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 when I went to the Basic Non-commission Officer Course. One of the things instructors told us was that as a Non-commission Officer (NCO). It was not our job to know everything. But it was our job to know where to find the information. We would have a milk crate of Army Regulations (ARs), Field Manuals (FM), and Technical Manuals (TMs), to reference to find answers to all the different things that we must know as NCOs.

This dates me, but I remember when my sergeant carried a map bag with field manuals to the field. When we had some dead time, the sergeant would conduct hip-pocket training. He would read or reference the manual for the tasks, conditions, and standards we were training on.

If you have been in the Boy Scouts. You might remember that you had a handbook. Everything you needed to know about being a Scout and learning Scout skills. Such as first aid, knots, or packing for that first camping trip were in that book. There was also a Troop Librarian who maintained the Troop Merit Badge Library. The Merit Badge books introduced Scouts to all types of subjects that they could explore. 

You should have your own outdoor reference library, no matter your outdoor passion. I will share what is in my library and how I use it. Oh, by the way, it doesn't have to cost a fortune.

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 consists of maps and trail guides, which I treasure the most. Because my time is limited to going on an outdoor adventure, I take that journey, perhaps weeks or months before I leave the house. I live the adventure by pouring over my maps, seeing in my mind what the author has described in the trail guide or what the landscape might be from the topography on the map.

There used to be a time when you could go to your favorite outdoor outfitter or surveyor's shop to purchase paper USGS. With the internet, those days are gone. You can still find maps and guidebooks of the most popular trails and parks at your nearest outfitter or bookstore.

This is a section that you should be careful with for a few reasons. I live in a state that has one of the most popular National Parks in the nation. Also, the state has about 1.7 million acres of National Forest. I only have a 3 map set that covers the National Park and one National Forest map. The National Park and the trail guide cover the more popular hikes in the park. I also have a couple of maps and guidebooks that cover the National Forest. 

So start local or a place you might visit often because paper maps and guidebooks can cost a bit. Plus, over the years they will become outdated. Trails and trail resources change over time. Due to many factors. Such as natural disasters (wildfire), property easements (pipeline), and economics (maintenance backlog). Also if the map & guidebook have phone numbers or addresses to a Ranger Office they too might have changed over time.    

Just because your map or trail guide is obsolete does not mean you should throw it out! Overlay notes on your map. When I find something that was not shown on the map or was not in the guidebook. Such notes might be a spring that was not shown or a reroute of the trail made in recent years.

Guides and Manuals:

Learn by reading and then doing.

My Guides and Manual collection in my library is the largest section. The books in this section are how-to-do books. Such as bicycle maintenance manuals. Dutch oven cooking books, and survival and outdoor skills books. 

While you can find how to do about anything online. There are times that you want to just read how to do something. Look at the pictures or illustrations to figure out how to do something. If I am working on a bicycle and it is a task that I don't do often or it has been years since the last time I did it. I will often quickly look at that section of the manual to refresh myself on that task. Not taking 10 minutes to read up on something could cost me money, time, or both.


Stories that inspire:

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

Definitely the smallest section of my library but it is the one section that I am working on expanding. Amazing photography and epic stories about people feeding their sense of adventure. Even stories about what we are losing in our natural world. These are the stories that inspire us to get out there and do our own thing.

I guess in some way we live vicariously through the photographs and stories of others. Perhaps it's a trek in a far-off land, a paddle down a famous river. Overlanding to remote campsites and villages that let us explore from our favorite chairs. But those are the types of stories that inspire us to take our own adventures, and journeys and make our own stories.

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:

Today with the internet at our fingertips, you can find the answer to anything you want to know about. Whether it is a step-by-step tutorial or a how-to video. While I might start off planning for my next trip by starting with a trail book. Searching for the route on my map. I also use digital resources to help with that planning.

My digital library is made up of bookmarks to trail resources. Blogs or trip reports help with some of the details that could be missing from the resources that I have on hand. But be careful and understand what someone posted online. The information might not be the same route that you want to take on your trip. I have used GPX files that I thought were the route I wanted to take only to find out I only had part of the route.

Like some of the hard-copy magazines, you see in the pictures in this post. You can read some of them online or buy a PDF copy if that is your thing. Some of the PDFs have high-quality photography and amazing stories.

I have no connection to the following publications or get anything from them. But I want to share these great publications.

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 and using your outdoor reference library this way, you not only enhance your knowledge and skills but also deepen your connection to the outdoors and inspire others around you. 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.