Outdoor Personal Reference Library- From Field Manuals to Stories of Adventure

" These beautiful days must enrich all my life. They do not exist as mere pictures- maps hung upon the walls of memory- but they saturate themselves into every part of my body and live always."

~ John Muir

Years ago, during my time at the Basic Non-Commissioned Officer Course (BNCOC), one key piece of advice stood out from the instructors: As a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), it wasn’t our responsibility to know everything, but it was our duty to know where to find the answers. We were equipped with a milk crate full of Army Regulations (ARs), Field Manuals (FMs), and Technical Manuals (TMs) to reference for any questions that came up in our roles.

This may date me, but I vividly recall when my sergeant would carry a map bag filled with field manuals during training. When we had downtime, he would conduct impromptu “hip-pocket training” where he’d pull out a manual to review the tasks, conditions, and standards for the skills we were working on.

If you’ve ever been in the Boy Scouts, you might remember having a handbook that contained everything you needed to know about scouting—first aid, knot-tying, or what to pack for your first camping trip. There was also a Troop Librarian who maintained the Merit Badge Library, which offered resources on a wide range of subjects to explore.

Whether you’re into hiking, camping, or other outdoor activities, having a personal reference library is just as important. It doesn’t have to be expensive, and I’ll share what’s in my own library and how I use it.

A solid reference library can be the difference between being well-prepared and feeling uncertain when you’re out in the wild. Build your collection, use it often, and enjoy the sense of confidence and preparedness it brings to your outdoor experiences.

My library consists of four core parts.

    1. Maps and Trail Guides

•    Purpose: Provide essential information on terrain, trails, and navigation.
•    Tips for Use:
• Keep a variety of maps, including topographic, regional, and trail-specific maps.
• Consider using apps that allow you to download maps for offline use.
• Regularly update your maps to reflect any changes in trails or access points.

    2. Guides and Manuals

•    Purpose: Offer detailed instructions on skills, safety, and techniques.
•    Tips for Use:
• Organize your guides by skill level or topic (e.g., first aid, navigation, survival).
• Create a study plan to familiarize yourself with key sections, perhaps reviewing a different weekly manual.
• Practice skills in the field based on what you read, turning theory into practice.

    3. Stories that Inspire

•    Purpose: Motivate and connect you to the outdoor community and ethos.
•    Tips for Use:
• Include a mix of adventure narratives, biographies of explorers, and environmental literature.
• Share inspiring stories with fellow outdoor enthusiasts to spark discussions or plan new adventures.
• Reflect on what you read by journaling your own outdoor experiences and aspirations.

    4. Digital Resources

•    Purpose: Access a wealth of information and community support at your fingertips.
•    Tips for Use:
• Subscribe to reputable outdoor blogs, podcasts, and YouTube channels.
• Join online forums or social media groups focused on outdoor skills and adventures.
• Use apps for weather updates, navigation, and safety protocols, ensuring you stay informed on your outings.

Maps and Trail Guides:

Having a good source of maps and trail guides is an excellent starting point for any outdoor adventure.  

The smallest section of my library, but arguably the most cherished, consists of maps and trail guides. Since my time for outdoor adventures is limited, I begin my journey long before I step outside. For weeks or even months before the trip, I immersed myself in the maps, mentally walking the trail as described in the guidebooks, picturing the terrain from the topography of the maps. This mental exploration is part of the adventure itself.

There was once a time when you could easily visit your favorite outdoor outfitter or surveyor’s shop to pick up paper USGS maps. With the rise of the internet, those days are largely behind us. However, you can still find maps and trail guides for popular parks and trails at many outfitters or bookstores.

This section of your library requires careful consideration for a few reasons. I’m fortunate enough to live in a state home to one of the most visited National Parks in the country, along with about 1.7 million acres of National Forest. Despite this, my collection consists of just three maps for the National Park and one for the National Forest. The park’s map and trail guide covers the most well-known hikes, while my forest collection provides a broader view of the area.

When building your map and guidebook collection, I recommend starting local or with places you visit frequently, as paper maps and guidebooks can be pricey. Additionally, they become outdated over time, as trails and resources change. Factors such as natural disasters (like wildfires), land easements (e.g., pipelines), and budget constraints (e.g., maintenance backlogs) can all impact trail conditions. Even contact details, like phone numbers or addresses for ranger stations, can change.

Even if a map or guidebook becomes outdated, don’t toss it out! Instead, use it as a base to add your own notes. For example, if I discover something not marked on a map like a new spring or a trail reroute, I’ll make notes directly on the map. These small updates help preserve the history of the trails while keeping your reference materials relevant for future adventures.

Guides and Manuals:

Learn by reading and then doing.

The largest section of my library is dedicated to guides and manuals—my go-to "how-to" resources. This includes everything from bicycle maintenance manuals to Dutch oven cookbooks, and a wide range of survival and outdoor skill books.

While you can find tutorials for almost anything online these days, sometimes it's nice to step away from the screen and read a book. There’s something about flipping through pages, studying pictures and illustrations, that helps solidify how to perform a task. For example, if I’m working on my bicycle and need to tackle a task I haven’t done in years—or don’t do often—I’ll pull out the manual and refresh myself. Spending just 10 minutes reviewing the right steps can save me time, money, and avoid potential mistakes.

Stories that inspire:

Books and Magazines inspire us to find adventure and tell our own stories.  

The smallest section of my library, though the one I’m currently working on expanding, holds a special place. It's filled with captivating photography and epic stories of people feeding their adventurous spirits. Some of these stories even highlight the things we're losing in the natural world. These narratives inspire us to step outside and create our own stories.

In a way, we live vicariously through the photographs and tales of others. Whether it's a trek across distant lands, a paddle down a famous river, or overlanding to remote campsites and villages, these stories allow us to explore from the comfort of our favorite chairs. But it’s through these stories that we get motivated to embark on our own journeys, write our own chapters, and create adventures that are uniquely ours.

Tips on Expanding Your Inspirational Library

1. Diverse Genres:

• Explore a variety of genres within outdoor literature, such as memoirs, travel writing, nature writing, and environmental essays. This can give you different perspectives and styles of storytelling.
• Look for books that combine adventure with themes of conservation or personal growth, which can be particularly inspiring.

2. Photography Books:

• Invest in high-quality photography books that focus on specific landscapes or outdoor adventures. They can serve as both inspiration and a visual escape.
• Consider creating a collection of your favorite outdoor photographers. Their work can motivate your own adventures and deepen your connection to nature.

3. Journaling and Reflection:

• After reading a story or article, take some time to journal about how it resonates with you. What ideas or adventures do you want to pursue?
• Keep a list of books and articles that inspired you to take specific trips or try new activities.

4. Online Resources:

• Continue curating your digital library by following blogs and social media accounts that align with your interests. Look for diverse voices and experiences in the outdoor community.
• Consider subscribing to newsletters from your favorite outdoor magazines for regular doses of inspiration.

5. Themed Adventures:

• Plan trips based on the stories you read. If a book describes a particular trail or destination, consider visiting it to create your own narrative.
• Use your library as a resource for themed trips, such as culinary adventures inspired by your cooking books or photography excursions to capture the landscapes you admire.

Digital:

With the internet at our fingertips, there’s no shortage of how-to videos, step-by-step tutorials, and guides available for any outdoor pursuit. While I often start my planning process with a trail book and map, I also rely on digital resources to help shape my trips.

My digital library consists of bookmarked trail resources, blogs, and trip reports that offer extra details that might be missing from my hard-copy guides. But it’s important to be cautious—online information can sometimes be misleading, and it might not match the route you're planning to take. I’ve downloaded GPX files in the past, only to realize they covered just part of the route I was looking for.

Just like the physical magazines you see in this post, many are now available online or as PDFs. Some of these PDFs feature high-quality photography and inspiring stories that add value to your collection.

I have no affiliation with these publications, but I want to share some great ones I’ve found:

Sidetracked Magazine- This is an online and printed magazine. That captures the experiences of adventure travel through personal stories. I like to describe it like NatGeo meets Banff Mountain World Tour in one magazine. These are coffee-table quality. Around $12 plus shipping.

Trailgroove Magazine -This online and PDF magazine. Focuses on accurate outdoor content and relays the actual hiking or backpacking experience. Free online to read or around $5 to download a PDF copy.

Bicycle Traveler - This is non-commercial. A free international magazine devoted to bicycling touring. Download as a PDF


If you want a great place to find books on outdoor subjects. Mountain and wilderness writing. Then head over to the Banff Centre Mountain Book Competition. The Banff Centre is also the place where you will find the outdoor movies from their Banff Mountain Film World Tour.

Building Your Library on a Budget

Thrift Stores & Used Bookshops: You can often find valuable outdoor books for a fraction of the price.

Library Borrowing: Take advantage of local libraries for books and manuals, which can save you money.

Free Online Resources:  Websites, e-books, and PDFs can be found for many outdoor topics.

By curating your outdoor reference library in this way, you not only enhance your knowledge and skills but also deepen your connection to the natural world. Plus, you’ll inspire others around you to get outside and explore. Happy adventuring!

Now It's Your Turn-

If you have any recommendations for books. That would be great to add to an outdoor resource library or an online or PDF magazine. That I  don't have listed, please leave a comment with your recommendation.