A great all-around guide by a top camping expert for campers of any skill level.  Lots of color photos and accessible tips (how to pick a camping spot, stake a tent, build a fire, etc.)

National Geographic

The 58 national parks, arranged alphabetically within each region. Specifics include thematically tailored hikes (e.g., for views or wildlife), tours based on length of stay, and campground and hotel listings.  Highly detailed and beautiful.

Don Philpott & Pam Philpott

This engaging and useful cookbook is more than just recipes.  Coverage includes good food choices, setting up a minimal-impact kitchen, firebuilding and dousing, and fishing.  The suggestions range from simple trail mixes to complex entrees like stuffed trout.

Canoeing 2008

Kayaking 2008

American Canoe Assn.

The teachers of the American Canoe Association truley cover it all, from basic canoe and kayaking nomenclature to useful tips about river currents.  The accompanying DVDs demonstrate the discussed paddling techniques.

Building a Strip Canoe, revised ed.

Gil Gilpatrick

Completely revised, this standard work features eight well-illustrated plans for building canoes using a combination of traditional and new construction methods and materials.  Inclueds materials and tool resources.

Paddle Your Own Canoe

Paddle Your Own Kayak

Gary McGuffin & Joanie McGuffin

These books focus on paddling techiques, including maintaining balance and safety in the full range of currents.  The kayak book also includes a special section on kayak camping.  Excellent for those ready to take basic skills to the next level.

Rick Curtis

A solid general backpacking volume that addresses emergency and "what it" scenarios and factors to consider in planning and executing your trip.  The first-aid section is extensive and especially useful.

Buck Tilton

Colorful, with a graphically driven and accessible approach that covers the full array of topics from gear to where, when, and how to hike and camp. For varying skill levels.

Wilderness Education Assn.

A great all-around introduction to hiking (e.g., footwear, getting fit) but with enough detail to make it useful for hikers at all levels. 

Erik Sherman

Although the illustrations leave something to be desired, this volume still is a good intorduction to a rapidly growing sport that especially appeals to techies and extreme sports fans.

Dan M Hague & Douglas Hunter

Climbers who know the basics and are ready to advance will appreciate this comprehensive training guide.  The DVD demonstrates techniques discussed in this book.

Don Mellor

Designed to be carried on the trail, this will ease beginners into the sport of rock climbing, with step-by-step illustrated tutorials, safety and first-aid tips, and more.

Jim Duff & Peter Gormly

Coauthored by two doctors with over 30 years of mountaineering experience, this excellent and informative little book covers first-aid kit preparation and treatment of every medical condition from bee stings to spinal injuries.

James Kavanaugh & Raymond Leung

The "Pocket Naturalist Guides" are colorful, pocket-sized, laminated, folded guides (3 1/2" x 8 1/4" folded, open to 22" x 8 1/4"), designed to be taken into the wilderness.  The cover most states and wilderness regions, some featuring all wildlife and some much more focused (e.g., butterflies, ducks). 

Lawrence Newcomb

Newcomb's classic field guide has a five-question system for identifying wildflowers as well as flowing shrubs and vines.  Useful for naturalists of all skill levels, expecially in the Northeast & North Central states.  Most drawings are black and white.

David Seidman with Paul Cleveland

Boating magazine editor Seidman does an excellent job explaining map and compass navigation.  This second edition includes full-color topographic maps and a chapter on GPS navigation.