Skills

The internet is in a panic over a huge invasive plant that can cause severe burns and temporary blindness. Here's what hikers should keep in mind. Author: Adam Roy Publish date: Jun 22, 2018 If you've read the news lately, you've probably heard of giant hogweed. The invasive plants sound like something out of a horror film: they grow taller than a ranch house, have bristly white hairs lining their stem, and, oh, can give you third-degree burns if you disturb it.  Better yet, it's spreading: While this invader was formerly mostly found in the northeast, staff from Virginia Tech's Massey Herbarium confirmed earlier this month that the plant has now established itself in their state as well. Here's what you need to know about giant hogweed. What is giant hogweed? Also known as giant cow parsnip or hogsbane, giant hogweed (heracleum mantegazzianum) is a member of the apiaceae family, a group of plants that includes carrots, dill, parsnip, caraway, and several other … [Read more...] about Everything You Never Wanted to Know About Giant Hogweed, the Plant That Causes Third-Degree Burns

Author: Matt Samet Publish date: Jun 21, 2018 Crusty Corner is a column written by Climbing Editor Matt Samet, a climber of 30 years. When he's not at the gym or the rocks trying to stave off the inevitable performance decline of middle age, you can find him in his basement playing Xbox. I’ve stopped keeping count of how many times it’s happened: A friend and I head out climbing early and get to the crag before everyone else, or to arrive with the first wave of climbers. I’m a father now, climbing for nearly three decades but with two young kids, and I need to get out and back home early if I’m to keep my weekly hall pass and not just be consigned to one-hanging “Red Tape” ad infinitum for what little remains of my productive years. Here on Colorado’s Front Range, there are many, many climbers, and if you climb on a weekend at a popular crag, it pays to leave early, especially if you have a specific route in mind. We have seen … [Read more...] about Crusty Corner: Three Simple Tips to Be a Better Custodian of Crowded Cliffs

Don't let a run-in with this pesky plant ruin your summer hiking plans. Learn how to treat poison ivy exposure and avoid it altogether, and brush up on the science behind the backcountry's least-loved vine. Author: Adam Roy Publish date: Jun 17, 2018 Social count: 0 0 SHARES Once it's happened to you, you never forget it: You're hiking when you brush up against a patch of poison ivy. A few days later, your body is covered in an angry, itchy red rash, dotted with painful blisters. You can treat it with creams and pain medication, but that burning sensation doesn't go away quickly. The best way to deal with poison ivy: never let it touch you in the first place. Below, you'll find the following: How to identify and avoid poison ivy A guide to treating for poison ivy rash The science behind what poison ivy is, and why it makes you so itchy Poison ivy advice for dog owners Tips for deciding when you should visit a doctor What is Poison Ivy and Where Will I Find it? What … [Read more...] about How to Identify, Avoid, and Treat Poison Ivy

Nature can be brutal. Learn how to to deal with wounds from all kinds of thorns, spines, splinters, shards, quills, needles, and anything else that might get under your skin when you’re on the trail. Author: Buck Tilton Publish date: Jun 14, 2018 Social count: 6 6 SHARES It's a prickly world out there. Splinters, cactus spines, thorns—at some point, you're bound to discover some sharp little thing that's rudely lodged itself under your skin. Your options are several: Try to ignore it and hope it goes away (it won't); grab the offending pricker with your fingers (chances are, you'll only make things worse); or locate your well-stocked first aid kit to tackle the problem. Below, you will find… a list of items to pack in your first aid kit instructions for disinfecting an instrument (if the splinter disappears under your skin) directions for removing offending objects a guide for treating a puncture wound special instructions for cactus spines, … [Read more...] about How to Remove and Treat Thorn, Splinter, and Other Prick Wounds

There's calorie density, nutritional profile, and bulk to consider. But when it comes to packing food for a thru-hike, one thing will always hold true: it has to taste good enough to eat. Author: Liz "Snorkel" Thomas Publish date: Jun 12, 2018 Social count: 0 0 SHARES Dear Snorkel, What should I eat on a thru-hike? Should I be thinking about menu planning differently? Hungry for a Long Trip Hiking thousands of miles without a break takes a lot of energy. That means food, and lots of it. Watching thru-hikers feed has become a yearly pastime for people who live near long trails. When it comes to thru-hiking food planning, there are both practical considerations and the specific macro and micro nutritional needs. (Want all the details? Nutritionists Katie “Salty” Gerber collaborated with us on our Thru-hiking 101 class.) This week, I’ll talk about the thru-hiker mindset when it comes to trail food and how that is different than a typical … [Read more...] about Ask a Thru-Hiker: What Should I Eat on a Long Trail?

Everyone does it. But it takes a special kind of hiker to make tripping look good. Author: M. John Fayhee Publish date: Jun 12, 2018 Social count: 0 0 SHARES We all slip, trip, tumble, and topple every once in a while. We say: own it. Impress your trail pals and earn style points with these top-tier tripping techniques. Just make sure to have some gauze handy. The Trail Obstacle On perfectly coiffed trail, one covered with a spongy patina of impact-absorbing pine needles spread evenly atop a base of soft soil, stub your toe on a firmly set rock or remnant stump in the middle of that trail. Try to catch your balance in huge, arcing leaps, but inevitably land directly on your face. (Silver lining: You don’t break your wrist.) Staff Meeting Moving your hiking staff forward intentionally and purposefully like the stable hiker you are, you hit a trailside barrier—usually a boulder—that sends your pole ricocheting back into your stride. Usually, the … [Read more...] about The 6 Best Ways to Trip and Fall on the Trail

Author: Oleksii Shulha and Jeff Chapman Publish date: May 31, 2018 Social count: 0 0 SHARES In 2013 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) rejected a bid for the inclusion of climbing in the 2020 Olympics. But after being swept to the gutter, the sport cranked its way up onto the 2020 program, thanks to a new initiative that gave host city of Tokyo several additional slots to fill. The IOC then approved these sports on a provisional basis, awarding two medals to each (one for women and one for men). This posed a dilemma for the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC), which was charged with devising a format for a single Olympic climbing event. Up to now, competition climbing has been broken into three separate disciplines—lead, boulder, and speed—with competitors tending to specialize in one or two and with speed the oft-ignored step child to the other two more “legitimate” disciplines, at least in the United States. Related: What … [Read more...] about Intro to Speed Climbing: Two Beginner Drills

Turn up the fun factor with stuffed fruits and veggies. Best part? No dishes required. Author: Nick Cote Publish date: May 31, 2018 Social count: 0 0 SHARES Bell Pepper Eggs Slow down your morning with a protein-rich breakfast. Serves 2 4 bell peppers 4 strips bacon, precooked 8 large eggs 2 oz. aged Gouda, grated Salt and pepper, to taste At Home: Cook bacon until crispy. Crumble and store in a zip-top bag. Pack grated cheese in another. Store eggs in a hard-sided container. In Camp: Cut around bell pepper stems (like carving a pumpkin), and scoop out seeds (reserve tops). Crack two eggs into each pepper. Season with salt and pepper, stir lightly to break yolks, then top with bacon and cheese (divide between each). Replace tops and wrap each pepper tightly in foil. Roast in coals, turning occasionally, for 20 minutes or until eggs are set.  Calories 560Protein 38gWeight 1 lb. Chorizo and Couscous Dolmas Spice up this classic Turkish … [Read more...] about 3 Perfect Stuffed Fruit and Veggie Recipes You Need to Try

Author: Majka Burhardt Publish date: May 29, 2018 Social count: 0 0 SHARES It’s 2 p.m., and you’ve granted yourself a quick afternoon cragging sesh. What could go wrong? Lots, it turns out. Casual cragging is anything but—the law of gravity still applies, just like it would with more “serious” all-day objectives. As a climber for 26 years and guide for 20 years, I’ve seen too many people breeze past solid first placements only to sketch and face a groundfall, belay in a stack of (familiar) loose blocks or with an unlocked carabiner while they chat up a neighbor, or fail to test suspect holds. Complacency kills! Here, a four-part checklist to help you beat it. Reframe Your Day Create a habit of collecting yourself before you launch—either in the car or on the approach. The key is to let go of what you were doing and focus on what’s about to happen. I survey the cliff—this overview lets me evaluate hazards and ground … [Read more...] about Checklist: How to Shake Off Complacency to Avoid Accidents

Gear up for the United States' toughest long path with these expert picks. Author: Liz "Snorkel" Thomas Publish date: May 25, 2018 Social count: 0 0 SHARES On a path as long, high, and remote as the Continental Divide Trail, there is little room for gear errors. For four to six months of walking, CDT thru-hikers have a laundry list of concerns that outpace those of many other long trails: grizzly bears, lightning storms, avalanche danger, unmarked or non-existent trails, long food and water carries, weeks at altitude, and raging snowmelt-filled river fords. That is one reason that while first-time thru-hikers occasionally make it, most wait to tackle the CDT until they have more experience. Most hikers find the CDT exhausting on a day-to-day basis. When tired, hungry, or dehydrated, hikers often don’t have the patience to put up with gear that may be rubbing oddly or isn’t functioning properly. The solution: get it right the first time. Compared to the … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Continental Divide Trail Packing List