Dec 20, 2004 By Scripps Howard News Service 3 min read

Got an outdoors enthusiast on your Christmas list? This year, skip the socks and aftershave and try one of these gifts, guaranteed to go over better than last year’s fruitcake. “The Big Open” by Rick Ridgeway. The noted adventure author takes readers on a 275-mile expedition to the Chang Tang, a Central Asian plateau that ranks among the world’s most remote places. Why? To document and photograph herds of chiru, a rare Tibetan antelope nearly decimated by hunters for their luxurious wool. Ridgeway and three companions, including world-famous mountaineer Conrad Anker, pull their gear on foot with the aid of rickshaws. Unfortunately, the gripping narrative is interrupted far too often with particulars of the chiru trade. $26.00 from National Geographic, www.nationalgeographic.com

“98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive” by Cody Lundin. Most survival books of this ilk might as well have been cut and pasted from old Air Force manuals. Not this one. Founder of the Aboriginal Living Skills School in Arizona, Lundin explains – vividly – how the human body can survive days without food and water but can perish within hours if body temperature dips below 98.6 degrees. Though his language can be a bit course (“Dental floss is rip-your-head-off-strong”), Lundin’s tips are insightful and jam-packed with practical advice. $16.95, by Gibbs Smith, www.gibbs-smith.com.

“Zipping My Fly” by Rich Tosches. One of the funniest fishing reads in years, Tosches spins a collection of amusing yarns, from the time a herd of dairy cows drove him into a Wyoming river to “bagging” a 16-pound rainbow trout at an Alaskan fishing lodge. (Unfortunately, the fish was mounted to the lodge owner’s wall at the time.) Reading this book won’t teach you much about fishing, but you’ll have a side-splitting time doing it. $13.95 by Penguin Group, www.penguin.com.

GADGETS

“Magellan Explorists.” The leading name in hand-held GPS technology introduces a new series combining functionality and ease of use. The Explorist 100 ($99) is a good value with three navigational screens, the Explorist 200 ($149) adds North American background maps and more memory, while the Explorist 300 ($199) includes a barometer, altimeter and handy electronic compass. You’ll never get lost again. Thales Navigation, www.magellangps.com

“WalkyDog.” Looking for a way to walk the dog and ride your bike while keeping both hands on the handlebars? Look no further than this gizmo, which connects a shock-absorbing pole from your bike frame to a cord that fastens to your dog’s collar. $39.95 plus shipping and handling, www.walkydogusa.com.

“Backyard Explorer Kit.” Got a budding naturalist in the family? All those leaves strewn around the yard can make for an educational treasure hunt thanks to this identification guide and collection album. More than 100 varieties of trees are featured in color photos. $11.95 from Workman Publishing, www.workman.com.

“Fashion Tackle.” For the woman who has everything, how about earrings made from fishing lures? No joke. Talk about fishing for compliments. $21.99 for seven pair, (760)722-4484 or www.fashiontackle.com.

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