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Q&A

General Q&A about the great outdoors and outdoor pursuits.

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70%
+5 −1
Is it safe to carry a propane gas cylinder in minivan?

Is it safe to carry the 20 lbs propane gas cylinder in the minivan? I have carried the small Coleman's gas cylinder for camping in car trunk but now with family, I am not sure if what's the right ...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by zar‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭

60%
+1 −0
Wet vs dry glacier

What exactly is meant by the terms "wet" or "dry" glacier? This link here seems to point to the existence or absence of a film of melt-water below the glacier. This has an impact on how the glacie...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by fgysin reinstate Monica‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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+0 −0
How to melt snow without fire or body heat?

I did a backpacking trip once where I was above treeline, there was no running water and I was low on fuel for my stove. While some of the snow was melting it was draining into the ground so fast t...

4 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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+0 −0
Alpinism without short roping?

I am looking for a way into alpinism. The most common route I've found is signing up for a multi-day guided group course in a place like Chamonix, culminating in a small summit like Petite Aiguille...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by RRobert‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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+0 −0
How long can a new climbing rope be safe?

I have a climbing rope (Maxim, 11mm) that I bought back around 2008-2009 (so it's about 10 years old now). It has never been used, it's been stored properly, and the sheath and core appear to be i...

0 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by James‭

66%
+2 −0
How to improvise or make pot grip / pot handle

How do you deal with handling hot pots / cups without using a pot grip (see the picture for an example)? It's inexpensive and rather light-weight, but why add gear if you can use what you already h...

5 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Alexander‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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+0 −0
Why aren't (poly-)cotton tents more popular?

Tents with (the outer tent) made of cotton or "technical cotton" (cotton blends) are heavier, more expensive, and take some more time to dry but they also have benefits (see below). Sure the weight...

4 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Jakob‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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+0 −0
Are these tracks on the sand in Portugal dormouse tracks?

I've found these tracks just a couple of days ago on the Ursa beach near Cabo da Roca, Portugal. I'm not familiar with the fauna of this place and the only possible candidate I've found for now is ...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by Usurer‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

60%
+1 −0
Is there a way to find out the age of climbing ropes?

I have two half ropes from Camp that are basically unused, but are slowly getting old, and I would like to know their age. Is there a way to do that? I know the name of the model: Camp Plekton 8....

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by april rain‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

60%
+1 −0
When clipping into quickdraws, is it dangerous to pass a finger through the gate?

When learning to sport climb, I was taught not to pass any of my fingers through the gate of the carabiner when clipping into a quickdraw. Lest any of my fingers get stuck and degloved in the case ...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Moormanly‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
What kind of Rope for a Bosun's Chair

I'm going to make a bosun's chair to lift me 40 ft in the air to a tree platform (with at least a 6' clearance, so closer to 50'). Of course I would like the right type of rope with the right tensi...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Jesse Yishai‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
Pully rig hook release problem

So I'm still learning about beach fishing and trying different rigs. Been using the pully rig on one rod with big baits (bluey, squid/worm wraps etc) and now and again on the cast the hook releases...

0 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Edward Kelly‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

60%
+1 −0
Navigation device with offline maps and GPX support

I have a subscription service from komoot for maps. Is there any GPS device that supports offline maps and GPX, preferably with android OS integration. Example scenario would be: Use an android bas...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Mohammed Shameer‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

66%
+2 −0
How serious is bear safety in the sub-polar Ural / Komi Republic / Yugyd Va?

In Norway, Sweden, and Finland, there are resident bears, but they rarely go near people, nobody practices the kind of bear safety that is necessary in parts of North America, and this does not lea...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by gerrit‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

60%
+1 −0
What is this top guide hole on my fishing rod?

I was given a St. Croix Avid AS60MLF, and I have no idea why this top guide is on the opposite side. The rest of the guides are on the same side as the lower one in the picture. Only the top one ...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Jeff‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
Winter hiking socks (calf-length) for beginner downhill skiing

I am considering taking a few skiing lessons soon (never skied before), and the amount of specialized gear seems to be a lot. I hike a bit, and have good merino socks, which are great for warmth as...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Yogesch‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

60%
+1 −0
Why are zip-in (fleece + hardshell) jackets so rare?

I'm currently looking for a couple of things for a Nepal trekking trip. Two things are a good hardshell and a thick fleece jacket. I once had a super cheap fleece + hardshell which I could "zip in"...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Martin Thoma‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

60%
+1 −0
What type of Amphibian / Lizard is this?

This morning when out on one of my usual walks I discovered an Amphibian / Lizard on the path - I did not take a picture as it had clearly been attacked at some point, it was not alive at this time...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by Aravona‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

60%
+1 −0
How do I whiten an old deer skull?

Yesterday I found a really old deer skull in a forest and I took it home in the hope to get it cleaned up. So I searched it up but I only saw how to clean up dead deer heads with skin on and those ...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Hanna‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
What kind of spider is this half dollar sized brown one with a darker brown body and a lighter brown strip down its back?

I found this spider yesterday running across a sidewalk next to a canal, it was bigger than a quarter and I think it was carrying an egg sack. Does anybody know what kind of spider this is?

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

60%
+1 −0
Does mountaineering organization membership provide wilderness rescue/evacuation expense insurance?

Garmin inReach devices and its subscription plans seems to offer (optional?) rescue/evacuation insurance already: Does mountaineering organization membership such as Sierra Club from California,...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by qazwsx‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
Is it worth it to switch from Osprey Atmos to Exos to save weight?

My wife and I started hiking this season (we have been cycling for 10 years before that). We have pretty light and compact gear, except for the backpack. We carried Osprey Atmos 50 and Osprey Talon...

0 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Yuriy Kulikov‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
As of 2019, why do mountaineering courses still teach how to use a paper map?

I've been looking into learning how to mountaineer and noticed that the local mountaineering society still requires a training in navigation as part of the prerequisites for most of their basic cou...

21 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by JonathanReez‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

75%
+4 −0
Why aren't birds using these feeders?

I've been hanging these fat balls for a good while and they're intact. Previously I was hanging a feeder filled with seeds (for birds) in front of the window and that was also intact for a while; s...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Neeku‭  ·  edited 4y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭

50%
+0 −0
What to look for in a portable generator?

While shopping for a portable generator I noticed that some very similar seeming generators, have drastically different prices. Presumably there is something besides a brand name that makes a 1000...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

60%
+1 −0
Is Salmon caught in the seawater or freshwater? Which is the preferred way, and the most ecological way?

Salmon is an anadromous fish, that means it is born in fresh water, it spends most of its life in the sea and it returns to fresh water to spawn. I was wondering when fishermen fish salmon. I guess...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Millemila‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by James Jenkins‭

60%
+1 −0
Wild animals in Finland and Norway

Next summer I am planning to ride a bike from Belarus to the north of Norway through Finland. What measures should I take to be protected against wild animals (bears and wolves)?

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Rudziankoŭ‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
What are the pros and cons of single vs double sided magnets for magnet fishing?

There are two types of magnets sold for magnet fishing, Single sided with an eyelet on the top and the magnet directly below, and double sided with the eyelet on top of the circle and the magnets ...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

60%
+1 −0
Transition from ascending to descending a rope

Consider an ascension of a single rope with an ATC guide in locking mode and a foot loop with a friction hitch, as described in this answer: Quickest / most efficient way to ascend a hanging rope ...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Yuval Adam‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

60%
+1 −0
Food for desert hiking

A recent question discussed how to maximize water retention on a desert hike. One answer suggested that 100g of protein lead to 800ml loss through urination, so protein intake has to be minimized....

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by pacaxa‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
How to make my kayak Eskimo roll reliable in rough water?

How do I develop my kayak “Eskimo roll” from something I can do most of the time in a calm lake or pool to something I can trust to work close to 100% of the time in real sea or river conditions?

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by mmcc‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

60%
+1 −0
How often should I clean my water bladder/reservoir while on a thru-hike, extended backpacking trip, or survival scenario?

I'm wondering how long before one needs to clean their personal water bladder/reservoir while on a thru-hike, extended backpacking trip, or survival scenario. I know it's advised to clean after ev...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Peter‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
How real is the danger of suffocation in an Igloo?

Last weekend I spent a night in an igloo. The event was organised by professionals (it was a company retreat) and during the night there was always one of the guides awake making rounds and checkin...

3 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by fgysin reinstate Monica‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
How can I safely use a candle lantern inside a tent?

I have a candle lantern housed inside what I think is an aluminum frame. I'm concerned it will get hot enough to melt fabrics. How can I safely use it inside a tent? Should I suspend it from the...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by birch‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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+0 −0
Why are stove jacks NOT normally made of metal?

A stove jack allows you to safely extend a stovepipe through the roof or wall of your tent. Our stove jacks are constructed of fire proof 17-ounce [0.48 kg] silicone-coated glass material (1...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by Wilson‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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+0 −0
Yellow Overboot Repair

I have a cut in the ankle of my boot (see pic). I'm concerned that any glueing/patching will not hold due to movement and flexing while walking. What is the proper method of gluing and patching t...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by B540Glenn‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
Waterproof mittens for cycling and snow-fun: leather or synthetic?

I have a pair of nubuck leather mittens that are nice and warm but do not last very long when cycling in the rain in autumn/winter or when building snowmen and throwing snowballs. So now i'm looki...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Ivana‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
What should I consider when planning my first multiple-day hiking trip on hills?

I just relocated from north Germany into the south of Germany. Last weekend I went hiking for the first time and visited the top of a hill close to Heidelberg. It was spontaneous and I was fascina...

3 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Zaibis‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
How to properly insulate electronic devices in a car

I'll be driving to Norway in November and intend to sleep in my car on a few nights. For myself I have a sleeping bag and a few blankets, so the temperature should be no problem for me, but I will ...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by andii1997‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
At what temperature should one switch from gloves to mittens?

Given comparable contstuction and insulation betwwen a pair of gloves and pair of mittens that are designed for winter / below 0C conditions, at what temperature range would mittens be preferable t...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by murungu‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

60%
+1 −0
Dog-friendly backpacking trails in Northern California and Southern Oregon

Once a year I go on a backpacking trip with a friend of mine who lives near Sacramento, California. He likes to bring his dog. The trip lengths typically range from 2-5 days (including car travel),...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by Devin‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
When to plant a potted live Christmas tree?

We purchased a small potted live Christmas tree. We want to plant it outside. The ground is not frozen, can we plant it the day after Christmas or do we need to wait until spring? Each year mill...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

60%
+1 −0
Why use a 20 MOA rail on top of a rifle?

Some hunting rifles come with a 20 MOA rail on top for mounting the scope or you can purchase the rails separately. What is the point of a 20 MOA rail?

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

50%
+0 −0
When do insects normally hatch from insect houses?

I have a bug house and it looks as if several insects have laid in the house over the spring/summer. All of the bamboo seems to be clogged up and has been for a couple of months. Are there still i...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by ChrisM‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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+0 −0
Are grizzly bears attracted by human urine?

I was backcountry camping recently in the Canadian Rockies and there was a sign that said “please don’t urinate around the campsite, it is attracting bears”. Of course, following LNT principles, I ...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by Brusselssprout‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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+1 −0
replace Sunfish flotation blocks

My sunfish got to be over two hundred lbs.I opened up the forward deck to find only expanding foam. No Styrofoam. I see pics of the Styrofoam but need the specs/dimensions of the Styrofoam. I have ...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Mike N‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

66%
+2 −0
How should I dress for sweat inducing activities in cold weather?

I never seem to find the perfect way to dress for sweat inducing activities in cold weather. By sweat inducing activities I mean mostly activities in the mountains, especially hiking uphill or ski ...

6 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by april rain‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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+0 −0
What to do when one point in a climbing anchor breaks?

Climbing anchors usually have 2-3 redundant protection points, which distribute weight. So if one point breaks, this will not be a catastrophic failure. However, what should I do in practice if th...

3 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by anatolyg‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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+0 −0
How to tell the difference between a pika and a cottontail rabbit?

Some users here seem to think that the animal in question is a pika and not a cottontail rabbit. How would one tell the difference between a pika and a cottontail rabbit?

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭

60%
+1 −0
Why does my flurocarbon leader keep breaking when tied with a double uni-knot?

I am trying to connect 12lb leadline (lead removed for knot) to a 6lb flurocarbon leader but when I tie them with a double uni knot the flurocarbon breaks when pulling it tight. I have tried a cou...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Not loved‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭