Skills

Eight reasons to pack baking soda on the trail.

Keep scrapes clean with lightweight cleaning pads.

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...

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

When the ground is frozen or 3 feet under snow, use these backcountry bathroom techniques.

Scientists now believe that the navigationally challenged can retrain their brains.

Learn what the white stuff means.

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

Know what to look for and you can simply pick one up off the ground.

Or anything else, for that matter, once you use this easy-to-make stove platform.

Think tofu isn't suited for the backcountry? Think again. Whether it's scrambled, baked, or dehydrated, there's little this veggie protein can't do.

A personal perspective on healing back, joint and other body pains.

If rock hopping or log crossing triggers panic, maybe you need to fine-tune your balancing act.

It's tasty, nutritious, and will survive being crammed in a pack. Might pasta be the perfect trail food?

If you've had a knee injury, follow these exercises before you hit the trail again.

Shaky on logs or rocks? Try these exercises to steady your feet.

Cooking tips from readers.

Got a first-aid kit? Great. Now add these over-the-counter medicines and it'll be perfect.

How to build a shelter if you get stuck in the backcountry.

Make your own backcountry insurance policy.

Stronger foot muscles can end ankle sprains and aching arches.

Test to see if your "shocks" -- the arches of your feet -- are blown.

In every backpacker's life, there comes a time when you stare awestruck at a mountain and wonder, "What's it like to climb that sucker?"

Stay calm, have a bite to eat, and remember there's nothing to fear but fear itself.

Time it right and you can harvest fresh greens every day of your trip.

Rather than tearing open an envelope, wouldn't you rather slice and dice something fresh?

Use these specific stretches to alleviate muscle pain.

Boil, pour, stir, eat. Camp food doesn't get any easier than this.

Nothing cramps your style like a knotted muscle. Here are simple ways to stay pain-free.

Choose your fuel wisely to keep your engine running strong.

Break down your calorie intake for maximum energy on the trail.

What you can and can't fix: How to breathe new life into tired old faithfuls.

Fish hooks can be painful and dangerous -- here's how to get 'em out.

Why shoulder a heavy load when you can easily slide it along behind you?

No joint is more prone to injury than the knee. Here's what to do when faced with a backcountry blow-out.

The big hinge in your leg is essential to hiking -- here's how the knee gets you over the pass.

When pack weight drags you down, homemade Sherpa straps can help ease the burden.

Take an advanced wilderness first-aid course and you'll never have to say "I didn't know what to do" to the next-of-kin.

When the trout are thick and the ethics resolved, catch-and-eat is the tasty way to go.

If your feet are a source of backcountry air pollution, here's how to keep them smelling sweet.

Wrap your dinner in a tortilla and you've got an appetizing and tidy way to satisfy those hunger pangs.

When it's hot outside, keep cool with this sunscreen for your head.

Fearless campers sacrifice their taste buds to determine which instant breakfast is best.

Here's how to make sense of your sunscreen.

A techno-packer and a yard-sale minimalist go stride for stride to find out what kind of equipment is best for a good time. Or more importantly, does it really matter?