Dehydration is a common backcountry problem that affects children and adults alike. It can lead to fatigue, headaches, lethargy, irritability, and more serious injuries if left untreated. Your first line of defense is to keep your group hydrated by drinking plenty of water. For extended trips you may...

The thought of searching for a lost child after a backpacking, camping or hiking trip is agonizing, to say the least. But part of managing risk is confronting the potential problem and taking steps to control the outcome if it does happen. One step that you can proactively take to increase the probability...

In 1848 a carpenter named James Marshall was inspecting the progress of a sawmill he was constructing on the banks of the American River in Coloma, CA. As he gazed into the water, he noticed something that would change the world forever. Glittering in the sunlight were the nuggets of gold that would...

The most popular of our free seminars, " How to Identify and Avoid Poison Oak " has been reorganized, updated, and revised. The seminar helps you understand the mechanism of poison oak exposure, learn how to identify poison oak, and learn what to do in the event that you or your kids are exposed...

The British climate can often be very wet and cold, especially in winter. These effects can be greatly enhanced when you are out in the open country, high up in the hills. As an avid hiker, I always want to be protected from the wind-chill and rain as much as possible when I am out on a hike, but at...

The year was 1852 and Augustus T. Dowd was tracking a grizzly bear that he had wounded. As he walked through the unfamiliar forest he was stunned to find a tree larger than any he had ever seen. He returned to his mining camp and told his tale. After a fair amount of ridicule he was able to convince...

If you live in Southern California and are looking for an opportunity to get outside with the kids, here's a site that should be in your RSS reader: modernhiker.com . Modern Hiker uses a well written blog, digital photography, and Google Maps to track trail descriptions and conditions for a number...

Much has been written about hiking with kids, particularly on the subjects of equipment and technique. In fact, one of the best articles on the subject was authored by Penny Schwyn and is posted here. However, an area worthy of more exploration lies in matching the right hike to the capabilities of a...

We are working hard to launch our first product ( The Yosemite National Park Scavenger Hunt ) but it is still a couple of months away... until then, I thought that I would recap some of the other family outdoor recreation activities that we have explored in the Trailmix.Net blog. Photo Credit: Majorvol...

A few weekends ago, I was walking with the kids on an icy trail in Yosemite National Park. After spending most of my life hiking, walking, and playing in snow, even helping a Mountain Rescue Team gain national certification in snow and Ice rescue a couple of times, I completely failed to recognize the...