Adventure Ready: A Hiker’s Guide to Planning, Training, and Resiliency

TLDR version: This is a reference book that belongs on the shelf of anyone who wants to, or even thinks they might want to in the future, take on the challenge of long distance hiking and backpacking.The first question we ought to ask about any how-to book concerns the writer's qualifications. Authors Katie Gerber and Heather Anderson easily step over that hurdle as both have been there and done that when it comes to backpacking. Not only have they each walked more miles than most of us drive in a year, they have done so under conditions ranging from freezing cold to baking heat, alone and with others. When they talk (or write) about hiking we ought to listen.Both authors are coaches and trainers, and working one on one with them would be a dream for any backpacker who is serious about the pursuit of a long trail. But if we can't get that personal training, this book is the next best thing. Essentially this is a textbook for a graduate-level course on how to make yourself into a much better hiker than you may be now."Adventure Ready" is not a book where you read about somebody else's adventures, although it includes a little bit of that. No, this is a book that tells you how to prepare for your own adventures. There are chapters logically arranged, starting with planning, logistics of resupply, how to select gear, and how to navigate and stay safe. There's good stuff here if you want to push beyond weekend trips and front country campsites. But the strength of the book comes in later chapters where Gerber and Anderson go into preparing your body, performance nutrition focused on long distance hikes, and maybe best of all, the mental preparation that's often neglected by other guides like this. There's even a chapter on fitting yourself back into the "normal" world after a long thru-hike.As a planning resource, "Adventure Ready" proves to be very analytical in its approach to helping the reader take on a long distance trail. It provides some good checklists that opened my eyes a bit. The "Additional Resources" section in the back of the book is small but excellent, with several websites and books I already know of and some more that are new to me. I was especially tickled to see their suggested reading includes Alex Hutchinson's "Endure," which is a favorite of mine.I bought the hard copy print edition, but it's available as an ebook if you prefer. It's a very well laid out and readable book with quality printing, and my quibbles are few and minor, mostly just a difference of opinion on meditation in the section on mental preparation.So who is the audience for this book? I suppose it's people like me whose backpacking trips have begun to lengthen and who want guidance in how to step up their game. As I write this review today, my longest backpacking trip so far is a thru-hike of the Benton MacKaye Trail, just barely 300 miles including a few miles on the AT to get to the start and a few more at the end to get back to the car. Most of my trips are 50 to 80 miles. So if, like me, you're finding that a week at a time on trail has gotten too tame and you want more, but need a high quality source to lean on for help, "Adventure Ready" needs to be one of your first steps on that long trail.

I am not a thru hiker, I am barely a day hiker. I have not overnighted in backcountry since I was a Girl Scout many years ago. But I’ve been intrigued by thru hiking since reading Carol Strayed’s Wild.This book has everything I need to prepare myself for thru hiking before, during and even post hike. I have learned an exceeding amount of information.The book is well written. Both writers have thru hiked the AT, PCT, and CDT many times. Based on the information they impart I believe I can prepare and hike any of these trails ( and more).I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

This book has it all. Any and every aspect of long distance hiking is covered. Not only that, but both authors share their thoughts and experiences. They truly recognize that long distance hikers are not a one size fits all. The various chapters each cover a different topic. They give examples along with pros and cons of different options. This book is truly a necessary addition to any aspiring thru- hiker planning.The book is well thought out and well written. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to gain insight into how to long distance hike

Loved this book and will read it again and reference it many time before, during, and after my thru hike. I feel lesd stressed about my first thru hike and feel like i have real tools to start creating a resilient body and mind. Thanks so much Katie and Heather!