Archive for December, 2008

Since a nonexpert’s chances of making fire by primitive methods – such as with bow drills – are practically nil, you should always carry matches and lighters in waterproof bags. A flint-and-steel set provides extra security, because it still works after being soaked. To use it, hold the striker—a curved band of steel—in one hand and the flint stone in the other. (You can also [...]

Frostbite has been catching people unaware for a long-time. Because of frostbite, Hannibal lost most of his army while crossing the Alps in 218 B.C. Napoleon lost 50,000 soldiers due to frostbite and hypothermia while retreating from Moscow in the winter of 1812. Despite our high tech clothing today we are still not immune from this relatively common winter injury. Frostbite is the freezing of water [...]