Outdoor Fundamentals: Everything You Need to Know to Stay Safe

There's nothing like a trip to the great outdoors. As any avid camper, hiker, backpacker, or paddler knows, stepping out of the civilized “front country” for a few hours, days, or even weeks offers physical, mental, and spiritual regeneration unlike any other experience. But if you're not already an outdoors enthusiast, where would you even start as an outdoor adventure? Why should you even start? Isn't the outdoors an experience of “roughing it” with bugs, bears, and bad weather? Not at all! While it's true that a trip onto open water or into the wilderness does come with a variety of challenges—and dangers—outdoor adventures truly are accessible to everyone. With the right gear and a little bit of know-how, a journey into the great outdoors can be a truly wonderful experience.