SPOT User Guide
​Spot 3 Video
​How to adjust poles for correct length

Bear Safety Parks Canada
Bear Safety U.S. Parks Service

Hike Rating System for GiG

How to Lace your Hiking Boot for Better Fit

More lacing techniques

Best Hiking Boots for Women (click on All or Next)
More reviews (look for editor's choice icon)
And more reviews
Ratings chart--value for the money--hover over dot for name

​Tick Avoidance

  • Cover up--wear long pants
  • Tuck your socks into your pants
  • Wear gaiters
  • Stay in the middle of the trail
  • Avoid brush
  • Stay standing
  • If you sit down, use your poncho or other drop cloth to protect yourself. Don't sit under or lean against trees.
  • Dark clothing attracts fewer ticks, but light clothing allows you to see them--your choice.
  • Slick clothing helps prevent ticks from clinging, and you can brush them off. Sweats and fleece material are the worst. Jeans aren't very good either.
  • If wanted, wear Permethrin-treated clothing
  • Insect repellent with DEET may help
  • Stay in the sun--ticks cannot take heat/dry. That's why they are not a problem in high summer.

When the Hike is Over
  • Take boots off outside or in garage: inspect for ticks.
  • Take your clothes off in the laundry room or in the tub to prevent ticks from getting on carpets, etc., where you can't see them and then they can crawl on you or your pets later.
  • Wash clothing and dry on high heat. Or just place in the dryer for a six minutes on high heat if not washing the items.
  • Brush your hair over a sink or tub, so if ticks fall out you can see them.
  • Take a shower.
  • Inspect yourself in front of a full-length mirror.
  • Inspect inside brim of hat, inside any flaps of material. 
  • Inspect the flap of material that covers zippers on pants and jackets.
  • Inspect the inside of car, the seat, your backpack before driving again.

If a Tick Embeds
  • Use tweezers to remove it, getting the tweezers as close to the skin as possible, so as to remove the whole tick.
  • Avoid squeezing the tick body or annoying it; you want to prevent it from regurgitating so as to prevent the spread of tick-borne diseases.
  • ​Do not use petroleum jelly, qtips with oil, matches, spinning the tick around or other such methods.
  • Place the tick in a ziplock bag and put in the freezer
  • If you develop a fever, flu-like symptoms or a rash, seek medical help and take the tick with you.

Links for Glacier Hikes