For a generation the Basic Essentials series has been as much a part of the outdoors experience as backpacks and hiking boots. Information-packed tools for the novice or handy references for the veteran, these volumes distill years of knowledge into affordable and portable books. Whether you're planning a trip or thumbing for facts in the field, Basic Essentials books tell you what you need to know. Discover techniques for building a fire with and without matches, finding safe sources of water, foraging and trapping for food, building a shelter to survive the elements and signaling for help.