Posts by Dr. Grant Lipman
Top three tips for safe camping
“Camping, backpacking, fastpacking, thru-hiking, boondocking, roughing it, glamping…” There are so many terms to describe the different ways we sleep outdoors. Everyone has a different style, favorite location, essential gear, and reason for camping out. Camping has almost doubled over the past two years, accounting for more than 40% of all leisure trips. Almost 94…
Read MoreMental health in the great outdoors
“Go outside and get some fresh air!” How often have you heard these words over the years? Whether in admonishment, suggestion, or excitement the truth of this statement resonates. We all know the outdoors offers exercise, relaxation, and often a sense of elation. While the physical benefits are self-evident, the mental health and psychological positive…
Read MoreHow technology can keep us safe outdoors
Have you seen this Apple Watch commercial? My first response to this was an out loud, “that’s awesome!” As a wilderness medicine trained emergency medicine doctor, I love the idea of an automated system being able to bridge the gap between a backcountry accident and calling 911 to get the injured person to definitive medical…
Read MoreHow to build a first aid kit
“What do I put in my first aid kit?” This is the single most common question I get asked about wilderness medicine. September is National Preparedness Month, and recent flash floods, hurricanes, heat waves, and destructive forest fires have all shown us the importance of being prepared for disasters and emergencies. This is super important…
Read MoreHow dangerous are snakebites and how do I avoid them?
Is there any sound in nature that strikes more fear in your primeval brain than the dry clacking rattle of a rattlesnake? This sound triggers a rush of adrenaline and evokes a body and mind struggle between my reactionary desire to run versus my academic brain that calmly instructs me to stop, look, and see…
Read MoreMyths, tips, and tricks for heat illness
My first experience with the power of heat illness was in the “Flaming Mountains” of the Gobi Desert. It is the second-lowest elevation on earth, second only to Death Valley. While I was there, I provided medical care for an ultramarathon and acted as the “camel” who carried water for distressed runners. I traversed the…
Read MoreReflections on Paul Auerbach
The first time I talked to Paul Auerbach was by telephone in the early 1990s. I was an undergrad art major in college with dreadlocks, just thinking about medical school, and had heard about a way to combine my love for wild places with medicine. When I reached out to Paul and told him that…
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