It's Tick Season! Learn How to Remove a Tick and About Bite Prevention Methods

One of the trails to Taughannock Falls in Ithaca, NY is wide enough
for six people to walk side by side. Apparently, it's also a great place
to get a tick bite!

While in popular Taughannock Falls State Park on a well-used trail a few weekends ago,  I felt a little a pinch on the inside of my left bicep while I was standing admiring Taughannock Falls. I looked down and sure enough, it was my first tick bite. Luckily, I noticed the bite quickly enough to easily remove the tick without any other issues. But one thing's for sure,  tick season is upon us and there's no escaping it.

Whether you're into hiking, backpacking, camping, even gardening, ticks are part of the outdoor world. Depending on where you are in the United States, your risk of encountering ticks changes, as does the type of tick you're most likely to encounter. There are several other things you can do to prevent tick bites and to manage bites if you get them.

Gear Review Roundup: Outdoor Research Insight Lab (#ORInsightLab) Women's Tops

Last month, I was invited to be a part of Outdoor Research's new #ORInsightLab gear testing project. The goal is to gather a group of what the #ORInsightLab manager calls "influential folks...who are diverse athletes and dynamic social story-tellers" to help share performance insights about products from three specific categories. As part of the project, OR provided me with two complimentary tops to test and review - the Torque Tee and Redline Jacket. After putting both through testing over the past month and a half, I have plenty of feedback share.

And as this post started to take shape, friend and fellow #ORInsighLab member Josh clued me into the concept of Instagram reviews. They're a concise, fun, informative way to review a piece before or in lieu of a blog post. Aside from how quick they are to digest, I'm a huge fan of seeing multiple shots related to a single piece of gear in one place. Josh used the "comments" feature to provide more about specs, the fit, feel, look, and durability of the pieces he tested. I love the idea and used #IGReviews to give my early impressions of both tops. Both photos below are samples from these quick and fun reviews.

Get Out and Celebrate National Trails Day on June 1, 2013!

If you're reading this, odds are you're a fan of the outdoors. Whether your passion is hiking, backpacking, climbing, mountain biking, or just exploring the outdoors in any way possible, it's important to take time to celebrate the importance of trails across the country. This Saturday, June 1, marks the American Hiking Society's 21st annual National Trails Day®. It's a chance for all of us to pay tribute to the beautiful landscapes we explore and to introduce others to our outdoor passions through special events.

8 Do's and Don'ts for Getting a Good Night's Sleep in a Tent

In the summer of 2008, I got the absolute worst night's sleep of my entire life. I was a guide/organizer for TerraMar Adventures and signed up to co-lead a trip to the Dingman's Falls area of northeastern Pennsylvania. Our group stayed in the group camping area at Dingmans Campground, which is essentially a large, open field. After a long day of hiking, swimming and playing outside, I was ready for bed. A rowdy group at the other end of the field wasn't, but in spite of their antics, I managed to fall asleep. A loud snoring neighbor in a tent nearby woke me and couldn't manage to get back to sleep. I ended up in the back seat of my car with the windows cracked in the parking lot, but couldn't get comfortable and started counting the minutes until the sun came up.

Sound familiar? Though I'm still no expert at getting a solid night's rest despite snoring neighbors and other noises that wake a light sleeper, I've managed to come up with a few things that help.

Gear Review: Darn Tough Vermont Socks and Why Choosing the Right Socks is Essential

Testing the Darn Tough Vermont
Women's Wool No Show Light Cushion Sock.

One of my most painfully learned lessons over past years is that when you're hiking, backpacking, or running, some of the most important decisions you'll make when it comes to gear involve your feet. Having an innovative backpack and clothes that let your body breathe are important, but if something happens to your feet, things aren't going to end well.

On one of my first trips to the Adirondacks in 2006, I ended up with half dollar-sized blisters on my heels from improperly broken-in footwear and the wrong socks. As a result, my partner and I had to forgo a hike up Mt. Colden after a six hour drive and a long hike in. I'll never make that mistake again (and thank goodness for Moleskin). Since that fateful trip, I've been overly conscious of the shoes I buy, but don't always spend enough time considering socks. Friends, all socks are not created equally. When Darn Tough Vermont offered to send complimentary socks for me to test, I couldn't wait to try them out.