Building a Trail is Hard—and Dangerous—Work. Here’s How Crews Stay Safe.
Digging, lifting, and sawing in the hot sun take a toll on the body.
Author
Christopher Tedeschi
My Stories
Headaches on the Trail? Here’s How to Deal
A pounding skull can ruin a hike, unless treated properly.
How to Treat Allergic Reactions in the Backcountry
Check out Christopher Tedeschi's author page.
When You Can’t Breathe the “Fresh Air”
Wildfire season is getting longer and more intense. What does that mean for backpackers who have to breathe the smoke it generates?
Burns Are a Big Problem in the Backcountry. Here’s How to Deal.
Knowing how to prevent and treat burns should be in every backpacker's toolkit.
A Wilderness Doctor’s Advice to Keep Your Child Safe on the Trail This Summer
Snakes and heat shouldn't keep your little one locked inside all summer. Here's how to keep them safe in the backcountry.
Cut Yourself in the Backcountry? This Is the Key to Avoiding Infection.
Irrigation is the most important step you can take to prevent a cut from going south.
You Know First Aid. But What About Psychological First Aid?
Knowing how to help a scared hiking partner is as important as knowing how to tape an ankle.
Recovering From Covid? Do This Before Hiking at Altitude
Long-lasting Covid symptoms can affect your hiking performance at high elevations. Here's how to prepare.
How To Treat a Sprained Ankle in the Backcountry
In the backcountry, a rolled ankle can spell trouble. Learn how to tell minor sprains from major injuries and what to do if you’re hurt.
Here’s Why You Should Think Twice Before Cooking Inside Your Tent
Burning fuel in confined spaces can lead to lethal carbon monoxide poisoning.
Diarrhea Wrecks Backpacking Trips. Don’t Let it Wreck Yours.
More than half of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers reported dealing with a bout diarrhea along the trail. Here's what you need to know to avoid the trots.
Don’t Become a Victim: How Situational Awareness Can Save Hikers’ Lives
Running into danger to save others is a noble urge. But curb it: A hurt rescuer is worse than no rescuer at all.
Got Frostbite? This Advice Might Save Your Fingers
Cold injury can lead to disability or even gangrene and amputation. But advances in its treatment over the last few decades could be a big help.
These Wilderness Medicine Myths Need to Disappear
There’s a lot of first aid advice out there, and take it from a doctor: Not all of it is good.
Should You Immobilize a Neck Injury in the Wilderness? Here’s What a Doctor Says.
Cervical spine injuries are serious, and immobilizing them has become gospel. But in the wilderness, where conditions can change in an instant, is it a waste of rescuers' time?
Backcountry Eye Injuries Are a Nightmare. Here’s How to Deal With Them.
Poked, scratched, or worse: Getting a hurt eye on your hike can be a serious emergency.
Tooth Problems: The Gory Details Backpackers Need to Know
No one wants a dental emergency in the backcountry. Learn how to avoid and deal with them.
Thanks, Climate Change: Rattlesnake Bites Are Likely to Get More Common
Warm summers mean more snakes, and more people outside mean more encounters. Here's what to do if you get bitten.
Drowning Is One of the Backcountry’s Worst Dangers—But This Essential Skill Could Help You Save a Life.
A recent study suggests that chest compressions may be the most important skill for rescuers to deploy after a drowning.
How to Treat Injuries From a Bear Attack
Animal attacks are rare, but they do happen. Learning what to do after a run-in with wildlife could teach you a few things about how to handle any wilderness emergency
When Drinking Too Much Water Can Kill You
Hyponatremia, or water intoxication, isn’t a well-known hazard in the outdoors. But it’s more common than you think.
Heat Stroke Kills Hikers. A New First-Aid Technique May Help.
Cooling down an overheating patient in the backcountry is often an insurmountable challenge. Now, researchers are testing a strategy from the endurance sports world for use on the trail.
Stopped Up on the Trail? Here’s How to Make Doo.
Sudden diet changes can leave backpackers in an uncomfortable situation.
Want to Know What Backcountry Mistakes Will Get You in Real Trouble? Ask Search and Rescue
Once you leave the trailhead, your safety is in your own hands.