Backpacking: A Woman's Guide

This is a great, concise introduction to the concept of backpacking (for ladies). It's from 1998 but I don't think it's particularly dated, since the basics don't change. (A few things, like price-points for gear, are probably no good... but hey, we have the internet now.) I like the positive, can-do tone of it! Especially the chapter about personal safety, like how ladies hiking MIGHT get murdered but you're much more likely to get murdered in an urban area! Anyway it's a good starting point for me to realize what stuff I already feel competent on and what stuff I need to read more about if I am to become a true Lumberjane.

Also, there is a chapter about backpacking with young kids that I skimmed, because that is not on my agenda, it would probably be pretty useful to people who are thinking about backpacking with little ones.