Whether you're warming yourself in front of a blazing campfire during the long, cold evening or you're comfortable at home dreaming of your next trip, winter is a great time to read. Just in time for small business Saturday, I have some must-read recommendations for the camper and adventurer on your holiday gift list - or even yourself - along with some personal favorites that I have found particularly captivating, all of which are available from our friends at Scrawl Books in Reston.
When you talk about hiking books, three well-known titles come to mind immediately, and every hiker should read them. If the backpacker on your list hasn't already read these three, get them a copy now! Start with Bill Bryson's A Walk in the Woods, which provides good doses of history and storytelling while finding humor in hiking the Appalachian Trail. I have no doubt that he invited his friend Katz specifically as an agent of chaos to stir up anecdotes for the book, and Katz definitely delivers. Wild by Cheryl Strayed is a more personal account of backpacking the Pacific Crest Trail. It is an engaging read, and, unlike A Walk in the Woods, the movie is also worth seeing. Finally, every Appalachian Trail hiker - or aspiring hiker - should read Grandma Gatewood's Walk by Ben Montgomery. This story of a 67 year old grandmother hiking the AT in Keds with rudimentary equipment is a humbling lesson for anyone who complains about their gear, their shoes, or anything at all, really.
Most of my favorite books are true stories of adventure and adversity. When you are stuck in your tent reading in bad weather, questioning your decisions, maybe there is some comfort in reading about others who endured much worse conditions. Sure, your toes are numb and you're generally miserable, but at least you aren't those guys.
Lewis and Clark are the camping GOATs in my book, and Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose tells their story with the full context explained to appreciate their journey of 8000 miles over 862 days with the Corps of Discovery to explore the lands acquired from France's Napoleon by Thomas Jefferson with the Louisiana Purchase. Their journals can also make an interesting read - provided you find an edition that is well-edited and has footnotes to provide context. I recommend The Journals of Lewis and Clark edited by John Bakeless, but be forewarned: this is a gateway book that may lead to reading the unabridged journals or journals by other corps members. Many times I have channeled William Clark in my own journals by reusing a recurring line from his journal: "A fine day."
In The River of Doubt, Candice Miller tells the story of Theodore Roosevelt's near-fatal exploration in South America. After his presidency, Roosevelt embarks on a trip with "just the right amount of adventure," not knowing it will nearly cost him his life or that he'll never fully recover from it. It also provides a Roosevelt quotation that I have written into many logbooks while hiking: “The ordinary traveler, who never goes off the beaten route and who on this beaten route is carried by others, without himself doing anything or risking anything, does not need to show much more initiative and intelligence than an express package. He does nothing; others do all the work, show all the forethought, take all the risk – and are entitled to all the credit. He and his valise are carried in practically the same fashion; and for each the achievement stands about on the same plane."
Walk Ride Paddle is Tim Kaine's account of his Virginia triple adventure of hiking the Appalachian Trail, cycling the Blue Ridge Parkway, and paddling the James River. The 3 sections are proportional to the time spent, so the hiking part is longest. For me, it's also the most enjoyable because I have hiked the same trail, but I have not shared the bicycle or canoe adventures. He's a politician, so the book has current events mixed with adventure, faith, and history, but he writes with a humility that makes it enjoyable for anyone. In fact, a shuttle driver on the Blue Ridge Parkway told me that he didn't agree with Senator Kaine's politics, but he sure respected him for being out on the trail and not asking for any special treatment. When the senator had called the driver for a pickup, he had identified himself only as "Tim," so the driver was surprised when he recognized his passenger as the senator.
There may not be any account of adventurers suffering through adversity - and overcoming it - than Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. It's about leadership as much as it is about adventure, and Harvard Business School has even made a case study about the voyage, so it's perfect for the executive on your list. Their ship is trapped in ice, and then crushed by it. They are forced to row across the frigid Antarctic Ocean in lifeboats, and somehow it gets even worse. Read this book, and you'll never forget about the time the men unknowingly pitched their tents on frozen bird guano and the extreme disgust they experienced when it melted. You don't like your campsite, huh? At least you're not those guys.
Finally, I just finished The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel, and I am astounded. It tells the story of Christopher Knight, whose story can't compare with Lewis and Clark in terms of adventure or discovery, but this book made me wonder if camping for 27 years actually makes him the Greatest Of All Time. He disappeared into the Maine woods and survived all those years by stealing from the cabins and camps around him without ever being found. It's an astonishing true story and a fascinating read.
I hope one of these choices will please the lucky recipient on your gift list or that you've found something interesting for yourself among these recommendations. Or, better yet, both!