�warm in the rapidly dropping temperatures in the raging waters of Wisconsin's Flambeau River. Thirty minutes later, his river companion was rubbing his scarlet, frozen feet, which despite their eventual thaw have permanent numbness. According to Karen Berger's Hiking Light Handbook , wearing too many pairs of socks and tying boots too tightly will constricts one's the blood flow, which expedites freezing in cold, wet conditions, . "Had I done my research," says Beckwith, "I would have known to bring waterproof socks or looser boots." The site also recommends gaiters, lower leg coverings designed to keep feet warm and dry in even the most extreme conditions.Beckwith's frozen feet, says University of Oregon Wilderness Survival Professor Michael Strong, "is a common example of novice adventurers doing the wrong thing with the right intentions." Strong himself experienced a similar situation during a 5-day canoe trip in the Canadian Rockies. His ill preparation led to hypothermia. "In winter conditions, cotton kills," he declares. "I can't say it enough."Even in the 1930s, "The Mountaineers," a Seattle organization of climbers, would have agreed with Strong that "cotton is rotten." The group created a "10 Essentials" list, which still serves as the backpacker's packing bible. The Mountaineers believe that no journeyer should leave home without navigation, hydration, nutrition, sun protection, insulation, warmth, illumination, first aid, shelter and a whistle. Navigation in the backcountry is made possible via compasses and maps. In order to pass Strong's class, students must demonstrate ability to decipher contour maps and participate in a compass outing. He says, "You can pack the map and compass, but what good does it do you if you don't know how to use them?"How to Pack like a Pro
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