General Books

Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills

The Mountaineers

Amazon Price: $19.77 List Price: $29.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Mountaineers Books Amazon Marketplace: 45 new & used starting at $17.50

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 69 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The Absolute Pinnacle of Mountaineering Information 5 out of 5 stars.
33 of 33 people found this review helpful.

With over 1/2 a million copies sold, Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills truly is "the bible" of safe and efficient climbing. With the book measuring in at over one inch thick, it would be impossible to accurately give it justice in the space provided here. Therefore, I'll hit the highlights. The 6th edition, which I have, is divided up into 6 parts:

-outdoor fundamentals...covers things such as clothing/equipment/land nav/food

-climbing fundamentals...knot tying/rappelling info

-rock climbing...footholds/shoes/leading on rock

-snow, ice, and Alpine climbing...the in's and outs of ice and snow climbs (includes various rescues)

-emergency prevention and response...leading in a crisis situation/first aid

-the mountain enviroment..mountain geology/snow cycles/cloud types (neat pics!!)

The book ends with a nice list of additional reading (like you'd really need to with all the info in this book!). As you can see, there's really one word to describe this book- COMPLETE. So, if you're looking for a mountaineering resource to put on your shelf for when some questions come to mind- GET IT! Also recommend Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff if you have a shoulder problem that interferes with your climbing.

Editorial Review:

This sixth revised edition of the mountaineering classic is an essential reference for novices and experts alike. Chapters are devoted to in-depth discussions of outdoors fundamentals; climbing techniques for rock, snow, and ice; safety procedures and emergency response; geology and weather; and appendices for climb ratings and supplementary reading, among other topics. Detailed sections on navigation, ropes, knots, and protection include drawings, diagrams, and maps. Enjoy the freedom of the hills to the fullest with this thorough guide.

Winterdance: The Fine Madness of Running the Iditarod

Gary Paulsen

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 144 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Very Enjoyable 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This book is outstanding.

Some of it is written in the manner of a tall tale, so I had moments when I doubted the narrator's credibility. But then I thought about it. Who cares! It's funny, heartbreaking, and uplifting. "Fine madness" is the point, after all.

Some people may think this is a stretch, but I see this book as a healthy mixture of Hemingway's prose, Faulkner's yarns, and an enthusiasm for animals

This book is going to stay with me for a long time, and for that reason, I recommend it to a broad range of readers.

You will enjoy this book.

Winter didn't dance for me 2 out of 5 stars.
0 of 7 people found this review helpful.

Very disappointing book. Boring, lots of padding. Poor and repetative story line. Not well written. Couldn't even read it to the end which I'm sad about as I love books and don't give up easily.

Editorial Review:

Fueled by a passion for running dogs, Gary Paulsen entered the Iditarod--the 1150-mile winter sled-dog race between Anchorage and Nome-- in dangerous ignorance and with a fierce determination. Winterdance is his account of this seventeen-day battle against Nature's worst elements and his own frailty.

Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain

Bruce Tremper

Amazon Price: $12.89 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Bruce Tremper Amazon Marketplace: 33 new & used starting at $12.31

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

The best of my avalanche books 5 out of 5 stars.
18 of 18 people found this review helpful.

I own 6 of the most popular books on avalanche safety; this is by far the best. The core information needed to assess avalanche risk is given in some detail but the explanations are presented in "everyday" terms and are quite easy to understand. None-the-less,Tremper never talks down to his readers and the full level of complexity inherent in the subject matter is maintained. This is simply a very well written book by an author who appearantly is able to write well naturally. He would probably do very well writing about any subject.

A great intro to avalanche safety! 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

This book is comprehensive and very thorough. Even though it's the first book I've read on avalanche safety and do not have much experience in winter mountain travel I found this book very easy to read and comprehend. Some parts are repetitive and I wish I could skip them but I'm afraid I might miss an important point. The last chapter on human mentality is very insightful and perhaps it sets this book apart from others.

Editorial Review:

114060 Features: Equip yourself with the knowledge of what to do in case of a backcountry avalanche with this handy and helpful resource Put your trust in Bruce Tremper's knowledge; Tremper is the director of the Forest Service Utah Avalanche Center; all chapters have been edited by peer experts Specifications: Pages: 304 Edition: 2nd Jacket: paperback ISBN-13: 9781594850844 Publisher: The Mountaineers Books

The Code: The Unwritten Rules Of Fighting And Retaliation In The Nhl

Ross Bernstein

Amazon Price: $15.61 List Price: $22.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Triumph Books (IL) Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $11.49

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Subjects -> Sports -> Coaching -> Hockey
Subjects -> Sports -> Hockey -> General
Subjects -> Sports -> Hockey -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 18 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Unbelieveable factual errors 1 out of 5 stars.
3 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I read nearly every hockey book that comes out, and never write reviews, until now. I was so frustrated, I had to put it down after about 16 pages. Did anybody bother to fact-check this book? First, the Richard riot did not occur during the season after Richard's suspension, but very shortly afterwards. Second, and most aggravating, nobody ever serves a game misconduct in the penalty box. You're kicked out of the game; that's why they call it a game misconduct. So how can someone come out of the penalty box after serving a game misconduct? In addition to the fact this guy doesn't understand hockey and the failure to check facts, it's almost as if he simply turned on his tape recorder, got the same quote from lots of different guys, and sent it in. The only thing that keeps me from calling it the worst hockey book I ever read isthe fact that I couldn't finish it, it was too aggravating. If you want a GOOD book on fighting in hockey, I recommend Ultimate Bad Boys by Stan Fischler.

Editorial Review:

Ice hockey has always been a sport steeped in a culture of violence, and players universally calibrate the level of physical contact by adhering to unwritten rules known simply as "the code". "The Code" picks up where the rule book leaves off and fills in the gaps, all in an effort to govern the game and its players - allowing them to complete in a manner deemed fair and respectable. To fully understand the significance and history behind "the code", Bernstein interviewed more than 50 past and present players and coaches. Their insights and stories explain why fighting is allowed, and how players police themselves on and off the ice.

Two Planks and a Passion: The Dramatic History of Skiing

Roland Huntford

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Editorial Review:

Predating the wheel, the ski has played an important role in our history. This is brilliantly brought to life in this engaging book. Roland Huntford's brilliant history begins 20,000 years ago in the last ice age on the icy tundra of an unformed earth. Man is a traveling animal, and on these icy slopes skiing began as a means of survival.That it has developed into the leisure and sporting pursuit of choice by so much of the globe bears testament to its elemental appeal. In polar exploration, it has changed the course of history. Elsewhere, in war and peace, it has done so too. The origins of skiing are bound up with the emergence of modern man and the world we live in today.

Conditioning for Skating : Off-Ice Techniques for On-Ice Performance

Carl Poe

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Must have books for competitive skaters in differnt levels 5 out of 5 stars.
9 of 9 people found this review helpful.

This is a wonderful book that provides both in-depth analysis of why off ice training is critical to a successful skater and step by step off ice strength and conditioning manual. It totally changed my view of ice skating. It helps my daughter to train smarter. Highly recommend.

Editorial Review:

To be the best on the rink, skaters must spend endless hours strengthening and conditioning their bodies off the ice to build strength for the rigors of their performances. Illustrative and technical, yet user-friendly, Conditioning for Figure Skating provides detailed coverage of the physical preparation necessary for Preliminary through Senior-Elite skaters while concentrating on all disciplines of figure skating, including singles, pairs, and ice dance. More than 300 photos illustrate proper warm-up drills, flexibility stretches, cooldown routines, strength training exercises, jump and plyometric training programs, and endurance conditioning exercises for on-ice injury prevention. A periodization plan also helps skaters maximize their training potential.

The Essential Wilderness Navigator: How to Find Your Way in the Great Outdoors, Second Edition

David Seidman, Paul Cleveland

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Essential to using a compass 5 out of 5 stars.
12 of 12 people found this review helpful.

I have been using a compass for many years but I always thought there was much more than I knew. I went to using GPS for all my navigation a few years ago. I purchased 3 books on compass usage a couple years ago after my wife and I broke my GPS during a snowstorm in the mountains of Colorado leaving us in a bad mess.
I quickly ran through the other 2, and although they were good they were not as complete as this one. I have carried it with me for 2 years now. I find that what I think I have learned is easily wrong when out in the field so I now carry it with me and practice the stuff I am unsure of. Some people think this book is wordy but I find it fascinating. I reread certain chapters over and over, finding I have glossed over something that is more important than I originally thought.
If you want to trust a compass this is the book for you, but plan on spending some time with it.
I am buying this book for my son-in law as he relies exclusively on a GPS.
I guess the only thing I disagree with is a statement that a compass almost never breaks, as I have several that have been retired over breakage. I carry 2-3 with me now as I guess I'm not disposed to trust any one navigational instrument.

Editorial Review:

Now with full-color topographic maps and featuring the latest on electronic navigation, The Essential Wilderness Navigator is the clearest and most up-to-date route-finding primer available. Providing readers with exercises for developing a directional ‘sixth sense,’ tips on mastering the art of map- and compass-reading, and comprehensive updates on a range of technological advances, this perennially popular guide is more indispensable than ever.

Hockey Tough

Saul L. Miller

Amazon Price: $13.57 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Human Kinetics Publishers Amazon Marketplace: 31 new & used starting at $7.30

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

If you play or coach, this is the book for you 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

Wow, what a great book. I've played hockey all my life and now I coach my son's team and I only wish I had found this book sooner. It's full of info on how to be a better player and a better coach. It's very straightforward and easy to read and gets at the heart of what it takes to be a mentally strong player. The exercises deal with visualization, focus, breathing, relaxation, and setting goals. They're easy, quick, and you notice a difference right away.

If you're either a player or a coach you should definitely check this book out.

Editorial Review:

No hockey player can reach his full potential without mastering the mental side of the sport. "Hockey Tough" provides players and coaches proven methods for mastering the mental side of the game. Author Saul Miller shares the psychological training and emotional management techniques he has successfully taught individual hockey players and teams for over 20 years. This volume presents mental exercises and assignments to help players: develop a winning attitude on and off the ice; stay focused to execute skills and tactics; maintain the mental stamina required in this physically demanding sport; overcome emotional fatigue and physical aches and pains to perform at the highest level throughout the season; manage their anger to avoid costly penalties in crucial game situations; and develop the discipline and tenacity to force and capitalize on opponents' mistakes.

Mush! Revised: A Beginner's Manual of Sled Dog Training

Amazon Price: $19.55 List Price: $19.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Barkleigh Productions Amazon Marketplace: 5 new & used starting at $19.55

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Subjects -> Home & Garden -> Animal Care & Pets -> Dogs -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The complete book of Sled Dog Racing, MUSH! is more thorough and reliable than any other source of mushing wisdom. MUSH! is indispensable to anyone who is thinking about this exciting sport. Starting with basic considerations such as buying dogs and equipment, MUSH! leads the reader through every consideration. Training, riding, traveling, race strategy, and more are discussed and illustrated. The reader is presented with step-by-step assistance and clearly drawn plans. MUSH! is tailored to sled doggers of all levels of interest and experience. The beginner will appreciate the clear cut instructions for assembling his own equipment. The old pros will find its encyclopedic format of great and lasting value. MUSH! will help you understand what it takes to be successful in sled dogging, and is designed to give the reader a book for quick reference. Mistakes will be avoided and success will come sooner. MUSH! could be that necessary link between the desire and the trophy. MUSH! is the result of years of hard work by generations of people devoted to sled dog sports. The SIERRA NEVADA DOG DRIVERS Inc., a group of California mushers, first published some of this material in booklet form as an aid to beginners. The demand for this first effort prompted them to produce a book that would answer all questions. SNDD lifetime member, Bella Levorsen, worked with club members and mushing greats to produce the first three editions of MUSH! Recently, Charlene G. LaBelle, also a lifetime member of SNDD, worked with club members to update MUSH! to this current volume. SNDD members, the Internet and her own personal experiences as a dog driver, plus her love for this sport, all went into this latest effort.

Surviving Cold Weather: Simply Survival (Greg Davenport's Books for the Wilderness)

Gregory J. Davenport

Amazon Price: $10.17 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: STACKPOLE BOOKS - Model: 811726355 Amazon Marketplace: 30 new & used starting at $8.95

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Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> Walking
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Subjects -> Health, Mind & Body -> Exercise & Fitness -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Very Cool Book 5 out of 5 stars.
16 of 25 people found this review helpful.

Anyone who works or plays in the winter should read this book. As an avid outdoor sportsman, I found it to be very comprehensive and well organized. The illustrations and photos are great. I intend on buying the other books in the series.

Detailed info for the prepared - or unprepared - adventurer 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful.

The best part about this survival guide is Davenport's descriptions of "improvised" items. Most people don't plan to be in a survival situation in freezing temperatures, and may not have the proper equipment. He teaches you how to use survival items you have purchased and may have with you (such as an avalanche beacon or a signal flare), but also what to do in a situtation in which you don't have what you need (improvising snowshoes, stick and shadow compass, etc). The section on constructing emergency shelters gave detailed instructions for many options depending on what resources are available - trees, ice, and/or deep snow. He even provides pictures as proof of his methods. The information on how to obtain food, especially berries, and how to navigate without a map or compass was also extremely helpful. The only disappointing thing for me in this book was the information on animals. Many of the descriptions seemed cut-and-pasted, with really no specific tips on how to avoid polar bear attacks versus brown bears versus pumas.

I bought this book because I live in Alaska and was hoping to learn something that would keep me from becoming one of the many people that do not survive in the wilderness out here because they are unprepared! I bring it with me when I go backpacking or camping, because you never know. I recommend reading this book if you spend time outdoors in cold weather, whether you put yourself in risky situations or not. You'll learn not only how to be prepared but how to stay alive if you are lost or find yourself without adequate transportation, food, or shelter.

Editorial Review:

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