Colin Fletcher is back (at 80 years old!) with a brand new fourth edition of his landmark 1968 book. It was last updated in 1984 � the Iron Age in terms of technological gear. A lot has changed, but the pleasures of walking haven�t. While Ray Jardine stresses efficiency and accomplishment, Fletcher and co-author Rawlins toast comfort and enjoyment. Like all past editions, The Complete Walker IV is astoundingly informative and insanely complete (843 pages, including 62 marvelous ones on the varieties of backpacks). These grey beards not only tell you about gear, they give you its history, and the history of its makers, and the current skinny on their prospects. You feel educated. They consider everything and anything remotely portable, and tell you what else a tool might be used for, where it comes from, and whether it could be improved or left behind. They get you to think about everything too. It�s wonderful to read, sly and humorous as the first edition. We don�t often associate civilization with backpacking, but that�s what Fletcher is trying to do. He�s offering wisdom on how to live on the trail, with the emphasis on live. I use the guide to help me.

-- KK

The Complete Walker IV
Colin Fletcher & Chip Rawlins
2002, 845 pages
$23
Alfred A. Knopf
New York
Amazon