On my last two section hikes, I experienced a cramping sensation in my left outer thigh on high mileage days. I attributed this to an electrolyte deficiency and brought along some extra salty items to compensate on my last trip. But the pain got worse and has persisted off trail. I’ve been able to control [...]

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I have a friend who is a high-energy electrical engineer and a whitewater open boater (canoe) that I often run rivers with. I remember one trip when we were on the Fife Brook section of the Deerfield River in Western Massachusetts and a big thunderstorm boiled up. We got off the river and hunkered down [...]

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Picture this. You are forced to wear long pants on a backpacking trip because the black flies are biting, you hate wearing DEET or you are concerned about catching Lyme disease from ticks. The weather is hot and you start to sweat between your thighs. Then they begin rubbing against one another and start to [...]

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Permethrin is a contact pesticide that kills black flies, ticks, and mosquitoes on contact but has no harmful side effects on humans if used properly. It is the active ingredient used in Buzz Off and Insect Shield clothing sold by Ex Officio and kills bugs when they land on your clothing by overloading their nervous [...]

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