This practical handbook provides a handy reference for anyone wishing to
explore the back country. Whether you are preparing for a day's walking
or mountain biking, a camping weekend, a trek on horseback, a hike
through the jungle, or a kayaking tour lasting several weeks, this
highly illustrated guide will show you all you need to know. With the
emphasis on teaching the fundamentals of hiking and travelling with
transport and animals, and of orienteering your way along the route, it
makes essential reading before setting off.The first section of the book
deals with planning an adventure in remote territory. Budgets,
insurance, medical preparations and personal and mental fitness need to
be addressed, and potential hazards must be thought through in
advance.The second section explains the practical skills needed to use a
map and compass accurately and with confidence, and shows how to
orientate yourself in the wilderness using the sun, moon and stars, as
well as how to interpret weather patterns and the natural signposts in
the landscape around you as further aids to navigation.The final section
looks at different ways to explore the great outdoors - walking,
cycling, kayaking and canoeing, and animal, vehicle and public transport
and provides easy-to-follow advice on the equipment and skills needed
for problem-free exploration. Packed with hundreds of helpful hints and
illustrated with over 200 colour photographs, including step-by-step
sequences for key techniques, such as setting a bearing using a map and
compass, or simply repairing a punctured bike-tyre, this book is
essential reading for anyone planning a trip in the wilderness.The
essential guide to challenging and adventurous trips in all kinds of
terrain for the intrepid explorer and competition walkerExplores many
types of back-country travel, including walking, cycling, touring in a
kayak or canoe, horseback trekking, travelling with pack animals, with
vehicles and on public transportGives easy-to-follow advice on practical
navigation skills: how to use a map and compass correctly; orientation
using the sun, moon and stars; and understanding natural navigational
signs in the landscapeExplains how to read weather patterns and
interpret cloud formations to ensure your safety in remote and exposed
placesIllustrated with over 200 full-colour photographs, including
simple-to-grasp step-by-step instructions for key skills and techniques
