Hiking & Backpacking

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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Bears in the wilderness are usually more interested in finding food than attacking you. Preventing encounters is the best way to avoid trouble... more »

How to Avoid Ticks When Hiking

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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Besides being a pest, these bloodsuckers can transmit serious and sometimes fatal diseases such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Take the following precautions before heading into heavily wooded areas... more »

How to Buy a Backpacking Stove

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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The camp stove is your best friend in the wilderness, a provider of sustenance and even possibly of lifesaving warmth. Get a good one... more »

How to Buy Hiking Boots

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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Purchasing the right hiking boots for your feet and for your outdoor activity will make your trip much more enjoyable... more »

How to Buy Quality Pants for the Outdoors

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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Your legs are all you've got for transportation in the outdoors. Protect them well... more »

How to Choose Food for Cold Weather Backpacking

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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You burn about twice as many calories backpacking in the winter than you do during your normal daily life. You'll need to eat plentiful amounts of hot foods and calorie-rich foods to keep warm, so forget about starting that diet until you're out ... more »

How to Climb Mt. Charleston via the South Loop Trail

By RedheadWriting

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The next time you're headed to Las Vegas and are looking for an outdoor adventure, head out to Mt. Charleston in the Spring Mountains range. About 40 minutes from downtown Las Vegas, Mt. Charleston is an ambitious hike. Your journey on the South ... more »

How to Deal with Altitude Sickness

By Christina Ellis

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Altitude sickness AKA acute mountain sickness (AMS) usually occurs outdoors in high altitudes. It is a condition caused by acute exposure to low air pressure. If traveling to high altitudes, it is important to take preventative measures and to ... more »

How to Diagnose and Treat Altitude Sickness

By eHow Health Editor

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Any time you rapidly increase altitude, whether in a car, on a trail, or while mountain climbing, you run the risk of getting altitude sickness. There are three types of altitude sickness: acute mountain sickness, high altitude pulmonary edema, ... more »

How to Enjoy the Blizzard of the Century

By George Sommers

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Blizzards are part of winter life in a large part of the USA - and once in a while there's one big and bad enough to shut everything down. Instead of cursing the inconvenience, heed the old adage, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.".. more »

How to Escape From Quicksand

By Paul M. J. Suchecki

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If you inadvertently slip into a pit of quicksand, don’t panic. It’s not inevitable that you’ll be sucked under like the caveman who battled Doug McClure in “The Land that Time Forgot.” Quicksand is caused when ground water, like that from a ... more »

How to Find Water in the Wilderness

By hikernb

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You’ve run out of water on your hike or backpacking trip. What to do? Here’s how to find some liquid while you’re getting your bearings to hike out or waiting to be rescued. You should also read How to Survive Being Lost – and you should always ... more »

How to Get the Most Out of Your Bandana

By hikernb

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Bandanas are one of the most useful and versatile items you can carry in your pack on a hike (or bike ride or road trip for that matter). How do I use thee? Let me count the ways….. more »

How to Hike the John Muir Trail

By hikernb

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John Muir, pictured on the 2005 California quarter, explored the Sierra Nevada Mountains and wrote essays, letters and books telling of his adventures in the wild and expanding his vision of preserving nature. His activism helped secure ... more »

How to Load a Backpack

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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A well-loaded pack takes less energy to carry than one that's off-balance. It's also much more comfortable... more »

How to Make a Knife- Based Survival Kit

By WriterGig

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Make a knife based survival kit to keep with you whenever outdoors or traveling away from home. A knife-based survival kit can make the difference between life and death in extreme circumstances, or simply make life a little more comfortable in ... more »

How to Make an Emergency 72-Hour Kit

By WriterGig

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Have an emergency 72 hour kit on hand for the worst case scenario. You will hopefully never need to fully utilize your emergency 72 hour kit, but if there comes a time when you do, it can truly be a lifesaver. The kit should include the ... more »

How to Pack the Ten Essentials of Hiking

By Bryce Stevens

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Everyone that hikes away from a trailhead should be carrying the ten essentials in their backpack. The 10 essentials are the top 10 most important things to carry with you when hiking or backpacking... more »

How to Prevent Insect Bites While Hiking

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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Insect bites are a drawback to hiking. You may not be able to eliminate them completely, but here are some steps you can take to prevent them... more »

How to Survive an Encounter With a Bear

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

23 comments

Bear attacks are extremely rare, but it's best to be prepared. Almost all bear attacks involve encounters with mothers and their cubs. Never approach a bear cub, cute and cuddly as it may be... more »

How to Take Kids on a Nature Walk

By Elizabeth McGuire

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Some of the simplest pleasures can teach kids so much. Take a child on a nature walk and watch his curiosity explode. He will be soaking up more than sunshine... more »

How to Train for Hiking Mt. Whitney

By hikernb

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Hikers dream of “bagging” Mt. Whitney in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, the highest peak in the lower 48 states. While it’s a mere four hour drive north of Los Angeles, it’s a difficult journey due to the length of the hike (22 miles round ... more »

How to Avoid Getting Attacked By Wild Animals

By gailbellenger

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People are moving closer to wilderness habitats and enjoying hiking and camping more than ever. This means encounters with wildlife have become common place. There are, however, some simple steps to take to prevent wild animal attacks... more »

How to Buy a Backpack

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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Almost any backpack will carry your stuff. The trick is to find one that's comfortable, durable, versatile and convenient... more »

How to Buy an External-Frame Backpack

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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Use the following steps to select an external-frame backpack that's just right for you... more »

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