Let’s face it…we’ve all forgotten to bring one or more essential items on a hiking or backpacking trip. I, for one, pretty much always forget my compass. Call it overconfidence, forgetfulness, (extremely) early-onset Alzheimer’s…whatever you want. The fact is, I know I’m not the only one. So, what do you do if you find yourself lost on the trail without your compass?

Unless you forgot to bring your watch, too, you can use it to help you figure out which direction is which.  Here’s how:

Turn your watch into a compass

If you’re in the northern hemisphere, simply point the hour hand of your watch at the sun. The point midway between the hour hand and the “12″ on your watch is roughly South. Simply turn around to identify North, right for West, left for South…you get gist. Reverse the technique if you’re hiking in the southern hemisphere.

Ok, let’s say you’re wearing a digital watch, or no watch at all…what do you do?

Make a dirt compass

Here’s a good tip I saw on Man Vs. Wild. It’s not the quickest method, but it’s accurate (note — start this technique in the AM):

• Find a level piece of ground with good sun exposure, like a meadow or flat ridge top.
• Drive a 3-4 foot stick straight into the ground.
• Mark the tip of the stick’s shadow with a pebble.
• Using this marker, draw an arc around the stick, making sure to keep your original marker in place.
• As the sun moves across the sky the shadow will shorten and pivot to the other side of the stick. When the shadow meets the other side of the arc, mark this spot with another pebble.
• Draw a straight line between your two markers. This line represents West (1st marker) to East (2nd marker).
• Draw a perpendicular line across the E/W line to complete your “dirt compass”.

Do as the Wise Men did

If you’re lost at night, stay put. Seriously. Make camp and wait ’til morning. If the sky’s clear and you MUST try to navigate at night, the best bet is to use the North star (it’s named that for a reason).  Contrary to popular belief, the North star — called Polaris — is not the brightest in the sky (which is Sirius, btw). Here’s how to find it:

• Locate the Big Dipper
• Draw an imaginary line between the bottom-outside star in the cup through the top-outside star and beyond. The medium-bright star in the line’s path is Polaris.

These are the most popular tried-and-true methods to find North without a compass, but there’s bound to be others. Please comment if you know a different and/or better way!

Nothing can ruin an otherwise great hike like chafing (aka “Monkey Butt”). It’s caused by constant rubbing (most often in the upper thigh/nether regions) coupled with moisture and bacteria build-up. Hikers with chafing issues are often identified by their requisite “duck walk”. While heavier hikers are more prone to chafing, it can happen to anyone at any time. To keep it from happening to you, follow the advice below.

Put simply, prevent chafing by lubricating during the day and keeping dry at night.

Pre-hike prep:

Clean area throughly before heading out. Much of chafing is due to bacteria build-up, so it’s best to start from a sterile base.

Just before hitting the ol’ dusty trail, apply BodyGlide. It’s the most recommended anti-chafing solution on the market, and smoothing some on will eliminate friction for the entire day. As a bonus, you can also put on feet to help prevent blisters.

During hike:

Wipe area with baby wipes or alcohol swaps to keep area clean and rash-free. Remember to reapply the BodyGlide.

Post-hike or in camp:

Wash area thoroughly, dry, then apply Gold Bond Triple Medicated Powder or plain ol’ corn starch. Keeping the area dry while sleeping is absolutely essential for quick healing and chafing prevention.

* Go commando. If wearing a skirt’s not your thing, simply try a hike without underwear (only try this in summer) under your shorts or pants. As long as you follow the above-mentioned essential steps pre- and post-hike, you shouldn’t experience any rubbing down yonder.

Any chafers out there have any better ideas for prevention or treatment? Please add them in the comments section below!

The smell of last weekend’s campfire still clings to your clothes. You try a standard wash and spray it with Febreeze but nothing seems to get rid of it. What’s a hiker to do? Here’s 5 proven ways to get rid of that campfire smell in no time:

1. Have a Coke. Add one can of Coca Cola to your wash along with your normal detergent. A professional cleaner swears this works, so why not give it a spin? (Via ThriftyFun)

2. Just add vinegar. Add 1 cup of white vinegar to your wash load and let soak for 30-60 min. Also works well for lots of other lingering odors.

3. Pack your threads in potpourri. (Via HowToGetRidOfStuff.com):

To remove the campfire scent and add a fresh, natural scent to your clothes, you need the following:

– Zip-lock bags or plastic bags
– Dried flowers, or other fresh-scented items (do not use fresh flowers because they will get crushed and stain your clothes)
– Baby powder

Follow these steps to get rid of the campfire scent:

– Place some potpourri in the plastic bag, and add a few shakes of baby powder.
– Place the smelly clothes inside the bag.
– Shake the bag thoroughly, like you’re dredging a piece of chicken in flour. Make sure that the baby powder reaches into the folds of your clothes.
– When you’re ready to wear the articles of clothing again, shake off the flowers and the baby powder. You’d be surprised at how clean and fresh-scented your clothes are.

4. Baking soda to the rescue. Baking soda is like the duct tape of…well…ingredients (?). Use #1,452 is adding a tablespoon or two to the washing machine along with fabric softener. No more smokey clothes!

5. Take the lazy way out. Buy some MiraZyme. Amazon has it cheap right here

Do you have a method that works great for you? Share it in the comments!

flikr: K7Adventures

There’s plenty to worry about when winter backpacking, like how many layers to wear, how to stay warm at night, and which type of boots are best in the snow. When focusing on such core concerns, it’s easy to forget about planning for the seemingly simple things, like finding the best place to set up camp. Before you head out on your next winter overnight trip, check out Compass Points for essential tips on how to pick the best winter camp site.

I’ll be posting a series of entries about my recent hiking/bouldering excursion to Joshua Tree National Park sometime this week, but a story today on MyDesert.com details the rescue of two groups of hikers, one in near Mecca, CA, and another on Mount San Jacinto, which hovers above Palm Springs.

The two Washington State-based hikers on San Jacinto were reportedly hypothermic due to lack of warm clothing and failing to realize that winter temps are often below freezing in the high desert, and especially on surrounding peaks.

Mount San Jacinto / flickr: caveman

I’ll admit that I once held the same misconception of the California desert, but luckily we had done some research prior to heading to Joshua Tree a couple weeks ago, and subsequently brought a few warm layers, a 20-degree bag, a parka and some gloves. My friend and I, who were seeking a nice respite from the frigid Northeast, were greeted by rain, fog and 40-degree temps in the Morongo Basin, and spent a few extremely chilly nights exposed in the Hidden Valley area of Joshua Tree. Needless to say, we would be the ones being rescued had we not prepared accordingly.

The moral of the story is perhaps obvious: Research, prepare for the unforeseen, and don’t get cocky.

Dave over at Compass Points wrote a eloquent account of a recent backpacking trip we took through Northeastern parts of Shenandoah National Park in VA.  I’d like to expand upon one passage in particular, as I think my readers might find it interesting:

We discovered a sandbar on the opposite shore, and when our shoes sunk there, we knew we had made it. On dry trail, we returned our boots to our feet – except Chris, who would continue this strenuous hike in, of all things, Crocs.

Yes, you read that right — I walked the next 10 miles in Crocs.  Eagles Crocs (go Birds!).  Here’s my review after trudging up the side of the ancient, stony Appalachian mountains, then steeply descending — headlamp-assisted — to our perch at Bird’s Nest Shelter: The Crocs…well…they ROCKED.

As any hiking buddy of mine within complaining distance knows, I have temperamental feet.  When they’re not cramping, they’re cracking, when they’re not cracking, they’re rubbing.  Seriously, my feet are jerks, often forcing me to give up hikes or cancel them before they’ve even begun.

We all know Crocs are great camp shoes because of their soft sole, relative durability, light weight, and carbon nanotube supermolecular (or something) rubber material that keeps microbes and their associated smells at bay.  Crocs aren’t thought of as a hiking shoe for several good reasons, not the least of which is the total lack of ankle support, or the fact they they’re only held to the foot by a tenuous rubber strap above the heel, which will probably give you a blister if you give it enough time.

HOWEVER, I needed footwear immediately.  My gorgeous Patagonia Drifters, which normally fit like warm apple pie, were now frozen blocks, and I was not going to hike 10 more miles to the shelter in frozen blocks, dry moisture-wicking wool socks be damned.  So I slipped on some socks, then the Crocs, got laughed at and chided the rest of the day, but I made it.  The Crocs made it.  My feet felt better at the end of the day than at any other time in my backpacking life.

Perhaps it was because the Crocs are so flexible that they allowed my foot to stretch fully while walking over boulders and roots, like if I were barefoot, and thusly prevented any sort of cramping issues.  Or perhaps what I should have done at that first river crossing was to take my boots and socks off, worn the Crocs through the river, then put my warm-apple-pie Patagonias back on and saved the Crocs for camp.

So, to recap, we’ve learned two lessons:

1. I’m an idiot whose river-crossing footwear decision-making abilities are lacking

2. Crocs excel as a hiking shoe in a pinch

Courtesy of instructables.com

Love taking your digital camera or camcorder on the trail but can never manage to get a perfectly steady shot?  Instead of scratching the camera’s bottom on a rock or tree branch, check out this ingenious tip from instructables.com.  You’ll learn how to make a trekking pole monopod, which is exactly what it sounds like.  Says the author, ” this simple camera mount doesn’t take up any space in my pack, barely adds weight to my trekking pole, folds up when not in use, isn’t permanently attached, and costs very little to make.”  Trekking Pole Monopod – instructables.com

Stay dry

Everyone and his brother has an opinion on how to choose the best rain gear for hikes both long and short.  Ignore everyone (and their brothers) and allow the experts below to guide you in the right direction. 

“Hiking Rain Gear” – NetBackpacking.com:  An excellent primer for the beginner and superb refresher for the experienced hiker, start here to learn the ins and outs of selecting rain gear.

“Buy the Right Rain Gear” – Backcountry.com:  Another good resource detailing the mechanics of effective rain gear, albeit with a slight salesmanship tint, which is ok by me considering it’s a store.

“Raingear Shopping Guide” – Backpacker:  Backpacker’s great at everything, no reason their Raingear guide would suck.  Well, except for insisting on Raingear being an actual word.  Some very good info here.

VIDEO: How to Choose Hiking Rain Gear – The Expert Village:

“Backpacking Rain Gear — Some thoughts” – sectionhiker.com:  Blogger Philip Werner shares his thoughts on some common misconceptions when it comes to choosing effective rain gear.

“Rain Gear Buying Guide” – GORP:  Tips for proper layering, choosing water repellancy, finding lightweight rain gear and much more, plus reviews and editors’ picks.

“Backpacking Rain Jackets” – Travel Gear Blog:  Good general info with links to thorough reviews.

“How to Compare Hiking Rain Gear” — Trails.com

“Getting Waterproof Clothing Right” – Ideal-Hiking-Equipment.com

Trailsauce readers:  Save 5% off lightweight raingear at TrekLightGear.com.

Coupon Code: 4TREKGEAR

Backpackers and hikers are not the only ones who can benefit from traveling lighter and smarter.  OneBag.com is a fantastic resource for travelers of all types, and offers advice on what to pack, how to pack it, and what to pack it in.  Wish my wife had consulted this before making me drag what amounted to a small gypsy caravan through Italy during our honeymoon.  OneBag

There are thousands of gear lists out there detailing what to bring when hiking or backpacking, but you have to really dig to find the stuff that may not seem obvious but nonetheless make a HUGE difference between a fun trip and an absolute drag.  Here are a few items I pack on every trip that fit that catergory.

Duct tape: Fix a tear, cover a blister, make rope, the list goes on and on.  It’s duct tape — it can do everything.  Tip:  Wrap a couple feet around a trekking pole for easy storage and access.

Super glue:  Also useful for fixing gear, but excellent for covering small open wounds so they don’t get infected.  Editor’s note:  Also perfect for pranks involving skin-to-skin adhesion and horrified onlookers.

Titanium spork: Why waste precious ounces on an entire knife/fork/spoon set?  A spork kills two birds with one stone while the pocketknife/multi-tool that’s already in your pack is perfect for cutting summer sausage or pretty much anything else.  The titanium version is super strong and ultra lightweight.

Dryer lint:  Friend of Trailsauce Jason Stevenson sends this tip — It’s hard to think of a more flammable or lighter-weight firestarter than some lint from the trap in your dryer.  Instead of starting a dryer fire in your house, why not make one in the woods?  Seems pretty reasonable to me.

Bic lighter: Bring a few waterproof matches in a ziplock for backup, but a lighter is one of those things I’ve often wondered why more people don’t throw in their packs.  I mean, it makes fire with a flick of a thumb, which is darn convenient at the end of a long day.

How about you?  What are some things you bring along that make your trip incrementally better?  Post in the comments below!