Health & Hygiene

I took a refresher course on Wilderness First Aid last weekend and we had a brainstorming session in class about how all the things in your backpack can be used for multiple purposes in a first aid incident. We never focus on this in a UL backpacking context when we …

Toe nail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is surprisingly common among long distance hikers and an estimated 10% of the US population suffers from this condition (source: Johns Hopkins Health Information Library.) If your toenails are yellow, brittle, or unusually thick, you may be have a case of toe nail …

Maintaining dental hygiene is just as important when backpacking and camping as it is at home. But the question arises, what’s the best way to practice leave no trace toothbrushing and rinse out the toothpaste in your mouth after your brush? My answer may surprise you. Swallow It! While many …

How can you prevent bug bites without using DEET or other insect repellents, stay cool during day hikes or backpacking trips, and protect your skin from sun burn? Easy – wear long pants, a long sleeve shirt and a hat when you hike. It’s really not as bad as you think. I’ve …

If you’re experiencing a persistent chafing sensation in your groin that won’t go away, you may have jock itch (tinea crusis) a fungal infection  similar to athlete’s foot, common to hikers and backpackers (both male and female) that causes persistent itching, burning, cracking, and scaling of skin in the genital area. Backpackers …

I don’t carry any hand sanitizer on day hikes and backpacking trips. I used to, but it’s pretty pointless when you get right down to it. Yeah, I’d slather Purell on after I filtered stream water or went to the bathroom, or before I ate a meal. But once you leave the trailhead, …

Hikers and backpackers are at increased risk for contracting Lyme Disease. This is something I’ve written about extensively on SectionHiker and is worth reiterating at the beginning of each hiking season. Revised numbers from the CDC (US Centers for Disease Control) reflect that they have been under-reporting Lyme disease. Instead …

An editor at Backpacker Magazine contacted me recently to ask how I control body odor when I’m day hiking or backpacking. It’s actually a good question, especially if you’re out hiking with a new “partner” who hasn’t been near you for days at a time. Do You Wear Deodorant when …

Do you snore on backpacking or camping trips? Does it disturb the people you’re with or others who share the same campsite with you? If so, you need to take responsibility for your ‘condition’ and reduce its impact on others. Here are some camping etiquette guidelines for backpackers and campers …

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 …

The most important thing you can bring on a hike is knowledge. Scenario You and a buddy are hiking through the woods and you come across another hiker who’s lying on his back below a huge boulder and moaning. What should you do? Backcountry Medical Assistance You have a couple …

HikeGoo has proven to be highly effective in preventing blisters and calluses for hikers using a wax-based lubricant that prevents blisters and protects your feet from moisture. Rick and Carl, the founders of Foot Kinetics, developed HikeGoo after trying almost every other blister prevention product available. Scientists by training and …

I took part in a rescue effort last week on Mt Washington, trying to revive a man who collapsed on the Tuckerman Ravine Trail, we believe from a heart attack. There were about a dozen of us altogether, performing CPR and assisted breathing for nearly 2 hours until Gorham EMS …

My wife and I took a five hour First Aid/CPR/AED class from the Red Cross last weekend on our 21st wedding anniversary. That might seem like a funny day to take a First Aid Class but it makes all then sense in the world. You get to do something together on the day …