Having ridden the hills of northwest Mississippi in my college days, I fancied myself a decent mountain biker. So when I was in the army, stationed at Fort Huachuca in southern Arizona, a friend and I went to ride the great trails around Tucson. We made a few critical mistakes right from the start.
Ask the Expert
Todd Duncan is the program safety manager for the Sierra Club's Outings program.
"To remove a large cactus needle, carefully pinch its base as close to the skin as possible. Slowly pull in line with the spine. Smaller needles can be more difficult. You can spread white school glue on the affected area, let it dry, then peel it off. Duct tape works, too. Or, lightly rub a synthetic mesh T-shirt, a tent screen, or even panty hose on the area to catch the needles and pull them out."
Stacy Bare is the Director of Sierra Club Outdoors and is a brand ambassador for The North Face and Keen Shoes. He was a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2014 and received a Bronze Star for his service in Iraq from 2006-07. Follow him on twitter @mssnotdrs
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- Keywords:
- survival tips
- adventure