3 Tricks to Keep Your Gear Dry
EVEN ON A RAINY OUTDOOR WEEKEND
Incoming clouds can really rain on a weekend camping trip. Getting wet isn’t just a nuisance; it can be dangerous in cold climates. Outdoor experts, like the instructors at the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), know the tricks to keeping dry, even on the wettest days. Here are three tricks these pros swear by. 1. Line Your Pack With a Plastic Bag Garbage bags are an easy and cost- effective way to waterproof your pack. As you’re preparing for your trip, put the garbage bag into your backpack first and place your sleeping bag, clothing, and any other items that must stay dry inside it. Carefully twist and fold the bag inside your pack to close it up, place any items that are okay to get wet on top, and look forward to having dry, warm clothes. 2. Use Your Body Heat to Dry Damp Clothes There’s nothing like getting to camp at the end of a hard hike and taking off your pack to finally relax. But if you got caught in a rainstorm or had to cross a river, you might not feel the same sense of relief. An effective way to dry wet socks and other clothes is to use your own body heat. Once you’ve changed into something dry, place wet socks between your layers of clothing, allowing them to warm and slowly
dry. Insider Tip: While weight is a consideration for backpacking, it’s worth it to carry an extra pair of socks designated for sleeping so you’ll always have a dry pair to look forward to when you arrive at camp. 3. Suit Up Your Sleeping Bag Moisture that collects in the
night can lead to a damp sleeping bag, and you want to do everything you can to retain heat in wet weather. Get better sleep by using your rain jacket to further insulate your sleeping bag. Put your jacket around the end of your sleeping bag and zip it up, creating a heat trap that will keep your toes toasty. Insider Tip: Keep wet gear out of your tent whenever possible by storing it in the vestibule rather than the main space.
Happy trails, and stay dry out there!
BRENDA C. Being a school employee is not without its hazards. Recently, an increasing number of teachers have come to me following attacks by students or injuries they received while restraining students. School bus drivers also are vulnerable to injury. One client’s bus caught fire, and she was injured getting the students off safely. Awkward twisting while working with wheelchairs of disabled students can also cause back injuries. I’ve represented a lot of Springfield school employees over the years, including a large number of bus drivers. Brenda C. first worked in maintenance when she injured her right knee moving furniture and classroom equipment. The next year, working as a bus driver, she caught a falling student and fell against the bus steps, breaking a finger and tearing her left knee ligaments, which required surgery. A couple of years later, Brenda’s right foot was run over by a student’s wheelchair. This required two surgeries, including a joint fusion in her foot, extensive removal of bone, and a tarsal tunnel release (tarsal tunnel is to the foot what carpal tunnel is to the wrist). She ultimately developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy in her right foot, and she now has to wear shoes two sizes too big because her foot is so sensitive to touch.
Brenda suffered two more injuries afterward, the last happening while power- washing a bus. She underwent three surgeries under this claim, including a cervical discectomy, fusion at C5-6, and two right knee surgeries. Being so limited after experiencing injuries from head to toe (literally!), having ongoing pain, and requiring a lot of medication, Brenda understandably became depressed. She began working at an early age and loved her work with children, but she couldn’t continue. Brenda is now on permanent total disability, so at least she needn’t worry about paying for her ongoing treatment and financial future.
We just love this gal!
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