Skills

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

To protect yourself from ticks-and reduce your risk of contracting Lyme disease-follow these steps.

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.

Enjoy all-day power by combining these 5 superfoods

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

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

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.

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

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

Enjoy this instant chair on your next trip

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

The perfect grill for your next car camping trip

Four new recipes for belly-warming campfire drinks

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

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

Supercharge your legs with conditioning tips for monster hikes.

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.

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

Conquer any current with these two simple strength conditioning exercises.

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

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

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.

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

Haul hefty loads more easily by strengthening your midsection.

Cooking tips and recipes for easy backcountry meals

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

Simple solutions for backpacking with new babies

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

Improve your performance with the right drinking strategy

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

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

7 tricks for averting on-the-trail allergies

A beginner's guide to after-hours hiking

4 techniques to soothe trail-weary muscles

9 tips for Leave No Trace dining

An online shopping pro shares timesaving advice.

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

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

Your ultralight kitchen is now complete

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

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

Testers' favorite backpacking entrees

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

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.

7 strategies for keeping the backcountry pristine

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

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

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

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

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

The toughest high point in the lower 48

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.

Pick up your hiking pace with these fitness tips

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

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

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

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

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

Baby carriers, backpacks, and strollers for the backcountry

4 simple stretches to relieve stiff, sore muscles.

Ideas to help make the backcountry family friendly

A hiker's guide to low-carb eating

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

5 questions before you buy new gear.

3 surefire ways to light a reluctant fire

Does backpacking build up your bones?