Winterwise - A Backpacker's Guide, by John M. Dunn. Adirondack Mountain Club, 1996. 205 pages, ISBN 0935272801.

So, you just got back from a summer hike. And, aside from the bugs, the DEET, the heat, and the crowds of people, you had a great time.

So how about a winter hike? No bugs, no heat, no DEET, and no people. But, winter hiking and backpacking is a bit more involved than three-season stuff. Make a mistake in the winter and it is much more likely to be dangerous or even fatal. So how do you get started winter hiking? A good first step would be to read Winterwise-A Backpacker's Guide. An excellent book for both beginners and experienced hikers alike, this book conveys the basic knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in cold weather hiking and backpacking. The book also contains pictures and charts to help the reader understand the subject. Chapters range from getting started, first aid, food, clothing, skis, and boots, to stoves, shelters and most other aspects of winter mountaineering. Also helpful is the fact that the book's chapters are further subdivided, so finding a particular subject is easy. Another helpful feature is the gear lists which make planning easier. Finally, the index and appendices along with the author's obvious personal knowledge make this book a valuable resource for any hiker.

The book is somewhat dated in areas such as stoves and types of synthetic clothing, but that is to be expected since the outdoor industry changes fairly rapidly. The important thing is that the book conveys the sound basic principles needed to be competent in a cold environment. Completely lacking, however, is mention of Global Positioning Systems. I hope this oversight is rectified in the next edition.

Above all, the author advises the reader to go slowly and to think through difficult situations. By thinking and applying common sense, most such situations can be survived or even avoided. As the author points out, the French mountaineers have a saying, "The mountain will be there tomorrow."

This is a good basic primer, written with subtle humor, and is a great addition to any outdoor library.

Reviewed by Roger Williamson, November 1999