Soft Paths

By Bruce Hampton and David Cole

"This readable and practical guide to getting around in the wilderness without degrading it is a must for every hiker, backpacker, and conservationist. The authors have a done a great service to protecting our great outdoors." -- George T. Frampton, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife and Parks

Spreading the concept of wilderness as a positive value was the first stage in the long, hard struggle to protect our wild places. Introducing the legions of wilderness worshippers to the gospel of treading lightly on the land is the second stage, and Soft Paths is a major contribution to that effort. -- Sierra

Excerpts from the text

• Preface to the 2nd Edition
• Chapter 2 - Backcountry Travel
• Chapter 12 - Horse Packing

Contents

Practical ways to reduce human impact in the backcountry, with chapters on:

• The Case for Minimum Impact
• Backcountry Travel
• Selecting and Using a Campsite
• Fires and Stoves
• Sanitation and Waste Disposal
• Chapters on the skills unique to special environments:
  • Deserts
  • Rivers and Lakes
  • Coasts
  • Alpine and Arctic Tundra
  • Snow and Ice
  • Bear Country
• Horsepacking

About the Authors

Bruce Hampton is a former senior staff instructor with the National Outdoor Leadership School and a Western author. He lives in Lander, Wyoming.

David Cole is a research biologist with the U.S. Forest Service in Missoula, Montana.

Published by: STACKPOLE BOOKS, 5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to Stackpole Books, 5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055.