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If you're going to walk outside barefoot then my advice is to just go with it - build up the strength on short distances and eventually you shouldn't have an issue with hiking long distances just b...
I tend to think backpacking is one of the cheapest activities to take up, as it takes very little cost to start. Sure, they need some good boots, a rucksack and some warm clothing - but that's al...
As an interim step, have you tried the Vibram Five Fingers running shoes - these still have protection under your feet, but give a lot of freedom as they are very thin. This could let you see ho...
Have you thought about Google Sky Map for Android or Star Walk on iPhone? These may give you what you need. (I know, batteries run out, phones get wet etc., but these will show sky at a particular...
Here is the position the Boy Scouts of America teaches boys to use when in this situation. If a lightning storm catches your group in the open, spread out so that people are at least 100 feet...
Tent: A 2 person tent divides up really well between Tent/rainfly, and poles/groundcloth, a 4 person tent breaks down each component even more. Share with a bigger tent and you should be good to g...
No question about it -- use a life vest. Make sure you're using a secure, tight-fitting jacket, though. The ones I've always used have several straps across the front so you can get a good, snug ...
One trick is to avoid them. A breeze is often enough to keep the bugs away, as are the cooler temperatures of May, June, September and October (for Canada at least). Combine the two by sticking t...
Pine needles have virtually no caloric value. I would not recommend pine needles as an energy source, although they have plenty of vitamin C and make delicious tea. This is good in winter to avoid ...
In answer to the original question: There are several products on the market designed for dogs with sore paw pads. These are often wax based, and adhere to the skin to provide some protection. S...
We've been using flexible Platypus reservoirs and have had no trouble thus far. I have knitted an insulation tube (six-stitch I-cord in a sport weight wool) that runs the entire length of the drin...
Here's the Wolf Safety guidelines and procedures for British Columbia Parks, and here's backcountry advice around wolves from the Predator Conservation Alliance, they basically say that wolves don'...
Perhaps the most obvious and commercially available is solar, which has options ranging from small pocket-sized chargers to roll-out military grade flexible panels. I believe Brunton makes a consum...
Probably as expected, advice varies wildly depending on whether you're talking about relying on charging the batteries for a life / death situation or it'd just be a "nice to have" if such an optio...
Relative humidity is doing to be a big factor here, both on the too wet and too dry sides. Staying warm is generally not something you want to try to do "by the numbers". If you're out in the col...
If you know about the wind then that might help you. For example, a northerly wind blows from the north to the south, likewise an easterly wind is a wind that originates in the east and blows west ...
For such a long trip, however, you should do your best to make your diet a little closer to a home diet if at all possible. While not as convenient as an MRE, a variety of simple minimally process...
My rule is don't eat wild raw meat, cook it when you can't be sure both it and the preparation are sanitary. The only exception is fish caught from a line when I'm able to cleanly sashimi a species...
I've tried very hard to keep a charge on a smart phone while on backpacking trips. It was used primarily for recording GPS routes and photos to look at later rather than for anything important. I...
First, Freeze-dried Vegetables. Unfortunately, the texture isn't quite right, but it works. Secondly, if you want actual FRESH veggies, then I'd recommend sprouts grown in your pack Thirdly, i...
Have a look to see if there's a dry slope skiing centre near you - that might be your best option (especially if, like here, the amount of snow you get on a regular basis varies from none to none!)...
One possible advantage not yet mentioned for external frame pack is that most are adjustable to fit a wide range of people. This is useful if you know that the pack is going to be used by several ...
We quite often cook on a small gas stove in the porch (vestibule) of the tent - as long as you are careful and don't leave it unattended, just be sensible. I have seen a tent go up in flames, and ...
With fog, the only thing you're losing is extended visibility. This shouldn't throw off your plan too much, unless you were navigating by watching far away landmarks. If you were on a trail, stay ...
The primary difference is good winter camping tents are designed to stand up to and / or mitigate snow building up on top of them. Ventilation is also very important as you don't want moisture from...
