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It’s hard enough sleeping on rocky ground in a tent, let alone when you’re covered with aggravatingly itchy bites from flying biting insects. So, here are some tips on how to avoid those itchy spots on your skin.

Tip #1: Avoid hiking where there are flying bugs.

Ha ha. Thought I meant it, didn’t ya. Probably not. Oh, well.

We all know that insects are practically everywhere in this world.

It’s almost impossible to avoid them. So, let me revise my statement. Try to hike when there are fewer biting bugs. Do some research during your planning stage, and find out when the bugs are bad and when they are scarce in the area where you plan to hike. Choose a season when they are scarce.

And, if you must hike during a high season for airborne pests, here are some more tips for bug bite prevention.

Tip #2: Don’t wear these:

a. Perfume,
b. Hair spray,
c. Scented cosmetics,
d. Scented soaps,
e. Scented shampoo.

I’m sure you’re seeing a pattern here.

Tip #3: Do wear these:

a. Protective clothing (some articles of clothing actually have insect repellent in the fabric),
b. Insect repellent spray or creme (look for Deet as an ingredient),
c. A mosquito net (for really difficult cases or scary places).

Tip #4: Keep your hands and feet out of nooks and crannies that you can’t see inside of. This tip also reduces encounters with other nasties like rattlesnakes.

Tip #5: If you plan to camp in the wilderness, make sure the netting on your tent or bivy sack is intact and with no holes.

Thumb your nose at those inconsiderate, nasty and irritating flying biting insects with by following the above tips. Happy trails. Can you add more hints? Please share them in a comment. ~Richard Davidian, Ph.D.

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Backpacking is fraught with compromises: distance versus enjoyment of scenery; reduced weight versus comfort – to name a couple. Choosing between taking a backpacking pillow or leaving it at home is one compromise that has some options.

Image by Rev. Xanatos Satanicos Bombasticos (ClintJCL) via Flickr

Compressible Pillows

You can get a compressible pillow as light as 2 to 3 ounces and with very small dimensions. This is a good choice if you don’t mind a few extra ounces and a reasonable loss of packable volume traded for an enhanced night’s sleep. You can find these at your outfitter.

Inflatable Pillows

Some inflatable pillows inflate on their own. Others require a few puffs of breath to make them fat enough for comfort. With one of these pillows, you can easily find your perfect comfort spot by increasing or decreasing the air pressure inside. Deflated, these pillows take up very little space and are low in weight. Inflatable pillows too you can find at your outfitter store.

The Non-Pillow Backpacking Pillow

This type of pillow takes the compromise to an extreme point. Just take along a stuff sack and stuff it with a jacket or other item of clothing. It works well, costs nothing and weighs virtually zero.

Choose your compromise, choose your backpacking pillow. But leave that fluffy one on your bed right where it is so you can enjoy it when you return home.

by Richard Davidian, Ph.D.

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The mountain lion, also know as the cougar or the puma, is a very elusive animal. You are likely to never encounter one in the wilderness. Nonetheless, knowledge about this magnificent cat, added to all your overall knowledge of the wilds, could be very useful some day. Here are sources presenting facts about the mountain lion. Learn and thrive.

Mountain Lions at Grand Canyon National Park: (Ranger Minute)

Mountain lions (Puma concolor, also called cougars or pumas) inhabit the canyons and forests of Grand Canyon National Park and are the region’s only remaining large predator. Surprisingly, very little is known about this secretive animals behavior, r…

The Mountain Lion

Just a cougar’s tribute, my favorite animal! Clips from Thought Equity, Getty Images, BBC Motion Gallery, National Geographic, AnimalPlanet and YouTube.

The Cougar and it’s physcial attributes. www.YouTubeBooster.net

►youtubebooster.net (it´s incredible!) – how to jumpstart your videos on youtube easily – The Cougar and it’s physcial attributes.leopard jaguar tiger lion vs Leopard Hyena anaconda fight cougar puma mountain badger wolverine wolf eagle hawk rhino el…

The Cougar

A vid with pictures and facts about the cougar/mountain lion

Mountain Lion Attacking a Deer in Divide, Colorado 8/8/08

A mountain lion killing a deer, filmed on the morning of Aug. 8, 2008 in Divide, Colorado.

Mountain Lion

Filmed by Glenn Street @ the Back Porch Ranch on 10/22/08.

Outdoor Nebraska: Dick Turpin Mountain Lion

Dick Turpin, legendary Nebraska outdoorsman and 40 year employee of Nebraska Game & Parks, happened upon a mountain lion kill in north central Nebraska. In this video, Dick narrates the video he shot of the lion coming in to it’s deer kill site.

Facts about the

Mountain Lion (Felis concolor)

Mountain Lion (Felis concolor) * Family: Felidae, * Genus: Puma, * Species:P. concolor, * Class: Mammalia * Type: Mammal, * Diet: Carnivore, * Average lifespan in the wild: 8 to 13 years, * Size: Head and body, 3.25 to 5.25 ft (1 to 1.6 m); Tail, 23….

Mountain Lion from Blog Posts

Facts About the Mountain Lion | Secrets of wild cats

They have different life spans which could range from 8 to 15 years while in captivity or up to 20 years when living in the wild. These mammals have a litter of 1 to 6 cubs with a gestation period of almost 9 months.

Publish Date: 01/09/2011 3:57

http://secrets-of-cats.com/facts-about-the-mountain-lion

Cougar: What is a Cougar, Facts, and Animal Resources About …

National Geographic – Mountain Lion Pictures, Mountain Lion Facts Website. National Geographic – Cougars on the Rise in the Eastern US Website. Canadian Geographic Magazine – Cougar Facts …

Publish Date: 01/10/2011 18:17

http://www.thefreeresource.com/cougar-what-is-a-cougar-facts-and-animal-resources-about-cougars

Mountain Lion Facts

by The Library of Congress. Mountain Lion Facts. Legends & Lore NH’s Mountain Lions Mountain Lion Facts Scientific Name: Puma concolor. Life Span: 8-11 years and up to 15-18 years in the wild and 19-20 years in captivity …

Publish Date: 12/07/2010 17:58

http://travelling.cz.cc/2010/12/mountain-lion-facts/

01.MOUNTAIN LION ON

FAST FACTS Height: 2-2.3 feet at shoulders. Length: 3.5-5.5 feet (2-2.5-foot tail length). Weight: 110-180 lbs for males; females weigh slightly less. Lifespan: About 12 years in the wild; up to 25 years in captivity. …

Publish Date: 01/13/2011 8:44

http://organizationfornature.blogspot.com/2011/01/mountain-lion-on.html

Mountain Lions In The Night

Few ever witness Mountain Lions except for. mountain lion. Mountain Lions, Mountain Lion Pictures, Mountain Lion Facts. Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. …

Publish Date: 01/11/2011 0:27

http://semantiq.ipq.co/2011/01/mountain-lions-in-the-night/

Mind Blowing Facts

It would take quite a fence to keep a mountain lion out! 107. Their favorite food is deer, but they’ll eat other critters as well. They hunt alone, not in packs like wolves. They sneak up on their prey just like a house cat sneaks up on …

Publish Date: 01/03/2011 1:53

http://www.gprs-arena.co.cc/2011/01/mind-blowing-facts.html

Mountain Lion Attacks

Lg Dishwasher Reviews; Dalmatain Puppy For Sale In Kansas; Philadelphia Parking Authority Taxi Certification; Facts About Random Violence; Rape Free Clips; Real Tits; Mountain Lion Attacks; Modified Dirt Track Racecars …

Publish Date: 01/14/2011 2:15

http://silvershoesweddingbg.shakespearesplays668.net/1295000121/Mountain_Lion_Attacks.html

Mountain lion facts

Mountain lion facts • A capable ambush predator, this cat has the largest range on any wild land animal in the Americas. Read more on Ross Valley Reporter [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content …

Publish Date: 10/15/2010 14:37

http://www.chataboutcats.com/cat-and-kitten-stories/mountain-lion-facts/

Knowing facts about the mountain lion can be a life saver if you ever encounter on. I hope you never do.

Richard Davidian

Winter is here with its joys and hazards. Learn from these YouTube videos and blog posts on the topic of symptoms of hypothermia and treatment of the same.

Hiking Survival Tips & Techniques : Avoiding & Treating Hypothermia

Learn how to avoid or how to treat hypothermia in this free wilderness survival video. Expert: Karl Jensen Bio: Karl Jensen has been hiking for seven years in the New England area. Karl is currently interning in the adventure program at Smith College…

Hypothermia Cure and Prevention

Please hypothermia is condition of organism exposed to low temperatures because of cold weather etc. and can be divided to 3 stages according to body temperature and associated signs and symptoms. Very important is to provide gradual warming, it mean…

Badlands National Park “easy” backpacking trip gone all wrong! The beginning

This is Monday morning, I had misread the weather report. Thinking it was going to be raining Tuesday I thought nothing of what should have been a modest backpacking trip in Badlands National Park. There are 18 videos in total that cronicle my strugg…

Hypothermia

United States Coast Guard University of Alaska Fisheries Safety & Survival Series Hypothermia AVA11657VNB1, 1986 Cold weather can kill as easily as a fall from a cliff. This program demonstrates the danger of hypothermia on a fishing boat, how to rec…

Emergency Hypothermia-Mayo Clinic

Every winter it happens: Someone dies from exposure to the cold. Hypothermia can happen quickly in very cold weather or in cold water. And it is often life threatening. But hypothermia is a good thing for people who have a cardiac arrest. Let’s go to…

The Effects of Hypothermia

Presented by LifeView Outdoors. A comical look at a serious subject, hypothermia, and the warning signs for colleagues to observe if caught in the outdoors. Are you Prepared to Survive? Visit www.lifeviewoutdoors.com for more information

First Aid & Safety Procedures : How to Prevent Hypothermia

Hypothermia prevention begins with proper dress and clothing. Prevent hypothermia withtips from a firefighter in this free first aid video. Expert: Joe Bruni Contact: firestop.staylow@verizon.net Bio: Captain Joe Bruni has over three decades of exper…

Blog Posts for Symptoms of Hypothermia and Treatment

The Busy Man’s Guide to Frostbite & Hypothermia | Symptoms …

Winter’s great. Love the snow – skiing, snowball fights, luge. But there’s some danger to being out in the cold, in particular – frostbite and hypothermia.

Publish Date: 01/04/2011 17:11

http://manofthehouse.com/health/doctor/the-mans-guide-to-frostbite-hypothermia

Blog Healthy Food | Symptoms of Hypothermia and how to Prevent and …

Signs and Symptoms of hypothermia: Blood pressure and heart rate increase. Muscles tense and shiver; this produces more body heat, but results in a loss of dexterity and motor control. As your body’s core temperature drops further, …

Publish Date: 11/30/2010 1:42

http://blog.find-healthy-food.com/health-news/symptoms-of-hypothermia-and-how-to-prevent-and-treat-it.html

How to Reduce Your Risks of Hypothermia

Put simply, hypothermia is when your core body temperature drops to 95oF (35oC) or below. As your core temperature drops and vital organs cool, symptoms of hypothermia range from simple shivering while waiting for a bus with too few …

Publish Date: 12/16/2010 10:00

http://sentarainfo.com/today/?p=4184

Symptoms of Hypothermia and How to Treat it: Cold, Windy, Freezing …

Recognizing and treating hypothermia early can not only save fingers, toes, noses and eyes, it can save a life. Administering early treatment is vital.

Publish Date: 12/28/2009 12:47

http://www.suite101.com/content/symptoms-of-hypothermia-and-how-to-treat-it-a183460

Hypothermia Prevention and Management

There are several clinical signs and symptoms of hypothermia. Infants, for example, will display bright red and cold skin, or they may not appear to be very active. Adults will shiver and demonstrate confusion, exhaustion, …

Publish Date: 12/26/2010 18:37

http://www.suite101.com/content/hypothermia-prevention-and-management-a324847

hypothermia symptoms, causes of hypothermia, symptoms of hypothermia

Hypothermia symptoms show up as soon as the body temperature drops below 95 degress. It is easier to prevent it than overcome it. Here is what you need to know.

Publish Date: 12/09/2010 0:00

http://www.seeyosemite.com/hypothermia-symptoms.html

Having knowledge of the symptoms of hypothermia and its treatment can give you lots more confidence when you hike in cold weather.

Richard Davidian

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While bacpacking, we can make a difference in the wilderness. We can resolve to leave no trace and practice low impact backpacking, leaving the environment intact and pristine for others to enjoy. Here are some sources discussing this vital topic.

How to Make a Low Impact Campfire : How to Light a Campfire in the Rain

Water and fire don’t typically mix. However, sometimes they have to when you’re out camping. Learn how to light a campfire in the rain or in wet conditions in thisfree video series. Expert: Bruce Lessels Contact: www.kayaklesson.com Bio: Bruce Lessel…

Basic Hiking Tips & Techniques : Protecting Hiking Trails

Learn how to protect hiking trails in this free hiking video Expert: Karl Jensen Bio: Karl Jensen has been hiking for seven years in the New England area. Karl is currently interning in the adventure program at Smith College to gain more knowledge ab…

Low Impact Backpacking Blog Posts

Not Buying Anything: Simple Living Lessons Out Of The Backpack

Just about everything I know about low impact, simple living I learned while backpacking: if it is not useful, don’t pack it along with you; you can live indefinitely with a minimum of possessions; nothing makes food taste better than …

Publish Date: 11/03/2010 5:07

http://notbuyinganything.blogspot.com/2010/11/simple-living-lessons-out-of-backpack.html

How Walking Boots Can Save Your Life

Exploring the great outdoors is definitely one of the best exercises that you can do; a low impact aerobic exercise, and most doctors will definitely agree that it is accessible to almost everyone regardless of age, general condition …

Publish Date: 11/10/2010 7:42

http://www.eyzona.com/how-walking-boots-can-save-your-life.html

Where to Find Biodegradable Soap: For Eco-Friendly Camping, Hiking …

Campers, hikers, and backpackers love being out in nature. It’s good to keep one’s environmental impact low when out in the woods, in the mountains, or on the trail. One way to make a camping or backpacking trip eco-friendly is to wash …

Publish Date: 01/24/2010 8:23

http://www.suite101.com/content/where-to-find-biodegradable-soap-a184366

Anchoring A Tent For Any Environment: Tent Pegs

For them, that means bringing nothing more than a water proof tarp, cordage, food and a backpack with a knife and a change of clothes. Low impact camping relies on scraping up tools that nature has bountifully provided. …

Publish Date: 11/05/2010 22:40

http://the4mantent.com/tent-pegs/

Leave No Trace campsites and backpacking trips, low impact camping …

Backpacking all day with a heavy load through rugged but beautiful mountains is hard work, and an important part of the trip, to us, is enjoying a great campsite. What makes a great campsite? Firstly, it needs to be “low impact. …

Publish Date: 01/27/2010 0:21

http://alaskanalpinetreks.com/ramblings/2010/01/27/campsites/

Backpacking Tips: Bathing in Backcountry

Backpacking Hygiene: Staying Clean on Backpacking Trips. Taking a bath isn’t practical in the backcountry, especially as it is not low impact to be using soap in a pond or stream. However, it is possible to bathe and get clean. …

Publish Date: 08/05/2010 10:40

http://backpackingtipsresearch.wordpress.com/2010/08/06/backpacking-tips-bathing-in-backcountry/

The Advantages of a Gas Stove

For the most part, the power from natural sources is low impact because biological material can be quickly restored through natural processes. By: Stephanie Larkinl Home Improvement> Tools Equipmentl lViews July 8, 2008: 558 How to …

Publish Date: 11/10/2010 2:28

http://safety.gasstove7.com/the-advantages-of-a-gas-stove.html

Low impact backpacking is a goal that is worthy of our efforts. Let’s keep our footprint as small as we can for the sake of those that come after us.

Richard Davidian
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