Reading list

Talk about a more lukewarm approach. What a crack up. Well I tried! I've now engrossed myself in all sorts of books about walking, hiking, backpacking, camping, orienteering, hillwalking, destinations and bushcraft. I'm striking up conversations and getting to know the salespeople in several camping shops on a first name basis. I've enquired about courses regarding bushcraft which have only led to Scout leading - a whole different kettle of fish. And every break I can conceive of I desperately long to get away from the city and walk over the windy slopes of some picturesque landscape.

If I break a leg and can't ever do it, at least I'm to be taken seriously! Hehe.

Here's the current reading list, complete with sample dewey numbers if you're interested in looking in these sections yourself (that's the librarian in me):

Beyond Backpacking - Ray Jardine
Ray Jardine's Guide to Lightweight Hiking
796.51 JAR

The Ultimate Hillwalking Skills Handbook
796.522 ULT

Bushcraft - Ray Mears
An inspirational guide to surviving the wilderness
613.69 MEA

The Complete Hiker - John Long and Michael Hodgson
Everything you'll need for a day or a month on the trail
796.51 LON

Walking and Orienteering - Peter G. Drake
How to cross hills, back country and rough terrain in safety and confidence
796.51 DRA

A Place to Walk - Eloise Napier
Unforgettable walking holidays from around the world
910.202 NAP

Fieldbook for Australian Scouting
The guide to outdoor adventure, challenge, resourcefulness and fun
369.4 FIE

Ancient Tracks - Des Hannigan
Walking through Historic Britain
914.1/210

Thru Hiker's Guide to America - E. Schlimmer
25 incredible trails you can hike in one to eight weeks
917.3 SCH

Classic Walks in Western Europe - Gillian & John Souter
914 SOU

Walking France - Gillian & John Souter
Exploring France's great towns and finest landscapes on foot
914.4 SOU

Walking in Italy (Lonely Planet)
914.5 WAL

Tramping in New Zealand - Jim DuFresne (Lonely Planet)
919.3 DUF

The Inca Trail - Richard Danbury
Cusco & Machu Picchu
918.537 DAN

369s - social sciences (associations)
613s - personal health and safety
796s - athletics and outdoor sports
910s - geography & travel
914s - geography of & travel in Europe
917s - geography of & travel in North America
918s - geography of & travel in South America
919s - geography of & travel in other places

There have been other books besides. The more I read over things the better the ideas become and it helps with the elimination process. I mean, it's hard to think otherwise, trying to weigh something up before even getting there. I'd hate for so much emphasis to be put on something only to find it was way out of my league or a complete cake walk.

If you know of any other really good books, let me know. At the moment I'm hunting for decent walking holidays in other parts of the world, incorporating in either history, something on the World Heritage List (could even be the trail/track itself) or an unforgettable journey.