The Citizen-Times of Asheville, N.C., profiles a book about backcountry repairs.

The many wonders and uses of duct tape on the trail are extolled in a new pocket-size guidebook, “Don’t Forget the Duct Tape: Tips and Tricks for Repairing Outdoor Gear,” by Kristen Hostetter, published by Mountaineers Books.

Hostetter, a columnist and former gear editor for Backpacker magazine, gives tips on how you can be a self-sufficient outdoor gear repair guru with a bit of duct tape and some other essential items packed away in a first aid kit for your gear.

The book also gives tips on selecting quality gear, preventive care for keeping gear in good working condition and offers a 12-item checklist for a backpacking repair kit in addition to paying homage to the mighty duct tape.

That reminds me, I still haven’t gotten around to adding a bit of duct tape to my hiking poles (my theory is my backpacking gear will last much longer if I limit its exposure to the elements.)