Ultralight Backpacker by Ryel Kestenbaum (2001, Paperback, Illustrated)

This is a very readable and pretty comprehensive starting place for greenhorns, such as myself, who get hooked later in life on hiking but don't want to go through the usual trial and error learning curve associated with just getting started, or in my place, restarted. Fortunately, I'm not really a neophyte, but it has been a long time since I spent a lot of time in the out-of-doors. Perhaps it is a bit overboard for an overnight camping trip, but that really isn't the point of this book anyway. "Light is right" has been a mantra of many industries and so it only makes sense in a hiking application as well. Ryel's writing is very readable and experience based, but does a very creditable job of giving you some options rather than being a radical return to "mother earth" espoused by what some might consider a radical fringe group. However, you can go radically light if you want to based upon the information Ryel gives as a jumping off place. It is a very practical book with very practical guidance and will undoubtedly save me carrying dead weight into the Sierras. My feet will be thanking him I am sure. Since part of my purpose in escaping the "Big City" is the solitude aspect, I find this a helpful guide to get farther out from the more common and accessible areas I have found, and so enjoy a bit more solitude so I can read my books uninterrupted except by the jaybirds, insects, lizards, the occasional fish jumping and all other sorts of wildlife you see when sitting still under a tree or on a rock. Hiking light is right because carrying a book or books that I want to take with are the weight penalties I choose to carry even if it might go against Ryel's advice for being ultralight. The solitude does restore the soul so being prepared to be safe and capable in the quiet places of the world releases you to be free and increases your chances of having every trip a "successful" trip.
Thanks Ryel... good job!

Derek