Ask Buck

Will eating sulfur keep mosquitoes away?

Are titanium trekking poles dangerous in a lightning storm?

Is it true your shoe size increases after hiking the AT?

I'm a Wilderness First Responder student with a SAR K9 team, and would like to know your experience with them.

What bug repellent do you recommend for my pup?

Why do the sides of my knees always hurt during descents?

What other mosquito repellents work?

Is it possible to acclimatize to hiking in hot temperatures?

After long hikes or backpacking trips, why do I always feel exhausted two days later?

Why do I get blisters on the insides of my heels?

What's the best way to close an open wound?

What's the best way to remove a tick, and should I see a doctor?

Why do my fingers swell when I hike?

How to repel black flies

Can I still go camping if I sleep with a CPAP machine?

Is it safe to drink your own sweat?

Do you need extra-strength sunscreen at high altitude?

Is altitude sickness causing my headaches or something else?

Can you predict the weather by looking at campfire smoke?

Does activated charcoal help remove venom from a snakebite? If so, should you put it directly on the wound or swallow it?

I am concerned about fleas and the plague. How is is transmitted? Should I not take my dog hiking with me? Can I get it if he doesn't come?

How long will water stay potable in my hydration bladder? Can I add anything to make it last longer?

Is it safe to remain in the hammock during a thunderstorm? Should I leave the shelter of the rain fly between the trees, or set it up on the ground with trekking poles?

I recently came off trail in the night and nearly stepped on a rattlesnake in the Smokies. If bitten and you are an hour or two out, would you recommend to keep moving to get out?

While trying to sleep in the backcountry my mind wants to stay in alert mode at night causing considerable sleep loss. I've tried OTC sleep aids and melatonin (3 mg) to only modest success. Any additional suggestions would bevery appreciated.

Is there something that works better than water and if so, what? Also, does warm liquid hydrate better than cold, or vice versa?

I went to Nepal this year and trekked thru the foothills of the Annapurna. After hitting one of the highest points of the trek, I started swelling in my hands, feet, and face. What exactly can I do to prevent this in the future?

I hike in the Midwest and I was told that in a lightning storm that it's best to stay away from hardwoods like hickory trees and oak trees. Is this true?

After long, multiday trips, I get calluses on the bottoms of my feet. Lately they have been very painful. I've had this problem before and the pain went away after a two-day rest--but it's not going away now. Can you help?

I've heard that bleach and iodine tablets are only good for water purification for six months. What about white vinegar? Will it purify water?

I have a burning sensation in the soles of my feet when I am long-distance hiking, but no blisters. Do you have a solution?

I've just returned from some bad weather in the mountains. The top half of my big toes have been numb during the trip till now. Should I be concerned? Will they regain feeling again in time to come?

Q: Can snoring deter bears and other animals from your campsite? I know that my friends like to not tent next to me.

Will white vinegar (used to clean camping kitchen gear) attract bears?

Q: What would you recommend for chafing, the nasty red rash that can develop on the inner thighs on a long hike? Is there an over-the-counter treatment?

Once a heel blister starts to get better/heal, does keeping it exposed to air each night (so the area dries after the day of hiking) improve healing, or is keeping the area moist and soft with a dressing better?

If cups and cook pots are exposed to untreated water, are they safe to use after they air dry?

Can you get rabies or other diseases by using a bite valve that some animal has been nibbling on? Will alcohol sanitizer "sterilize" it?

Can an electric jolt from a DC source (i.e., spark plug wire, hand-held stunner) neutralize snake venom? I recall a series of articles on this published in the late '60s by an outdoor magazine.

I once heard that pouring granulated sugar into a deep, bloody wound would aid in clotting–but I've always heard that putting anything into an open would is bad.

Camping in bear country with children and diapers: Do diapers inside the tent, wet or dry, attract bears?

I saw an episode of Survivorman where he drank water knowing it was contaminated and would cause him to have diarrhea. He said that having diarrhea would be better than being dehydrated. Would you agree?

I heard somewhere that it isn't necessary to bring water to a boil in order to purify it, as long as you get the temperature up to 140 degrees or more. Is this true?

After I return, I'm somewhat tired, short of breath and sickly feeling for days after. I'm in great shape. Any ideas?

What are the best options for treating heat exhaustion in a remote area (no cell phone service) with no one else around? Is there something I can add to my first aid kit that would help?

Q: Does using sunscreen or bug repellent attract bears?

Regarding Giardia and crypto: Can one develop a tolerance or immunity to them? I remember drinking from streams as a child while fishing and hiking in the backcountry. Surely I couldn't have been lucky than many times.

I'm having my first child this summer, and I plan to hike and camp with her in the mountains as soon as she can hold her head up. How will I know if she's acclimatized to the altitude?

How long does it take to start feeling the effects of poison oak exposure?

Can you get some of the waterborne parasites, such as Giardia, through open wounds or cuts and scrapes?

I have heard that the bonding agents like Super Glue or Krazy Glue can be used to seal wounds in the backcountry. Is this true, and what's the risk vs. benefit?

In a bivy, what are the chances of a rattler crawling in with me and/or of me rolling over on one with my arms and torso bare? I'm not sleeping well with this!

I've seen bells marketed as a way to notify animals that you are in the area. Could use of the bell actually attract predators that are used to hearing bells on livestock?

My wife, who's allergic to bees, is reluctant to hike with me. What can I do to ease her fear of getting stung?

I want to try duct tape to prevent chafing between the legs, but I'm too scared to try. Do you know if this works better than lotions or creams?

A friend who used to read electric meters told me that all the readers carried a squirt gun loaded with ammonia to repel dogs. Would it work for bears too?

Do odor proof bags work? And are they any more effective than standard zip-top bags for keeping in smells?

Can you advise on how to deal with a cougar encounter?

Is bear spray effective against snakes?

Is it safe to wear DEET in summer when bears are around? I've heard the bear will come after you because it smells.

What is the best lightning safety strategy when camping above treeline, and the storm strikes in the middle of the night when you are all asleep in tents?

I am hiking from Mexico to Canada this May (2,650 miles), and my two friends are mostly going to munch on trail mixes--but I can't eat nuts! What can I eat that is lightweight, yet gives me what my body needs to hike 20-plus miles a day?

I've used a UV light pen for water treatment, and typically scoop water into the bottle. But will the pen kill any parasites, bacteria, and viruses that are in the droplets around the rim of the bottle, or does it just kill those in the water being stirred?

I've been backpacking for ten years and have never had any pain in my legs, but recently I've been getting a severe pain down the front of my legs and swelling in my feet. What could I be experiencing?

I sprained my ankle two months ago. I can hike on level surfaces, but side-to-side motion--typical of backpacking--hurts. Should I stay off it, or use therapy and exercise to strengthen it?

Does dark-colored clothing really attract more mosquitoes then light-colored clothing?

Q: Would taking an over-the-counter antihistamine (like Zyrtec) before getting in the tent help get rid of the itch from mosquitoes or other itchy things for the next day?

Q: What is the best thing you can do to train for a climb or long hike?

I once punched a black bear in the nose that was sniffing my hammock while I was in it. The bruin retreated and huffed at me for a while, and I huffed back. Since then I've always wondered, does huffing at a bear encourage it to act aggressively?

I want to wear deodorant, but I don't want to attract attention from bears. Is baking soda a good solution?

Will drinking urine when no water is available allow you to survive longer? I have heard conflicting information.

I'm curious about insect repellents for kids. Is DEET okay to use on a six-year-old?

I thought it was dehydration, but ended up in an emergency room being treated for an exercise-induced migraine. Anything I can do to prevent this from happening again?

I have heard mixed things. If it does work, how?

What is best diet at high altitude--fish, carbohydrate etc?

A link between posture and backpacking has been discussed in the medical community but never, as far I know, has it been really studied.

Cold weather sleeping--is it correct to don the clothes you intend to wear the next day?

I just had a wonderful time hiking the Grand Canyon. But after 28 miles, I have swollen, painful legs from the knee through the ankle. Any tips for recovery?

If I take my dog on a high-altitude excursion with me, should I acclimatize Fido as well as myself before we go?

What are the pros and cons of using UV light pens for water treatment?