An information-packed tool for the novice or handy reference for the veteran. Distills years of knowledge in an affordable and portable book. Readers will discover how to select and use their camping gear effectively; build a fire quickly and efficiently, even in wet weather; use the right cutting tools; cook quick and tasty meals in the outdoors; rig a snug camp with four basic knots and hitches; and use a map and compass to master the basics of backcountry navigation.

BASIC ILLUSTRATED KNOTS FOR THE OUTDOORS (Falcon)Cliff JacobsonA full-color manual for every outdoor enthusiastIn full color, this illustrated how-to book covers the top ten most important knots and hitches, twenty-two variations, and four essential splices and lashings. There are right-handed and left-handed instructions and illustrations for tying each knot, plus tips on buying and maintaining ropes and choosing the correct knot for the task at hand. This guide is easy to follow and small enough to carry outdoors.Cliff Jacobson is an outdoors writer and wilderness canoe guide. He is a retired teacher of environmental science, and the author of more than a dozen successful books on canoeing and camping. He lives in River Falls, Wisconsin.

BASIC ILLUSTRATED COOKING IN THE OUTDOORS (Falcon)Cliff JacobsonA four-color, illustrated handbook for outdoor adventurersAs the Boy Scouts of America will attest, Cliff Jacobson wrote the book on campsite cooking, including how to make food stay edible longer and taste better. This four-color, illustrated book teaches how to prepare great meals for large groups in the outdoors; keep cooked foods hot long enough for second helpings; plan and pack meals for a wilderness expedition; cook in the rain, wind, and snow; obtain safe drinking water; and properly dispose of wastes. The official handbook for the Boy Scouts’ cooking badge!

BASIC ILLUSTRATED CANOE PADDLINGHarry Roberts and Steve Salins guide canoeists in everything they need to know, such as choosing the right paddle, safe launches, basic forward, turning and correction strokes, and working in wind, waves and moving water.

BASIC ILLUSTRATED GUIDESA new series of full-color how-to guides, the BASIC ILLUSTRATED guides are written by experts and aimed for beginners, but even veterans will use these books as basic reference tools. Each book contains comprehensive information for a specific activity, has an affordable price and a portable format, and includes full-color photographs throughout. A great impulse item as well as a gift for all ages and all occasions. BASIC ILLUSTRATED ARCHERYBeth Habeishi and Stephanie Mallory show how to select equipment, safely shoot and retrieve arrows, fine-tune accuracy, increase strength, and enter competitions.

BASIC ILLUSTRATED WEATHER FORECASTINGMichael Hodgson gives detailed lessons in recognizing shifts in weather patterns, understanding why they occur, identifying cloud formations, and mastering basic meteorological concepts.

Richly illustrated and information-packed tools for the novice or handy reference for the veteran, BASIC ILLUSTRATED books distill years of knowledge into affordable and visual guides. Whether you're planning a trip or thumbing for facts in the field, the BASIC ILLUSTRATED series shows you what you need to know.

BASIC ILLUSTRATED MAP AND COMPASSWilderness guide Cliff Jacobson created the map and compass curriculum for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and here he shows easy-to-follow steps on choosing a compass, reading contour lines and other map features, using them in concert with a GPS receiver, plotting a course in the wilderness, navigating at night by the stars, and much more.

BASIC ILLUSTRATED BACKPACKINGExpert hikers Harry Roberts and Russ Schneider take readers step-by-step through planning a trip for each skill level, selecting the proper gear and provisions (including the right boots), how to find you way through wilderness, prepare a good meal, and much more.