This book is for hikers who find themselves looking to see what's over the next ridge. It's for people who have wondered what it would be like to hike the Grand Canyon, backpack across cirques of alpine scree, live outdoors when the temperature plummets below zero, hike across foreign countries, or embark on the trip of a lifetime -- a thru-hike of a 2,000 mile trail.

Three sections make the information accessible and manageable. Part 1 covers the basics of expedition planning, including scheduling, route selection, and food and gear resupply. Part 2 examines the special gear and skills you need for a variety of situations, including rain, winter, high mountains, deserts, and foreign travel. Part 3 offers a wish-list of destinations with descriptions of hikes in every conceivable type of terrain and ecosystem, from saguaros to sequoias, from cactus to Krummholtz.