Unless you have an expert with you on a hike, my recommendation is to stay away from eating anything you find on the trail. When it comes to poisonous plants, don’t even touch them. Poison Oak and Poison Ivy These plants contain oils that when rubbed onto the skin can cause an intensely itchy or […]
What is Altitude Sickness?
Altitude sickness is caused by rapid or prolonged exposure to low amounts of oxygen at high elevation. Symptoms may include headaches, vomiting, tiredness, trouble sleeping, blue lips and extremities and dizziness. It can progress to worse conditions including HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema), which is a fluid buildup in the lungs that prevents the normal […]
Hiking: Pushing Yourself Gradually and Sensibly
The degree of challenge of a hike is highly individual and a lot of factors come into play, not the least of which are age, fitness, medical condition, and the amount of passion you have for getting outdoors. If there are any concerns about medical condition, confer with your doctor about your hiking plans. Even […]
What to do in a Thunderstorm
The word “thunderstorm” focuses on the wrong threat: it is the lightning that injures or kills. From first-hand experience, the most frightening aspect of hiking or climbing is the prospect of being caught way out in an open field or way above the tree line in an electrical storm with nowhere to hide. The experience […]