Bifocal Blindness
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Bifocals are not good glasses to wear while hiking because looking down is through the reading part of the lens.
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| Valerie Danzey -- Footnotes, Spring 2005 |
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Hiking or Hobbling
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Hiking poles improve safety and comfort in hilly and icy terrain. Hiking poles are great joint savers in climbing and descending steep trails. They let your arms take some of the load off your knees as you climb and help cushion the shock on your knees, hips and back when you descend. They also aid balance in icy terrain and during stream crossings. Poles with spring-loaded tips help reduce arm soreness resulting from banging the poles on rocks. Poles come with different sized grips to accommodate varying hand sizes.
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| Terry McAdams -- Footnotes, Winter 2004 |
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Head for Hats
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Always keep a hat and light windbreaker in your pack. One never knows when there will be a sudden change in wind or temperature.
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| Bruce Wagner -- Hotline, November 2004 |
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Protein Punch
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Have a protein rich snack shortly after a strenuous outing to help repair your muscles and reduce soreness.
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| Bruce Wagner -- Hotline, October 2004 |
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Grab a Bag
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Have you considered bringing a grocery plastic bag for trash along the trail. Not only does this recycle the bag, it also cleans up the trail.
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| Kevin Manna -- Hotline, September 2004 |
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Cotton Kills
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Cotton once wet, whether from sweat, rain, or river, stays wet. Modern hydrophobic fabrics wick moisture away, so drying quickly, and keeping you warm in cool weather and cool in warm weather. There are many different brands on the market, with many different feels, not just the original polypropylene. Now is a good time to take advantage of the end-of-season sales. So don't delay, avoid becoming the next hypothermia victim and can that cotton.
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| Bill Steinmetz -- Footnotes, Fall 2004 |
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Feel Fresh
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Trail food has a purpose--we use lots of energy and reduce our electrolytes and burn carbohydrates in our system. They need replacing as we walk.
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| Bruce Wagner -- Hotline, July 2004 |
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Stay Supple
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Warm weather is upon us. Don't forget to drink plenty of water.
Relying on thirst is unreliable and potentially dangerous. Once
you're thirsty, you're already dehydrated. Also, your thirst will
go away after drinking insufficient water to properly re-hydrate you.
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| Paul Davis -- Hotline, June 2004 |
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Strike While the Foot is Hot
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Don't wait for a blister to bubble up and burst. As soon as you feel an uncomfortable or hot spot developing, cover it with a band-aid, moleskin, or blister patch. If you are prone to blisters, cover the spot before you start your hike. A thin layer of protection applied early will prevent a bigger problem later. Also consider gloves while paddling.
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| Tim Schiller -- Footnotes, Summer 2004 |
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Tenacious Tea
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Want to clean pans on the trail? Try a tea-bag.
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| Dick Newbert -- Hotline, April 2004 |
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We always welcome additional suggestions for Trail Tips. Please e-mail any suggested additions or comments to the education chair.
AMC
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