Winter is coming, and here at Chillderness HQ, we’ve been thinking about devoting more time to being in tune with nature. And that’s completely understandable; after all, we’re all living a lifestyle that’s incredibly connected with smartphones, computers, and all sorts of other electronics. Considering this, it’s not a bad idea to pull back from it all from time to time, and actually experience some relaxation.
Why not go camping? That’s always an excellent way to wind down and chill out while bringing out your natural side. And while that means being away from work, social media, and everything else that makes you more stuck to a table and a keyboard; that doesn’t mean that your mind won’t necessarily be engaged. There are plenty of books that you can take with you during camping — some of them contain incredibly useful camping hacks that will provide you with everything you need for an enjoyable and amazing time in the wild.
Bushcraft 101
We’ll start this list off with one of the most valuable books for wilderness survival out there — Bushcraft 101. This is a book that will not only keep you occupied in any downtime that happens during your camping trip — but it will also give you a lot of valuable lessons for wilderness survival, applicable in a variety of different circumstances. Plus, you will learn a lot about being able to enjoy the thrills and untamed beauty that nature offers.
The book was written by one of the biggest survivalists and wilderness enthusiasts in the world, Dave Canterbury. And don’t let this aristocratic-sounding last name fool you; this is a man that can hold his own in any kind of situation!
50 states, 5000 ideas
Next up, we’ve got a book for those more adventurously minded that don’t necessarily know where they want to go, and what they want to do. As you’ll soon see, the marvellous traveling contributors to National Geographic have all the ideas you’ll ever need. The United States is teeming with possibilities for interesting sightseeing — and this book will tell you all about them.
You’ll find plenty of details on travel information and other good-to-knows regarding a US-based vacation. Inside, there are all kinds of information on interesting museums, gorgeous beaches, luxurious and affordable hotels, and beautiful national parks.
Interestingly enough, while this book is quite US-centric, it’s not entirely based around locations in the United States. It actually provides you some nice info on certain Canadian territories and provinces that also have more than enough interesting terrain for exploration.
When you’re out camping, this is a great book for getting some adventurous inspiration. If you’re someone who goes on trips all the time, you can start planning your next one right away! And best of all, this book will be useful wherever you are; it provides you with trip ideas for the entire US, from coast to coast! It also has a lot of imagery that makes the information easy to process, and it keeps you engaged enough to read on.
The New Camp Cookbook
When you’re looking for the best books to bring with you while you’re out camping — it’s not all about finding books that provide inspiration for your adventures. Just as we did with the first book, we’ll use this next one to provide you with some practically useful information; stuff that you can apply to your own camping trip right away!
And considering that, we’d like to recommend that you get yourself a copy of the New Camp Cookbook. Remember — just because you don’t have your high-tech kitchen out here, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t make some delicious meals. Indeed, you’ll learn everything you need to know to make the tastiest possible food using just a campfire. And it’s not all about recipes either — this book will tell you about planning out your food regime in the wild, packing your carry cooler bag with the right stuff, and even creating a small but useful camp pantry.
As for the recipes themselves, they’re as versatile as they are simple; you’ll be able to find something for all three meals right here. If you’re in love with tasty food as much as you are with nature — this will be the perfect book for you.
And if you’re just an amateur when it comes to cooking, don’t worry; even the most gourmet recipes found here are laid out simply enough for pretty much anyone to follow. Plus, the book is stocked with beautiful imagery of all the meals you can make for inspiration!
The Book of Camping and Woodcraft
Our penultimate choice on this list is another excellent wilderness guide; one that does not let you venture out in nature unprepared. And let’s face it, unpreparedness can lead to many unfortunate outcomes in places where technology is nowhere to be seen.
Considering this, once you decide to leave the city’s hustle and bustle behind you and enjoy the serenity and peace brought by nature; you will definitely want to be prepared for any eventuality. And that’s precisely what this guide on camping and woodcraft gives you!
Many people don’t pay nearly enough attention to the basic camping skills that Horace Kephart neatly outlines in this book.
And as you’ll soon see, this is definitely one of the more concise and shorter books found on our list. However, the latest editions of the book definitely contain all of the facts you need to be aware of to survive any situation in the wilderness. From learning how to provide necessary first aid in the wild, to tips about hiking and camping — you will find all you need here!
SAS Survival Handbook
We’ve definitely saved the most interesting choice for last here. John Wiseman, a formal instructor for the Special Air Service elite British units, wrote the ultimate survival handbook for anyone who needs to survive in the wilderness. You won’t get much more practical and better advice when it comes to outdoor adventures, camping, and hiking than this. There are even some generally useful pieces of information, not just regular survival in nature. That’s why we definitely recommend picking up a copy of this, as it’s an interesting read even in urban conditions!
