How to Stay Safe Around Wildlife
Give animals space, store food right, and know how to react to an encounter — a calm, safety-first guide to sharing the outdoors with wildlife.
Tess Nordby
Hiking & Skills Writer
Tess Nordby
Tess hikes in every season and believes preparation is what makes the outdoors fun, not grim. She writes safety-first guides that never feel preachy.
Articles
11 articles by Tess
Tess Nordby
Camping in the Rain: How to Stay Dry and Safe
Camp comfortably when it rains: reading the forecast, pitching for wet weather, keeping gear dry, and knowing when a storm means it's time to head home.
Tess Nordby
How to Hike Safely in Hot Weather
Hot-weather hiking demands respect — learn how to time your hike, carry enough water and salt, dress for heat, spot early warning signs, and know when to stop.
Tess Nordby
Campfire Safety: Build It and Put It Out
How to build, manage, and fully extinguish a campfire safely: checking fire rules and weather, keeping it small and contained, and never leaving it unattended.
Tess Nordby
How to Pace Yourself on a Long Hike
A practical guide to hiking pace — how to start slow, use breaks and food well, manage climbs and descents, and finish a long trail with energy to spare.
Tess Nordby
How to Choose a Trail for Your Fitness Level
Learn to read a trail's distance, elevation, and terrain honestly so you pick a hike that matches your fitness — challenging enough to enjoy, safe enough to finish.
Tess Nordby
How to Read the Weather Outdoors
Read clouds, wind, and pressure to see weather coming before it arrives — a practical, safety-first guide to judging conditions on the trail and at camp.
Tess Nordby
How to Layer Clothing for the Outdoors
Learn the three-layer system that keeps you warm, dry, and comfortable outdoors — what each layer does, which fabrics to pick, and how to adjust as you go.
Tess Nordby
How to Start Hiking as a Beginner
A calm, practical first-timer's guide to hiking — how to pick an easy trail, what to bring, how to stay safe, and how to actually enjoy your first walks.
Tess Nordby
The Ten Essentials: What to Always Pack
A beginner-friendly guide to the ten essentials — the small kit of gear that keeps a day outdoors from turning into a bad night, and how to pack it light.
Tess Nordby
How to Use a Map and Compass
Learn to read a topographic map, take a bearing, and follow it in the field — a calm, beginner-friendly guide to navigating outdoors without leaning on your phone.
Tess Nordby