First-Aid

I was sidelined a few years ago two enormous heel blisters, the size of quarters, after hiking the Kinsman Mountains in January. I had a pair of worn out liners in my mountaineering boots that should have been replaced and my preventative sock and heel taping system completely failed. Perhaps more troubling is …

“I never felt so helpless,” said a doctor friend of mine as we discussed the mock accident scenarios we practiced during a Wilderness First Aid certification course I took recently. “I’m used to having medical tests, and instruments, and nurses around me when patients come to the Emergency Room. We never …

Leukotape is an very sticky first aid tape that long distance hikers often wear on their feet to prevent blisters. Once you put it on, it will stick for days, even if you get it wet, although it’s easy to pull off when you want to remove it. Leukotape is best used …

While it’s tempting to buy a commercial first aid kit for hiking and backpacking, they’re often overpriced ($30 for Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight and Watertight .7 Medical Kit) incomplete, heavy, and expensive to refill with the tiny packets of medicine that they try to sell you. I’ve found it to …

It’s not a real hike unless there’s mud or blood.  I’m a pretty careful hiker, but I’ve had my share of injuries and boo boos in the backcountry. For example, I burn myself at least one a year by touching cook pots and stoves before they’ve cooled I scratch my …