Skills

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.

Stow your trekking poles to get an advantage when bushwacking a trail.

A long-lasting bread that handles the rigors of backpacking.

If you have a problem with snoring (that is, if you have a tentmate who snores), try this remedy on your next night in camp.

With a little creativity, dairy-wary hikers can find tasty and satisfying alternatives to cheese.

We head for the hills to escape the tensions of everyday life. So why do our heads often pound like a drum soon after hitting the trail?

Put some past in your stomach for good trail food all the next day.

Eat right and you'll hike stronger.

Use these tips to bug-proof your clothes.

How to identify and treat swimmer's ear in the wilderness.

Help keep trails clean by picking up your own and other people's trash.

Face it: you aren't Moses and the waters won't part, so here are ways to cross wild rivers safely.

Create tasty trail meals like fish chowder, lasagna, and seafood with pasta.

Antibiotic ointment, a basic element of every first-aid kit, has gotten a bad rap lately.

Our medicine man gives his food suggestions for recovering in the backcountry.

Feeding a diabetic hiker takes planning and professional advice, but not necessarily a special menu.

Even diabetes can't slow down hikers with these health tips.

Ginkgo helps with altitude sickness and cold.

Kick the coffee and toss the tea and try yerba mate.

High on a Montana mountain, the mystery of a long-lost climber continues to unravel for those willing to make the arduous trek and search for clues that literally lie at your feet.

Above treeline, there's no easy way to hoist your vittles.

Distances can appear farther in the tundra.

Water treatments defined.

After a long, hard day, nothing is more disappointing than a stove that refuses to fire. Follow these 10 essentials for foolproof stove features and techniques.

Is this health-food-store item really needed in those recipes?

Soreness and tightness in your shins (aka shin splints) can make every step along the trail painful.

With simple planning, you can turn your bare-bones backcountry meals into satisfying, energy-boosting successes.

Rice and pasta are nice, but if you want variety, add some millet, kasha, or quinoa to your trail menu.

To stem the pain, act fast when treating burns.

Some species look alike, but guess wrong and you could have a harmful mistake on your hands.

Here's a quick tip for finding blazed trails.

Keep fresh and cool with this clothing tip from one of our readers.

Eight reasons to pack baking soda on the trail.

Keep scrapes clean with lightweight cleaning pads.

Your daily cups of java seem innocent-until you hit the trail and don't get your normal caffeine buzz for a couple of days.

Think crypto comes only from polluted water? Your healthy camp mate could be a carrier.

Texas reader says plastic-coated wire ties are essential item for backcountry emergency kits.

How to improve your tolerance for cold and enhance your outdoor performance.

Your 3 million sweat glands can make for a sweaty, smelly hike.

Body odor can get pretty bad on the trail. Here's how to make sure you never again hear the words, "What's That Smell?"

Tuck a folded square of aluminum foil in your pack and it may come in handy as a...

With a few precautions, expecting hikers can hit the trail.

New trail-tested advice for shading your face from the sun.

We're not saying you need a pedicure, but a toenail trim doesn't hurt on the trail.

Follow this cover-up advice before you head into the desert.

Your finger got crushed between a rock and a hard place. Here's what to do.

Hikes with a lot of elevation gain and loss are prime for getting tendinitis in the Achilles tendon.

Here's our guide to environmental etiquette while horsepacking.

Should we pave the wilderness and install escalators for the disabled? No, says a former backpacker.

Wind chill can nip noses or lead to frostbite. Here's what you should know.

Tired of freeze-dried? Try hardtack and corn dodgers for a tasty change of pace.

Startling research reveals the backcountry melts tension.

This vegetarian burger recipe will suit your palate and clean-up the environment.

Telling time without a watch is just a few digits away.

Here's what to do if you're caught near a wilderness wildfire.

In a strange way, music and wilderness go hand in hand.

Rice takes on the flavor of whatever you add to it, so no wonder it's such a tasty, versatile trail food.

Use streams, snow, rivers, and ponds as chilling grounds for enticing backcountry desserts.

Where not to be during lightning.

When it comes to punching up a bland menu,there's a whole world of flakes, granules, and sprinkles waiting to be tried.

Sea kayaking might not be difficult, but follow these tips to make the most of your ocean voyages.

Make sure you know how to stay safe in the mountains.

Follow these tips to make the most out of the northern night skies.

Crossing rivers can be treacherous -- unless you know what you're doing.

Sore shoulders after lugging a pack? Try this exercise remedy.

A tool tube answers the age-old packing dilemma: Where do I put the long, skinny stuff?

Suffer a bone-related injury and one of these high-tech splints will quickly become your best friend.

Eggs on the trail, stoveless oatmeal, and other breakfast miracles from readers.

The wind can save you from bugs or drive you mad. Here's how to enjoy the benefits and avoid the downside of a good stiff breeze.

Whether it's old and dirty or fresh off the store shelf, your first-aid kit should be able to handle any emergency.

Learn what the white stuff means.

Use these tools if you're hankering to learn the secret of snow.

Winter activities demand more of your body's energy.

That's essentially what the outdoors is, so use those cold temps to carry tasty foods that wouldn't stand a chance in summer.

Finish foot fungus fast -- and naturally.