Many of us don’t drink enough water throughout the day, and if you’re going to be doing  physical activity, it’s important to consume even more that what’s  normally recommended. Be sure to hydrate before your hike even begins. Consider a hydration bladder for easy drinking access during your hike,  especially during the hot summer months when you tend to sweat more. A separate bottle with an electrolyte drink mix is a good idea. Good hiking and camping etiquette means experiencing nature and leaving it as if  you were never there. Pack out all trash and animal waste, leave what  you find, respect the animal life and minimize the impact of your  campfire. Paper waste is okay to burn but bring all plastic out with  you. For longer trips, bring a grocery bag or small trash bag to store  all trash and dispose of it properly once you leave the area. During your hike, keep an eye out for markers and natural landmarks big and small to help you find your way in  case you do end up getting lost. Choose a reasonable destination for your first day of hiking and do not stray from that destination. Many of us have a  competitive spirit and want to reach our destination quickly; however, that can be hard on your body. Consider breaks every 10-15 minutes  depending on the level of heat and terrain. Drink plenty of water and  listen to what your body is saying to you. If you feel you just need a quick breather, then take it. Many people have been known to pass out or  have trouble breathing when climbing up in altitude or when hiking in  high heat. When you do make camp,  make sure to tie your food up so that no animals can get to it. Use a bear container if the campsite has one. Let animals know you are around. You don’t need to necessarily bang pots and pans around to scare away  animals, but you should talk or shout once in a while, perhaps play music  and make some noise to let the animals of the forest know you are  present. If you face a large predator, such as a wild cat or bear, then you will  need to know how to avoid conflict with it. Do not run (you cannot outrun it), avoid direct eye contact, walk away slowly, don’t scream or yell and  remain calm. Consider packing pepper spray & make it easily  accessible to protect yourself in case of an attack. If the bear charges, stand your ground and talk in a soft voice. If he attacks, curl up into a ball and essentially play dead. Remain calm. . This means  finding a good spot for your tent, pitching your tent, and  animal-proofing your campsite. Pitch your tent as soon as you get to your site--it is much harder to pitch a tent in the dark.

Summary: Hydrate. Pack it in, pack it out. Stay on the trail. Pace yourself. Be mindful of bears and other animals.  Set up your campsite


Setting strong boundaries with abusive adult children is essential, but don't do so at the risk of your safety. If you feel threatened or think you may be in immediate danger, get yourself out of the situation before trying to come up with a solution.  Ask your child to leave if you feel unsafe. Or, leave the environment yourself and go to a friend or neighbor's home. If you have been hurt or have been threatened, contact the local police or County Adult Protective Services. If you need medical attention, call emergency services right away. Learn to tactfully put your foot down when your children are being abusive. This helps demonstrate that you will not tolerate the behavior. If they yell or call you names, say “Please don't yell” or “I will not tolerate name-calling.” Explain what will happen if the inappropriate behavior occurs. Do this clearly and thoroughly so there is no question regarding what steps you'll take if the boundary is crossed.  For example, you might say, “If you yell or call me names, I will discontinue the conversation” or “If you come to my home drunk, I will call the police.” If it's necessary, refuse to open your door and change your locks if they have a key. Show your adult children that you mean business and will not allow the unacceptable behavior to continue. You can do this by actually enforcing the consequence you said you would.  For instance, if you said you would not engage in conversation if there is yelling or name-calling, disengage and leave the room. If you said you'd call the police when your child comes by under the influence, do so. Be sure that you only verbalize consequences that you are ready and willing to follow through with. That way, you can be consistent every time a boundary is violated.

Summary: Put your safety first. Say “no" to unacceptable behavior. Verbalize your  boundaries clearly. Follow through when boundaries are violated.


Using your forefinger and thumb, pinch your upper eyelid. Be sure to grab the outer ridge of skin on your eyelid, not just your eyelash, as this may lead to you pulling out some eyelashes. Once you've got a good grip on your eyelid, pull it up above your eye, around where your eyebrow is. This will probably feel strange, so don't freak yourself out! In one smooth motion, use your thumb to press your eyelid against the bone under your eyebrow (the supraorbital arch) and withdraw your forefinger. Your thumb will then be holding your eyelid up against your face without your forefinger. Now, with your thumb, gently push your eyelid down so that it folds over itself and flips inside-out. The push-force should be more against your face as you lower your eyelid with your thumb. This is so your eyelid doesn't slip from under your thumb. Follow the same steps you used for your other eyelid. If you're not ambidextrous, this may feel very awkward, but after a few tries you should begin to get the hang of it. After you are satisfied with your friends' freaked-out reactions, you'll probably want your eyelids back in normal, functioning order. Simply look up really hard with your eyes or blink really hard with your eyelids to return your eyelids to normal.
Summary: Pinch your eyelid. Pull your eyelid up. Press your eyelid. Push your eyelid down. Repeat this process with your other eyelid. Return your eyelids to normal.