Ask Buck

How toxic is methanol? Is it safe to get on my body?

During my hikes in the fall, between the summer and winter layers, moisture builds up and my chest tends to rub raw. What is the best way to stop this, besides changing shirts more often? Could I use something like Vaseline?

When carrying a pack of pretty much any size and weight and using the hip belt, my left leg will go numb sometimes. The problem goes away if I loosen the belt, but this defeats carrying the weight on my waist. (I've been fitted by knowledgeable people.)

I'm going fishing in the Trinity Forest rivers, and there are a lot of bears there at this time of year. I can't afford an expensive bear deterrent: What can I use to assist me? I was told to use regular pepper spray or bleach.

We're rafters. In a thunderstorm, should we stay in the boat (the absolute lowest point around) or pull ashore and get out of the water?

On an episode of Survivorman, Les Stroud cooked grasshoppers, stating if you didn't, you might get a tapeworm. But he ate a raw scorpion–couldn't one just as easily get a tapeworm from a scorpion?

I am trying to lose weight and boost my stamina for a hike to Colorado next year. Should I eat a big breakfast for a three-day hike to the Porcupine Mountains, or a smaller breakfast and rely on my fat reserves to help burn off the weight?

Is it better to drive a long distance to a much higher elevation (like from the Northeast to the Rockies) to get used to the elevation gradually?

On a recent backpacking trip, I underestimated the amount of mosquito repellent we'd need. Is there a North American plant that can be used, or something one can do to avoid being eaten alive?

I've been told for years that the proper way to wait out a lightning storm is to crouch down. Why is this better than lying down on the ground?

Does soaking your feet in black tea before a hike reduce sweat and prevent blisters?

I hear about people eating rattlesnake all the time: Are all snakes edible? And what about eels?

On a consistently wet, rainy 3-day trip, I experienced softened skin that cracked. I never was able to get dry shoes or socks. Each day my feet would be soaked within minutes. What can I do in the future to help stop this?

Does the human body absorb cold water or body-temperature water faster?

I'm a side sleeper who can't get through a night on a sleeping pad without pain in my hips and knees that causes me to toss and turn. Any suggestions for remedying that?

What's the best spray to keep mosquitoes off of me?

My son came back from an outdoor camp and proclaimed that rubbing the liquid from the broken stalk of a fern on a sting from nettles, poison ivy, or poison oak will stop the stinging. Is it true?

I live at sea level, and am backpacking in Yosemite for 10 days. I've heard there are supplements that boost your oxygen intake, if you take them a week or so in advance. Is the hype true, and is it worth the money?

What do you think about giving Benadryl as a sedative for a snakebite victim? Or just having it handy for panic situations?

I recently went hiking in the Phoenix area. I feel like I ate about a ton of dust–a fine particle, like talc. (Silly me, I didn't think to pack a mask.) Is that "trail dust" bad for my lungs?

Is it safe to hike if you have high blood pressure?

I've tried different boots, inserts, socks, and lightening my load, but I still seem to get overuse pain in my knees very early in my hikes. What else can I do to minimize knee pain?

My middle two and sometimes three toes go numb when I hike. I have very good boots that fit well. Any ideas?

I know you need more sodium when you're sweaty and backpacking, but how much is safe?

Now that summer is here, what are the best methods for preventing heat exhaustion and heat stroke?

On a recent backpacking trip, I mixed Aquamira water purification drops in my Nalgene before we reached a water source. I noticed a mist coming out of the empty bottle just prior to filling with water. What was that, and is it safe to drink?

I have heard reports of bears and panthers in areas around where I want to solo hike this summer. Is it okay to go alone?

What is the approved procedure for removing a tick?

Anyone coming from lower altitudes to 8,000 feet or more may experience headaches, unusual fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, and lassitude. Expect, also, that you'll do some heavy breathing, even after you acclimatize. These physiological responses are discomforting, but not serious.

I was thinking about getting a water filter, but I understand that it will not filter out viruses. Is this something I should worry about if I'm backpacking in the U.S.?

Do you think our bodies "remember" acclimating?

How can I prevent shin splints when I'm hiking downhill?

Are survival blankets dangerous to use during electrical storms?

Only one herb has successfully passed the thin-air test: ginkgo biloba.

As high as they can climb. Kids are sturdier than we think and scientific data supports this. Studies suggest that young hikers are not more susceptible to altitude sickness than the rest of us; indeed, many children travel to resorts at high elevations without complications.

Will opening and closing an umbrella scare a bear away?

Why don't people get sick from swimming in lakes and rivers when they probably ingest plenty of contaminated water?

I'm looking for a lightweight cold pack to carry on backpacking trips that will keep my insulin cold. What do you recommend?

What multivitamin/herbal remedy you suggest for overcoming altitude sickness?

A friend told me vitamin C can eliminate the taste of iodine in water. How much is necessary and does it affect the purification process?

Is wearing two pairs of socks better for cold-weather backpacking?

Is it possible to have an allergic reaction to zinc oxide?

I always get a rash on my shoulders where the pack harness rests. Is there anything to prevent that?

How long should you boil water before drinking it?

If you were to wear an altimeter watch on an airplane, what would the elevation reading be?

I will be backpacking in southern Arizona's deserts and drinking from cattle tanks. How should I treat or filter the water inside these tanks?

Is a can of personal defense pepper spray an effective bear deterrent?

After a day of hiking, I get severe leg cramps in my calves. Can you explain why these are happening and what I can do to prevent them?

Do chiggers bite dogs, and if so, how do you combat that on the trail?

What do I need to bring and do in case one of my children has an anaphylactic reaction to something like a bee sting on the trail?

What is your advice regarding proper winter bag sizing?

Will vinegar repel bears or harm the environment?

Where can I get emergency medical coverage for international travel?

Is there anything that can be added to water (that is safe) that will lower its freezing temperature?

Sometimes I smell ammonia in my sweat. What is my body telling me?

How long can waterborne parasites survive on the outside of a Lexan bottle?

Will eating match heads containing sulfur keep mosquitoes away?

My wife's hands swell when she hikes. Is she in danger?

Can I safely purify water inside my CamelBak hydration reservoir?

Do high-blood pressure medications increase my risk of hypothermia while hiking in negative-40°F weather?

How can I prevent shin splints when I hike downhill?

What should you do if you're in a tent, and you hear a bear outside?

What can I do to recover an old injury that swells after a long day of hiking?

What should I eat during hikes on hot days?

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

Medicine Man Buck Tilton looks into waterborne parasites