advice to crew operating over the ocean. With original illustrations and text, these survival guides provide an insight to military survival techniques from a by-gone era. * from the publisher's description *

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Book SynopsisWhen you''re stuck for a great gift for Dad, look no further than GREAT BRITISH DADVENTURES: the ultimate guide to helping Dad discover adrenaline-inducing, mind-expanding or stomach-pleasing mini or big adventures around the British Isles - and families of all ages can join in the fun too!Using maps of all the Scottish and English counties and the Welsh principal areas, the book pinpoints almost 1,000 destinations and activities, including plenty of free and baby-friendly options (and a few that are for Dad''s friends only). Whether he''s looking for something interesting to do nearby at the weekend or heading off on holiday around our vast and varied British Isles, GREAT BRITISH DAD-VENTURES has all the inspiration Dad needs to get off his screen and do something exciting. Activities include: - walks, hikes, cycling and mountain biking - castles and museums - watersports, wild swimming and boat trips - nature reserves and safari parks - o

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Book SynopsisBob Shepton is an ordained minister in the Church of England in his late 70s, but spends most of his time sailing into the Arctic and making first ascents of inaccessible mountains. No tea parties for this vicar.Opening with the disastrous fire that destroyed his yacht whilst he was ice-bound in Greenland, the book travels back to his childhood growing up on the rubber plantation his father managed in Malaysia, moving back to England after his father was shot by the Japanese during the war, boarding school, the Royal Marines, and the church. We then follow Bob as he sails around the world with a group of schoolboys, is dismasted off the Falklands, trapped in ice, and climbs mountains accessible only from iceberg-strewn water and with only sketchy maps available. Bob Shepton, winner of the 2013 Yachtsman of the Year Award, is an old-school adventurer, and this compelling book is in the spirit of sailing mountaineer HW Tilman, explorer Ranulph Fiennes, climber Chris Bonington and yachtsTrade ReviewAn entertaining story told by a genuine adventurer * Sailing Today *You are going to enjoy this: a life, of adventure - surviving the war years on the far side of the world, sailing, climbing, ski mountaineering, in many different parts of the world. It is inspiring that a Reverend should stick his neck out in this way - battling Atlantic storms, losing a mast in Antarctica, sailing continually in the Arctic, making the first ascents of mountains, skiing across remote regions, climbing with world class climbers, and sailing through the North West Passage. As a Commando, Bob is clearly made of the right stuff! -- Bear GryllsHis expeditions have made over sixty first ascents of mountains and rock faces…all previously unclimbed, and he has been called ‘the modern Tilman’. All this as well as being, and often in conjunction with being, a Reverend. It’s an interesting and varied life; I commend it to you. -- Sir Chris Bonington * Foreword *This is the uniquely interesting and colourful life of a Anglican clergyman turned adventurer. A wonderful true tale of adventure with a wide variety of people of all ages, in different parts of the world and over many years, stretching from the days of the British Empire to the present. A truly interesting book, which I definitely recommend. -- Sir Ranulph Fiennes * Foreword *

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Book SynopsisIn Running, former NCAA Division I track athlete Lindsey A. Freeman presents the feminist and queer handbook of running that she always wanted but could never find. For Freeman, running is full of joy, desire, and indulgence in the pleasure and weirdness of having a body. It allows for a space of freedom—to move and be moved. Through tender storytelling of a lifetime wearing running shoes, Freeman considers injury and recovery, what it means to run as a visibly queer person, and how the release found in running comes from a desire to touch something that cannot be accessed when still. Running invites us to run through life, legging it out the best we can with heart and style.Trade Review"You can fill a small library with books on running, but you won’t find many that touch on queerness and feminism in the sport. . . . [Freeman's] storytelling, along with her friend Hazel Meyer’s illustrations, chronicles Freeman’s lifelong relationship with running and illuminates the 'unexpected moments of connection and joy that we runners feel when we cover some distance together.'" -- Becky Wade * Runners World *"I found Lindsay A. Freedman’s little queer book Running absolutely delightful and surprisingly validating, as I think many queer sportspersons will. In particular, Freedman talks about how running as a sport of individualism and triumph over one’s own fears or limitations has both mirrored and supported her journey in coming out as queer in ways that made me go 'Oh yes, that.'" -- S. Bear Bergman * Xtra *"What is beautiful throughout Running is the slow and tender movements through what it means to have a body, and what that body means in all the spaces in which it exists. . . . I hope queer people with an interest, active or passive, in running pick this book up, read through, and consider their own relationships to themselves and to a sport that is so easily made all too simple." -- Niko Stratis * Autostraddle *"More poetic than practical, but intensely vivid and personal, Running bounces from pop-culture analysis to academic inquiry, from a catalogue of injuries (including those from a devastating incident in which a vehicle hit her) to an exploration of the elusive 'runner's high.' . . . Running is a worthwhile companion for people who want to be either—or both." -- Katie Noah Gibson * Shelf Awareness *“Freeman serves fresh thinking as she applies the speculative energy of queer theory to her own lifelong running journey.” -- Knox Robinson * Wall Street Journal *"Running is more than a study of the sport—it’s a fearless love letter to the core of what it means to be a runner. . . . Part-memoir, part-handbook, and part-critical theory, untangling identity, the body, queerness, feminism, friendships, the unknown, failure, pain, control, success, and beyond; the full spectrum of what it means to lace up our running shoes to return to a complicated, duplicitous, and ever-changing sport." -- Ellie Jackson * Off *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction 1 Stride—Form—Cadence—Pace 14 On the Subversive Nature of This Handbook 17 A Note on “Just Do It” 30 Leaving It All on the Track 33 Running Is a Contact Sport 37 Running after Olympians 42 Running Is Your Life 56 Speed Play 58Personal Best 61 In Training for the Boston Marathon 70 Running the Risk Of 84 Courage, or The Paris Marathon 87 Runner’s High 91 Let’s Let Our Running Be Real 97 On Hitting the Wall and Writer’s Block 101 Repetitive Stress 105 A Note on Cross-Training 112 A Note on Running to Music 114 Big Gay 10K 117 This One’s for the Rabbits, the Also-Rans, and the Dreamers 120 Loops—Practice—Repetition—Ritual 126 Cooldown and Stretching 131 Notes 135 Bibliography: Things I Thought With, Things I Ran With 145

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Book SynopsisYour Guide to Watching Clouds and Understanding the Weather From the soothing sound of rain to the shrill whistle of a blizzard, from the house-shaking rumble of thunder to the violent fury of a hurricane, weather is a fascinating part of our lives. We watch it. We listen to it. We feel it. We try to predict it. But how well do we truly understand it? Professional meteorologist Ryan Henning presents Field Guide to the Weather, a handy reference to meteorology and to the types of weather phenomena that one might encounter at home or in nature. It includes a simple introduction to the basics of meteorology—explaining the aspects of the atmosphere that dictate how weather works. From there, the field guide looks at a variety of individual weather topics: cloud formation (and cloud-type identification), various forms of precipitation, and much more. The author goes on to discuss government-issued watches and warnings, and weather safety. Plus, readers are sure to appreciate the book’s helpful guide to interpreting weather forecasts and available model information when planning an afternoon picnic or next week’s vacation. Field Guide to the Weather is a perfect introduction to the science of weather. The information is captivating for kids and adults alike. The simple explanations are useful in easing the mind of a frightened child, and the in-depth details help adults learn to understand and prepare for the weather ahead.Table of ContentsIntroduction Meteorology and the Building Blocks of Weather What Is Meteorology? Pressure, Temperature, Humidity, Density The Bigger Picture North American Weather Systems of Note How to Read a Weather Map Weather Phenomena You Can See Clouds Thunderstorm Clouds Precipitation Freezing Rain, Sleet, and Graupel Dew and Frost Fog Severe Weather Phenomena Clear-Sky Phenomena Find Your Weather, Weather Safety, and More Weather Conversations United States Weather Records Recommended Reading Glossary About the Author

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Book SynopsisPlay Cards and Learn to Identify Mammal Tracks in the Southern United States! Anyone who enjoys nature, wildlife, and the great outdoors will love these cards for playing your favorite games or to use as flash cards. Inspired by Jonathan Poppele’s popular Animal Tracks of the Southeast & Gulf States quick guide, this gorgeous deck of playing cards features detailed illustrations of 54 of the most notable mammal tracks in the South and Southeastern states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as eastern Texas. Each card depicts realistic tracks of such animals as the Nine-banded Armadillo, River Otter, Wild Boar, and more—along with range maps—so you can begin to learn what 54 different animal prints look like. Card Features 54 of the most notable mammal tracks Realistic illustrations on every card Ideal for card games or as flash cards Play games like blackjack, poker, rummy, and solitaire while learning more about tracking. Get Animal Tracks of the Southeast & Gulf States Playing Cards for yourself, and you can also give this deck of cards as a fun and thoughtful gift.Table of ContentsClubs: Shrews, Moles & Small Rodents Diamonds: Larger Rodents & Rabbits Hearts: Dogs, Cats & Hoofed Animals Spades: Weasels, Skunks, Raccoons & Bears

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Book SynopsisA magical book featuring Tanja B. Linde's illustrations, InMy Nature will help you realize your own potential by unearthing your connection to the natural world. Having lived nomadically for the past decade, Tanja has found ways to make the most out of every experience. She believes that if we choose to listen to our higher nature and live life on our own terms, we can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. Divided into three sections – Venture Inward, Go Explore and Seek Discomfort – In My Nature guides your journey on a free-spirited path. Throughout the book you will be offered up inspiration and ideas for activities that let you reconnect with nature, which are bound to enrich your body, soul and spirit. Find encouragement to go beyond your limits, set intentions and venture out into a world full of adventure. Know what it means to be in your element and live a life that is both meaningful and endlessly exciting.

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Book SynopsisYou don't need to be ultra-fit or highly experienced in the outdoors to enjoy outdoor guru Patrick Kinsella's selection of 30 activities across Britain. 'A sense of adventure and an explorer's heartbeat' is all that's required, he says, and he should know, having spent two decades walking, running, riding, paddleboarding, swimming, canoeing, kayaking... and more besides, in all corners of the country. Bradt's Caving, Canyoning, Coasteering... is both an atlas of adventure and book of secrets, enticing readers out of their comfort zone to explore the often-unseen elements and quieter corners of Britain, where the wild experiences live. Some of the activities described take place on the very edges of large urban centres, easily accessible for anyone, yet even many locals don't know about them. Others happen in far-flung corners of the country - places people may never have considered exploring. 'This title will take you on a highly adventurous tour of Britain's extraordinary cliffs, caves, canyons, coasts, forests, fells, beaches, Munros, moors and tors, via a range of outdoor pursuits - many of which were conceived and pioneered on this island' says Kinsella. 'It's all about wild time spent in wonderful places, from the mysterious depths of the labyrinthine limestone underworld beneath the Mendip Hills to the top of ice-clad arêtes and snow-dusted peaks of monstrous Munros in the Scottish Highlands, via seascapes and sub-aquatic environment in Devon and Cornwall, tumbling streams and ghylls in the Lake District, and cascade-concealed caverns in the waterfall-soaked world of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) in Wales. It's not for the faint of heart, but there are escapades here to excite everyone.' Whether you're an experienced outdoor type or someone who's new to the outdoors but seeking guidance on where to go and what to do, a wildlife and fresh-air enthusiast or an armchair traveller, a lone adventurer or family with young children, Caving, Canyoning, Coasteering... is brimful of ideas. And if the adrenaline gets too much, you'll even find advice on the sedate Japanese art of forest bathing.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION ABOUT THIS BOOK KIT & CABOODLE GOOD CONDUCT IN THE OUTDOORS 1 Cornish pilot gig rowing Saltash & the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall; Lyme Regis, Dorset 2 Freediving Porthkerris, Cornwall 3 Surfski paddling South Hams, Devon; Lake Bala/Llyn Tegid, Wales; Windermere, Cumbria; Loch Awe, Scotland 4 Dartmoor letterboxing Dartmoor, Devon 5 Sport climbing Portland, Dorset 6 Tree climbing Appley Park, Ryde, Isle of Wight 7 Sand yachting Romney Sands & Greatstone-on-Sea, Kent 8 Caving & potholing The Mendip Hills, Somerset 9 Scuba diving with seals Lundy Island, north Devon 10 Canicross Leigh Woods, Bristol, north Somerset 11 Sailing Swansea, Wales; north London 12 Forest bathing - Shinrin-Yoku Pound Wood Nature Reserve, Thundersley, Essex 13 River surfing The River Severn, Gloucestershire 14 Mountainboarding Maisemore, near Gloucester, Gloucestershire 15 Canyoning & gorge scrambling Bannau Brycheiniog/Brecon Beacons National Park, Wales; the Lake District National Park, Cumbria 16 Coasteering Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales 17 Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP Norfolk Broads, Norfolk & Su¬ffolk; Jurassic Coast, Devon 18 Scrambling The Glyderau, Eryri/Snowdonia, north Wales 19 Bouldering The Plantation, Stanage Edge, the Peak District, Derbyshire/South Yorkshire 20 Bikepacking Dartmoor, Devon; the Ridgeway, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire; the Peak District; the Yorkshire Dales 21 Ghyll scrambling Eskdale, the Lake District 22 Fell running Langdale Fells, the Lake District 23 Via ferrata Honister Slate Mine, Keswick, the Lake District 24 Swimrun & swimhike Buttermere & Crummock Water, the Lake District 25 Wingsurfing, wingfoiling & kitesurfing Beadnell Bay, Northumberland; Troon, south Ayrshire, Scotland 26 Fastpacking The West Highland Way, Scotland 27 Snorkelling Oban, Scotland 28 Boatpacking - canoe & kayak camping River Dart, Devon; the Great Glen, Scotland 29 Snowholing & winter Munro bagging Cairngorms National Park, the Scottish Highlands 30 Whitewater rafting & packrafting River Findhorn, Moray, northeast Scotland EPILOGUE INDEX

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Book SynopsisAdventurers cross deserts and row oceans, appearing to live the dream. Yet they also must pay the bills and carve out time to get away. Are you trying to make a career doing what you love, daring to go freelance in a creative industry, growing a tribe or curious about an unconventional career? What is it like to build a life from living adventurously? Whether you are adventurous, creative, or just curious, Ask An Adventurer answers your questions from behind the scenes, rather than the usual questions adventurers hear: there are no kit lists, practical expedition planning advice or daring deeds in these pages. Instead, Alastair tackles questions asked by readers on social media such as: How do you make a living? How do you make time for adventure? How do you stay motivated and focused? How do you deal with post-adventure blues? How do you deal with the dilemma of flying and travel? How has social media changed the way you tell stories? How do you become an adventurer? How much does an adventurer earn? How do you decide what you will or won't do for money? How do you find sponsors? How do you get your work done? How can we make the world of adventure better? How do you get a book published? How do you get paid to give talks? How do you become a better speaker? How do you deal with emails? How do you start a podcast? How do you launch an email newsletter? And more...Table of ContentsBehind the Scenes - 7 The Working Adventurer - 13 Money - 23 Time - 57 Writing -75 Speaking -97 Social Media - 115 Connecting -135 General Questions -155

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Book SynopsisThis guidebook to walking and backpacking on Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna includes a circuit of the Rum Cuillin, an ascent of An Sgurr (Eigg) and a 3-day trek around the coast of Rum. The 25 routes across the four islands of the Small Isles archipelago of Scotland are suitable for a range of abilities exploring coasts, mountains and wilderness.

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from the bestselling Play the Forest School Way, here is a whole range of new games, crafts and activities to get kids developing skills and exploring the natural world all year round. Structured around the year's four seasons, each chapter is packed full of step-by-step Forest School games and activities that harmonize with the weather and what’s happening in nature at that time of year, with a nod to seasonal festivals such as Easter and Christmas. In spring, for example, you could make a mud birthday cake to celebrate Earth Day on 22 April, or (inspired by bird song) craft sistrums from sticks and bottle tops. In autumn, you could have a fun day out in the woods making leaf mobiles, playing "Creeping Commandos" and baking apples with nuts over a campfire. At Forest School, children return to the same location again and again, building a lasting connection with a specific part of the natural world, and this book in its year-round approach will bring this aspect of Forest School play to the fore. Each of the four seasonal chapters includes a description of an extended session (combining active and quieter activities plus, for some, an idea for foraging/cooking) to guide Forest School leaders planning themed days and parents looking for party inspiration. The Forest School ethos of nature-based play and learning that encourages children to develop confidence, self-esteem and emotional intelligence is exactly what’s needed in an era when childhood problems such as obesity and anxiety are on the rise. Woven through the year are stories from the authors’ own Forest School classes, as they make a passionate case for the importance of ensuring children’s access to nature and the incredible benefits they will gain from being outside, even in the heart of a city.Trade Review"A Year of Forest School has the same lovely accessible style that our Forest School practitioners appreciate about Play the Forest School Way. A great book to dip into to top up the inspiration levels. The Forest School ethos is explained clearly and comes through in the way the activities are explained." --Lily Horseman, Chair of the Forest School Association

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Book SynopsisDiscover wilderness as nature intended – the pristine places on our beautiful planet that still remain untouched by human hands. Explore the rugged mountains, clear waters and dense forests of the great outdoors, from the Himalayas to the Rockies, from icy fjord and to desert plateau and everything between.Including information on the best trails and trips to take around the globe, and inspirational quotes from explorers, conservationists and writers, this bitesize book will help wanderers of all walking speeds reconnect with the wonderful world outside their windows.SAMPLE FACT: Blaze: When wanderlusting in the wilderness, and lost, look to the trees to help you find a path. A blaze is a coloured marker, usually painted or nailed to a tree. It helps guide hikers when a trail becomes difficult to follow or makes an abrupt turn.Table of ContentsWalk on the Wild Side: It's time to pack your bag, pop on your walking boots and open the front door. A whole world of wilderness awaits. Only one question remains: where on earth are we going? Heaven on Earth: Wilderness is more than just a place you can go for a nice walk; it's a state of mind. It's a place where you can leave your troubles behind and see the world as Mother Nature intended. If there is a heaven, we'll find it here on Earth. The Great Outdoors: Out among the wilderness is where the wild things roam. From creatures great and small to trees wide and tall, and everything in between. It's all here: oceans, deserts, space, forests and wide-open lands that run free as far as the eye can see. Wide Open Space: What is wilderness? Can you define something so divine? Like all the best things, wilderness is the stuff of make believe, full of inspiring facts and stats, quotes and notes, that'll make your world spin. Blazing Trails: From humans to animals, organisms to insects, every single living creature on Earth owes everything it is to the wilderness from which it sprang. Here's how to get your boots on, pack the snacks and take a giant leap into wilderness today. Into the Wild: Welcome to the end of the trail. Thanks for coming. But the journey into wilderness is never over. Wilderness is wherever you want it to be so find it where you are.

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Book SynopsisThe complete guide to living in the wild from the ultimate survival expertIn this essential guide to living wild, Bear Grylls reveals the secrets of his years of fieldcraft experience. This is the information you really need to know about living in the field from the man who has passed 21 SAS selection, climbed Everest and survived in some of the most inhospitable regions on Earth. In his inimitable style, Bear has thrown out everything that's boring about scouting and fieldcraft and concentrated only on what's exciting, inspirational and a little bit edgy. It's all here, from mastering the art of making the perfect campfire and constructing the best camp, to navigating safely through all terrains in all weathers - with or without a map...The only other thing you'll need is this book!Bear Grylls served for three years with the British Special Forces - 21 SAS. He is a world-record-breaking adventurer, a bestselling author and one of the world's most sought-after motivational speakers. Bear's prime-time adventure tv series reaches over a bilion viewers worldwide in over 150 countries. He was recently awarded an honorary commission as a Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy for his endeavours with both adventure and charity. He is married to Shara and they have three sons, Jesse, Marmaduke and Huckleberry.

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Book SynopsisThis guidebook has been created for both experienced canyoneers and for those who have just started to delve into this adventurous sport. Here you will find information about some of the best canyons and gorges Scotland has to offer. There are 47 Scottish routes to explore, ranging from beautiful entry-level gorge-walks to committing and challenging canyon descents. Canyoning is an adventurous sport that follows the path of a stream down the mountain side - usually in steep-sided gorges, through cold plunge pools and over tumbling waterfalls. This extreme sport requires a combined range of skills to overcome the obstacles along the river path; from abseiling to jumping, scrambling, climbing, sliding, and swimming. When you put all of this together, it enables you to explore a harsh yet outstanding environment where few have ever been before.

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Book SynopsisGail Muller was told she'd be in a wheelchair by the age of forty. At forty-one she set out to hike one of the world's toughest treks, The Appalachian Trail - a 2,200-mile journey that would help her reclaim her life and heal her mind and body. An inspiring, moving and uplifting memoir for fans of Cheryl Strayed's Wild and Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat, Pray, Love.As Gail took her first steps through the wilderness of the USA, she had no idea what lay ahead of her, but she knew she felt burnout from city life, lost and broken - ready to heal a mind and body that she had battled with for so long.From the resilience-building mountain climbs, painful injuries and harsh reality of braving the raw elements, to the unexpected friendships forged with other hikers and the kindness of strangers offering food and shelter - with every step, Gail started to let go of a past dominated by chronic pain and reconnected with herself in a way she'd never been able to before.A love letter to the healing power of the wild outdoors and an incredible testament to the strength of the human spirit, Gail's story is for anyone who has ever felt stuck in a rut, lost or scared. She shows us that even in our darkest times, it's possible to find our inner grit, face our fears and feel hopeful.Read what everyone is saying about Unlost: 'Amazing!... OMG! I really loved your book!... I'm not a crier, but your last chapter had me almost in tears. So (wonderfully) emotional.' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars'Had me hooked from the beginning...This book is for so many people...it's fun and interesting and the various trail families and characters are terrific... a gem of a book.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'I found myself holding my breath... I felt like I was right there with her.' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars'Inspirational... made me snort or chuckle - or suck in my breath. I read the book in more or less a day - I just had to consume it... a joy to read.' NetGalley reviewer, 5 stars'Gail writes with humour, heart and passion.' Giovanna Fletcher, Sunday Times #1 bestselling author'I loved this book so much. I was so invested from the very start... Was sad for this one to end! Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Loved this open and honest book! It was so raw and real you feel like you get to know the author like a friend. I loved hearing about her adventures and life.' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars'Inspiring... illustrates the power of the great outdoors and the positive effects it can have on body and mind.' Jordan Wylie, Adventurer and Bestselling Author

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Book SynopsisFernhurst Books' Waterproof Notebook Lined is a larger size, with the right hand page lined and the left hand page blank to allow for drawings. It is printed on plastic paper that is totally waterproof. It can be written on using most writing and drawing tools. The pages can be re-used if writing with a pencil or chinagraph. The spiral binding allows the book to be opened flat or folded back on itself. It is great for sailors, canoeists, fishermen and indeed anyone needing to make notes near water or when it might rain. It is even used for underwater drawing classes!Trade Review"Finding a dry piece of paper in a small boat can be difficult - which is why Fernhurst have introduced their waterproof notebook ... plasticised paper which can be written on when wet and have been shown not to disintegrate even after prolonged immersion." (Practical Boat Owner) "This very useful notebook of waterproof sheets is spiral bound so that it can be opened flat or folded back on itself. It floats if dropped in the water and the paper is sufficiently thick for the pages to be opened without too much difficulty when wet." (Canoeist) "Wouldn't it be great if you could write down your angling notes as they happen without fear of them getting washed away in the rain? Well maybe the new handy waterproof notebook from Fernhurst Books could be just what you are looking for." (Sea Angler)

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A new compendium of adventures, from the best-selling and award-winning Wild Guide series now released for Europe's favourite adventure holiday destination - including 800 secret places. Discover hidden mountain peaks, plunging waterfalls and pristine lakes. Step back into history to explore lost ruins, forts and caves and to wander where wolves still roam free. Meet Alpine farmers and sample their delicious fare. Plan a night camping under a star-filled sky or snuggled down in a remote mountain refuge. Combining dazzling photography and engaging writing with all the practical information you'll need to get off the beaten track, including maps, directions, GPS coordinates and walk-in times, plus recommendations for local places to eat and camp. Perfect for families and adventurers. Climb the hidden limestone peaks of the Chablais, Cool off with a swim in pristine Lac Lauvitel, Explore the caves of the Vercors, Eat cheese made the traditional way in the heart of the Beaufort, Try artisan charcuterie with the wines of the Combe de Savoie Find the forgotten Maginot forts of the Italian border, Marvel at the prehistoric stone carvings in the Vallee des Merveilles, Commune with marmots and ibex in the Vanoise, Listen for wolves in the wildernesses of Mercantour and Ubaye

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Book SynopsisIt’s free, it’s fun and it’s very tasty! Harvesting your own produce from the hedgerows, meadows and woods rather than just ordering food online from the supermarket is all the rage with both towndwellers and countryfolk. Why not treat yourself to fruit leather, cheese, rose petal syrup or a wickedly alcoholic drink? It’s free, it’s fun and it’s very tasty! Harvesting your own produce from the hedgerows, meadows and woods rather than just ordering food online from the supermarket is all the rage with both towndwellers and countryfolk. The joy of turning nature’s bounty into delicious produce to enjoy with the family or to use to make a lovely gift is being rediscovered in kitchens across the country. Explore the deliciously different flavours of wild food, from bilberries and nettles to hazelnuts and damsons – all of which are free for the picking. Learn how to use a range of wild foods creatively in over 100 easy recipes, ranging from jams, jellies and chutneys to starters, main courses, cakes, puds, cocktails and cordials. With chapters on Flowers & Hips, Leaves, Berries, Fruit with Stones, Fruit with Pips and Nuts, why not treat yourself to fruit leather, cheese, rose petal syrup or a wickedly alcoholic drink?

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Book SynopsisThis handbook is an inspirational resource to help you discover the thousands of miles of Scotland's spectacular coastline - from its stunning geology and diverse marine and bird life to its coastal history, culture and landmarks. Fishing ports, arts communities, clifftop castles, island hideaways, local legends: all have their place here. With contributions from leading nature writer Jim Crumley, geologist Ronald Turnbull, historian Michael Kerrigan and sailor/poet Ian Stephen - a contemporary bard for our islands - Fi Martynoga adds her own expertise in foraging for seaweeds, shellfish and coastal plants, and exploring the rich flora of our shorelines, from dune grasses to wildflowers. Whether you yearn to watch the sunset or swim from achingly beautiful coves, discover quirky highlights of island life or hints of a prehistoric past, or seek out otters or dolphins, this volume is your indispensable companion.Trade Review'A perfect primer … What makes the book so good is the breadth of material packed within it, combined with the depth of expertise of those sharing their knowledge … Scotland's coasts are an integral part of what makes this, in many people's eyes, the best small country in the world. This book will help you gain more from the experience of visiting and exploring them.' Undiscovered Scotland; 'An essential guide to discovering more about the communities, wildlife and landmarks along the coastline.' Scots MagazineTable of ContentsIntroduction; Our coastline: who owns the land?; Ronald Turnbull: The geology of our seashore; Scotland’s Central Lowlands: the coal hole; Raised beaches; Old Man, old sand; Ocean-bottom sludge; The Highlands: schist with a twist; Roderick Impey Murchison gets it wrong; A gneiss wee walk; A raised beach at Whalsay; Jim Crumley: Coastal Wildlife; Otters; A big fish; Cetaceans; Seals; Seabirds; Coastal plants; Beach, dune and coastal woods; Dunes; Beaches; Coastal woods; Machair; Cliffs and rocky shores; Estuary and saltmarsh; List of plants; Coastal Bounty; Before you start; Shellfish; Fish; Seaweed; Edible seaside plants; List of seaweed & edible plants; Foraging for other treasures; Beachcombing; Rock pools; Michael Kerrigan: Coastal culture; Mystic places; Boundary or bridge; Coastal castles; Tradition… interrupted; Net product; Whaling' Seals and selkies; Commerce and culture; A puff for the Puffer; Lost at sea; Lighting the way; Cultural fabric; The crockery coast; Artists’ colonies; Beside the seaside; Music festivals; From relaxation to renewal; Coastal costs; Scotland’s islands; The inner lands: Isle of Mull; Coll and Tiree; Muck, Rum, Eigg and Canna; Skye; The Outer Lands: Outer Hebrides; Orkney; Shetland; Island Jaunts: Inchcolm; The Isle of May; Ailsa Craig; Raasay; Bute; Arran; Great Days out; Eyemouth; North Berwick; East Neuk; St Andrews; Stonehaven; Findhorn; The Black Isle; Golspie and the East Coast of Sutherland and Caithness; Thurso; Bettyhill, Tongue and Durness; Lochinver; Ullapool; Gairloch, Poolewe and Area; Applecross; Plockton; Arisaig; Salen, Strontian and Sunart; Ardfern; Campbeltown, Carradale and the Kintyre Peninsula; Aye; Portpatrick; Wigtown and the Machars; Kirkcudbright; Sporting Days Out: Cycling; Wild swimming; Coastal rowing; Sea kayaking; Surfing; About the Contributors; Acknowledgements; Further Reading and Species Identification; Index

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Book SynopsisPackrafts are rugged, portable rafts, small enough to attach under a rucksack, but stable on the water to reassure first time paddlers. Weighing from 1-3 kilos, they open up a whole new world of amphibious adventuring, from navigating easily accessible waterways to discovering more challenging rivers and lochs only reachable on foot or bicycle. Packrafting: A Beginners’ Guide is a perfect introduction to the game-changing recreational opportunities opened up by packrafting. It takes you through the different types and features of packrafts to ensure that you buy a boat that is right for you and have the right gear to use with it. It clearly explains the basic paddling skills and how to safely evaluate risks on the water. It also introduces the different types of adventures you can undertake with your packraft, from paddling a local canal or river to lashing a bicycle over the bow or using a packable sail to traverse open water. The book is comprehensively illustrated with over 120 colour photographs making it easy to understand and clear to follow.Trade Review“Interesting and informative. Chris Scott’s very careful descriptions and explanations of the gadgetry did convince me that this system would work if one wanted to tramp the moorland as well as explore freshwater lakes and rivers.” (Yachting Monthly)Table of ContentsIntroduction; About Packrafts; On the Water: The Basics; Inflation Valves & Pumps; Packrafting Gear; Outfitting & Load Carrying; Packraft Care & Repair; On the Trail: Basic Gear; Safety & Weather; Bikerafting; Packraft Sailing; Packrafting at Sea; Packrafting Adventures.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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