Survival

We air-dropped a blindfolded Jim Thornton into the middle of a 2-million-acre wilderness to find out.

This durable French knife has an odoriferous handle.

This light survival kit has all the essentials.

This multitool is tougher than any task it might face.

Our resident bruin expert answers all your questions in our weekly feature, 'Ask A Bear.'

Update your survival kit for 2010.

Real reader bear questions answered by Buck Tilton.

Bears, beers, and booze——our resident bruin expert tells all in our 'Ask A Bear' column.

This tiny multitool packs a big punch.

Check out BACKPACKER readers's author page.

Most common backcountry injuries.

Your buddy just slid down a steep scree and broke his leg. Should you go for help–or haul him out? It's a tough call. The answer depends on several factors. Here's how to decide.

Here's how to prevent–and treat–three common backcountry eye problems.

Use this chart to determine if you can finish your trip–or should hightail it to the ER.

"Be prepared" is a great maxim, but be honest: Who among you packs a SAM splint and an irrigation syringe on every backpacking trip? Fear not–everyday items can serve as medical equipment in a pinch.

When you're miles away from medical help and it's serious: Here's how to handle extreme injuries in the backcountry.

Sprains, strains, and fractured bones. Here's what to do in the case of a distressed limb.

As much as we try to protect ourselves from extreme elements, sometimes the elements hedge even our greatest efforts. Here's what to do when Mother Nature wins.

Check out what to do when it's much more than a simple scrape or puncture wound.

Treating injuries miles from the ER is an essential skill. But don't pack a medical text: Instead, learn what really matters. Wilderness Medicine Institute cofounder Buck Tilton boils down a lifetime's worth of experience into 62 tips every hiker should k

This refillable lighter is a snap to ignite–even with frigid fingers.

Assess your winter climbing risks with this handy chart.

Got a burning ursine question? Ask our resident bruin expert in our new 'Ask A Bear' column.

After three decades of silence, a reporter reveals the story he was afraid to write.

Could you earn a merit badge in wilderness travel? Better ace this test, taken straight from the Scouts' own backpacking manual.

Scoutmasters wrote the book on camping, and built an army of pack-toting teens. But do the troops truly rule when it comes to outdoor skills? We pitted three Scouts against three average readers to find out.

Fast, hassle-free, ultralight,–we explore five different water treatment scenarios and the right system to use.

A waterproof firestarter that requires only one hand.

Kristin Bjornsen hikes into the Sierras to meet Gus, a new breed of highly trainedrescue professional that's already patrolling Yosemite for lost and injuredbackpackers.

Could a trail-savvy terrorist hike a nuke into America through wilderness areas on the Canadian border? An anonymous hiker-patriot alerts the White House.

Don't leave it in the car–mobile phones are the latest essential rescue gear.

Get the bug dope ready: The bloodthirsty mosquito is heading your way this summer.

Four myths about snakebites, dispelled.

Even expert hikers can take foolish risks. Stay smart–and safe–with these tips.

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

From stings to dehydration, this fully-stocked kit has everything you'd need to handle a medical issue, even when overseas

There is nothing like the African lion.

One Minnesota doctor and his team have discovered a new treatment that reduces the need for amputations.

Check out The Backpacker Editors's author page.

Baked or broiled?

An autumn climb turns life-threatening when a hiker endures a night in a whiteout at 12,000 feet in the Rockies.

On a snowy night in New Hampshire, Congressional candidate Gary Dodds crashed his car, wandered into the woods, and collapsed. Twenty-seven hours later, rescuers carried him out. And then the real drama began.

Make a fire fast with this pocket-sized tip

Seeing a bruin up close is a Yosemite highlight. Unless it's too close.

Chomped by a critter? Here's what to do.

Here are the top three wildfire dangers and how to avoid them.

Learn how to battle your way out of a raging river with these tips.

When you're stuck in the desert unexpectedly conserve, conserve, conserve.

Beware of dehydration when a sudden illness strikes.

How do hikers meet their maker in the backcountry? The answers may surprise you.

On August 25, 2005, Johan Otter and his 18-year-old daughter, Jenna, hiked right into the worst nightmare of any Glacier National Park backpacker: a 300-pound mother grizzly protecting two cubs. Here, in his own words, the 45-year-old physical therapist from Escondido, CA, shares the incredible story of their life-and-death struggle.

From snowblindness to wrong turns, everyday wilderness adventures can turn ugly if you're not prepared for everything.

Headed for the coasts? Keep those Tevas handy. Swelling oceans are threatening to submerge classic trails.

Always be prepared for adversity with these pieces of gear.

As temperatures rise, Minnesota's North Woods will likely go up in smoke.

Learn the steps to take if you're bitten by a poisonous snake.

On the trail black bears, skunks, grizzlies, rattlesnakes, and ticks are not your friend. Learn how to side-step them.

Things happen fast in the wilderness. It's important to learn the right and wrong actions beforehand so you can react accordingly.

Our pros Kristin Hostetter and Buck Tilton get you ready for the trails ahead.

Use this quick guide to determine what type of backcountry first aid training you need.

Learn how to avoid shady characters on the trail.

Cardiac arrest is the number three killer in the outdoors. Learn how to prevent, recognize, and treat trail-side heart issues.

Help yourself hike out after an ankle injury

What if your favorite place in the world was ground zero for your greatest strengths and your deepest fears? The author and her father trek into Idaho's Sawtooth Mountains to grapple with a tragedy that has haunted them for decades.

What you can do to thwart a panic attack in two common crisis situations

Check out Katie Herrel's author page.

From crossing raging rivers to falling through thin ice, here are 11 worst-case scenarios and tips for coming out unscathed.

Arizona's Havasu Canyon is a hiker's paradise famed for its jaw-dropping waterfalls. But now there's trouble in paradise—serious trouble.

If you need to be rescued, is a satellite phone a better choice than a personal locator beacon?

Teach your youngsters the basics; it could save your life.

Everyone loves national parks--but are they being loved to death? Join representatives from the Park Service, Department of the Interior, Sierra Club, American Hiking Society, and more to explore the fate of this embattled American institution.

Want to make it out alive? Consider packing these 17 items carried by a veteran Yosemite search-and-rescue ranger.

Here's how to get out of the middle when motherly instincts kick in.

It's all fun and games 'til someone gets a tent pole in the eye.

How much H2O do you really need on the trail?

Why do we bonk at 14,000 feet?

Rodents can be real pests in campsites. Use this trick to stay rodent-free the whole trip long.

Preventing sunburn is as simple as brushing your teeth.

Calculate real mileage by accounting for slope in the mountains, and you'll avoid getting into camp after dark.

Do your foot troubles warrant an expert's opinion? Take this quiz to find out.