I have followed Philip Werner’s writing on hiking and backpacking for quite some time. We both came out of the hiking forums years ago, long before Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok were everything. In writing, plenty start, but few keep going for the long haul, and Philip is one of them. You might not recognize his name, but you might have visited Section Hiker to read his advice, reviews, and adventures.
On a few occasions, I may not see eye to eye over reviews, but that comes down to personal preferences (I’ll fight him on the Mountain Of Toilet Paper – in that it’s cool if women want to bring toilet paper, and pack it out. He promotes drip drying and pee rags….as a woman, I’m carrying that sweet roll of double ply and a couple of trash bags.) But I joke about that: hiking is all about preferences, and everyone gets them after enough laps around the woods, mountains, and desert. And this is one of the coolest parts about hiking – that by reading, sharing, and doing, we learn new skills and find what works for each of us.
Philip has a new book out, and while its audience is folks over 60, it applies to everyone, especially if you are starting out hiking or finding the time to get back into it. If you are rusty around the edges or need to buy new gear, you will find helpful advice in his latest tome.
It’s on Amazon in Kindle and paperback. I read it on my phone’s Kindle app, so I could read on the go without remembering anything else. It is on Kindle Unlimited, so if you are a subscriber to that (I have in the past when I want to read), it’s a great option for an affordable read.
So what is in the book?
It covers pretty much every aspect of hiking, especially the parts that can keep us going as our bodies age. As I hit 50, I found that trekking poles and compression socks were my friends. I can attest that something I did not think so highly of when I was 30 is now my life-oh, trekking poles, you keep me going.
His book covers day hiking. By learning the basics and getting one’s body ready, you can apply the same skills to backpacking and have far less risk of injury. That is wise advice. If you have been out of hiking for years, jumping right in with a traditional backpack can lead to more than just aches and pains; it can lead to injury. Better to start with a light pack weight for the day, strengthen one’s body over a few months, and then get back into backpacking, if that is your goal.
I enjoyed reading the book, and while occasionally I might grumble about something (because of personal preferences), I agreed with his thoughts on getting back into hiking safely and without hurting yourself through overeagerness and poor gear choices. Give his new book a chance; you might be on the trail soon, showing off your new skills.
FTC Disclaimer: We received a complimentary copy for potential review. All thoughts are ours.
~Sarah