navigation, electronics & first aid -
because sometimes you don't want to be lost, injured, and all alone in the woods
Like winter camping without knowing how to stay warm, not having a clue about the basics of navigation and first aid while in the woods could prove to be a bad thing. Avoid this awkwardness by spending just a little time in getting to know the various ways to staying found. Not getting lost in the first place, by knowing where you are at all times, is a great start, but a little more is needed. Basic map and compass skills are fairly easy to obtain, and there are numerous websites and books related to learning basic navigation skills. Having a GPS and knowing how to use it could also be a good thing, but still doesn't negate knowing how to read a map and compass, since electronics can fail in the field.
First aid skills while hiking don't have to have an MD degree behind them. Basic blister and foot care, keeping cuts clean, understanding heat exhaustion and hypothermia, and knowing when to head for the car or call for help could be a great start. A number of different organizations offer Wilderness First Aid, and for those with no background in taking care of injuries, it is a great investment of both time and money. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER and to be an empowered hiker and truly feel at home in the outdoors, you need to know how to care for common injuries that could occur while galavanting around the forest.
Hiking light doesn't mean hiking without some safety basics. My compass weighs 1/2 an ounce, and my GPS is part of my music player - multipurpose and easily carried without a major weight penalty.
Enough lecturing - take a look at some of my picks in this category, and begin to get your own knowledge and confidence under your belt while in the woods.
First aid skills while hiking don't have to have an MD degree behind them. Basic blister and foot care, keeping cuts clean, understanding heat exhaustion and hypothermia, and knowing when to head for the car or call for help could be a great start. A number of different organizations offer Wilderness First Aid, and for those with no background in taking care of injuries, it is a great investment of both time and money. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER and to be an empowered hiker and truly feel at home in the outdoors, you need to know how to care for common injuries that could occur while galavanting around the forest.
Hiking light doesn't mean hiking without some safety basics. My compass weighs 1/2 an ounce, and my GPS is part of my music player - multipurpose and easily carried without a major weight penalty.
Enough lecturing - take a look at some of my picks in this category, and begin to get your own knowledge and confidence under your belt while in the woods.