Skills

Gear School: Crampons

Traverse snow and ice safely with the right set of points.

Injury-Proof Your Legs

Loosen up–and stay pain-free–with resistance stretching.

Protect Your Vision in the Backcountry

Here's how to prevent–and treat–three common backcountry eye problems.

DIY Fall Trail Snacks

Turn fall's harvest into healthy, energy-packed treats.

The Basics of Backcountry Ski Touring

See more–and have more fun–this winter with these gear and technique trips.

The Manual: Deluxe Winter Camping

Don't let frigid temps keep you inside. Here are five tips for deluxe winter camping.

Recipe: Spicy Pad Thai with Chicken and Veggies

For authentic takeout on the trail, try this spicy Pad Thai.

Recipe: Easy Pad Thai

Craving something Asian on your next trek, but don't want to put in a lot of effort? Try this easy Pad Thai.

Cold Comfort: Winter Camping Guide

No crowds, no bugs: Winter camping holds rewards aplenty– once you master the gear and skills required to thrive in frigid climates.

Gear Review: G3 Tonic/Zest Telemark Ski

Great for powder, but still handles the bumps like a pro, these skis are super smooth.

Winter Camping: Recipes & Menu Planner

These recipes are fortified with extra warmth and calories for winter camping.

Winter Camping: Winter Checklist

Get the gear you'll need to stay warm and happy on a winter backpacking trip.

Winter Camping: Safety & Survival

Assess your winter climbing risks with this handy chart.

Winter Camping: Navigation

Learn to figure out where you are (even in a whiteout) and prevent, or stop, a snowy fall.

Winter Camping: Winter Essentials How To...

Learn how to cook, make water, and...go to the bathroom when the backcountry is a winter wonderland.

Winter Camping: Camp & Trail

Learn how to choose between a tent and a snow cave. Plus the best ways to travel in the snow.

Winter Camping: Gear & Clothing

Your complete guide to choosing, fitting, and using essential winter gear.

Winter Camping: Intro

Winter camping requires extra planning and gear. But it's well worth the effort.

BACKPACKER Halloween Special

Heading out into the woods this weekend? Stock up on scary ghost stories and frightening trail tales in our special Halloween section.

Fall Foliage Photo Special

Learn how to take the perfect fall foliage photo with our tutorials and slideshows.

Stay Comfortable in Any Weather: Cold

Staying warm is easier than getting warm: Plan ahead.

Stay Comfortable in Any Weather: Heat

Think like a desert dweller to stay cool and comfortable.

Stay Comfortable in Any Weather: Rain

In the wettest conditions, learn to create and maintain a personal bubble of dry space.

Stay Comfortable in Any Weather: Wind

Read the terrain and use anchors to stay grounded.

America's Scariest Trails: Big Bend's Deadly Past

With more than 200 murders recorded here, it's no wonder the Chisos Mountains are named for ghosts.

Camp Cooking Tips and Tricks

We'll show you how to be the ultimate trail chef in no time with these tips.

Gear: Backcountry Cookware

Just because you're in the backcountry doesn't mean you don't need cookware. Here, some essentials to make you king of trail kitchen.

Drinks For the Trail

From cocktails to coffee, these recipes and tips will keep you quaffed no matter what.

Snacks for the Trail

Need to recharge with something tasty? These savory snacks will do just that.

Dessert Recipes for the Trail

Finish your meal off right with these treats for the trail.

Dinner Recipes for the Trail

Whip up a four start meal with these trail side recipes.

Breakfast Recipes

Start the day right with these out-of-the-ordinary breakfast treats.

BACKPACKER First Aid Center

From splinting a broken leg to duct taping a bloody wound, the BACKPACKER First Aid Center is an invaluable resource for backcountry first aid.

Stay Comfortable in Any Weather

Sunny and 70 is nice, but makes for a mighty short hiking season. Hit the trail all year long by learning how to thrive–not just survive–in wet, cold, hot, and windy conditions. Here are 115 guide-approved tips.

Find the Trout: Scouting a Stream

Learn to read a stream and snag the big fish.

Plot an Off-Trail Route

Try these 10 tips for cross-country travel.

The Boy Scout Quiz Answers & Scoring

How to Start a Fire With Fungus

Chaga, or "tinder fungus" and other natural firestarters abound in the backcountry–you just have to know where to look for them.

How to Lead a Summit Hike

Keep a group of peakbaggers safe with these field-proven tips.

The Manual: How to Explore a Slot Canyon

Explore these redrock mysteries safely with expert tips on gear and technique.

The Boy Scout Quiz

Could you earn a merit badge in wilderness travel? Better ace this test, taken straight from the Scouts' own backpacking manual.

Are You Smarter Than a Boy Scout?

Scoutmasters wrote the book on camping, and built an army of pack-toting teens. But do the troops truly rule when it comes to outdoor skills? We pitted three Scouts against three average readers to find out.

Eat Your Medicine: Natural Pain Relievers

Three pack-friendly snacks that soothe tired, overworked muscles.

Which Water Treatment is for You?

Fast, hassle-free, ultralight,–we explore five different water treatment scenarios and the right system to use.

Reader Tip: Double-Duty Firestarter

All you need is toilet paper and a little olive oil.

Cast a Wild Animal's Track

Take that grizzly print hope with you with this fool-proof technique.

August 2009 Table of Contents

Time-Saving Recipes: Kendall Katwalk Chicken and Dumplings

Scenario: The camp cupboard is bare, but the fridge is full of leftovers. Solution: These tasty dumplings.

Weekend Planner: Work Smarter

A little thought and planning in the office can put you on the trail earlier than everyone else. Get started with this primer from productivity experts.

BACKPACKER's Ultimate Weekend Planner

We guarantee you can triple your trail time this summer. How? Our step-by-step guide solves every challenge–work overload, gear chaos, no partner, family demands–so you can enjoy more of what you live to do every weekend: hike.

The Biggest Loser: Hikers That Get Lost

Search-and-Rescue guru Robert Koester creates a quick profile of the average victim and his behavior.

How to Read a River

When runoff turns a nice stream nasty, use these tips to cross safely.

Master Alpine Starts

Boost your summit chances and beat lightning storms with a smooth early-morning start.

Readers' Choice 2010: Submit Your Favorite Skills Tip

Gear School 2009: Essentials

From sleeping pads to trekking poles, we'll have you good to go in no time.

Gear School 2009: Sleeping Bags

Save your down, seal up tears, and get ready for wet weather with the all-inclusive guide.

Gear School 2009: Tents

Mend a broken pole, fix leaky seams, and get rid of that musty smell.

Gear School 2009: Packs

Learn how to fix snagging zippers, re-waterproof material, deal with frayed fabric, and more.

Editors' Choice 2009: Gibbon Slacklines

Here's a cheap, crazy-fun way to build mountain skills.

Beyond the S'More

Invent your own dessert with these versatile starters from your pantry.

How To: Build a Snow Shelter

Tents are better, but if the time comes, building a snow shelter isn't that hard.

Start Smart: Trip Planning

Here are some simple tips to make trip planning that much easier.

Survive This: Caught in a Blizzard

Use these simple tips to survive the storm.

The Fix: An Ultralight Repair Kit

When you're trying to save weight, repair gear is often the first thing you're tempted to eliminate.

Get An Edge on Knife Safety

A knife expert's guide to blade selection and safety

Snowshoeing 201: 3 Tips for Conquering the Trail

3 tips for conquering hills and steep trails

Hike Forever

Train for the long haul with endurance tips from Climbing: Training for Peak Performance author Clyde Soles.

Skill- Know how to self-arrest

This valuable skill will keep you from sliding around while climbing in winter.

Travel Like a Pro

Master every detail of far-flung adventure–from visas to vaccinations–with these time-tested tips from guides and veteran globetrotters.

February/March 2009 Table of Contents

How to Avoid Avalanches

Hike safely in avalanche terrain

How to Do Everything - Camping

Find water anywhere, make a fire in five minutes, learn secrets for battling mosquitoes, and more.

How to Do Everything - Packing & Planning

We'll show you how to be ready to the the trail in 20 minutes, guaranteed. Now gear up!

ESSENTIAL OUTDOOR SKILLS SPECIAL: How to Do Everything

Want to be a better hiker? Look no further. Our comprehensive guide is packed with the backcountry secrets that separate average campers from true wilderness experts.

America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes - Abrams Falls, Great Smoky Mtns., TN

Drowning in beauty

America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes - Buckskin Gulch, UT

Gambling in the slots

America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes - Huckleberry Mtn., Apgar Range, MT

Fatten griz for winter

America's 10 Most Dangerous Hikes - Muir Snowfield, Mt. Rainier, WA

Where winter strikes year-round

Tell a Great Ghost Story: How to Scare People and Win Friends

Wouldn't it be cool if you could turn your friends into mewling, terrified--I mean, wouldn't it be cool to be able to tell a great ghost story on your next camping trip? Here's how.

The Danger Scale

How we rate risk, using a highly scientific formula

I Will Survive

Flesh-eating bears. Dive-bombing eagles. Can a regular guy escape certain death armed with only the clothes on his back and the skills he learned on TV from Les Stroud, Bear Grylls, and John Rambo?

Never Fear: The Phobias

Use this step-by-step guide to beat 7 common backcountry fears. Plus, ideal hikes for overcoming–or avoiding–the source of your scare.

Never Fear: The Fix

Conquer any fear with this DIY guide to applying a proven treatment plan called cognitive- behavioral therapy. Think of it as training for the mind.

Never Fear: Q&A with Barbara Rothbaum

Never Fear: How to Beat Backcountry Phobias

Don't let groundless phobias ruin–or even prevent–your backcountry adventures. Here's a foolproof plan for overcoming your terrors.

Flex Time: Trail-Specific Stretches

Yosemite National Park wilderness ranger Mark Fincher shares his secrets for staying fit and healthy

Start Smart: Properly Pack a Canoe or Kayak

Follow these guidelines to keep your gear dry, secure, and well balanced in a canoe or kayak.

Danger Signs: Flash Flood

July to mid-September is prime time for heavy rains in the Southwest, where fast-rising water in narrow canyons can turn trickling streams into deadly torrents. Don't get swept away.

Camp Coffee Gear: Make the Perfect Cup

4 backcountry brew gadgets even the snobbiest baristas will love.

Tune Up: Improve Your Balance

Gymnasts can land backflips on balance beams four inches wide. Their secret: training barefoot.

No-Excuses Fitness Training Tips

Having trouble getting motivated? These soldiers toughen you up with their custom can't-quit tips.

Trail Recipes: Portable Pub Grub

We'll show you how to adapt you favorite bar food for the trail: Mushroom-Asiago Veggie Burgers, Spicy Sweet Potato Fries, Hot Spinach & Artichoke Dip, and Toasted Tortilla Chips.

Next Level: Navigate Cross Country

3 key skills for getting off the trail without getting off course

Start Smart: Take Action Photos

Capture fast-paced summer adventures with these image-improving tips.

Reader Tip: Night Rounds

This reader recommends packing hospital scrubs when camping.

Secure a Choice Campsite

You'll need strategy, luck, and a little guile to reserve a spot at the country's most popular parks this summer. Here's how to game the (permit) system.

Trip Doctor: Helping National Parks

Will my vacation to a national park help them?

25 Habits of Highly Effective Hikers

Guarantee yourself a great adventure– every time–by adopting these proven routines for planning and pulling off the perfect trip.

Return of the Survivor: Q&A with Steve Friedman

In this exclusive Q&A, Steve Friedman talks about trying out the techniques of TV's survival show hosts Bear Grylls and Les Stroud in the (real) wild.

The Ultimate "Survive This!" Archive

If you can imagine it, we've seen it-and offered expert analysis. From avalanches to volcanoes, this archive contains step-by-step plans for escaping a slew of mishaps that can befall weary travelers.

Film Your Own Hike, Then Go Behind-the-Scenes

Want to make adventure films? Emmy Award-winning director Michael Brown shows you how. Plus, go behind the scenes as BACKPACKER staffers learn from the masters at Adventure Film School.

Backpacker Survival Poll

What do you pack? What's the most important skill? Let us know in this online poll, and we'll publish your answers in the October issue of Backpacker magazine.

Trail Recipes: Rising Sun Cuisine; Sushi on the Go

4 Japanese meals adapted–and enhanced–for the trail

Next Level: Survive an Emergency Rappel

Learn the Dülfersitz rappel and safely lower yourself off of a steep pitch with only a rope.

See More: Great Blue Herons

This dignified giant stands four feet tall, making it North America's largest heron.

Share and Share Alike?: Top Five Photo Sharing Sites

Your adventure is ready for primetime. Here are 19 ways to reach the audience in your living room–or around the world. Web-based photo sites aren't all created equal. Here are our top 5.

Photos 101: Save and Share Your Photos, Produce a Slideshow, and Print Your Images

Learn how to save your photos, print them, get published, and produce an audio visual slideshow.

Post Your Video Online

Learn how to upload your video to YouTube and tap a social network like Facebook or MySpace to post links to your movie. Your adventure is ready for primetime. Here are 19 ways to reach the audience in your living room–or around the world.

Share Your Trip; Make and Show Off Your Map

Your adventure is ready for primetime. Here are 19 ways to reach the audience in your living room–or around the world.

Share It: All the World's a (Cyber) Stage

Your adventure is ready for primetime. Here are 19 ways to reach the audience in your living room--or around the world.

Start Smart: Shoot Low-Light Photos

Master dawn and dusk photographs with these pro tips.

Slice and Dice: Build Your Own Cutting Board

Follow this reader tip to custom-build your own backcountry cutting board.

The Specialist: Heat Doctor

Stay cool with expert tips for boiler days.

Survive This: Separated From Group

If you get lost from your hiking party, here's how to get found–fast.

Organize Your Gear Essentials

Does your pack's lid pocket resemble a junk drawer? To help you eliminate the mess–and find stuff fast when you need it–we created lightweight, custom systems to store and organize two vital stockpiles: gear repair tools and emergency provisions.

A Glow in the Dark: Starting a Campfire

It's hard to beat a campfire after a long day on the trail. Here's how to enjoy the moment even when conditions are against you.

Danger Signs: Painful Plants

Sure, you know the mantra "leaves of three, let it be." But that warning alone doesn't help you detect those irritating plants that change colors, grow as vines, or mimic harmless species. Heed these tips to keep your summer itch-free.

The Cutting Room: Editing Programs and Storage

Here's how to turn raw data into finished files that will wow your friends and preserve trip memories better than any photo album.

The Cutting Room: Video

Here's how to turn raw data into finished files that will wow your friends and preserve trip memories better than any photo album.

The Cutting Room: Photos

Here's how to turn raw data into finished files that will wow your friends and preserve trip memories better than any photo album.

The Cutting Room: GPS

Here's how to turn raw data into finished files that will wow your friends and preserve trip memories better than any photo album.

Organize It: The Cutting Room

Here's how to turn raw data into finished files that will wow your friends and preserve trip memories better than any photo album.

Field School: Trail-Tested Tech

Take your new tools to the trail to master the skills you'll need to navigate, record, and share your best adventures. The best new digital tools for every budget and skill level.

Field School: Essential Tips

Take your new tools to the trail to master the skills you'll need to navigate, record, and share your best adventures.

Field School: Make a Movie

Take your new tools to the trail to master the skills you'll need to navigate, record, and share your best adventures.

Field School: Capture Classic Images and Record Your Hike

Take your new tools to the trail to master the skills you'll need to navigate, record, and share your best adventures.

Document It: Field School

Take your new tools to the trail to master the skills you'll need to navigate, record, and share your best adventures.

4 Trip-Planning Sites and Top Tech Tools

Every great trip boils down to this: Picking an ideal location, capturing memorable moments, and bragging about it.

New Tools, New Rules: Get Maps and Go

Every great trip boils down to this: Picking an ideal location, capturing memorable moments, and bragging about it.

New Tools, New Rules: Plan the Perfect Trip

Every great trip boils down to this: Picking an ideal location, capturing memorable moments, and bragging about it. Here's how to get started the high-tech way.

Plan It: New Tools, New Rules

Every great trip boils down to this: Picking an ideal location, capturing memorable moments, and bragging about it.

iHike: Hiking in the Digital Age

A Complete Guide to the Digital Revolution–and How to Join It

Keep Your Feet Happy

Long-distance runner Russell Secker feels your foot pain–and he knows how to get rid of it.

Better to the Last Drop

A hiker cannot live on water alone. Next time out, try these coffee, tea, and wine updgrades.

Recipes for the Trail: Fish Feast

4 hook-and-cook dinners just waiting to be caught

Next Level: Prep a Fish for Dinner

Add fresh-caught trout to the menu with these 6 easy steps.

Start Smart: Team Paddling

Improve your speed and efficiency by synchronizing your strokes.

Reader Tips: Big Burn

Need to start a fire fast? Try a flammable cupcake.

Emergency Repair Knots

Duct tape isn't always the best fix for busted gear. When a torn strap or blown seam halts your hike, try these strong and simple ties.

The Specialist: Plan Away Pounds

Shed useless pack weight, not luxuries

Casting Call

Fly-fishing is part meditation, part ultralight technique (catch, don't carry, your dinner), and all fun.

See More: Deer

Learn the difference between elk, white-tails, and mule deer.

Danger Signs: Burn Zones

Here are the top three wildfire dangers and how to avoid them.

Trip Doctor: Best National Park Bus System

Tired of commuting in a car around our national parks? Catch the best backcountry bus.

February 2008 Table of Contents

April 2008 Table of Contents

Tune Up: Protect Your Joints and Build Pivot Power

Get ready for spring with 3 joint-specific routines.

Skills Health: Make Time For Exercise

Full schedule? Here's how to work in working out.

Taste Test: Best of the Bars

What to grab when you need a boost

Free Food! Trailside Edible Plants

Wild parsnip, burdock, and wild carrot grow throughout North America. Learn when and where they're prime for picking.

Recipes for the Trail: Underground Cuisine

3 tasty, filling trailside finds that could save dinner–even your life.

Start Smart: Stay Clean and Healthy

4 strategies to feel and smell better

Survive This: A Plunge into Raging Whitewater

Learn how to battle your way out of a raging river with these tips.

Spring Cleaning Your Gear

We know. You meant to scrub and scour your gear last fall. But...[insert excuse here]. Now, set aside one weekend afternoon to get your gear back into action and promise to be better next year.

Stoves on a Plane

Air travel advice from an FAA expert

The Backcountry Bathroom

Nature calls, even in the wilderness. We've found 5 products that will make your outdoor bathroom runs easy, hygienic, and safe.

Danger Signs: Trail Confusion

Don't want to get lost? Heed this advice on four trail situations that routinely cause problems.

Trip Doctor: Theft-Proofing Your Car

Clear out your car before heading into the woods.

Backpacker Magazine Launches Fully Redesigned Website with New Multimedia and GPS-Supported Content

New features and web-based tools enable Backpacker's passionate online community to share trips, post pictures, and get the latest in gear reviews and adventure news and content.

Your Weeklong Dream Trip

Your Next Big Peak

Your Longest Dayhike Ever

Medicine Man: High-Altitude Kids

Advice on kids and herbs at altitude.

Next Level: The Rest Step

Learn the mountaineer's secret for hiking up steep, high-altitude terrain.

Secrets of the Guides

Camp like a pro with 83 field-tested tips and techniques from experts who earn their paychecks in the backcountry.

What Would Davy Crockett Do?

He'd toss the titanium stove and build a big fire. Our man enrolls in a traditional guide school and learns how to survive - and think - like an American original.

March 2008 Sleeping Bag Review: Start Smart Sleeping Bag Tips

Backpacker Skills Videos

Not quite sure how to fit a pack, measure your torso, calculate your V02 max, patch a sleeping pad, or clean a funkified hydration unit? Watch and learn.

March 2008 Boots Review: Start Smart Boot Tips

33 Top Tips From Trail Pros

Here's how Aron Ralston, Ed Viesturs, Les Stroud, and others get out and back again–and how you can, too.

Welcome to the New Backpacker.com!

With more features, a new look, and the most informative content this side of the trail, the new Backpacker.com is amped up with the best in adventure, gear, travel, skills, and survival on the web.

Leave No Trace Principles

On the trail and at the campsite, there's plenty you can do to leave nature...natural.

Calculate Trouble

Time is of the essence in the backcountry. Learn how long it will take an impending thunderstorm or avalanche to find you.

18 Sudden Threats: The Right and Wrong Responses

Things happen fast in the wilderness. It's important to learn the right and wrong actions beforehand so you can react accordingly.

How to Align Your Compass

Learn how to orient your map with a few basic compass skills

Backpacking Basics

Take these 21 trail tips to heart, and you're virtually guaranteed a good hike.

How to Hang a Bear Bag

Learn the easiest way to hang a bear bag and keep your camping snacks safe from rummaging paws.

Medicine Man: Your Source for Wilderness Survival

Wilderness guru Buck Tilton answers your pressing wilderness medicine and rescuequestions

Homeade First Aid Kit

There are plenty of pre-packaged first aid kits out there but, here are some good ingredients that should go in most kits for most types of hikes. Keep in mind that the longer the hike, or the larger the group, the more safety gear you should bring.

Find a Hiking Partner

Keen on birds, peak bagging, or wildflowers? Here's how to join hikers who share your passions.

How to Choose a Campsite

A NOLS veteran offers tips on balancing comfort, safety, and Leave No Trace principles.

Motivate With a Fitness Challenge

Whether it's a "Birthday Challenge" or a peak that needs climbing, choosing a specific fitness challenge will help you stay motivated to get out more.

How to Survive Getting Lost In a Whiteout

Don't forge ahead when faced with whiteout conditions.

Plan the Perfect Trip

Smart ways to foolproof your next hike.

GPS 201: Using Advanced Navigational Tools

Don't be daunted by a thick owner's manual. Unlocking your unit's advanced navigational tools is easier than you think.

Learn How to Use an Ice Axe

Master these skills to make your axe a tool—not a toy.

Trip Doctor: How Can I Get My Spouse to Go Hiking With Me?

Pretty pictures and promises of a trade might get unenthusiastic spouses out the door.

Backpacker's Readers' Choice Awards 2008

America's 100 Best Hikes–chosen by you.

How to See In the Dark

Expert tips for improving your night vision

PANIC!: How to Survive in the Backcountry

There's a backcountry killer on the loose, and it's not hypothermia, grizzly bears, or rockfall. The thing mostly likely to maim you on your next hiking trip is living inside your head.

Winter Camping: Building a Snow Shelter

Expert tips for a safe, sound night's sleep

Repair Snowshoes in the Field

Follow these tips to fix any snowshoe problem you meet on the trail.

Essential Survival Skills

Guaranteed to get you out of trouble fast.

Ticks: Avoid the enemy

To protect yourself from ticks-and reduce your risk of contracting Lyme disease-follow these steps.

Tick Identification 101

Get to know the ticks that cause Lyme-and those that don't

How To Remove A Tick

Use this quick approach to remove ticks from your body.

Beating Poison Ivy

Learn to recognize, avoid and treat poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac

High-Energy Food: Eat For The Long Haul

Enjoy all-day power by combining these 5 superfoods

Start smart: First Aid For Kids

Teach your youngsters the basics; it could save your life.

Backpacking Recipe: Maple Sweet Grits

A simple twist packs protein into this down-home favorite.

Backpacking Recipe: Spicy Trail Pozole

Stuff yourself with this camp-style version of a traditional Mexican stew.

Backpacking Recipe: Rum and Black Bean Soup

Enjoy this hardy and healthy Mexican soup at home or in camp

Winter Skills: Warm Toes Forever

Keep your feet toasty with these 6 tricks

The Fix: Revive Your Rain Jacket

Don't buy new--just give your rain shell a little TLC

5-Minute Meals: Cups Of Cold-Weather Comfort

Four new recipes for belly-warming campfire drinks

Health Tips: Beat Winter Blues

Fend off a cold-weather slump with these expert strategies.

Dessert Recipes: Beyond The S'More

Make your romantic weekend in the backcountry extra special by inventing your own dessert. Use these versatile starters from your pantry: piecrusts, pudding, and maple syrup.

Dessert Recipes: Sweets For Your Sweet

Sweeten up your next overnight trip with any of these 4 dessert recipes

Backcountry Skiing: Master The Telemark Turn

The tele turn requires careful technique and some practice. Work on these moves at your local slope before venturing onto untracked snow.

Essential National Park Skills: The Ultimate Park Pass

Write your own ticket to new adventures with these 10 territory-expanding skills.

Start Smart: Build The Perfect Campfire

Four steps to a lights-every-time blaze

Leg Exercises: Your Biggest Day Ever

Supercharge your legs with conditioning tips for monster hikes.

Freshen Up: Fruits and Vegetables on the Trail

Liven up camp fare with these 35 natural foods.

Mountaineering Fitness: Climb Like Ed

Got summit fever? The sky's the limit with a fitness plan and climbing tips from world-class mountaineer Ed Viesturs.

Dogs on the Trail: See Spot Hike

Help your backpacking hound carry his weight with these fit-and-wear tips.

How to Ferry A Canoe

An essential paddling tip for turning in fast water

Start Smart: Have Poles, Will Hike Longer

How to get the most out of your trekking poles

Camping Sleep Tips: Rest Assured

Get more and better Z's with these tricks from a sleep expert.

The Fix: Repair Peeling Boots

What to do when your soles come undone.

The Specialist: Climb Better At Altitude

Feel good at 10,000 feet with advice from a Rainier guide.

Fitness: Paddle Power

Conquer any current with these two simple strength conditioning exercises.

Next Level: Scrambling Steep Peaks

Don't let a steep hike keep you from the best views. Put these vital mountaineering tips to use this weekend.

The Specialist: Don't Get Sunburned

A lifeguard's guide to using sunscreen

Foot Fixes: How to Deal with 4 Common Boot Problems

Prevent blisters, hike grit-free, and find arch support in a lightweight boot

Baby On Board: Hiking with Infants

Simple solutions for backpacking with new babies

Conditioning Your Abs: Strong To The Core

Haul hefty loads more easily by strengthening your midsection.

The Fix: How to Reattach A Pack Strap

Repair a busted backpack with this simple sewing technique

The Cure: Beating Sunburn

Hot first aid tips for treating sunburn

8 Weeks to Fitness for Any Hike

No gyms, no weights–and, with our easy-to-follow plan–no bonking on the trail.

The Fix: Boots That Cause Blisters

Don't throw big-ticket boots in the bin when a quick makeover will do the trick.

Liquid Energy: Hydration Tips

Improve your performance with the right drinking strategy

Digital 101: Photography Skills

Learn your camera's capabilities by doing, not reading.

Digital 301: Photography Skills

Push your photos to the next level with these shooting techniques

Outdoor Photography: Anatomy of a Digital Camera

At first glance, digital cameras can be intimidating. Use this guide to take the guesswork out of the features on your camera.

Digital 201: Photography Skills

Add valuable intermediate techniques to your shooting repertoire.

Trail Tips: Outdoor Photography

6 tricks for successful backcountry shooting

Picture Perfect: Photography Tips

Troubleshooting tips for 9 common problems

How to Ford A River

Forget bears and lightning: The most common and dangerous backcountry hazard is a river crossing. Here's how to do it safely.

Night Hiking: A Walk In The Dark

A beginner's guide to after-hours hiking

Trail Cooking: The Low-Impact Kitchen

9 tips for Leave No Trace dining

Post-Hike Massage: Here's The Rub

4 techniques to soothe trail-weary muscles

5-Minute Meals: Pack In The Protein

Add four low-carb recipes to your trail cookbook

Four Top Trail Meals

Testers' favorite backpacking entrees

Start Smart: Hiking Solo

Save your wild, off-trail adventures for a group of backpacking vets

Help Wanted: Outdoor Volunteer Opportunities

How to make a difference outdoors--without swinging a Pulaski

Next Level: Off-Trail Navigation

Use a map, compass, and GPS unit to plot an ambitious route with this beginner's guide to bushwhacking

The Cure: Treating Snow Blindness

Sunburned eyes can throw you to the sidelines for a painful 48 hours. Learn how to prevent and treat this winter threat.

The Winning Bid: Buying Gear on eBay

An online shopping pro shares timesaving advice.

Tune Up: Your First Adventure Race

Get ready for your first race with a fitness plan from a world champ

Leave No Trace: The Low-Impact Hiker

7 strategies for keeping the backcountry pristine

Start Smart: Trip Planning

Forget that get-up-and-go spontaneity--great planning only enhances your experience.

Endurance Tips: Hike Forever

Train for the long haul with endurance tips from Climbing: Training for Peak Performance author Clyde Soles.

Knife Tips: Get An Edge

A knife expert's guide to blade selection and safety.

Snowshoeing 201

3 tips for conquering snowy hills and steep climbs

Finding Hiking Partners

Looking for a suitable trailmate? It can be challenging, but try these tips to find your perfect outdoor buddy.

Survive This: Caught between a Mama Bear and Her Cub

Here's how to get out of the middle when motherly instincts kick in.

Happy Go Wet: Backpacker's Rain Quiz

Can you handle a rainy outing? Take our fun quiz to see how you'd fare under a sky of liquid sunshine.

First Aid: How to Stop A Bleeder

Let our wilderness EMT teach you the best way to treat those gushing cuts and scrapes.

Tips and Tricks for Staying Dry

How to keep your gear--and yourself--dry on your next backpacking adventure.

Save Your Feet: How to Prevent Foot Problems

You think thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail is a long walk?

The Best Recipes: REI/BACKPACKER Camp Cook-off

The best gorp, breakfast, entree, and dessert recipes from our cooking contest: 200 contestants, eight finalists, one culinary king

Walk Faster: Interval Training

Pick up your hiking pace with these fitness tips

The Body Olympic: Fitness and Conditioning Tips

Meet these 6 Olympic hopefuls who will help you perform like a champion outdoors.

Family Camping Tips

Ideas to help make the backcountry family friendly

South Beach Trail Diet

A hiker's guide to low-carb eating

Tight Ain't Right: How to Stretch for Hiking

4 simple stretches to relieve stiff, sore muscles.

Offshore GPS: How to Navigate in the Water

New tools for water navigation: Strap one to your thwart, and you'll never paddle in circles again.

Backpacking Basics

Our 5-step guide to planning, gear, food, fitness, and essential skills

How To Skip Stones

The science behind nature's coolest toy

GPS Basics

What's GPS, how does it work, and will it help you?

The Savvy Shopper

5 questions before you buy new gear.

Burn, Baby, Burn

3 surefire ways to light a reluctant fire

Night Vision

Bats have nothing on this nocturnal hiker.

Trail Stale?

Freshen up stinky clothes with this homemade, portable washing machine.

Repack Your Bag

Sometimes gaining balance is as simple as adjusting the load in your pack.

Survival Starts With A Kiss

Learn the latest survival smarts with this military acronym

Good Gear Gone Bad

It's all fun and games 'til someone gets a tent pole in the eye.

How Pete Stays Dry

3 waterproof secrets from veteran mountaineer Pete Takeda

Get A Spine

No frame, no pain--if you try these simple backpack solutions.

Stone Cold Campers

They kill swiftly and silently. They flit like ghosts through enemy forests. And they will brew you a fine cup of cowboy coffee. Meet America's deadliest hikers as we hump ruck with the Special Forces.

Water Worries

How much H2O do you really need on the trail?

5 Easy Ways to Get Strong and Avoid Injuries

Strong legs, abs, back, and arms make hiking more enjoyable and helps prevent strains and sprains.

Go Light, Not Hungry

The One-Pan Gourmet shows how to eat like a king.

Bone Up With Backpacking

Does backpacking build up your bones?

Under Strain

Is there a maximum weight you can safely haul?

My Crest Is SPF 30

Preventing sunburn is as simple as brushing your teeth.

Ultralight Warmth

Keep arms and legs warm with gear invented by cyclists.

Cap Keeper

Keeping a close eye on those binocular caps.

One Good Thing About Golfing

Who would have thought a piece of golf equipment could be really useful to backpackers?

Winter Fuel Saver

Keep water flowing with this simple technique.

A Speedy Recovery

Sidelined by injury? Get back on the trail fast with this easy treatment plan.

Sticky Pads

How to avoid slipping and sliding in your sleeping bag.

South Is Thata Way

Determine direction without your compass.

Eye Dropper Storage

Carrying around those little extras just got easier with this trick.

That Zesty Taste

Liven up your purified water.

Fetch Me Water

No need to bring along a big, bulky container for your water in camp when you have this great compact suggestion.

A Better Mouse Trap

Rodents can be real pests in campsites. Use this trick to stay rodent-free the whole trip long.

Sock Toss

Put some rocks in your socks.

Jiffypop Pan

This classic snack offers more then just a tasty treat for backpackers.

Find Gear Fast At Night

This trick will help you find just what you're looking for in the dark.

Stinky Bag No More

Make your sleeping bag smell laundry fresh.

Think Outside The Bottle

10 surprising uses for your water bottle.

Passport Protection

Always carry extra identification when traveling internationally.

Mountain Miles

Calculate real mileage by accounting for slope in the mountains, and you'll avoid getting into camp after dark.

Ultralighter's Pad

Here's the best way to make a lightweight and inexpensive camping mattress.

Supercharge Your Legs

7 ways to kick your stride into overdrive

The Sock Fits: Trail Sock Buyer's Guide

Socks are as important as the footwear we buy. Follow our two-step buyer's guide.

Common Hiking Boot Lacing Techniques...

...From The Experts At Montrail

Homemade, High-Tech Gear

A do-it-yourself guide for sewing space-age hats and other performance outdoor gear.

HIkers Strike a Yoga Pose

Want to develop legs of steel and the balance of a mountain goat? Try yoga.

Make your trekking poles last forever

Try these easy cleaning tricks to keep using your hiking poles out on the trail longer.

How To Waterproof Your Boots

Waterproof boots can make the difference between a sick hike and a miserable slog.

Dead Flashlight Battery Blues

Keep your flashlights and headlamps alive longer with these trail tips.

Tips For Slow Hikers

Shortcuts that'll help you keep up with faster hikers.

Finding Food For The Long Trail

We tortured 51 trail snacks and staples to pick the longest lasting foods for backpacking.

Broken Crackers? Keep The Crumbs

Three ways to salvage broken crackers and pulverized bread.

Winterize Your Camp

Tips to take with you when the snow flies.

Make Backpacking Meals Better

No refrigerator, no problem, says this cooking instructor. Here's her secret to making every meal better.

The Hiking Gourmet

The hungry hiker's foolproof plan for eating like a king in the backcountry.

Emeril Spices Up Camp Food

Cuisine expert Emeril Lagasse shares eight tips on how to liven up your camp cooking.

Hot, Light, And Cheap: Homemade Camp Stove Contest Winners

The best ultralight cookers built by BACKPACKER readers.

Calling The Shots: Be A Better Backcountry Photographer

Camera hints for bringing home hard-to-get photos in the backcountry

How To See More Animals

To get closer to the critters, you need to look like a tree and smell like a raccoon.

Itch-Free Summer

Ten ways to avoid bug bites and what to do if bitten.

Know Your Backcountry Bugs

Guide to common bugs in the backcountry.

Cheap Camping Tools For Eating

How to complete your backcountry kitchen for $5 or less.

Turn Small Sacks To Favorite Packs

Nine features that can turn a small sack into your favorite backpack.

Your Backwoods Pharmacy

When illness or injury strikes, the medicine you need is in the plants alongside the trail and at your feet.

Tips For Safe Travel

Planning an overseas backpacking trip? Here's a few tips to prepare you before you go.

Challenge The Backpacker Editor: The Ultralight Report

Torrential rain and wind expose chinks in our author's ultralight armor, but don't dampen his enthusiasm for the pleasures of unencumbered trekking.

Weak In The Knees

12 ways to get more miles out of your legs.

Avalanches: The Big Slide

Watching snow fall is a backcountry joy--unless it's barreling 80 mph down a mountain and you're in its path.

The Science Behind Trekking Poles

Now here's scientific proof that trekking poles are a hiker's best friend.

Fast Food: A Backpacker's Guide To Grocery

A soup-to-nuts guide that'll get you through the supermarket and on the trail faster than you can say "express lane."

The Camper's Grocery Express Lane

These tips will have you in and out of the grocery faster than a runaway cart.

On Thin Ice: Safe Hiking On Frozen Lakes

How to hike safely across frozen lakes and ponds

Packable Salads

These crunchy, easy-to-prepare side dishes will make your hiking buddies green with envy.

Rash Decisions: Fighting Backcountry Itches

Here's what I keep in my first-aid kit to battle the itchiest rash known to medical science.

Quick Tip: Tarp Tactics

Tarp tips for the tactical hiker.

How To: Dehydrate Your Own Trail Food

Make your own dehydrated trail food with these simple techniques.

Understanding GPS

Using your GPS is easier than you think.

Field Fix: Tent Poles Apart

Tackle your tent pole problems with this quick tip.

Quick Tip: Rainfly Right

Quick tips to set your tent with the right rainfly.

Tidy Seam-Sealing Tips

Applying seam sealer neatly is easy with the right applicator.

How To Speak GPS

Common GPS terms you should know.

Reader Tip: In The Wick Of Time

Follow this BACKPACKER reader's tip to get the most out of your candles on the trail.

Rainy Day Skills

To stay dry in a downpour, carry the right wet-weather gear and know how to use it.

Frustrate Bears With A Rock Sack

This homemade rock sack will help you hang your food bag faster and better.

Stretching Your Hiking Boots' Life Span

Lengthen your boots' life span by following this simple maintenance plan.

Eating On The Runs

To keep trekking when you have the trots, feed your body the right fuel.

Reader Tip: Bladder Bowl

Try this homemade, ultralight bowl for long distance treks.

10 Simple Ways To Get To Sleep In Camp

Getting a good night's sleep on the trail is easier said than done. Our experts show you how to get your 20 winks.

Jacket vs. Vests

Going sleeveless might save you weight, but will a vest keep you as warm as a jacket?

Mind Over Mileage: Breathing Techniques For Hiking

Feeling pooped at the end of the day? Try these relaxation and breathing techniques to put more pep in your step.

Sleep Comfort In Camp

Trouble sleeping in camp? Try our tips for a good night's rest.

Paddling Skills

Take your hike into the river with these paddling, kayaking and boating tips.

Fighting Backcountry Asthma: Waiting To Inhale

If you have asthma but don't have an inhaler, follow these procedures to breathe easy in the backcountry.

Drinking Risky Water

If disaster leaves you deep in the backcountry without any means to disinfect drinking water, what do you do? Follow these methods to stay hydrated without getting sick.

Retaining Water While Hiking: Don't Sweat It

When water is scarce, minimize the amount your body expends.

Tips For Camping With Kids

Nuggets of knowledge from those who have brought their youngsters into the backcountry.

Guide To Sound Sleeping

On your next outing, be sure to heed these 10 tips for sleeping like a log.

Blazing Trails: Avoid Wildfires

Here's a handy tip to avoid wildfires in the backcountry.

Different Strokes: Paddling Techniques For Hikers

For a different wilderness experience, try floating down the river in a kayak or canoe.

Leave No Trace: Water Disposal

Here's how to Leave No Trace when you dump water in camp.

Saddle Sore? Tips To Heal Your Rear

Experiencing a sore butt on the trail? Try these healing tips.

Winter Camping Tips: The Perfect Tent Pitch

How and where you should set up your winter tent for maximum comfort and shelter longevity.

Coping with Leeches

How to deal with and treat those bloodsucking leeches.

Scrub Pans Without A Sponge

Forgot a sponge? No worries -- clean your camp with these everyday wilderness substitutes.

Dry Camping Secrets

If water's in short supply where you're headed, know the secrets of dry camping.

Scouts' Honor: Teaching Leave No Trace Ethics

Boy Scouts are at the forefront of teaching Leave No Trace ethics.

Rx Drugs On The Trail

Prescription drugs you should carry on the trail.

Bug Bite Evasion Therapy

What's the best way to treat bug bites? Don't get bit in the first place.

Bushwacking: Pole Position

Stow your trekking poles to get an advantage when bushwacking a trail.

Swallowing Camp Stove Fuel

How to treat yourself if you gulp down stove fuel in camp.

Stride Right, Feel Better

Tips to improve your hiking stride.

Field Fix: Clear Your Stove's Fuel Jets

Got a clogged stove? Try this cleaning method before eating that camping meal cold.

Skills For The Upwardly Mobile

Everything you need to know about hiking in the high country, from talus hopping to finding the right gear to dealing with wind and glaciers.

Safe Trekking After Wildfires

Follow these tips when hiking in burned country.

Bushwhacking: Go Up The Creek

Trouble crossing the trail? Try the creek.

Bushwacking: Get High, Stay High

When bushwacking a trail, go high altitude and stay there.

Planning Your Route

Use these navigational tricks, gleaned from champion orienteers and U.S. Army's Special Forces, to stay on track.

Compass Tips: Bearing It All

Just to be safe, keep that compass handy.

Lightning Survival Update

If you're caught in a lightning storm on the trail, head for the hills.

Route-Finding Tips: Stay On Course

Follow these six route-finding tips, and stay found.

Bushwacking: It's A Jungle Out There

From North Carolina to Alaska, bushwhacking is easier with the proper preparation and attitude.

Leave No Trace: Mind Your Footprint

Take a look at what your sole is doing to the ground.

Frisbee: The Perfect Camping Tool

How to make your Frisbee function as a camping tool.

Navigating From Lost To Found

How one perpetually disoriented hiker found her bearings, thanks to some backwoods navigation pros.

Trailworthy Cheese Alternatives

With a little creativity, dairy-wary hikers can find tasty and satisfying alternatives to cheese.

Bug Bites: Close Your Clothes

Use these tips to bug-proof your clothes.

Tent Setup: Building A Rain Dam

Protect your tent from rain by building a rain dam.

Stop Trail Chafing

Stop chafing with these tips.

Teepee Tent Setup Secrets

Hard-won tips for pitching tepee tents on any terrain

Approach Shoes Instead Of Hiking Boots?

Consider these points when deciding if an approach shoe is right for you.

Make The Big Jump

Are you a dayhiker who's ready for an all-nighter? A weekender longing to try a 5-day trek? Or are you ready for a thru-hike? Regardless of your skill level, here's the information you'll need to go that extra mile.

Save Your Hiking Sole

You can experience heavenly hiking even if you lose your boot sole.

Leave No Trace Trash Tips

Help keep trails clean by picking up your own and other people's trash.

Walking On Water

Face it: you aren't Moses and the waters won't part, so here are ways to cross wild rivers safely.

Be A Dried-Food Gourmet Chef

Create tasty trail meals like fish chowder, lasagna, and seafood with pasta.

Treating Backcountry Swimmer's Ear

How to identify and treat swimmer's ear in the wilderness.

Backcountry Menus For Diabetics

Feeding a diabetic hiker takes planning and professional advice, but not necessarily a special menu.

Dehydrate Your Trail Food

Who says you need water in your food? Dehydrate your vittles and you'll carry less weight, save money, and eat better.

Have Diabetes, Will Travel

Even diabetes can't slow down hikers with these health tips.

Blister Prevention: Hiker, Heel Thyself

Think blisters are a sure thing when you hike? Think again: Here's your ticket to preventing and treating the dreaded sores.

Guarding Your Grub

Above treeline, there's no easy way to hoist your vittles.

Tundra Tip: Farther Than You Think

Distances can appear farther in the tundra.

How To Dry Your Sleeping Bag

Add some ribbons to your sleeper to speed drying.

Survival Of The Fittest

Wish you could leap tall mountains in a single bound? Here's an exercise program designed for backpackers.

Field Fix: Pole Patch

Tent pole problems? Here's an easy fix.

Tundra Trekking Tips

Just because it's flat and treeless doesn't mean it's easy hiking.

Buying A Better Stove

After a long, hard day, nothing is more disappointing than a stove that refuses to fire. Follow these 10 essentials for foolproof stove features and techniques.

Filtering Vs. Chemicals Vs. Boiling Water

Water treatments defined.

Buying A Better Sleeping Pad

Half of your "good sleep" equation is a comfy pad (the other half is your bag). Look for these 10 essentials when you buy.

European Pack Size Conversion

Buying a European backpack? Use our conversion chart before you buy.

Boot Sizing Chart

Before you get a new boot, make sure the shoe fits with our sizing chart.

Buying A Better Tent

Not all shelters are created equal, as anyone with a cheap tent will tell you after a bad storm. Follow these 10 essentials when buying your next tent.

Buying Better Boots

There are different boots for different types of terrain. Follow these 10 essentials to match sole to trail.

Buying A Better Pack

There's no single piece of equipment more crucial to your backwoods enjoyment. Here's how to make the right choice.

Hiking Dreams Really Do Come True

Easily said and done, when you have a constant reminder at bedtime.

Snow Smarts

How to travel safely across four seasons of white.

Millet, Kasha, Quinoa: Against The Grain

Rice and pasta are nice, but if you want variety, add some millet, kasha, or quinoa to your trail menu.

Burn Treatment: A Heated Situation

To stem the pain, act fast when treating burns.

Poison Ivy, Bees and Wasps

Do you know your backcountry poisonous threats?

Avoiding Snakes: Nature's Evil Twins

Some species look alike, but guess wrong and you could have a harmful mistake on your hands.

Organize Your Backpacking Trip

Meet Jamie and Joe, who need help with everything from planning to packing to eating well. Enter our team of experts, with a few simple tricks designed to turn them-and you!-into well-oiled backpacking machines.

Boosting Backcountry Meals

With simple planning, you can turn your bare-bones backcountry meals into satisfying, energy-boosting successes.

Winter Tips For Cold Hands And Feet

A little motion brings the heat back.

Sleeping Bag Care: A Lofty Goal

Keep your sleeping bag up to fluff with proper care and handling.

Tent Stake Solution

QuickTip: How to stake tents on hard ground.

Tent Pole Wisdom

Quick Tip: Preserving tent poles

Finding Blazed Trail Markers

Here's a quick tip for finding blazed trails.

Preserving Your Poles

Trail-proven ways to keep your trekking sticks healthy and strong.

Avoiding Caffeine Withdrawal

Your daily cups of java seem innocent-until you hit the trail and don't get your normal caffeine buzz for a couple of days.

Baking Soda Solutions

Eight reasons to pack baking soda on the trail.

Wired For Anything

Texas reader says plastic-coated wire ties are essential item for backcountry emergency kits.

Planting Pole Pointers

How to make sure you stay upright on your poles.

Desert Cool Customer

Keep fresh and cool with this clothing tip from one of our readers.

Cleaning Pads With Medicine

Keep scrapes clean with lightweight cleaning pads.

Natural Toothbrushes

Forgot your toothbrush? You can still practice good hygiene.

Before You Snowshoe

Follow these tips when you embark on your next snowshoeing journey.

Compressing Your Pack: It's A Cinch

17 tips for better compression

Before You Go Snowshoeing

Follow these tips before you embark on your next winter snowshoeing journey.

Reading Backcountry Animal Scat

A good pile of scat speaks volumes about your backwoods animal neighbors, if you know how to read the calling card.

Backcountry Body Odor: What's That Smell?

Body odor can get pretty bad on the trail. Here's how to make sure you never again hear the words, "What's That Smell?"

Too Cold For Comfort

How to improve your tolerance for cold and enhance your outdoor performance.

Aluminum Foiled Again!

Tuck a folded square of aluminum foil in your pack and it may come in handy as a...

Hiking While Pregnant

With a few precautions, expecting hikers can hit the trail.

Treating Achilles Tendinitis

Hikes with a lot of elevation gain and loss are prime for getting tendinitis in the Achilles tendon.

Bears And The "Blend In" Theory

New research suggests that bear bells don't work, and colorful tents and clothing may attract bruins.

Cover Up In The Desert

Follow this cover-up advice before you head into the desert.

Smashed Finger Relief

Your finger got crushed between a rock and a hard place. Here's what to do.

Wrinkled Hats Ward Off UV Rays

New trail-tested advice for shading your face from the sun.

Horsepacking: A Leave-No-Trace Guide

Here's our guide to environmental etiquette while horsepacking.

H2O-No: Water Bottle Tips

How to fill a water bottle without getting all wet.

Old-Time Camp Food

Tired of freeze-dried? Try hardtack and corn dodgers for a tasty change of pace.

Bear Spray: Packin' Heat

It's basically pepper in an aerosol can, and it's supposed to stop a charging grizzly. But will it? Here's everything you need to know.

Fitting Filter Head Adapters

What to do if your filter head does not have an adapter for your water bottle.

Sew A Key Pouch In Your Pack

Sewing a key pouch inside your pack is the best guarantee of a quick ride home.

Gaiter Grooming Tips

Before you cinch up your gaiters, consider the best way to keep the wicked weather and bits of terrain at bay.

How To Pick Raingear

Getting the right shell has as much to do with personal needs and hiking habits as it does with the quality of a garment.

Frame Pack Tips

Two ways to keep your external frame on your pack in tip-top shape.

Dandelion Burgers: A Vegetarian Recipe

This vegetarian burger recipe will suit your palate and clean-up the environment.

'Biner Basics

If I had to pick, I'd take a carabiner instead of a pocketknife when I hike.

Let Your Fingers Tell Time

Telling time without a watch is just a few digits away.

Dessert Time: Use Nature's Fridge

Use streams, snow, rivers, and ponds as chilling grounds for enticing backcountry desserts.

Lightning Tips

Where not to be during lightning.

Only You Can Avoid Forest Fires

Here's what to do if you're caught near a wilderness wildfire.

Northern Lights Viewer's Guide

Follow these tips to make the most out of the northern night skies.

Mountain Safety

Make sure you know how to stay safe in the mountains.

How To Deal With River Crossings

Crossing rivers can be treacherous -- unless you know what you're doing.

Mosquitoes: Avoiding Alaska's Winged Plague

Sea Kayaking: Putting Paddle To Water

Sea kayaking might not be difficult, but follow these tips to make the most of your ocean voyages.

The Bear Facts in Great Smoky

There are scads of bears in Great Smoky Mountains National Park -- so don't forget these tips.

Make Your Own Walking Stick

Ease the load on your knees and shoulders by making a hiking stick.

Homemade Tool Tube

A tool tube answers the age-old packing dilemma: Where do I put the long, skinny stuff?

Bonus Backcountry Bug-Off Tips

Other tips to beat the most annoying backcountry biters.

Alternative To Bug Spray: Permethrin

Another bug-beating option.

Sew Like A Surgeon

Five stitches every backpacker should know.

Bug Off: Tips To Keep Away Insects

Tips to beat the most annoying backwoods biters

Gear Rx: Tents

Mildew. Torn mesh. Broken zippers and poles. Is it worth fixing your home away from home? Find out for yourself.

Gear Rx: Packs

Can you revive a sputtering pack? With this diagnostic checklist, you may be able to breathe new life into a tired old backpack.

Gear Rx: Boots

Know what can and can't be repaired on your boots, and who to call.

Gear Rx: Stoves And Water Filters

See if your stove or water filter is safe to repair.

Gear Rx: Clothing

Everyone knows good outdoor clothing is expensive. See if you can save your old hiking apparel.

In Camp, Hit The Sauce

By themselves, noodles are just plain bland. Add the proper topping, though, and dinner takes on a whole new flavor.

Gear Rx: Sleeping Bags

Has your sleeping bag lost its loft? Zipper off its track? Check to see if your bag is worth repairing or if it's time to buy a new one.

A Long Life For Your Boots

Insiders' tips to keep your hikers on the trail longer.

A Long Life For Your Trekking Poles

Keep your trekking poles clean and maintained with these tips.

Winter Calorie Count

Winter activities demand more of your body's energy.

Decoding Snow Flakes

Learn what the white stuff means.

Backcountry Bathroom: How To Go In The Snow

When the ground is frozen or 3 feet under snow, use these backcountry bathroom techniques.

Improve Your Sense Of Direction

Scientists now believe that the navigationally challenged can retrain their brains.

Camping With A Fridge

That's essentially what the outdoors is, so use those cold temps to carry tasty foods that wouldn't stand a chance in summer.

Breaking Trail: Snow Going

When the white stuff piles up, work together to break a trail.

Homemade Stove Platforms

Or anything else, for that matter, once you use this easy-to-make stove platform.

Treating Aches and Pains

A personal perspective on healing back, joint and other body pains.

Steady Rock Hopping

If rock hopping or log crossing triggers panic, maybe you need to fine-tune your balancing act.

How To: Boot Cleaning

Take care of your hiking boots and they'll take care of you.

Survival Skills: Finding Water

How to find emergency water in the backcountry.

Trailworthy Recipes

How to make dreamy drinks and crispy chicken in camp, and lots of other trail-tested cooking tips from readers.

Signaling For Help

How to signal for help if you get lost.

Building Shelter

How to build a shelter if you get stuck in the backcountry.

Your Homemade Survival Kit

Make your own backcountry insurance policy.

Foot Fitness

Stronger foot muscles can end ankle sprains and aching arches.

Fixing A Blister

A simple blister remedy gets you back on the trail fast.

Dry, Cool Feet = Happy Feet

For maximum comfort, keep your feet drier and cooler.

Break In Your Boots

Log some easy "city" miles in your new hiking boots before that epic trip.

Wash Your Feet

Clean and rub them, and feet will go the distance.

Tarps: High And Tight

Setting up a tarp? Follow these techniques depending on the situation.

Fixing Tents: Don't Despair...Repair

What can and can't be fixed on your tent.

For Broken Gear, Don't Despair...Repair

What you can and can't fix: How to breathe new life into tired old faithfuls.

Healing Thorns, Splinters, And Other Pricks

How to deal with all kinds of things that get under your skin.

Knee Help?

No joint is more prone to injury than the knee. Here's what to do when faced with a backcountry blow-out.

How To Splint A Bum Knee

Pretend Your Leg Is A Jelly Roll.

Build A Winter Wagon

Why shoulder a heavy load when you can easily slide it along behind you?

Water Filter First-Aid

Make sure your water purifier doesn't leave you high and dry.

Wilderness First-Aid Courses

Take an advanced wilderness first-aid course and you'll never have to say "I didn't know what to do" to the next-of-kin.

Load Lifters: Homemade Sherpa Straps

When pack weight drags you down, homemade Sherpa straps can help ease the burden.

Foot Odor: Toxic Sock Syndrome

If your feet are a source of backcountry air pollution, here's how to keep them smelling sweet.

Make Way For Animals

We love watching wildlife, but follow these tips to stay safe.

Wildlife Body Language

When faced with a large, testy animal, it pays to know whether it's saying, "Hi there" or "I'm about to shred your lungs."

Trout Fishing: Reel Fine Dining

When the trout are thick and the ethics resolved, catch-and-eat is the tasty way to go.

Snowshoes Terrain Techniques

Techniques for winter trekking. Find out the advantages snowshoes provide for getting over hill and dale.

Poison Ivy: Plant World Darth Vaders

Believe it or not, poison ivy isn't all bad -- but it's still best avoided. Here's how.

Make Your Own Shade

When it's hot outside, keep cool with this sunscreen for your head.

Winterize Your Camping Habits

Tips to take with you when the winter snow flies in camp.

Getting Your Gear Fixed

It's hard to give up your tried and true gear after so many miles together. So don't! These repair shops can keep your favorites in tip-top shape.

Sprained Ankle Relations

How to keep hiking when your ankle takes a turn for the worse. Plus, keeping them strong and trail-ready.

Rainy-Day Camping Games

Beat the rainy-day blues by playing sleeping-pad chess or checkers.

Fixing An Inflatable Sleeping Pad

A few simple precautions will prevent punctures and preserve the foam in your self-inflating pad.

Water Filter Maintenance

Tips to keep water filters filtering.

Ultralight: The Ray Jardine Way

He rocked the world of climbing, challenged the accepted wisdom in sea kayaking, and now Ray Jardine turned his renegade way of thinking to backpacking.

You Can Leave Home Without It

Putting the Ray Jardine ultralight way to the test.

Hypothermia 101

As the temperature dips, hypothermia can threaten survival for backwoods adventurers unaware of its warning signs.

Homemade Bear Bag

A homemade bear bag will make sure your provisions stay safe from hungry critters.

Layering For Winter

How to dress smart and stay warm when Old Man Winter blows in.

Head Cases: Wilderness Head Injuries

If you take a hit to the head in the wild, think twice before deciding to hike on.

Quick And Dirty: How To Cope

Here's how to stay sanitary in the backcountry.

Backcountry Diarrhea: Treating The Runs

When diarrhea strikes in the backcountry and there's no porcelain for 20 miles, the proper response can save your trip.

'Seams' Dry: Weatherproof Your Tent

Learn how to weatherproof your tent -- before it rains.

Poisoned In Camp?

How to deal with common backpacking substances that are more toxic than three-day-old socks.

Drowning Victims: In Over Your Head

Your partner just disappeared under an icy torrent. Quick, do you know what to do next?

Game Trails: Nature's Trail Crews

Follow four-legged trail blazers down paths you'll never find on a map.