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Iy hotel only a couple of blocks from the beach; it's a bit upscale at $148 to $409 a night (www.everest.com.br) . Other cheaper hotels by the beach, including the Arpoador Inn at $39 to $69 a night (www.riodejaneirogu, ide.com/hotel/arpoadoUnn.htm). From either, the walk to Arpoador beach is easy, you can surf the entire stretch and catch a phenomenal sunset in the afternoons. Soak up the Rio beach scene-it's both life affirming and life prolonging. For days off, there's everything from rock climbing and hang gliding to skateboarding and kiteboarding, in and around the city. There are also great hikes, though the best spots are not in the guidebooks and secluded. Poverty is prevalent, however, and you don't want to wear jew- elry, flaunt money, or walk around with a lot of stuff. When Portuguese explorers first came across Rio back in the early 1600s, they mistook Guanabara Bay for a river-and named it Rio de Janeiro, which means "River of January" rather than "Bay of January." In this spirit of minor misconception, think the same of Rio as a surf desti- nation. Its rarely thought of as top class but when you consider the whole purpose of surf travel-to get waves and have a damn good time-Rio is red -hot and ruling.-Jamie Brisick ADVENTURE MEDICINE 101 (CONTINUED FROM BACKPAGE) The 10 Essentials Ask any guide and you will get a different list of what's necessary. "Keep in mind emergency bivouac equipment," asserts Shana Tarter, assistant director of the Wilderness Medicine Institute of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) in Wyoming. When she hits the trail, she said, she packs knowing she might have to spend a night out in the rain. So keeping in mind a wet night in isolation, here's a list of what will keep you dry and moderately comfortable: 1. Pocketknife or multi-tool; Swiss Army knives are good because most of them have tweezers. But a Leatherman is good because they all come with pliers. Some people are happy to just have a sharp blade. 2. Compass, maps + know-how; If you get lost, you can re-orient your- self. So long as you know how. Learn what magnetic north means and how to identify a river on a map. Some compasses come with mirrors, which is good if you need to catch the eye of an overhead chopper for your evacuation. 3. Flashlight, bulbs + batteries 4. Waterproof matches 5. Improvised shelter; A plastic tarp will keep the rain off of you. 6. Water treatment system; Either a water filter or iodine will do the trick. Make sure you know you're not allergic to iodine before you go. 7. Protective eyewear/sunscreen 8. Extra clothing; Bring polyester or wool garments. They dry quickly, and wick away your body's moisture, keeping you dry without losing any insula- tion value. No cotton-it doesn't insulate when wet. g. Food + snacks; Dehydrate your own meals or buy just -add-water meals at any outdoor retailer. Nuts, dried fruit, and energy bars all give you the vita- mins and minerals that you're sweating out. Caveat: wildlife loves sweets. 10. A first aid kit. First Aid Kit What's essential? Do you really need an ace bandage when you have two extra shirts and tape? Maybe not. Tarter says that the three most common injuries on NOLS courses are soft tissue wounds, like a cut or blister, ankle and knee injuries, and mild gastrointestinal illnesses. Assuming you may encounter one of those three injuries, learn to customize your first aid kit by figuring out what is irreplacable and what can be substituted from your gear. Here are some essential items: 1. irrigation syringe to clean wounds 2. bandages 3. duct tape (to stabilize an ankle; also great for repairing holes in your gear) 4. ibuprofen/pepto/imodium 5. pocket first aid reference 6. electrolyte replacement (such as Gatorade powder) 7. antihistamines/inhalers 8. extra toothbrush to clean wounds (keep separate from regular toothbrush) SOUTH RFRICR • Fer person. based on double occupuncy. Roundtnp travel from Ne-w York UrKJ or Atlanta (AlL). Valid throuqh 5/31;03 [. 9/1/03-12/06/03. Does not inCluop. international dp.parturE' tax, customs user fees or pre & insuraflCe charges (approx. S80). Conditions apply. • What will your story be? 1-800-822-5368 www.mysouthafricanstory.com ... SOUTH AFR.ICAN AIR.WAYS g. tea tree oil or antifungal cream (treats athlete's foot) 10. hand sanitizer 11. triple antibiotic ointment 12. needle + thread 13. moleskin 14. antibiotics (great for soft tissue infections, urinary tract infections, etc ... definitely seek a doctor's guidance). Wilderness Medicine Schools Going out for an afternoon or a month, any outdoor junkie can benefit from wilderness medicine scholarship. Courses vary in length, depending on your goals and interests. A climber who generally goes out for one night doesn't need to practice long-term care because he or she will be near definitive care within a day. The 16-hour wilderness first aid course would be great for her or him. But the mountaineer who goes on multiweek excursions needs to think about short and long term care, especially when a multiday evacuation is underway. Most guides are certified as wilderness first responders, an 80-hour course geared for trip preparation, decision-mak- ing and wound/injury/illness care. Wilderness EMTs combine wilderness first aid techniques with a typical urban EMT curriculum. At 180 hours, or about one month, this course is designed to incorporate EMT equipment into a backcountry setting. WILDERNESS MEDICINE SCHOOLS Stone hearth Open Learning Opportunities, www.soloschool.com. 603-447-6711 Wilderness Medicine Institute, www.nols.edu/wmi, 800-710-6657 Wilderness Medicine Outfitters, www.wildernessmedicine.com. 303-688-5176 Wilderness Medical Associates, www.wildmed.com. 888-945-3633 71