TRAILTREK-TRAVELLERS, BACKPACKERS....

TrailingSkills

Trail Chef: Cook Bacon and Eggs in a Bag

2 eggs, 4 strips of bacon, paper bag This hearty combo tastes even better in the woods than it does in the diner. Whip it up over a campfire, and you'll not only impress your buddies–you'll have a no-pot meal with zero cleanup (eat right out of the bag!). The paper won't ignite if you make sure it's wet before cooking–here, bacon grease does the trick–but it might smoke a bit. Try it with these two techniques: one for the trailhead, one for the trail.

If you're going to be camping where you have a metal fire ring then you should bring a pan. I'm not big on eating burned paper bag. If you're backpacking, sacrifice is part of the adventure. Leave the bacon at home.

Binevenagh Mountain, Ireland

CarCamping

At home, pack eggs and bacon in a cooler.
In camp, cook one serving per bag. Place the bacon inside the bag, wiping the insides generously with grease (the more you coat the bag, the better). Crack eggs on top of the bacon. Fold the bag down several times, then poke a three-foot stick (green pine won't burn) through it so that the bag hangs at one end.
Holding the stick's other end, suspend the bag over hot coals (not flames), heating all sides evenly until done (seven to 10 minutes).

Backpacking

-One serving 4 frozen bacon slices, 2 eggs, 1 brown paper lunch bag

At home, crack eggs into a bowl and beat. Pour into a Lexan bottle or zip-top bag and freeze. Wrap the bottle or bag with foil, then place in your pack with the bacon. Both will thaw in time for breakfast the next day.
Cook over your campfire, using the method described above.

BackcountryToothcare

Treat dental problems–from minor to major–with these tips...

Problem - Forgotten toothpaste or toothbrush

SolutionImprovise a brush by chewing the end of a small twig into a fan shape, advises Kathleen Proulx, a registered dental hygienist in Boulder, Colorado. No toothpaste? Brush with water, rinse, and repeat; then chew sugar-free gum (keep some in your first-aid kit) for 30 minutes to help remove lingering bacteria. Or munch on apples, grapes, celery, or carrots. Enzymes in these "detergent foods" fight plaque.

Problem - Throbbing toothache

SolutionPain, sudden sensitivity to hot and cold, swelling, and pimplelike lesions on the gums could signal an abscess–a potentially serious infection in the tooth. Rinse your mouth several times a day with a solution of1/2 teaspoon salt and eight ounces of water and get to your dentist ASAP.

Save Your Life With ACell Phone

Thanks to recent government regs, almost all digital cell phones automatically fix your location when you make a distress call (called E911 capability). But on a backcountry trip, ringing up a rescue isn't always automatic. Follow these tips to make sure your call gets answered.

Rescue

To make an emergency call, improve reception by heading to the highest ground available. Hold the phone at arm's length (to keep your body from blocking any signals) and rotate around to find the strongest reception. "Return to the same place to make follow-up calls," says Bill Range, New Mexico's E911 Program Director. "Your phone will remember where the nearest tower is and find it faster."
If your battery is low, send a text message to your emergency contact, which requires less power and can transmit over a weaker connection than a voice call. Conserve juice by keeping your phone off between calls. Note: You cannot text 911.
Know what method your carrier uses to fix location. GSM phones (AT&T, T-Mobile) use radio signals to triangulate your position; climb to high ground to reach more towers. CDMA phones (Verizon, Sprint-Nextel) use internal GPS receivers; find an unobstructed view of the sky and wait a few minutes for the phone to lock on to satellites. Smartphones (BlackBerry, iPhone) combine both methods for the most accurate position.
When you connect with help, stay calm and double-check all your location details–such as elevation, UTM coordinates, and which side of a ridge you're on. Panicked hikers have delayed recent search efforts in Alaska and California by accidentally giving rescuers the wrong information.

Preparation

Activate your phone's automatic "location" setting, which enables the cell network to calculate your position for all phone calls, not just 911 calls. To turn this feature on, look for the "location" option under your phone's Tools or Settings menu.
Preserve battery life: Keep your phone turned off (especially when you lose reception; dead zones rapidly drain the battery), but power up for five minutes each day. When turned on, cell phones "check in" with nearby towers every few minutes, leaving an electronic trail of "pings" for rescuers to follow. Phones do this even if the signal is too weak to make or receive calls.
Make sure your emergency contact person knows your phone number and your carrier, which saves precious time if rescuers need to check your last recorded transmissions and pings.