Fact vs. Fiction In the Outdoors

By Karen Berger
Illustrations By Gary Locke

Outdoors people are pretty good at spinning tall tales around a campfire, but sometimes they get their fact and fiction mixed up. Here are 10 often-quoted myths about camping.

1. One group of 15 creates more impact camping than three groups of five or five groups of three.

False. Research scientists studying the effects of Leave No Trace principles have proved that one large group has no more impact than several smaller groups. It is the techniques and behavior of a group that make the difference. Learn the principles of Leave No Trace at www.lnt.org.

2. Moss grows on the north side of trees.
And on the south side. And the east and west, too. Moss can grow anywhere that there is enough shade and moisture. Your best bet for determining direction is to bring a compass and know how to use it.

3. In cold weather, you don't have to drink a lot of water because you sweat less.
This is false on two counts. First, you lose much more water in the winter than you think. Winter air can be very dry, and the cool air wicks sweat away from you so quickly that you are often not even aware you are sweating.

Second, you need to drink more than you think because inadequate hydration contributes to both altitude sickness and to hypothermia. Start your day of winter hiking with a bottle of hot liquid shielded inside an insulated carrier: This will be more appealing to drink than ice-cold water.

4. Lightning doesn't strike twice in the same spot.
The summit of Mount Thielsen, a spiky peak in Oregon, is known as the "lightning rod of the Cascades." A glassy substance called fulgurite is formed by repeated lightning strikes, and you'll find it all over Thielsen's summit.

5. Magnetic declination (the deviation between true north and magnetic north shown on maps) never changes.
False. A variable navigators have long had to reckon with, declination varies with both geography and time. Over the past 36 years, for instance, the declination at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico has changed from 13.5 degrees to less than 9 degrees. For more information about declination visit the U.S. Geological Survey Web site at www.usgs.gov.

6. Hypothermia is a winter problem.
Yes. And a summer, spring, and fall one. Indeed, hypothermia can be even more insidious in milder seasons because it's not as obvious.

Hypothermia is a particular danger to paddlers, especially when the combination of air and water temperatures adds up to less than 150 degrees. Prolonged exposure to cold water—whether from water sports or rain—is a prime risk factor for hypothermia, even in the middle of summer.

Remember, the best cure for hypothermia is prevention, and the best prevention is to stop exposure: Put up a tent or put on more clothes.

7. If you come upon a grizzly bear and it charges, you can easily outrun it to safety.
Not even close. An aggressive, 300-pound grizzly can hit speeds of 30 miles per hour in a charge—that's 44 feet per second. To put that in perspective, an Olympic athlete who sprints to the finish line of a 100-yard dash in 10 seconds is only traveling at 30 feet per second.

Stephen Herrero, author of Bear Attacks (Lyons Press, revised edition 2002), says the best thing to do in a grizzly encounter is to stand your ground or slowly back away and talk to the bear, letting it know that you aren't a threat. Avoid staring directly at the bear, which threatens it, but watch it closely.

8. Natural fabrics are the best choice for going out in nature.
Wool and silk can be good choices, but cotton, frequently touted as "nature's fabric," is a definite no-no for outdoor recreation. Check out the newest outdoor clothing manufactured with wicking synthetics.

9. You'll find the warmest campsites down on a valley floor.
Not necessarily. While ridges tend to be windier, chillier places than valleys, a narrow, steep-sided valley can collect what is known as katabatic air at night. As the air cools, warmer air rises, and colder air flows in to take its place. Don't climb to the top of the ridge to make camp, but keep off the valley floor too.

10. An upset stomach in the backcountry is probably caused by giardia.
Maybe; maybe not. Giardia usually takes at least a week to incubate, so unless you're on a long-distance hike, it's unlikely that today's stomachache is caused by yesterday's drink.

Other waterborne parasites can also cause intestinal distress, but backcountry stomach problems are often caused by careless sanitary practices—sharing food dishes with other campers and improperly cleaning pots, pans, and utensils. Wash your hands thoroughly before cooking and eating, and wash your pots thoroughly afterward.

Karen Berger's newest book, Backpacking and Hiking (DK Publishing, 2005) is an illustrated guide to backpacking. Visit her at www.hikerwriter.com. 

The Skin Game

The Skin Game
By Karen Berger
Photographs by John R. Fulton Jr.

Want to play it safe when enjoying fun-in-the-sun Scouting this summer? Here's how to protect your body from harmful, cancer-causing UV rays.

Sunburn First Aid 
Summer camp, high adventure trips, vacations at the beach -- all offer exciting possibilities within the next few months. But though spending time outdoors is both healthy and refreshing, you can get too much of a good thing. 

“Eighty percent of an adult’s sun damage happens before the age of 18,” says Dr. Roy Rogers, a dermatology professor at the Mayo Medical School and Clinic. Early exposure can cause skin damage that appears decades later: wrinkling, premature aging, and skin cancers, including the potentially deadly malignant melanomas.

“We’re seeing an epidemic of skin cancers,” Dr. Rogers says. As a former volunteer Scouter, Dr. Rogers knows all about the benefits of outdoor exercise. “We don’t want people to stay in caves,” he says. “But they need to protect themselves. Every sunburn you avoid is good news.”

Most people realize they’re at risk on a sunny day at the beach, but what about those cool, cloudy days high in the mountains? Protect yourself there, too, Rogers recommends. The thinner air and glaring snow increase your risk of sunburn, even if there’s no sun in sight.

Similarly, the water that refreshes you while canoeing, rafting, or kayaking also reflects sunlight and increases the danger of sunburn even though you’re less likely to notice it. 

“It’s not just the sunlight coming down on you,” Dr. Rogers says. “It’s what’s reflected at you.” And because the strongest sunlight occurs between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M., be aware that those are the most dangerous times of the day. 

In addition, some people with blue eyes, light skin, and light or red hair just face a greater risk. 

Sunscreen basics 

UV-A and UV-B rays both cause sunburn, so you’ll notice when you’ve been overexposed. But UV-A rays are more insidious. “They penetrate more deeply,” says Dr. Rogers. “While they don’t cause immediate, visible damage, they cause long-term damage, including skin cancers.”

To prevent that damage, get a good sunscreen. The numerical SPF (sun protection factor) rates how long you’ll be protected. If you normally burn after 10 minutes in direct sunlight, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 protects you -- theoretically, at least -- for 150 minutes (your “normal” burn time of 10 minutes times the SPF factor of 15). However, the amount of sunscreen applied, variations in skin type, sweating, time of day, altitude, and exposure to water can change the effective SPF.

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends a SPF rating of at least 15. FDA regulations set
the maximum SPF rating at 30 (sun-screens above that can carry a rating of 30+). But don’t let a high SPF lull you into a false sense of security: Very few sunscreens provide all-day protection, and it’s always advisable to reapply sunscreen after exercise or swimming.

Although SPF applies only to UV-B rays, not the potentially more dangerous UV-A rays, most sunscreens on the market do protect against UV-A rays. Read the label. 

If you’re hoarding sunscreen from your trip to the Florida sea base five years ago, trash it. Sunscreens degrade over time, so it’s not only past the expiration date, it’s ineffective against UV-A rays. 

You can also boost UV-A protection by using zinc oxide, titanium dioxide (the thick, white goop lifeguards wear on their nose), or the sunscreen avobenzone, which effectively blocks both UV-A and UV-B rays. 

Sunscreens come in all sorts of formulas: moisturizing, hypoallergenic, scented. Some even offer insect protection. However, Dr. Rogers recommends keeping your purchase choices simple. “Inexpensive drugstore brands perform just as well as expensive name brands, as long as they protect against both kinds of rays and have the same SPF.” If you plan to participate in water activities, choose waterproof brands. 

For maximum absorption, apply the recommended amount of sunscreen to dry skin 15 to 30 minutes before exposure. Ask someone to help apply it to hard-to-reach areas, and don’t overlook the back of your neck, your feet and toes, around your ears, and the backs of your knees. Also, choose a lip balm with the highest SPF you can find, especially if you are susceptible to cold sores, which can be exacerbated by exposure to the sun. 

Clothing

Desert dwellers dealing with blistering sun every day wear head-to-toe, loose-fitting robes that provide ventilation and shade. Follow their example by dressing in long pants and long sleeves. Choose clothing that moves easily without being so loose that it catches on rocks or branches. 

Some manufacturers make clothing designed for sun protection. Look for comfort features such as breathable fabrics, ventilation flaps, and the ability to wick away moisture. For maximum protection, the fabric’s weave should be tight, and check to see if the material has an SPF rating. 

The Solumbra line from Sun Precautions, at www.sunprecautions.com, or ExOfficio’s sun protection line, at www.exofficio.com, can have an SPF of up to 30 or more. 

For a less expensive alternative to buying items manufactured with SPF material, add it to the clothing you already own in the washing machine. RIT (www.Ritdye.com) makes a product called Sun­Guard that, when applied according to directions, can increase clothing’s SPF rating from 4 (a typical T-shirt) to 30 (the strongest sunscreen). SunGuard lasts up to 20 washings.

To protect your face, neck, or ears, shade it with a hat with a wide brim (think Indiana Jones or a cowboy). An Australian-style, floppy brimmed bush hat or a Tilley hat make good picks, as does a Foreign Legion-style hat, with a visor in front and flap in back to protect your neck. Tilley hats also deliver maximum SPF protection besides shade. Experts don’t recommend baseball caps. No matter how you wear them, the brim only protects one side of your head. 

Choose a light-colored hat that reflects more light and helps keep your head cool. 

Sunglasses

Medical evidence suggests that while long-term exposure to the sun can contribute to the formation of cataracts, short-term exposure is dangerous, too. 

Dr. Rogers notes that at high altitudes reflected rays of the sun can burn the corneas, causing snow blindness. He advises you to wear sunglasses when climbing, even on cloudy days. Canoeists, kayakers, and whitewater rafters should wear them, too, because glare off the water can cause eye damage over time.

Look for glasses that fit snugly.

Mountaineering glasses have ventilated leather side flaps, which block light from coming in from the sides. In less severe environments, you can wear clip-on sunglasses over prescription eyewear, but at high altitudes, you need complete eye protection.

Karen Berger is the author of Backpacking and Hiking (BSA No. 34354, $20). Visit her Web site at www.hikerwriter.com.


Sunburn First Aid
What do you do when, despite all your warnings to lather up with sunscreen, several summer-camp Scouts show up at your tent with lobster-red complexions? 

Here’s the advice of Mayo Clinic dermatologist Dr. Roy Rogers.

Avoid giving aspirin to youth and teens for pain because it has been associated with Reye’s syndrome, a central nervous system disorder. Instead dispense acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil), or naproxen (Aleve).


Apply a moisturizing cream. Aloe vera works well, as does Eucerin, Vanicream, Lubriderm, Neutrogena, and similar over-the-counter ointments.


Use cool compresses with bath towels and water, or take a cool bath.


If blisters form, don’t rupture them. The serum inside contains healing properties.


Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.