Who takes a book hiking/camping?

[puredingo]

No books for me, well as far as novels etc go. I know I wouldn't be able to concentrate on it enough to fully appreciate it.

I just take scraps of paper from around the house that I usually can't be bothered or don't have time to read...Super ann statements, hiking kit (or other) instructions, that little bushwalker editorial you get from various outdoor stores.

And once these snippets are read, foomp, into the fire they go...No lugging around War and Peace with me!

[Don R]

Always took a book.
I was stuck at High Moor in the Western Arthurs once for three plus days in a squall (white out everywhere, driving rain, etc) with nothing to read except the labels on my gear ("machine washable" is a bit boring after a while). Almost got stuck on the Five Passes in NZ recently, only one book there when that was finished it was time to shuffle off (dreadful weather). Since then a Kindle is part of my long distance walking setup.

[climberman]

Hmm. I vacillate.

Once, back in the dark ages of the early 1990's, I was camping on the main range in winter with a mate. Before leaving, he said "I'm gunna grab a book, might be handy". I pooh-poohed this idea as a wasteful stupidity, knowing we'd be far too exhausted form the skiing we'd be doing to bother reading at night.

Anyway.

Spent 5 days straight in a tent, maybe getting one run in a day on a day or two. Our stove also packed it in, and we had to eat that old freeze dried food in the silver packs with ice cold lake water (crunchy!). One day the weather was so poor we couldn't even find the water hole.

After four days he took pity and tore the book in half for me.

We both laugh about it now….. him more than me.

[mikethepike]

I spent 2 moths walking in Britain last year and if i had a fault, it was having too many books in the pack but one book which I found in a cafe/2nd hand bookshop in Wales was a paperback copy of Barry Pilton's 'One man and his Bog'. The extra weight was well worth carrying as it surely has to be one of the funniest books you'll ever read! It relates the author's walk on the Pennine Way and his many missadventures as well some original insights into walking. And that from a beginner at the time he commenecd his walk, This guy used to be employed writing comedy scripts for the BBC so you can get the idea. Get yourself a second hand copy from somewhere and you'll be forever thankful you openned this thread and read this post! My own copy is on constant loan to bushwalking companions.

[Happy Pirate]

Who DOESN"T?
15 years ago I once dropped my book from my packing list due to weight. Worst mistake I ever made. Got rained in one day and ended up reading and re-reading the backs of cereal packages.
Always carry more than you expect to read.
In fact I sometimes try to carry something dense that I wouldn't otherwise tackle. 'The Glass Bead Game" by H Hesse, 'Ulysses"by J Joyce. not always a success....

[north-north-west]

Kindle loaded with a lot of things I've always wanted to read but not gotten around to. Just started the collected works of George Elliot. Should keep me going for a trip or three.

[shankspony]

Yep, kindle fan here. Generally. But I like weight-efficiency, so if I know we're lighting a fire every night I like to take a 'real' book, just so I can tear out what I've read and throw the pages on the fire, and my pack gets lighter each day (by perception, clearly, as i'm sure I can't really feel the weight difference in a few pages! However 'perception is reality' so job done). Obviously the book comes from a second-hand sale too (ideally $1 max) because naturally i'm a tight-ars* as well (Yorkshire) and wouldn't want to waste any money. Further to that, I don't like reading rubbish, so the book also has to perform on the quality stakes. Tough gig....but as a slight counter, the odd ketchup/coffee stain is acceptable, and well-thumbed editions also make the cut :0)

[loganator]

Personally I don't. I've regretted it on a few occasions. E.g. Stuck in a blizzard for 2 days solo, or stuffed leg and waiting 3 days solo for a lift. These times would've been perfect. I've taken to downloading a few pdfs onto the phone. I don't count on it as usaully I'm to stuffed to read after hiking all day or have mates around to chat to.

[tassiewxgirl]

My sweetie and I take a Kindle and often read to each other. We also take a a lightweight paperback each for when we don't want what the other one wants (to read). Even pre-Kindle we always took books. It got us through three days tent bound at the Labyrinth-well the exped mattresses didn't hurt either...

[Jayps68]

I always take the same book. A collection of Borges' short stories. 'Labyrinths'

[Johnnie Walker]

I drag along a Pixel C tablet (517 grams). It has my books, magazines (Zino), maps, board games, notepad, diary, music, audio books etc. The only real book I take is a trail guide or visitor guide when available.