When I found out Ray Jardine was publishing a new edition of Beyond
Backpacking I went to his web site and ordered a copy immediately (it
not yet being in stores at the time). Beyond Backpacking having
gone out of print quite some time ago, I was eager to read this book so many
backpackers talk about. Perhaps the anticipation caused me to have
expectations that were a bit too high. Don’t get me wrong, it is a good
book, with some great ideas and information, I was just expecting,
well…more.
Trail Life is an updated version of Beyond Backpacking
which is an updated version of Pacific Coast Trail Hiker’s Handbook.
I’m not sure why Mr. Jardine thinks it is a good idea to keep changing the
title. As far as I can tell it is more or less the same content somewhat
edited and updated. Overall I like the book, or at least I like Ray
Jardine. As a backpacker It is hard not to respect this man who has hiked
over 25,000 miles and help change backpacking in some fundamental ways,
Mr. Jardine having been one of the ‘pioneers’ of lightweight backpacking.
Trail Life can be enjoyed by anyone who loves to backpack,
but I would be hesitant to recommend this book to beginners. Primarily
because the book appears to be an all inclusive ‘everything you wanted to
know about backpacking’ kind of backpacker’s bible – but it’s not. There are
sections discussing gear or skills where Mr. Jardine leaves out several
pertinent pieces of information. For example; A thirteen page
chapter on water discussing dehydration, purification, etc. Included are a
few paragraphs on boiling and using iodine. Nothing on chlorine dioxide
products (e.g. Aquamira) or ultraviolet pens (e.g. SteriPEN). This type of
omission makes it obvious this book was not updated enough.
Ray Jardine appears to have quite a bit of distain for outdoor equipment
manufacturers (perhaps for capitalism in general). He recommends we make our
own gear and clothes – which is a good way to go at times, but he goes much
farther. He feels that if we do buy commercially made clothes we should sew
patches over the logos rather than be ‘walking billboards’. His contempt
for commercial manufacture’s causes him to spurn practically all their
products – so the book gives no useful advice on what gear to buy in regards
to cloths, tents, packs, bags - we should make it all ourselves.
On the more positive side, Mr. Jardine does give some great advice about
hiking itself. He includes a wonderful chapter on “Trail Shock” discussing
how he and Jenny (his wife) have experienced in most of their adventures the point
early on in a trip where you muscles start to ach or get stiff and you begin
to feel like you should quit. It is reassuring to know this happens to
everyone from time to time. His chapters on mileage, resupplies, hiking
partners, hiking enjoyment and many other chapters are filled with tips from
his experiences. I wish the book was filled with more of this. I’m sure
after the many trails he has walked there is much more insight into the
hiking experience Mr. Jardine could share with us. I hope he writes a NEW
book someday – leaving out his views about gear and how to sew, and share
with us more of what trail life really can be like.
