Several factors can cause the hands to swell when hiking, but the most common causes are gravity and how the body distributes heat during exercise. Gravity plays a significant role in this process, as it pulls the fluid in our bodies towards the lower extremities, including our fingers, hands, and feet. As the core muscles heat up when hiking, the vascular system cools the body by releasing more fluid to these areas. When blood reaches the skin to dissipate the heat, fluids leak out of the vessels, causing swelling of the limbs. Medically known as exercise-induced peripheral edema, the problem […]
Backpacking Tips
69 posts
Most outdoor activities can be done year-round with the proper choice of clothing. Here we’ll discuss the best clothing to wear when backpacking or cycling, fabrics that wick away moisture, dry quickly, and are breathable.
After exerting all that energy to carry the weight of your food on your back, the last thing you want to do is to lose valuable calories by eating carelessly. Chewing your food thoroughly is one of the most important and overlooked things you can do to improve calorie and nutrient absorption from trail foods. How to Maximize Calorie Absorption Digestion starts in the mouth before it can happen in the stomach and intestines. Chewing your food not only breaks the food down into smaller pieces so it can be swallowed, but the saliva from your mouth releases carbohydrate-digesting enzymes. […]
34% of the world’s population lives within 330 vertical feet (100 meters) of sea level Chances are, you live in a part of the country that is lower in elevation and pay no attention to cooking instructions intended for high altitudes. But one day, you may find yourself hiking more than 8,000 feet above sea level in the Sierras or Rockies and wonder why your rehydrated pasta meal came out crunchy or rice curry watery. Backpacking foods will require cooking adjustments at higher altitudes. High altitudes affect backpacking food preparation in two ways: Water and other liquids evaporate faster. Water […]
Do noodles or pasta need to be cooked at all? Here we discuss which types of pasta “cook” in cold water, without a stove.