So, on our first trip this summer, the elements got the better of us and were pretty hard on our bodies after 8 days. Wind, sun, temps in the lower 30's, all day mist with wind...and by the end we were all pretty beat up. Skinned knuckles, cuts all over our feet and ankles, swollen hands and split cuticles. My hands were so swollen I had to take my wedding ring off. Everyone's back-of-the-hands were fried from the sun. I'm a pretty tough guy and not one to complain, but we were all (kids and adults) pretty beat up. My youngest was giving "Boundary Water's Spa" treatments with full massages on day 3, and that sure was lovely.

Of course, the usual chapstick, sunscreen, hats, etc were used, but wondering what other tricks folks use to keep themselves and their bodies from getting so travel-worn. Any products or secret go-to's that folks use?

My secret product is called a "layover day".

I will confess that I was never very good at remembering to apply/re-apply sunscreen. I now make sure the clothing I bring blocks UVA and UVA rays. I especially favor Columbia PFG long sleeved shirts, I prefer the long sleeved Ts rather than the buttoned shirts for paddling. Some sunshirts are hooded but, I prefer Buffs and Wide brimmed hats.


Columbia Omni-Shade

I don't use them for paddling but, I have finger-less biking gloves that have saved my hands countless times during mountainbike crashes. You might consider trying a pair for your next trip.

Bike Gloves

Finally, Running sleeves. They are a compression sleeves used by distance runners to prevent blood from accumulating in their hands during long runs. I have never been able to run long enough to need them but, you might find them useful on your next 8-day trip.

Good Luck

Sounds like some simple techniques might have helped. Proper shoes to protect feet and ankles - have never heard of feet and ankles being injured to this degree. Proper outdoor clothing - not modern things like athletic clothes, etc. Not traveling in bad weather, or stopping early to allow good meals, rest and recuperation. Perhaps the route was too long and difficult for the capacity of the group?

gkimball: "Sounds like some simple techniques might have helped. Proper shoes to protect feet and ankles - have never heard of feet and ankles being injured to this degree. Proper outdoor clothing - not modern things like athletic clothes, etc. Not traveling in bad weather, or stopping early to allow good meals, rest and recuperation. Perhaps the route was too long and difficult for the capacity of the group?"

Actually we base camped on Polly the whole time. Something about this trip just really beat us all up.

scotttimm: "

gkimball: "Sounds like some simple techniques might have helped. Proper shoes to protect feet and ankles - have never heard of feet and ankles being injured to this degree. Proper outdoor clothing - not modern things like athletic clothes, etc. Not traveling in bad weather, or stopping early to allow good meals, rest and recuperation. Perhaps the route was too long and difficult for the capacity of the group?"

Actually we base camped on Polly the whole time. Something about this trip just really beat us all up."

Sometimes sitting in one spot can be exhausting. To me the boredom of basecamping would get the better of me and does. How well you sleep and everything can play into that. Best thing is to evaluate just how it was you felt beat up. Sometimes a good solo trip can take away that aspect. I’ve gone on trips where I wasn’t prepared enough. I learned aborting the trip was an appropriate solution. But that choice affects everyone, so you have to weigh your options. Communication between everyone is key also. If your not on the same page it can make a trip stressful and result in exactly how you described.

Whiskey in your morning coffee. Then some whiskey shots around lunch time. Some Rumplemintz and hot chocolate at night. That'll keep ya loose all day :) I honestly do this too. Also make sure to do stretches. My back gets pretty bad so everyday I hang the hammock and lie in it on my stomach so it forces my back into a U. Also I like to go barefoot in camp unless everything is soaked.

Gloves?

Some interesting thoughts here. Good to see some people's suggestions.

In our later years of tripping we did have the sun-protective clothing and it helped a lot. Then just needed sunscreen (or bug dope) for the face and neck, since we wore long pants. We had the convertible lightweight nylon pants, but rarely zipped off the bottoms, as ankle-biters, ticks, etc. were a concern.

Never had a cut on feet or ankles, but I always wore hiking boots in the day and a pair of tennis shoes (with wool socks) in camp. Under no circumstances would I EVER go barefoot in camp--always worried about injuries, especially from the errant fish hook.

We also didn't go swimming with bare feet, for the same reason cited above. I took water shoes and Spartan1 would just use his tennis shoes.

Chapped lips and cracking skin are often signs of dehydration, not necessarily weather-related. Drinking a lot of (filtered) water helped us with those problems.

Never went on a trip without our floppy hats, but I see you mentioned wearing hats, too. And your comment about swollen hands mystifies me. I cannot imagine what would cause that. For basecamping, it seems like your group did have a lot of physical problems. I hope, in spite of that, that you had a good time on your trip.

Deerhide or Kidskin gloves for fire chores. The fine soot particles on pots, pans, stoves and burned wood pass into the skin causing chapping and cracking. Always use gloves around soot. On one late fall trip (before I instituted the glove protocol) my hands became so chapped and cracked I thought I might have to go in early.

I find I’m most likely to forget sunscreen and get burned the first day. That guarantees I’m tired the whole trip.

I’ve read mixed reviews on the nemo bugouts, but I love mine. I can go for a swim, then sit inside and read for an hour, not swatting bugs. That relaxation really helps mentally.

Not every meal has to be elaborate. A couple granola bars, some beef jerky, and some gatorade for dinner saves hours of laboring trying to prepare a meal.

Stay off the water in the midday sun.

Lots of bushwhacking in wabakimi

We spend almost 12 hours on the water fishing each day. I wear a polyester long sleeve shirt, and zip off pants with boots. I also take a Tilley hat to protect my face, neck and ears.

That only leaves my hands. They get pretty beat up and sunburnt. Some hand lotion would be nice but I always forget it.

When back in camp I just remove my boots and jump in the lake and rinse my clothes off. Then hang to dry for a couple hours. Put on new clothes for the rest of the day.

It’s a good reminder to remember to bring and use chapstick.

jwartman59: "



Lots of bushwhacking in wabakimi "

My leg after an afternoon of bushwacking in North Carolina.

LindenTree: "

jwartman59: "



Lots of bushwhacking in wabakimi "

My leg after an afternoon of bushwacking in North Carolina.
"

You’re supposed to step over barb wire, not walk through it. Just minutes after taking that ankle photo I caught a ten poundish northern in some rapids on the ogoki river, stupid fish swallowed my lure, stupid me stuck my hand in that hell fishes mouth. That was a bloody day.

Hey Scott, When I worked nursery work my hands would get pretty beat up (lots of skin cracking around the tips). The old fashioned corn-huskers lotion helped. Maybe a little container of that in the first aid kit.

jwartman59: "

LindenTree: "

jwartman59: "

Lots of bushwhacking in wabakimi "

My leg after an afternoon of bushwacking in North Carolina.
"

You’re supposed to step over barb wire, not walk through it. Just minutes after taking that ankle photo I caught a ten poundish northern in some rapids on the ogoki river, stupid fish swallowed my lure, stupid me stuck my hand in that hell fishes mouth. That was a bloody day."

I can't remember what my position was on the fire except that I was one of the lighters carrying a drip torch. You have to stay on a grid with the other lighters and the fire perimeter. I went back and forth all day through those prickly vine laden woods.

Guessing we lit off 300 acres that day,.
PS, that's not me, I'm way older.

This is going to sound stupid-- knee pads. I started using these really cheap,$3-4 knee pads from Menards for kneeling in the canoe which I prefer to sitting while paddling. The pads are shaped light foam with a stretchy velcro end. They are so lite they barely register on the scale. I leave them on while portaging and setting up camp, I fell on a portage once and hit one knee on a root it hurt like hell but I think the pad may have saved me from a trip ending injury. Arthritis and a big gut make squatting down (and getting back up) a joke but taking a knee to cook and do camp chores is much easier and painless this way.

OCDave: "




I don't use them for paddling but, I have finger-less biking gloves that have saved my hands countless times during mountainbike crashes. You might consider trying a pair for your next trip.


"

In one of my failed experiments I bought a pair of wool and a pair of leather fingerless gloves , neither worked as I'd have hoped, it only made the tips of my fingers get more brutal treatment

and the most important part of your hands are your fingertips
hands aren't of much use without them

crashing on a bike, the palms take the brunt of the damage

I've had outdoor adventures that have left me in pretty rough shape.

The common theme on those adventures is usually a lack of proper prevention.

1. Proper clothing to protect against sun and to help keep you cool.
2. Proper footwear to protect feet from cuts and to provide the support needed to protect ankels and to support your feet. The wrong footwear makes your feet and ankels work harder.
3. Gloves to protect hands.
4. If bushwhacking in involved something to protect your eyes
5. Sunblock and the discipline to reapply.
6. Staying hydrated. Its really hard to catch up on hydration. A lack of hydration makes everything harder and takes its toll on the body. It can also lead to a lack of coordination and lack of focus which all increases the risk of more knicks and cuts.
7. Managing your calorie intake vs expenditures.
8. Proper rest/sleep and recovery time.

If you start to compounding a few of these on top of each other then you'll probably really feel the effects. If you get too much sun but are well hydrated and well rested you'll probably bounce back. If you don't sleep reall well but have proper nutrition and water intake you'll be able to soldier on. However, if you get too much sun AND not enough water or not enough rest AND you're not taking in enough calories you'll probaly be in pretty rough shape.

Sometimes these things can sneak up on you. I'm sure we're all guilty of not paying enough attention to how we are feeling and letting things compound on each other.

Thanks Ray for the lotion recommendation. I'll pick some up.
You know, we covered most of your recommendations so far. Day one, we didn't push it, stayed on Kawishiwi Lake night one, day two pulled over on Polly at 1pm and called it quits. We forced ourselves and the kids to sip water constantly, though we still felt parched when we arrived. Sunscreen was applied constantly. We ate very well, hot dogs and potato salad the first night, steaks the second, lots of veggies and simple one-pot dinners, warm lunches mostly. We took stock of our situation, and as the frost hit three nights in a row and evening temps never above 45, decided as a group it was better to stay put and hunker down rather than move (especially since we scored a killer campsite). Campfires first thing in the morning helped warm us all up. Tennis shoes/hiking boots were worn on the portages - though I elected for Keene's with socks as it was too warm for my Hippies. Of course, some bushwacking around camp to explore, and some swimming probably accounted for the cuts. Wind was howling, temperature swings, and full sun probably got the better of us. I've never had the backs of my hands burn and swell up like that. We have a Nemo bugout and spent a lot of time in there reading and playing cards. Having to re-tie hammock tie-outs and whatnot probably accounted for beat up cuticles. All in all - it was a great trip and we had lots of great memories, meals and a few day trips.

On another topic - mental self-care - my two teenagers, having gone through a week of self-isolation before the trip, were feeling more lonely and isolated than usual. Being wind-bound and forced to stay in camp probably contributed to it...we spent a lot of time talking about Covid, how hard it has been to be stuck in the house for months, how much they missed their friends...so while for the adults it was a welcome break from the news and media - for them, social media and their phones were their only social lifeline these last few months and now they felt REALLY isolated. Worries about what school would look like next year was a constant topic. It was interesting how differently we experienced the BWCA this year. I think it was my son's 9th trip, and for the first time ever he seemed deflated during our down-time.

We took a lot of notes, had a lot of heart-to-heart conversations, and journaled about what we would do differently for our second trip end of July. Warmer temps, hopefully blueberries, and this time bringing a friend or two along should hopefully pick up their spirits. Thanks for all the advice folks, as usual it is appreciated.

One trip my feet got pretty worn down after a long hot humid day hiking. I applied Vaseline over my entire foot as soon as I got to camp, put fresh socks on, and that worked really well. I think it helped keep them from drying out and becoming blistered.

I've had issues with raw hands. Hurts to tie knots, or do much of anything. Not sure how to fix that except for keeping them dry. I've got those smooth city hands..

Other than being preventative, taking care of something before it is allowed to worsen is about all you can do. Small cuts, scraps, burns, etc. I'm trying to get better at applying sunscreen. Nothing worse than crispy shoulders before a portage.

I never go without solid foot wear. I don't even like sandals. I wear full ankle support hiking boots during the day, then carefully wash and dry my feet in camp and put on tennis shoes. I never, ever walk barefoot on a canoe trip.

I wear leather gloves when I am around the fire or breaking fire wood.

I don't tend to burn very easily, so putting on sunscreen in the morning and wearing a wide brim hat is enough for me. My shirt has UV protection. I keep a long sleeve shirt out during the day and it has UV protection, too, but I rarely wear it unless I am bushwhacking in a PMA.

I wear shorts during the day (except when doing bushwhacking), so I always have scratches on my legs, but I don't care. My son and husband prefer wearing long pants to avoid that issue.

I rarely take full trips in the shoulder seasons these days due to work, but in cold weather it is important to have some wind and cold protection on your hands. Sounds like you were borderline frostbite if they were swelling up. Never underestimate the power of cold to beat up your extremities.

merlyn: "This is going to sound stupid-- knee pads. I started using these really cheap,$3-4 knee pads from Menards for kneeling in the canoe which I prefer to sitting while paddling. The pads are shaped light foam with a stretchy velcro end. They are so lite they barely register on the scale. I leave them on while portaging and setting up camp, I fell on a portage once and hit one knee on a root it hurt like hell but I think the pad may have saved me from a trip ending injury. Arthritis and a big gut make squatting down (and getting back up) a joke but taking a knee to cook and do camp chores is much easier and painless this way."

Actually, that's a good tip! I'm gonna try it instead of a closed-cell pad. Kneeling is how I have to paddle the Bell Yellowstone, so then that flat kneeling pad ends up being a loose item at the portages. I am sick and tired of my habit of having too many loose items. This year, if it doesn't fit in the pack it ain't included in the outing.

One observation, Scott - there's a disjoint between "sunscreen was applied constantly" and "I've never had the backs of my hands burn and swell up like that". It's easy to forget the backs of your hands and they are constantly exposed. I wear UV protective clothing which includes fingerless paddling gloves.
One final thought - wind can be very drying and some lotion can be helpful.

I’ve shared this before but I’ll share again.

We travel every day and wet foot it. Years ago, somewhere between Pow wow Lake and the arrow chain, my feet were absolutely a wreck with infection and walking was not pleasant but wasn’t about to lay down and die so I pushed through. That evening I gave my feet some tender love and care, cleaning, then applied Olbas oil and dry socks and it was such a relief. Ever since then our routine has been to clean the feet, apply the “foot sauce” (Olbas oil), and dry socks at the end of the day. The oil is warming like ben gay and smells pleasant. Not to advertise but I love that product.

As mentioned above, leather gloves are essential for camp chores.

Also, we found over the years the DEET was the major culprit for our cracked hands and skin ailments. Since then we have rarely used it and have not had to wrap our fingers in duct tape due to cracking.

I also like to apply homemade comfrey to any skin issues. I’m part witch doctor ??

Also, whiskey

Hex

mjmkjun: "

merlyn: "This is going to sound stupid-- knee pads. I started using these really cheap,$3-4 knee pads from Menards for kneeling in the canoe which I prefer to sitting while paddling. The pads are shaped light foam with a stretchy velcro end. They are so lite they barely register on the scale. I leave them on while portaging and setting up camp, I fell on a portage once and hit one knee on a root it hurt like hell but I think the pad may have saved me from a trip ending injury. Arthritis and a big gut make squatting down (and getting back up) a joke but taking a knee to cook and do camp chores is much easier and painless this way."

Actually, that's a good tip! I'm gonna try it instead of a closed-cell pad. Kneeling is how I have to paddle the Bell Yellowstone, so then that flat kneeling pad ends up being a loose item at the portages. I am sick and tired of my habit of having too many loose items. This year, if it doesn't fit in the pack it ain't included in the outing. "

I don't kneel in the canoe - but pulled the trigger on a cheap camp stool - got the larger sized one and it is still small - but man was it awesome. Great for stoking fires, kids played cards on it a lot on this trip, footrest, weighs almost nothing and packs up super small and flat. Looks like the one I bought ($23) is not available anymore, but there are others out there like it...just watch the size guidelines:
Azarxis Stool

Proper outdoor sun-protection clothing as others have said will go a long ways. I bring really light old workmans gloves as well for getting firewood.

One thing I don't know if has been said that I now never trip without is a small bottle of lotion (like from a hotel) and I also bring along this Hikers Salve in the link below. These have been critical to me and are now staples of our first aid kit.

Hiker's Salve=**LP+-+Shop+-+Catch+All&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_tgt=aud-616097578249:pla-293946777986&hsa_grp=69336666907&hsa_src=g&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_mt=&hsa_ver=3&hsa_ad=330826154839&hsa_acc=1344706567&hsa_kw=&hsa_cam=1698372428&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0Mb3BRCaARIsAPSNGpVR2fT6K-OBDefvbyNF1547p9mydGHlKqM3PY8YC3_hl5Hx1o_s00MaAoT0EALw_wcB

I'm quite curious as to how you got cuts all over your feet and ankles!!
Sounds like improper foot wear.

Prevention is worth more than cure, right? I cover up as much as skin as possible. Of course, sunscreen, hat, bandana, gloves. I have a very lightweight sun shirt that I can pull over my hands as I paddle also. Good shoes. DRY socks at night.

One year, I got a huge blister on my lower lip. I guess it was the reflection off the water, because I had a hat on the whole time. So, I make sure to use sunscreen or sunscreen lip balm on my lips every morning.

For some reason, I always end up beat up as well. I have bruised super easy my whole life-it's ridiculous. I never know how I get most bruises. Plus, I get huge welts from any insect bites. I come back looking like someone beat me up. People constantly comment on it if I wear shorts upon return. It is really annoying. But, hey, it is what it is.

It sounds like some of your issue was dry skin/dehydration with the cracking skin. Wind is as harmful as the sun sometimes. At night, I use aquaphor ointment on my face, hands, feet, etc. And, always antibiotic ointment on any cuts.

I usually come back fairly beat up, too. I usually slip once or twice doing something at age 55 that I used to be able to do at age 20. That usually leads to one or two minor gashes, cuts, or bruises. I also explore a lot, bushwhacking, so my arms and legs (if I'm wearing shorts) can get scratched up, too. I guess I've just accepted this as part of the experience.

Mike

scotttimm: "

mjmkjun: "

merlyn: "This is going to sound stupid-- knee pads. I started using these really cheap,$3-4 knee pads from Menards for kneeling in the canoe which I prefer to sitting while paddling. The pads are shaped light foam with a stretchy velcro end. They are so lite they barely register on the scale. I leave them on while portaging and setting up camp, I fell on a portage once and hit one knee on a root it hurt like hell but I think the pad may have saved me from a trip ending injury. Arthritis and a big gut make squatting down (and getting back up) a joke but taking a knee to cook and do camp chores is much easier and painless this way."

Actually, that's a good tip! I'm gonna try it instead of a closed-cell pad. Kneeling is how I have to paddle the Bell Yellowstone, so then that flat kneeling pad ends up being a loose item at the portages. I am sick and tired of my habit of having too many loose items. This year, if it doesn't fit in the pack it ain't included in the outing. "

I don't kneel in the canoe - but pulled the trigger on a cheap camp stool - got the larger sized one and it is still small - but man was it awesome. Great for stoking fires, kids played cards on it a lot on this trip, footrest, weighs almost nothing and packs up super small and flat. Looks like the one I bought ($23) is not available anymore, but there are others out there like it...just watch the size guidelines:
Azarxis Stool "

Nice folding seat, Scott. I have one similar but it's on the heavy side so it's not included on BWCA trips. Couple of years ago, I upgraded to a Sunset chair and that's is the cat's meow. When I am feeling beat up that chair relaxes and soothes like no other.
I only paddle kneeling when using Bell Yellowstone. Squirrely, compared to my Prism but is adept for winding creeks like Hog Creek, for example.
On a side note: You guys must be of hardy stock because temps in the lower 30's don't feel much like a summer trip to me. ;) Quote, "So, on our first trip this summer, the elements got the better of us and were pretty hard on our bodies after 8 days. Wind, sun, temps in the lower 30's, all day mist with wind...and by the end we were all pretty beat up."

Good pants, hiking boots good shirt and a nice hat. You can't dress for the city in the country. There is a reason our ancestors were completely covered when living in the wilderness. Bugs, rocks, sun and thorns

In the BWCA, I'm more of a lolly-gagger. Find a site early, and just relax, so we don't tend to get too beat up.

While doing long-distance hiking though, I'm literally hiking from sun up to dinner time... Arnica Montana, homeopathy is great! It's not hard on your liver/kidneys like Advil and packs super tiny.

Also, camp only sox and an extra pair of camp only shoes is the way to go! They're worth their weight in gold!