Skills

Lyme disease may be the nation's #1 wilderness health threat, but it's no reason to avoid the outdoors. Check out this special report on tick-borne illness to learn how to protect yourself and your family.

A park ranger's struggle with the tick-borne illness.

Learn the signs so you can get on the road to recovery faster.

A comprehensive guide to tick-borne illnesses beyond Lyme Disease.

Simple question, complex answer.

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

Several tests can detect the Lyme bacteria. Find out which one you should take if you are bitten.

Learn to recognize, avoid and treat poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Start by scrolling through the photos below.

Enjoy all-day power by combining these 5 superfoods

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

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

Pack your fishing rod; these biscuits go perfectly with fresh-caught trout or catfish.

30 days to a killer trail body with cardio and strength workouts for backpackers.

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

The perfect grill for your next car camping trip

A revolutionary stove-and-pot set that'll cramp your prep time with super-fast boils.

Keep your kids entertained in camp and on the road with a football, stuffball, and flyer set

Enjoy this instant chair on your next trip

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

Four new recipes for belly-warming campfire drinks

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.

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

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

An essential paddling tip for turning in fast water

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

Four steps to a lights-every-time blaze

The author sets out to camp in New York's Central Park--and winds up roused by matters of life and death.

Supercharge your legs with conditioning tips for monster hikes.

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

Conquer any current with these two simple strength conditioning exercises.

Four hearty, ready-in-a-flash bread recipes

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

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

Get strong with yoga poses used by a world-class climber

Rich flavors and moist textures take top honors with these trail snacks

Haul hefty loads more easily by strengthening your midsection.

Hot first aid tips for treating sunburn

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

A lifeguard's guide to using sunscreen

Cooking tips and recipes for easy backcountry meals

Simple solutions for backpacking with new babies

31 flavors, 12 discerning testers, 4 clear energy bar winners

Health tips for backpackers experiencing life-threatening or just plain annoying bee stings on the trail

Improve your performance with the right drinking strategy

Two editors debate whether one stainless steel spoon beats many (much lighter) free ones.

A beginner's guide to after-hours hiking

9 tips for Leave No Trace dining

4 techniques to soothe trail-weary muscles

7 tricks for averting on-the-trail allergies

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

Testers' favorite backpacking entrees

An online shopping pro shares timesaving advice.

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

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

Your ultralight kitchen is now complete

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

Unraveling a high-altitude mystery: why some iPods get sick in the alpine zone.

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

7 strategies for keeping the backcountry pristine

America's preeminent bear tracker backpacks Idaho's most remote wilderness looking for signs of the lost grizzlies of the Bitterroots--and winds up staring at the great bruin's future.

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

Get to the top and you'll hear a joyous echo

The toughest high point in the lower 48

Don't forget your sound judgment when summitting this high point.

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

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

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

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

Pick up your hiking pace with these fitness tips

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

Is there a sense that's more powerful? We'll let you be the judge.

Get wet, get cold. Or stay warm with this leakproof suit.

Hike, pitch your tent, then play like a pro with these new Frisbee and hacky sack diversions

Baby carriers, backpacks, and strollers for the backcountry

A hiker's guide to low-carb eating

4 simple stretches to relieve stiff, sore muscles.

Ideas to help make the backcountry family friendly

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

Watch out for rough weather and serpentine-like roads as you drive up to this highpoint.

The science behind nature's coolest toy