2020 Archive

A blister can turn the greatest hike into a nightmare. Blisters are the most common foot ailment suffered while hiking. Even a short hike can seem like an eternity if a blister has formed on your foot. Blisters develop anywhere on the foot or body where there is irritating friction. Shoes, clothing and skin rubbing against skin creates friction. Sweating skin is more prone to blisters than dry skin. It is better to prevent blisters than it is to treat blisters once they devel

If you’ve spent any time in the woods, you’ve probably made some epic backcountry blunders. We certainly have. In fact, the only reason we’re able to give any “clever” hiking advice is because of all the laughably bad mistakes we’ve made over the years. At one point or another we’ve fallen victim to every one of the blunders listed below (and then some!). We’ve made every backpacking mistake in the books, but we’ve learned our lessons and we keep coming back for more. Because

Learn how to treat the most common wilderness maladies with our guide to dealing with everything from bellyaches to broken bones. In the backcountry, anything can go wrong at any time. Unfortunately, “anything” is hard to prepare for. We dug into the numbers from the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) database of medical incidents to figure out what you really need to worry about out there. Here’s how to save your trip—and maybe even your life.   Strains & Sprains Stra

We’ve all felt it. That moment when you look toward the horizon, only to see some dark, ominous clouds heading your way. Rain. As much as you don’t want it to dampen your plans (pun intended), you’ve mentally prepared yourself for a soggy hike into camp, putting up a wet tent, and wishing you were back in the comfort of your own home. We can’t stop the rain, but over the years of working outdoors in Alaska, we sure have found some ways to be better prepared for it. Here are a

Lately, whenever I go hiking I always find myself grabbing my trekking poles, regardless of whether I am hiking 1 mile or 20 miles. It doesn't matter if I am ascending one hundred feet or descending several thousand, they have become an essential part of my outdoor gear I never leave home without. They are simply a part of my kit nowadays, ready at a moments notice, and I don't see leaving them behind anytime soon. That being said, here are some pros and cons for you to consi

This week I want to discuss LNT (Leave No Trace) Ethics, and ways to minimize your impact on the trail.   Outdoor sports enthusiasts are typically been very environmentally-aware. However, everyone can always learn some new tricks. Minimizing our impact on the trails ensures that the trails will maintain their character and beauty for other users to enjoy, and nature will continue to flourish. A few thoughtful steps will help you keep your trail impact to a minimum.   Keep it

Cotton has large spaces between the fibers, that holds water and acts much like a sponge. It takes hours to dry, and in humid environments, drying times increase significantly. This water (sweat) carried by the cotton is not only heavy, it is dangerous and can cause mutliple problems.   In the Summer the wet clothing will cause your body to stop cooling itself. This will eventually lead to Heat Exhaustion and eventuall to Heat Stroke if not remedied. Heat Stroke can cause per

During the 2020 Pandenmic, many of us have found it very difficult to get our excercise. Combine that with boredom eating, and like me, I am almost sure everyone has added on a few pounds.   So, how do we keep fit and keep up our stamin without the benefits of gym equipment or trails to hike on? Well luckily, Backpacker Magazine has figured out a sure fire way to make sure you are fit and ready to hit the trails again.   Take a look at the article, and make sure you book mark

The past week has been a bit of a relief as parks and trails start to reopen! Some such areas are;   The Bruce Trail The Bruce Trail is now over 90% open, excluding the stretch of trail in Bruce Penninsula National Park. The park is not yet open to over night and therefore, that section of the Bruce is much too long to hike in one day, therefore, it is not yet open. But, get out there, and hike the remaining 840kms any time you feel. Bruce Trail is asking that you maintain ph