Featured Article: How does bug-repellent clothing work?
Mosquitoes are a drag. So's rubbing oily, stinky insect repellent all over your body and inhaling poisonous DEET. What if your odor-free clothes did the repelling for you? See more »
hiking library
Hiking articles explore ways to stay fit and see the natural world. Discover the world of hiking and camping in this channel.
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Articles 1-20 of 28
5 Ways to Attract Bears to Your Campsite
It's late at night, you're lying in your tent, and all you can think about are the many reasons a bear might plod into your campsite to eat you. What are the reasons?
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How Backpacking Works
Backpacking immerses you in nature's magnificence, with one minor stipulation: Carry everything you need to survive -- food, water, shelter -- on your back. Can you bear that load?
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How Camping Works
Our homes are so cozy and temperature controlled. But there's nothing quite like sleeping under a starry sky. The smell of clean air, a warm open fire. Let's go camping.
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How can I recycle my outdoor gear?
Your skis can be made into deck material. Your climbing rope can transform into clothes hangers. Your shoes can surface a playground. What else could your gear become in its second life?
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How Compasses Work
Long before GPS satellites and other high-tech navigational aids, people used the Earth's natural magnetism to navigate the unknown. Learn how a compass works and how to create your own!
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How DEET Works
If you slather your entire body with insect repellent that reads "100 percent DEET" on the label, are you doing yourself harm? How much DEET do you really need to repel bugs?
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How does bug-repellent clothing work?
Mosquitoes are a drag. So's rubbing oily, stinky insect repellent all over your body and inhaling poisonous DEET. What if your odor-free clothes did the repelling for you?
See more »
How does wool keep you warm even when it's wet?
Sheep wear the stuff all the time, and they seem to keep pretty cozy and dry. What is it about wool that keeps you dry in the rain, cool in the heat and warm in the cold?
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How Gem Hunting Works
Remember the thrill of discovering that one-of-a-kind rock in the sandbox when you were a child? Gem hunting provides that same excitement, except these treasures may be worth thousands.
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How Geocaching Works
Thousands of people around the world use their GPS receivers to geocache, or seek out treasures hidden by other players while exploring interesting locations. Explore the history of geocaching and learn how to find and place geocaches of your own.
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How Letterboxing Works
More than 150 years ago, an Englishman in Dartmoor inadvertently inspired a hobby that today has thousands of people playing along: letterboxing. Learn all about letterboxing.
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How the Boy Scouts Work
The Boy Scouts was founded based on concerns that city-dwelling kids would lose touch with nature. The camping and hiking focus has never faltered. What else hasn't changed in the scouts?
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How the Girl Scouts Work
What started out as a small troop of girls in Savannah, Ga., has developed into an international phenomenon. Who is today's Girl Scout and what would we do without her Thin Mints?
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How to Pack a Backpack
It may seem like an easy task, but a backpack packed inefficiently will give you headache on the trail. How can you organize your pack to make it work for you in the woods?
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How to Read a Topographic Map
If you don't know what all the lines and symbols mean, trying to read a topographic map is like trying to read a foreign language. Not a good feeling when you're lost.
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How to Use GPS
It's crazy the way a GPS receiver knows where you are, even when you don't. How can you get this godlike little gadget to lead you to your destination?
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How Ultralight Backpacking Works
It's difficult to enjoy the carefree outdoors when you're piggy-backing one-third of your own body weight. Ultralighters pare down their loads to the bare essentials. What's the trick to packing light?
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How Water Filters Work
You're standing in a cool mountain stream, and the water looks so delicious. Should you cup your hand and pour your mouth a drink? Nope. Why?
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Navigation Novelty: Compass Quiz
Before GPS satellites and other high-tech navigational aids came on the market, people oriented themselves using compasses. A compass will point toward the North Pole and help you find your way. Which way will you be facing when you finish this quiz?
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Top 5 Ways to Repel Insects
Nothing is more irksome on an otherwise pleasant summer evening than mosquitoes nipping at your legs. What five ways can you keep these pesky insects at bay?
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