Bush Basics: A Common Sense Guide to Backwoods Adventure

Patricia Morley is professor emerita of English and Canadian studies at
Concordia University, and the author of Kurlek, Margaret Laurence: The
Long Journey Home, and As Though Life Mattered: Leo Kennedy’s Story.

Camping, tripping, and outdoor activities of all kinds have become
increasingly popular. For novices or the careless, ignorance could cost
lives. Bush Basics, by an experienced outdoorsman, has tips for both
casual and veteran adventurers.

Glen Stedham is an active member of several outdoor groups and the
manager of a major British Columbia search-and-rescue organization. The
advice and information he provides are both practical and scientific, as
one sees in chapters devoted to maps, the compass, navigational aids,
and hypothermia. Readers who thought that warmth and dryness were simply
matters of comfort will have their eyes opened to dangers and to their
prevention. As Stedham notes on the cover, “If people were to learn
and practice what is outlined here, teams like [mine] would be much less
busy.”

His style is clear and plain, leavened with personal touches such as
the memory of a hiker with large patches of skin peeled off his feet, or
the very practical reasons for having several pairs of hiking boots.
Topics include bears, insects, fire, and finding one’s way. Coverage
is comprehensive, with detailed advice for all seasons and for many
conditions. Stedham knows his subject thoroughly.

As a guide to outdoor safety and enjoyment, Bush Basics is one of the
best handbooks I’ve read.