Skills

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.

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.

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?

Do hikers have special nutritional needs?

10 Ways Backpacking Changes Your Body

The One-Pan Gourmet shows how to eat like a king.

Freshen up stinky clothes with this homemade, portable washing machine.

It's lean, it's mean, and it can last forever.

Is there a maximum weight you can safely haul?

Do backpackers have superfast metabolic rates?

Secrets for staying on your feet from dancers, tightrope walkers, running backs, and more.

Keeping a close eye on those binocular caps.

How to avoid slipping and sliding in your sleeping bag.

No need to bring along a big, bulky container for your water in camp when you have this great compact suggestion.

Keep water flowing with this simple technique.

Put some rocks in your socks.

Keep arms and legs warm with gear invented by cyclists.

Carrying around those little extras just got easier with this trick.

Got burgers on the brain? Learn why some experts say it's okay to indulge.

Sidelined by injury? Get back on the trail fast with this easy treatment plan.

Always carry extra identification when traveling internationally.

7 ways to kick your stride into overdrive

Want to develop legs of steel and the balance of a mountain goat? Try yoga.

Three ways to salvage broken crackers and pulverized bread.

We tortured 51 trail snacks and staples to pick the longest lasting foods for backpacking.

The hungry hiker's foolproof plan for eating like a king in the backcountry.

No refrigerator, no problem, says this cooking instructor. Here's her secret to making every meal better.

Cuisine expert Emeril Lagasse shares eight tips on how to liven up your camp cooking.

How to complete your backcountry kitchen for $5 or less.

A soup-to-nuts guide that'll get you through the supermarket and on the trail faster than you can say "express lane."

Try this homemade, ultralight bowl for long distance treks.

Got a bum knee or ankle? Better treatments for post-hike joint pain are on the horizon.

Make your own dehydrated trail food with these simple techniques.

Applying seam sealer neatly is easy with the right applicator.

Here's a handy tip to avoid wildfires in the backcountry.

The short list of what works and what doesn't.

Getting a good night's sleep on the trail is easier said than done. Our experts show you how to get your 20 winks.

Camping without stove or fire gains you freedom, flexibility, simplicity, and compactness, and sometimes a lighter load.

Feeling pooped at the end of the day? Try these relaxation and breathing techniques to put more pep in your step.

When water is scarce, minimize the amount your body expends.

Experiencing a sore butt on the trail? Try these healing tips.

Here's how to Leave No Trace when you dump water in camp.

Prescription drugs you should carry on the trail.

If water's in short supply where you're headed, know the secrets of dry camping.

How light can you go? Six friends face off to determine whether carrying less gear makes you half as macho, or twice as smart.

Forgot a sponge? No worries -- clean your camp with these everyday wilderness substitutes.

While hiking light may seem like a new trail trend, nearly 20 years ago, many outdoor manufacturers were beating the ultralight drum.

Boy Scouts are at the forefront of teaching Leave No Trace ethics.

Just to be safe, keep that compass handy.

Follow these six route-finding tips, and stay found.

Use these navigational tricks, gleaned from champion orienteers and U.S. Army's Special Forces, to stay on track.

If you're caught in a lightning storm on the trail, head for the hills.

How one perpetually disoriented hiker found her bearings, thanks to some backwoods navigation pros.

Take a look at what your sole is doing to the ground.

Trouble crossing the trail? Try the creek.

Got a clogged stove? Try this cleaning method before eating that camping meal cold.