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The Books That Built Backcountry Press

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In 2012, after nine years of writing Conifer Country, the book had evolved into my Master’s Thesis at Humboldt State. Based on all the time and energy we had put into this book, my wife Allison and I decided to take the leap and start our own small business. We had options with other publishers but the time seemed right for us to print and distribute the book ourselves. Conifer Country was our first baby and we wanted to keep it around. The book had become a well-refined masterpiece and we were going to take on all aspects of getting it into people’s backpacks.

Currently in their 6th round of printing–with over 12,000 copies sold–Conifers of the Pacific Slope and Conifer Country are the books that built Backcountry Press.

Michael Kauffmann, co-owner of Backcountry Press
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Find a Park and Find Our Books

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Support the non-profits that support the parks

It is almost summer and that means visiting our natural wonders. We wanted to highlight a few of the organizations that  carry our books so that you might consider supporting them this summer.

Find a park, and find our books!

Lassen Association

Over 75 Years of Support
The Lassen Association has been supporting Lassen Volcanic National Park since 1939. Your purchase from the Lassen Association goes to support of the educational,  and interpretive programs at Lassen Volcanic National Park.
LA is a membership-based co-operating association with over 200 members. Membership fees along with revenues from the Lassen  Association Bookstore at the Kohm  Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center and the Loomis Museum support programs and projects at the park which cannot be funded with tax dollars.

Crater Lake Natural History Association

The Crater Lake Natural History Association (CLNHA) is a 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt organization, established for the benefit of Crater Lake National Park and Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve under a memorandum of understanding with the National Park Service. A board of directors governs the operation of bookstores at Crater Lake National Park and Oregon Caves National Monument and Preserve. The board sets policy and authorizes the expenditure of profits back to the park and monument for NPS approved projects that increases the knowledge of the natural history of Crater Lake and Oregon Caves or aides in their interpretation for the benefit of visitors. An Executive Director oversees day-to-day store operations and is responsible for all aspects of CLNHA, including personnel management, sales, ordering, accounting, and product development. The director works in close contact with National Park Service personnel, and is aided by a sales manager and sales clerks who often act as unofficial park interpreters.

Redwood Parks Conservancy

Redwood Parks Conservancy (RPC) is the non-profit partner for your public lands along the North Coast. We were established to foster understanding, enjoyment, and stewardship of your public lands through educational outreach, visitor services, and support of our partners entrusted with the care of these wonderous public lands.

 

Yosemite Conservancy

Thanks to your support, we provide grants to Yosemite National Park based on the highest-priority needs of the park. Your dedication has funded the restoration of the trail to Lower Yosemite Fall, electronic bear-monitoring equipment to keep bears safe, life-changing youth programs and so much more.

Discover Your Northwest

Discover Your Northwest promotes the discovery of Northwest public lands, enriches the experience of visitors, and encourages stewardship of these special places today and for generations to come.

We envision more residents and visitors as active stewards who understand and care for the unique natural and cultural heritage of Northwest public lands.

 

Western National Parks Association

WNPA is a nonprofit education partner of the National Park Service. WNPA supports more than 70 parks across the West, developing products, services, and programs that enrich the visitor experience.

Highlights from 2017

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Welcome to a Brave New Year

Here are a few highlights from the world of Backcountry Press in 2017.
Happy Trails and other adventures in 2018 and thanks for your support.

 

Hiking Humboldt v2 Released
Rees Hughes and Jason Barnes teamed up to create an incredible guidebook to Humboldt County.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wildflowers of the Trinity Alps Released
Ken DeCamp, Julie Kierstead Nelson and Julie Knorr teamed up on this ode to the Klamath Mountains.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Podcast with Ken DeCamp
The author of Wildflowers of the Trinity Alps discusses the history of the new book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Eclipse
On 8.21.2017 a once in a lifetime event occurred, witnessed herein on Oregon’s Ochoco National Forest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Obi Kaufmann’s Favorite Books 2017
Wildflowers of the Trinity Alps makes Obi’s favorites list for the year, thanks Obi!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mapping California’s Rarest Conifer
CNPS and Michael Kauffmann worked to map and inventory yellow-cedar in the Siskiyous.

 

 

 

Small Business Saturday

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Our Story

Michael Kauffmann and Allison Poklemba

Michael Kauffmann and Allison Poklemba started Backcountry Press in 2012 to print and distribute our first book Conifer Country. At the time, we could not secure a publisher who would promise a book as we envisioned: printed in the U.S. with color images on recycled content paper. Print technology had changed enough by then that we decided to do it ourselves. Little did we realize at the time that this one book would mean the beginning of our small family business.

Since then, we have published eight books (with more on the way!), sold over 15,000 copies (thank you!), and received numerous smiles from folks that have taken our books for a hike or drive across the West. Our books can now be found in over 50 independent book stores across California, Oregon, and Washington. For all this and more we are thankful.

We hope our books continue to inspire and inform your next adventures. And please continue to share your stories from the field with us—they make this adventure in independent publishing so worth it!

In honor of Small Business Saturday, we thank you for your support!


Michael and Allison

ORDER ANY 2 ITEMS AND RECEIVE A 5% DISCOUNT,
3 OR MORE FOR 10%
(AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED AT CHECKOUT)

Humboldt Made

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One of our main goals here at Backcountry Press is to work with business partners as close to home as possible. With recent shifts in on demand printing, were able to print both Hiking Humboldt Volume 1 and Volume 2 on recycled paper right here in Eureka at Times Printing.

Times Printing
The friendly staff at Times Printing in Eureka, California.

From their website:

Times Printing has a long and rich history in Humboldt County.  A fourth generation, family owned and operated business, the company has enjoyed serving the region since 1854.

Before being renamed Times Printing in 1939, the company was known as the Times Publishing Company.  Originally the print shop for the area’s first newspaper, the Humboldt Times, Times Publishing Company printed the newspaper and other jobs such as books, business cards and letterhead.  In 1946 Arthur Smith bought Times Printing, thus cutting its ties to the Humboldt Times and becoming an independent company.

Thanks for supporting independent publishing printed in Eureka!

Pre-Order Hiking Humboldt V2

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Order now and get an immediate eBook download, books ship May 1st.

ISBN: 1941624065

Hiking Humboldt Volume 2 by Rees Hughes presents walk descriptions, directions, maps, and photos of familiar favorites, hidden gems, and unexpected adventures.

Volume 2 introduces this region through:

  • Urban walks such as the Arcata Architectural Walk and the Eureka Mural Walk
  • Short hikes along some of Humboldt County’s most picturesque rural roads.
  • Opportunities to explore the Lassics, Horse Mountain or Cannibal Island.
  • Detailed written descriptions, maps, and photos including natural and cultural history notes.
  • Published and printed in Humboldt County, California.
  • 216 pages, full color photos and maps.
Pre-order ended

ORDER HERE

 

Meet the Team

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Backcountry Press is actually more of a micro-business than a small business. However, we thought Small Business Saturday would be a good excuse to share a few details about the people that make our micro-business the special little entity that it is.

We have no employees. Backcountry Press is just a husband and wife team that work with a collection of expert naturalists, botanists, photographers, and cartographers who are passionate about contributing to our understanding of natural history, ecology, and connection with nature. And they are so much more than that…

meet-the-authors

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