First Aid on a Hike: Burns, Overheating, and Hypothermia

Our body is an amazing system that can effectively maintain a constant temperature. And there are good reasons for this. As I already wrote in the guide on temperature conditions, the critical threshold for a person ranges from 28.8 °C (fatal hypothermia) to 42.7 °C (fatal overheating). But even a slight deviation from the ideal 36.8 °C makes us feel extremely uncomfortable.

Alone in the Mountains: "Aren't You Scared?"

In the comments on my previous post, a question kept coming up: "Aren't you scared alone? It's so risky!"
I'll be honest: fear is normal. It's a basic survival mechanism. On a solo trek, it doesn't disappear—it transforms into heightened caution. When there's no group behind you, the responsibility for every decision rests solely on you. And that keeps you disciplined.

Hike to Mount Olam Jakhon, between Varzob and Romit, Tajikistan

I first saw this mountain while hiking the Odjuk Ring route. At the same time, I also first heard the name "Olam Jakhon" from a local guy I met along the way. At that moment, I didn't believe him. If you translate the name into Russian, the closest meaning of the phrase "Olam Jakhon" would probably be Universe (World of worlds). So I doubted it, thinking maybe the guy decided to "slightly" embellish or just didn't know the name.

Chapter 20: The Div, the Raven, and the Log from Bear Metamorphoses

≪ to the previous chapter
The next morning, an unexpected problem arose: I couldn't decide what to take with me. The ingredients for catching the unknown spirit were clear enough, but the rest... Packing for a full-scale expedition seemed pointless—I had a place to stay in the settlement, and they'd feed me if necessary. However, the journey was through the mountains, and it was better to be safe than sorry. So I sat there, racking my brains about what to take and which backpack to pack it all in. I could manage with a small one, but what if I needed extra space?

First Aid for Fractures and Dislocations in a Mountain Hike

In the wilderness, far from the city, it's crucial to be able to distinguish a serious injury from a minor bruise and provide proper first aid before medics arrive or you can transport the victim. Let's look at two of the most complex cases: fractures and dislocations.

Mountain Hike - a Path to Self-Cleansing and Self-Development

In our modern world, we increasingly encounter problems related to our inner selves. Sometimes we feel insecure, limited, and unable to control our lives. However, when we go to the mountains, we find a way to get rid of this burden and cleanse our inner selves.

Varzob Peak, a hike from the 21 km Gorge to Odzhuk, mountains of Tajikistan

I had wanted to climb Varzob Peak for a long time, but it never worked out due to the inconvenient location of this mountain. In the sense that the mountain is seemingly close, but no matter which side you ascend from, you only reach Varzob Peak closer to evening, meaning I would have to plan an overnight stay. Although, you could go via the quarries; there's a road that leads to the ridge, and from there the climb would take a couple of hours. But that doesn't seem very sporting to me; if you're going to climb, it should be properly, from the foot of the mountain.

Chapter 19: The Gift of the Stone from Bear Metamorphoses

≪ to the previous chapter
Approaching the elder's dwelling, I saw him in the yard. He was sitting on the stones by the entrance, talking to the girl who brought me food. Spotting me, he said something else to her—apparently finishing the conversation. She nodded and immediately dashed off. So, she always ran like that. By then, I had reached him.

First Aid for Wounds on a Hike: A Survival Guide

In a hiking or camping environment, even a tiny scratch can turn into a serious problem. The main dangers associated with any skin injury are the risk of infection (sepsis) and severe blood loss. Therefore, it is crucial to act quickly and correctly.

Hiking as a Tool to Combat Procrastination

Procrastination is one of the serious cognitive distortions, where a person constantly postpones some action or decision until the last moment and instead engages in something else. Usually, something not particularly important, like checking email, scrolling through social media feeds, or doing other insignificant tasks. They put off unpleasant decisions or difficult tasks until later, thinking that they need to do something else at the moment, and then something else after that, and so on. As a result of this delay, the necessary decisions are not made on time, and what actually needed to be done remains undone. As they say, "put it off until autumn, and then just forget about it."