General Books - Page 4

Polar Dream: The Heroic Saga of the First Solo Journey by a Woman and Her Dog to the Pole

Helen Thayer

List Price: $12.95 By: Delta Amazon Marketplace: 39 new & used starting at $0.01

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 22 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

I can't believe she did the whole thing! 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I am a big fan of stories of artic adventure, and this is one of the best. In this day of snow mobiles and ATVs, we have a woman at 50 -- author Helen Thayer -- setting out to walk to the magnectic north pole, pulling her own sled and accompanied by an Inuit dog she had only known for a couple of days. On her first day out, she suffers such terrible frostbite of her fingers they become almost useless. (I would have called it quits right there.) Then come polar bears -- one the world's most deadliest creatures. And they keep on coming. Some curious, some life-threatening. But, she continues on her amazing journey, not for fame or fortune, but for scientific information for her program Adventure Classroom. There are some fantastic photos included and very helpful maps. Her writing style is breezy and compelling. It's trimph of the human spirit and the bonding of a dog and companion. What a terrific book.

Editorial Review:

Everyone told her it couldn't be done...especially by a woman.  But in 1988, fifty-year-old Helen Thayer, accompanied only by her black husky Charlie, became the first woman ever to ski solo to the North Pole.  After overcoming her first obstacle--the unrelenting discouragement she received before setting out--she and Charlie braved brutal temperatures, violent storms, treacherous ice floes, marauding polar bears, and eventually, near starvation. Not only a remarkable adventure story, Polar Dream is also a testament to the intense bond of love and trust that develop between an adventurer and her dog.  Whoever said the North Pole was no place for a woman, especially one without a whole team of sled dogs, didn't know Helen and Charlie.

NOLS Winter Camping

Buck Tilton, John Gookin

Amazon Price: $11.96 List Price: $14.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: STACKPOLE BOOKS - Model: 0811731839 Amazon Marketplace: 22 new & used starting at $7.05

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good but could be better. 3 out of 5 stars.
9 of 13 people found this review helpful.

This was a very good book for somebody who is just getting into winter camping. The information is solid and reliable, and it is laid out in a very readable fashion. I have other books by Buck Tilton, and his writing style is always very engaging, Unfortunately, my initial excitement that NOLS (The National Outdoor Leadership School) had finally brought out a guide to winter camping, was dampened by the basic nature of the material. I look to NOLS to challenge and expand my knowledge base, and although I am an experienced winter adventurer, I am hardly an expert. I was also disappointed that what are known as "traditional" winter travel and camping techniques receive almost no mention, except for two scant paragraphs on snowshoes.

As I stated, the book is good, and is a worthy addition to any winter recreation library. But if you are just getting into the activity, I would steer you towards Stephen Gorman's "Winter Camping, 2nd Edition" (1999, Appalachian Mountain Club) as a better guide on how to get into what is referred to by some guides as "the undiscovered season."

Editorial Review:

From the National Outdoor Leadership School, the leader in wilderness education, comes the definitive guide on winter camping--based on the official NOLS curriculum, it's the next best thing to taking a course with a qualified instructor. You'll learn how to layer clothing to stay warm and dry, how to maneuver a pack sled through heavy snow cover, and how to sleep comfortably in conditions of extreme cold. Additionally, sections on avalanche safety and first aid provide essential preparation should disaster strike. Illustrated throughout with detailed line drawings. The National Outdoor Leadership School's official guide to camping in extreme cold includes comprehensive coverage of winter clothing and gear, proven techniques for traveling efficiently and safely across snow and ice, and complete directions for building igloos and many other snow shelters.

Backstage Iditarod

June Price

Amazon Price: $15.25 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Sunhusky Productions Amazon Marketplace: 22 new & used starting at $15.25

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

Editorial Review:

BACKSTAGE IDITAROD is for the fan who wants more than to just watch a team take off from the start line. A collection of stories both new and old, it's a guide for those who yearn to know what it's really like on 4th Avenue; what they would see, hear and touch. It's for those who want to volunteer at Race Headquarters or maybe bid to be an Idita-Rider. It's for the dreamers who wonder what goes on at the musher banquets, both in Anchorage and in Nome. It's for arm chair mushers who simply want to immerse themselves in everything Iditarod. "All (Iditarod books) are interesting, but none focus on an overall view of the activities that go on before, during and after the race to make it happen. None break down the cost of running this race for you. None take you to Iditarod HQ to watch organized chaos as race preparations evolve. None follow the logistics involved in preparing checkpoint drop bags. None agonize over vet checks and deciding a final team. And none put you in the middle of the action at the start line in Anchorage and the restart, wherever it may be." Donna Quante, producer of video "Pretty Sled Dogs" "You're in for a real treat with this book! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and by the time I was finished proofing the pages I had a lump in my throat and was practically wishing for snow on the ground! I'll be going into the '08 race with a whole new understanding of how things work, because June's book truly is the equivalent of a backstage pass to the whole awesome show!" --Helen Hegener, author/publisher/editor and present at some of the initial organizational meetings for the Iditarod when it was still known as "Joe's race".

No-Fall Snowboarding: 7 Easy Steps to Safe and Fun Boarding

Danny Martin

Amazon Price: $15.20 List Price: $16.00 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Fireside Amazon Marketplace: 62 new & used starting at $1.26

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Gain Without Pain

Learning to snowboard can be easy and painless -- with the right instruction. In this groundbreaking book, Danny Martin, the most sought-after snowboarding instructor today, teaches you how to snowboard in just three days -- and without falling. While the American Association of Snowboard Instructors tells its members, "Your students will fall," Danny Martin shows you that there can be gain without pain: he has single-handedly revolutionized the way the sport is taught, and in No-Fall Snowboarding he reveals his techniques.

Firmly grounded in physical fitness and martial arts and designed so everyone -- beginners, skiers, even seasoned snowboarders--can practice at home, No-Fall Snowboarding will teach you how to:

• Learn proper snowboarding techniques long before hitting the mountain

• Create balance with easy, specific body movements

• Find the perfect board, gear, places to board

• Get over bad habits

• Avoid typical twisting motions guaranteed to cause falling

Filled with dozens of stunning photographs by renowned photographer Mark Seliger, No-Fall Snowboarding is the go-to guide for people of all ages and skill levels who want to learn America's fastest growing sport.

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

Carl Poe

Amazon Price: $11.53 List Price: $16.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 41 new & used starting at $7.99

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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.

Ice & Mixed Climbing: Modern Technique (Mountaineers Outdoor Expert)

Will Gadd

Amazon Price: $15.61 List Price: $22.95 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Will Gaad Amazon Marketplace: 36 new & used starting at $5.50

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Good material, presentation problematic 3 out of 5 stars.
10 of 11 people found this review helpful.

This is one of the latest guides on ice climbing. It therefore covers the most modern techniques, is up to date with equipment, and has great color photos. Written by Will Gadd it definitely has the flair of an individual author, reads more like a pro's guide than a technical reference. The type of material covered and order is great. However, the editing of this guide is severely lacking. It suffers from incorrect captions, bad figure references, transposed terms (convex vs concave) and complex procedures described in steps that tend to get you lost in confusion rather than clarify.

If you're an already accomplished ice climber, there will be a few "take home" concepts ("tracking"/cycling vertical progression, and his personal take on mix climbing techniques for instance). A beginner will benefit more from this guide (after reading twice to work around the editing problems).

A second edition, edited properly, will be a top-notch guide on this sport.

Editorial Review:

From one of the most prominent names in climbing today, a full-color, comprehensive guide to a sport experiencing a renaissance.

"Mixed climbing is my favorite discipline. It’s the most fun because it has the fewest rules—sort of like professional wrestling compared to boxing." So says Will Gadd, as profiled in Fifty Favorite Climbs. Here the champion ice climber presents the same techniques and veteran wisdom he imparts to those who attend his annual clinics. These include: step-by-step instructions for the swing (ice axe), the kick (footwork), and putting it all together (tracking); how to "read" ice to select your line and follow it safely; and drytool techniques for mixed climbing. Training exercises and inspirational stories complete this seminal guide.

This is the seventh installment in The Mountaineers Outdoor Expert Series

Snowshoe Trails of Tahoe: Best Routes in the Tahoe Sierra

Mike White

Amazon Price: $15.25 List Price: $16.95 By: Wilderness Press Amazon Marketplace: 8 new & used starting at $11.50

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Editorial Review:

Tahoe's trails, mountains, and shores, often crowded with hikers in the summer, transform under a blanket of snow into a serene winter wonderland. Explore Lake Tahoe in its exhilaration inter glory with this guide to 65 trips for snowshoers of all abilities.

This updated second edition contains 20 new adventures, and covers the areas surrounding Lake Tahoe, plus Mt. Rose, Carson Pass, Emerald Bay, Fallen Leaf Lake, Highway 89, and Old Donner Pass Road. Here you'll find

• Detailed trip descriptions, plus topographic maps and directions to trailheads
• At-a-glance trip distance and duration elevation changes, and difficulty ratings
• Routefinding techniques, potential hazards, and tips on equipment
• Warm-up suggestions for each trip -- nearby locations for a hot drink, hearty meal or cozy overnight stay

Snowshoeing Colorado

Claire Walter

Amazon Price: $14.78 List Price: $18.95 Usually ships in 10 to 12 days By: Fulcrum Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 18 new & used starting at $1.87

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

Good Guidebook 5 out of 5 stars.
13 of 14 people found this review helpful.

I own a lot of summer and winter trail guides, and this is one of the best. It's quality and quantity, with dozens of trails all over the state, and also tours, races and even a few tips on cool places to eat and stay. It has maps showing the trailhead locations, but I wish it had topos too. Oh well, you can't have everything--and topos are the only thing missing here.

Excellent! 5 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I picked up this book at the local library, and now I plan to buy it. Claire really knows her topic! My only quibble with the book (2nd edition) is that in a few places she didn't delete information from the 1st edition, but merely superimposed a black box saying "trail closed" or "this restaurant is now closed". This is somewhat bizarre, and might be an editing/production error. In any case, this is a valuable guide that I want on my bookshelf!

Editorial Review:

Now in it's third edition, with new trails and updated maps, Snowshoeing Colorado is the indispensible guidebook every snowshoer needs to find the coolest places for winter's hottest sport.

Whether you're new to Colorado's mountains or have been playing in them for years, this book will send you to the state's most tempting winter trails.

Snowboarding 2009 Calendar

S & A Publishing

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Freeride: Snowboarding 2009 Wall Calendar (Calendar)

bCreative

Amazon Price: $11.19 List Price: $13.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Sellers Publishing Inc Amazon Marketplace: 18 new & used starting at $8.97

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Editorial Review:

Snowboarding isn't simply a way to get down the mountain, it's a way of life. Freeride offers a month-by-month glimpse of what enthusiasts live for - carving up fresh powder, dropping in from the treeline, landing the latest trick. The awe-inspiring photos and phrases will remind you of your last run and inspire your next!