JULY/AUGUST 2019
110 BACKPACKER.COMPHOTO BY LOUISA ALBANESENOTHING BAD WOULD happen on my first multi-week trip at age- I was full of teenage confidence, even though I’d never camped
more than four nights in a row. Experience? That was a tiny detail
when facing the prospect of true freedom in the Quebecois wilder-
ness with a group from the camp I’d been attending for years. I’d
finally made it to the big time.
So when I got a bug bite on my foot, I wasn’t about to show any
signs of weakness. I scratched it until it stung, stuck it back in my
river-soaked KEENs, and moved along with my coming-of-age
story. A few days went on, and so did the itch. By day, I pretended
all was OK, gripping harder on my paddle to forget the fester, let-
ting my mind engage the scenery. In the privacy of my sleeping
bag at night, however, I attacked that itch like an eagle on a trout.
It wasn’t long before an angry infection spread across the
inside of my foot, reaching its little red tentacles over the arch. I
was mortified. If there’s one thing a wilderness-bound teenager
doesn’t want—even more than appearing weak—it’s any kind of
creeping, oozing skin thing. It was time to come clean.
That night, I was the star of evening med-kit rounds and recipi-
ent of a tut-tutting from our counselors. Yes, it was wrong to
assume an injury would heal if it was wet all day; it was wrong
to conceal my worsening situation; it was wrong to let optimism
overtake realism. But at the core, if your body isn’t healthy, neither
is your trip. I was able to fix my foot with regular care and wore my
bandages like badges of honor. Ultimately, I was lucky, and now I
never wait for small injuries to become big ones. –Zoe GatesM Y BA DI Didn’t Ask for Help.
YOU’RE
DOING IT
WRONG!You take shortcuts. Also known as
“getting lost.”You hike with your head down.
Footing is important, but you’re
missing all the views and navigation
landmarks. Slow down.You shake dry after peeing. Shake
dry isn’t really dry. Instead, use a
pee cloth, like the Kula Cloth ($20;
kulacloth.com), which wicks up whiz
and lets it evaporate.You camel a liter of water before you
leave camp. It won’t hurt you, but it
won’t hydrate you for the long haul.
Instead, sip a few ounces every 15
minutes to optimize absorption.HEALTH & HYGIENE
QUICK
FIX
YOU PACKED THE WHOLE MEDICINE CABINET.
Don’t let a heavy med kit weigh you down—or lull you into a false sense of security. For low-risk weekend trips,
slim one down to its essentials (plus prescriptions) and learn how to improvise the rest.IMPROVISE- Splint Grab some-
thing long and rigid (like
a trekking or tent pole),
arrange the injured limb
in a comfortable position,
and secure the pole to the
limb using medical tape or
cloth. Immobilize joints on
both sides of the injury. - Hemostatic gauze
Fact: Pressure stops
bleeding. Use anything
absorbent and press firmly
on a bleeding wound. If
the material becomes
saturated, add another on
top (never remove layers).- Elastic bandage
Snugly wrap a (stretchy)
T-shirt around the
affected joint. - Water syringe
A fast-moving jet of
water is useful for clean-
ing wounds. Fill a plastic
bag with clean water and
snip off a bottom corner.
Squeeze the bag and
direct the stream into
the injury.
PACK- Alcohol prep pads
- Antibiotic ointment
- Medical tape
- Bandages
- Tweezers
- Antihistamine
- Ibuprofen
- Moleskin
- Nail scissors
DITCH- Medical shears:
You only need the nail
scissors. - Tincture of benzoin:
Duct tape is a better
adhesive. - Aspirin: Ibuprofen is
easier on the stomach. - Thermometer: Use a
hand on the forehead.
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