Tautline Hitch

Have you ever pitched a tent and couldn’t seem to make your flysheet perfectly balanced among the four corners? The reason? Uneven tension on the guy lines. The Tautline Hitch is an adjustable knot which allows you to easily vary the tension of a line without retying. As such, it useful in situations whereby the length […]

Darkest And Coldest Before Dawn

This goes back to 2008, when together with a group of 5 friends, we attempted to scale Mt. Fansipan in northern Vietnam. Mt. Fansipan is nicknamed “the roof of IndoChina”, standing at 3,143 meters tall, it is highest peak for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. We bought a 3 day 2 night package for our climb […]

What you need to know about Rat Urine Disease (Leptospirosis)

Leptospirosis, also known as rat urine disease, is a infection caused by bacteria called Leptospira which stays in the blood. Humans get infected through contact with contaminated sources. The bacteria invades human tissues and organs, particularly affecting the livers and kidney. Hiking and outdoor activities are considered high risk of exposure to leptospirosis. One may […]

Chafing Prevention

According to Wikipedia: “Chafing refers to the irritation of skin caused by repetitive friction, usually generated through skin to skin contact of multiple body parts.”   Similarly to blisters, chafing is a painful experience and one to avoid. The common place where chafing occurs while hiking is at the inner thighs. The main culprit? Cotton […]