Trail Tested: A Thru-Hiker's Insights Into Hiking and Backpacking

by Justin Lichter

Trail Tested has everything you need to know about hiking and backpacking! Justin Lichter, a.k.a. Trauma, has learned countless tips, skills, and know-how in over 35,000 miles of hiking. Trail Tested is a comprehensive guide about hiking and backpacking with valuable information that you won’t find anywhere else. Whether you’re just starting to hike and camp in the backcountry, head out regularly, or are about to set out on an epic six-month hike, this book is packed with priceless information that’s helpful to experienced ultralight gram-counters and novices alike. Vibrant images from Trauma’s treks will entice all readers to get out and enjoy the backcountry, while other pictures and graphics help them understand why getting the right gear and skills are integral to becoming better hikers. The range of knowledge is expansive, from helping you select the best gear for your treks, including backpacks, sleeping bags, tents, and ultralight shelters. The book explains low-impact camping and hiking, campsite selection, hiking with dogs, navigating the backcountry, winter camping, weather forecasting and thru-hiking. It covers advanced skills, like creating hiking routes, cross-country hiking, fording dangerous rivers and other obstacles, and making a hike into a multi-sport adventure by adding in climbing, white-water rafting or other adventures. Trauma also shares stories from his adventures in the United States and around the world. This book is like no other out there. It’s penned by one of the sport’s most adventurous athletes. Trauma has hiked over 10,000 miles in one year, has hiked the Triple Crown of long-distance hiking twice, and has run from lions and elephants in the African bush. This book is a must read and an essential addition to any hiker’s library!

220 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Justin Lichter grew up about an hour north of New York City and has lived in Santa Barbara, CA, southern VT, Dillon, CO, and is currently living in Truckee, CA. When not hiking, he is a ski patroller and enjoys backcountry skiing, nordic skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, surfing and anything else active. Since 2002, he has hiked over 40,000 miles. In 2002 doing a cross-country map and compass trip through the canyon country of southern Utah, in 2003 hiking from Georgia to Cap Gaspe, Quebec following the Appalachian Trail and International AT, 2004 hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada and then the Pacific Northwest Trail to the Washington coast, 2005 the Continental Divide Trail from Mexico to Canada then continuing on the Great Divide Trail from the Canadian border up into northern Alberta, 11/1/05 to 10/23/06 completing the Eastern Continental Trail (Cap Gaspe, QC to Key West, Florida, incorporating the AT), Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail in under a year, a total of over 10,500 miles, and in 2007 a traverse of the Southern Alps and the South Island of New Zealand. There are many more hikes including in 2009 hiking 1800 miles unsupported through Africa, in 2011 hiking about 2,000 miles across the Himalaya Range, and in 2013 skiing 450 miles through the High Sierras and traversing the Copper Canyon in Mexico. In the winter of 2014/2015 Justin and Shawn completed the first winter traverse of the Pacific Crest Trail.

He is the author of Trail Tested, Ultralight Survival Kit, and Short Stories From Long Trails.