Chris Townsend is a passionate hillwalker and author of 15 books. Chris was the first person to climb all of the Munros and Tops in a continuous walk involving 1700 miles (2700 km) and 575,000 feet (170,000 m) of ascent over all 517 of the 3000 ft (914 m) Scottish summits listed in Munro's Tables. He was also the first person to walk the length of the Canadian Rockies, a distance of 1600 miles (2500 km). Chris Townsend has also hiked the 2600 mile (4200 km) Pacific Crest Trail, the 3100 mile (5000 km) Continental Divide Trail, Land's End to John o' Groats in the UK (1250 miles, 2000 km), south-north through the Scandinavian mountains (1300 miles, 2100 km), 1000 miles (1600 km) south-north through the Yukon Territory and the 800 mile (1300 km) Arizona Trail.
Books by Chris Townsend
- The Backpackers' Handbook. Third Edition. 2004. Ragged Mountain Press. ISBN 0-07-142320-6
- Encyclopedia of Outdoor & Wilderness Skills: The Ultimate A-Z Guide for The Adventurous. (with Annie Aggens). 2003. Ragged Mountain Press. ISBN 0-07-138406-5
- The Munros and Tops: A Record-setting Walk in the Scottish Highlands. New edition 2003. Mainstream. ISBN 1-84018-727-1
- Crossing Arizona: A Solo Hike Through the Sky Islands and Deserts of the Arizona Trail. 2002. The Countryman Press. ISBN 0-88150-507-2
- Backpacker's Pocket Guide. 2002. Ragged Mountain Press. ISBN 0-07-137024-2
- The Advanced Backpacker: A Handbook for Year-round, Long-distance Hiking. 2001. Ragged Mountain Press. ISBN 0-07-135756-4
- The Munros and Tops Rambler's Guide Isle Of Skye. 2001. Collins. ISBN 0-00-220200-X
- Rambler's Guide Ben Nevis & Glen Coe. 2000. Collins. ISBN 0-00-220115-1
- The Backpacker's Handbook Second Edition. 1997. Ragged Mountain Press
- Classic Hill Walks: Experience 30 Walks in Britain's Wildest Countryside. 1996. Ward Lock. ISBN 0-7063-7474-6
- A Guide to Hillwalking. 1996. Crowood Press. ISBN 1-85223-958-1
- Wilderness Skiing and Winter Camping. 1994. Ragged Mountain Press. ISBN 0-87742-397-0
- Walking the Yukon: A Solo Trek through the Land of Beyond. 1993. Ragged Mountain Press. ISBN 0-87742-420-9
- The Backpacker's Handbook. 1993. Ragged Mountain Press. ISBN 0-87742-357-1
- Long Distance Walks in the Pyrenees. 1991. Crowood Press.
- Adventure Treks Western North America. 1990. Cicerone/Cloudcap. ISBN 1-85223-317-6
- High Summer: Backpacking The Canadian Rockies. 1989. Oxford Illustrated Press. ISBN 0-946609-63-2
- The Great Backpacking Adventure. 1987. Oxford Illustrated Press. ISBN 0-946609-29-2
