Buck Tilton

Q: How much time does it take for the body to absorb water into the system after drinking it?

'Marking your territory' to keep bears away from your tent may seem like a smart idea. The reality: It does more harm than good.

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

Nature can be brutal. Learn how to to deal with wounds from all kinds of thorns, spines, splinters, shards, quills, needles, and anything else that might get under your skin when you’re on the trail.

Construct a solid emergency kit with these medical must-haves.

And if prepared properly, it'll be quite tasty and good for you, too.

Real reader bear questions answered by Buck Tilton.

Most common backcountry injuries.

Though we love backcountry wildlife (well, mostly), sometimes we get no love back. Read up on what to do when Mother Nature bites.

Use this chart to determine if you can finish your trip–or should hightail it to the ER.

When you're miles away from medical help and it's serious: Here's how to handle extreme injuries in the backcountry.

Soothe tooth pain with these helpful remedies.

Ugh. It's happened to us all. Here's how to handle a bad belly when you're away from far from home.

Treating injuries miles from the ER is an essential skill. But don't pack a medical text: Instead, learn what really matters. Wilderness Medicine Institute cofounder Buck Tilton boils down a lifetime's worth of experience into 62 tips every hiker should k

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

Four myths about snakebites, dispelled.

Advice on kids and herbs at altitude.

Medicine Man Buck Tilton looks into, ugh, eating match heads

Medicine Man Buck Tilton looks into waterborne parasites

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

A wilderness guide to proper care and maintenance of the family jewels.

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

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

Got a bum knee or ankle? Better treatments for post-hike joint pain are on the horizon.

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

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.

The simple act of hand-washing is essential in preventing disease and can't be forgotten in the backcountry.

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

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

Prescription drugs you should carry on the trail.

Some trailworthy soups can even help you heal.

What to do if the berries you munched weren't safe after all.

Cooking with aluminum pots in camp won't cause Alzheimer's.

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

Antibiotic ointment, a basic element of every first-aid kit, has gotten a bad rap lately.

Our medicine man gives his food suggestions for recovering in the backcountry.

Eat right and you'll hike stronger.

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

On your next tropical dip, beware of water-borne bacteria.

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

Ginkgo helps with altitude sickness and cold.

Kick the coffee and toss the tea and try yerba mate.

You can freeze to death and still live to tell about it.

To stem the pain, act fast when treating burns.

You can add another disease to those you might get from ticks: ehrlichiosis.

Think crypto comes only from polluted water? Your healthy camp mate could be a carrier.

Forgot your toothbrush? You can still practice good hygiene.

Keep scrapes clean with lightweight cleaning pads.

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

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

Unless you're partial to polluted water, don't fill your bottle during or just after a major storm.

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

We're not saying you need a pedicure, but a toenail trim doesn't hurt on the trail.

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

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

Its bite is more than painful -- it could be deadly.

Wind chill can nip noses or lead to frostbite. Here's what you should know.

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

Frozen fire shaped by cataclysmic forces and the footsteps of the ancient ones.

Suffer a bone-related injury and one of these high-tech splints will quickly become your best friend.

Life in the high desert in autumn is sweeter and more irresistible than any place on Earth.

No color in nature comes close to matching the heart-stirring golden aspen found in the Rockies in autumn.

The majestic San Juan Mountain range is often called America's Switzerland. -- and the wildflowers match.

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

Boil, pour, stir, eat. Camp food doesn't get any easier than this.

Fish hooks can be painful and dangerous -- here's how to get 'em out.

Pretend Your Leg Is A Jelly Roll.

The big hinge in your leg is essential to hiking -- here's how the knee gets you over the pass.

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

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

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

Fearless campers sacrifice their taste buds to determine which instant breakfast is best.

The 25 often-overlooked ways to stay healthy and injury-free.

Athletic tape can still do wonders for an injured ankle.

If you think ringworms crawl or chewing poison ivy prevents the itch, you're obviously a fan of medical fiction.

Here's how to stay sanitary in the backcountry.

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

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