Backpacking and Camping: The All-Season Companion

Rating:
Summary: "The All-Season Companion" Fills My Bill!
Review: I've "read" Mr. Cohen's book and think it is a timely treatment of the subject. There are a number of things about it that impressed me. First, it is comprehensive without being insufferably long. His detailed coverage of how to build a campfire in any kind of weather is something you don't see in other books on the subject. Second, it is very humorous in places---humor always perks up a non-fiction book. Third, and this is perhaps what I like most about the book, is the fact that he doesn't cut litterers any slack. Nearly every other publication I've read on this subject tends to treat people who trash places of natural beauty with kid gloves, or doesn't address the subject at all. Mr. Cohen bashes them harshly but logically. He gets his points across without anger, at the same time putting wilderness trashers in their proper place---near the bottom of the evolutionary scale of human mental development.

This book also sets the mood with nature sounds that are used as lead-in and fade-out for some of the chapters, which really goes a long way toward taking me away from that "insufferable commute"! The book has the unique quality of being valuable to both the novice and experienced camper. Everything in it guides the beginner toward his/her first trek with all of the necessary knowledge needed to ensure a safe and efficient outing, yet many of the things he talks about are also very useful to backpackers (like myself) with years of experience.

I give this one 5 stars!

Kevin Williams