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Q&A

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

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Which one is scientifically better for carrying water during an expedition: A hard fiber bottle or an Aluminium Bottle?

I have come across two good products for carrying the water during expeditions. I wonder which of them would be scientifically better to have along. Yes, I agree that this question may sound lik...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by WedaPashi‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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How to realize/judge/assume if one has now fully acclimatized?

I have an expedition planned in Himalayas, around the Mt. Kanchenjunga region. I believe at higher altitudes, apart from preparation (both physical and psychological), one has to be sure about a fa...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by WedaPashi‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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How do I prevent soreness due to friction when swimming?

When swimming in the ocean I often get rashes where I have skin to skin contact, especially where my arms move against my torso and where my thighs move against each other. What can I do to prevent...

3 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by SierraCalifornicus‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Where to store non-food related trash in bear territory?

I know I am supposed to put food-related trash inside my bear canister. Should I also put used female hygiene products and ziplock bags holding used toilet paper inside my bear canister over night?...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by SierraCalifornicus‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Scafell Pike ascent

Do any of the Scafell Pike ascents cross rivers/lakes? I want to hike Scafell Pike, but I don't want to be looking at rocks the whole time. I'd prefer to lake or stream/river scenery. Does anyone k...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by MarkE‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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For fording cold rivers, is there any special clothing (as opposed to makeshift bags or tightly connected raintrousers) to stay dry and warm?

On my treks, I often need to ford rivers — on my last trek (3½ day) I forded five, including four on a single day (not counting >100 smaller streams). My current practice is to take off my boot...

3 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by gerrit‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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An x-hour hike. Is that to the peak/summit or back and forth?

While planning my trip, I was looking at some trails. They all say x amount of hours, but I didn't know if that was to the peak or if that was back and forth. What is the general rule?

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by MarkE‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Sleeping solutions when camping with dogs?

My dog enjoys hiking. I haven't taken her on any overnight trips yet, but would like to try some summer/fall backcountry camping with her (i.e., what I think Europeans call wild camping -- not car ...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by Ben Crowell‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Do I need to break in double plastic mountaineering boots?

I just bought my first pair of mountaineering boots. I know hiking boots need to be properly broken in before taking them on the trail, but what about plastic mountaineering boots? These are extre...

2 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Reverend Gonzo‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Clarification need on layering principle for head in wet/rainy conditions

I've researched extensively and yet I'm still not sure what to do for rainy/freezing temperatures. If I don't want to bring a beanie, how do I apply the layering principle to my head? Is it enough...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by MarkE‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Alternatives to retreating quickly when caught in a lightning storm when rock climbing?

The general advice I have heard for surprise lightning storms when climbing is to retreat. Since retreating quickly is not without danger itself and often is not even all that quick (I personally h...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by DudeOnRock‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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How to cope with thorns when hiking barefoot?

There are two main factors that cause me to get thorns in the feet when hiking barefoot: Usually, the forest ground consists of many layers - grass, beneath it rotten leaves, beneath it grass roo...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by Vorac‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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What's the fastest and easiest way to replace an in-boom outhaul?

I have an old 20' racing sailboat where the outhaul is mostly missing. The wire is there at the end of the boom, but there's no rope coming out to cleat it. How can I run a new rope through the boo...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by Ian‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Bootstrapping for outdoors

Greetings Outdoor experts, I recently moved to USA, and looking to bootstrap myself for hikes, camping and other outdoor activities. I have not bought a proper outdoor setup earlier, rather I car...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by oneworld‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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When should pregnant women avoid buckling a backpack's waist straps?

A friend is about 7 months pregnant and was told not to buckle her waist straps on her backpack. When during pregnancy should a woman stop buckling the waist straps?

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by SierraCalifornicus‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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How do female-urination-devices perform on long backpacking trips?

How do female-urination-devices like the Shewee and the GOGIRL perform on backpacking trips that are at least a week? Do they start smelling? Do they attract bears?

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by SierraCalifornicus‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Learning to find north using moon phases

How to learn to find north using moon phases? I'm looking for easy-to-remember rule of thumb, at best some simple graphic. It's quite trivial by full moon. Since full moon is in direct opposition ...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by Danubian Sailor‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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How to make a fire in the wild, without burning the ground?

I was wondering if there was a way to make a fire pit and start a fire in it, and have a way to protect the ground beneith it as much as possible. I don't really know how I could manage to do that...

0 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Romain Braun‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

diy
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Assault II vs Hunter Pro

Does anybody have experience with BOTH the Lone Wolf Assault II vs the Muddy Outdoors Hunter Pro? Please keep the discussion to this comparison. I'm leaning towards the muddy, it's lighter, and che...

0 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by SoilSciGuy‭

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Which is more durable: Hard shell or soft shell?

From my experience, I've only ever used hard shells simply because I've always thought they were made for more treacherous weather. However, I recently saw a video by Patagonia that claimed soft sh...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by MarkE‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Which layer should have a hood (for rainy conditions)?

For rainy/snowy conditions, which layer, besides the hard shell, should have be hooded? There will be times that I will be hiking for long durations, but for the most part, there are little to no a...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by MarkE‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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I've found a GeoKret, what can I do with it?

The previous founder wrote in cache log that he had dropped a trackable called GeoKret. I've found it, but I don't know how to log it? I can't find it on GC site.

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by Danubian Sailor‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Walk-away fishing

From a beginning fisher: Can I, say, float a raft out into the middle of a lake, with several fishing lines/hooks/bait hanging into the lake, with the whole thing tethered to the shore by a long r...

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by themirror‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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What is a safe type of backyard zip line for kids and adults to use?

I want to put a zip line in my backyard for my kids. I'm looking for advice on what type to use, safety tips, and installation advice.

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by ritlee‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Chasing with mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are the one of the most disliked petspest, but they don't seem to take it to heart. When I go fast through their territory, they seem to have problem with biting me (but if there are e...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by Danubian Sailor‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Who places the anchors that rock climbers use?

I've always wondered about the permanent "hooks" (it seems the proper term for them is "anchors" — pitons, bolts, etc.) that are placed in the some rock climbing routes to help climbers. Since they...

3 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by waldyrious‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Are there 1-person 4-season tents?

I'll be camping in Scandinavia during the winter, but I can't find any 1-person 4-season tents on REI or similar sites. Do these things exist? Could it be that I can't find them because it's highl...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by MarkE‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Is emergency overnighting using hammock/canvas tent considered wild camping (Europe/Germany)?

Is (more or less planned) emergency overnighting with usage of hammock and/or canvas tent considered wild camping in Europe (especially in Germany)? In many countries, such as Germany, wild campi...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Danubian Sailor‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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How to deal with hail outdoors without special equipment?

Today on the short geocaching trip I've barely escaped hail storm. It wasn't very long, but I was without any special equipment. Light umbrella would survive a few minutes, and my jacket would prov...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Danubian Sailor‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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How to maintain climbing strength while training for a marathon

Over the next 6 months I will be training for my first marathon. This means I will be running 4 times a week, with at least one long (10-20 mile) run each weekend. I have run several half-marathon...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by theJollySin‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Is it generally allowed to walk in German forests in the night?

I was geocaching a bit and I've found in many caches the warning not to cache in the night during the winter because of hunting season. My question is, have such limitations a legal basis, and if ...

4 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Danubian Sailor‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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What are the dangers of swimming in natural waters?

What are the dangers of swimming in natural bodies of water? In essence I would like to know about all types of waters, but I am mostly interested in sea because it is most relevant to me. Like man...

4 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by Dominykas Mostauskis‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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How much warmth dead leaves add if placed under your tent/pad?

During the fall season, fallen leaves from deciduous trees such as maple, oak, etc. can be found in abundance. Dead leaves can be gathered and placed under your sleeping system in order to sleep mo...

3 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by ppl‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Logs & Rocks - Step on or over?

Growing up we were always taught to never step straight over a rock or log because it is a good way to step on or startle a snake that you cannot see. However, on a lot of hiking forums I see it a...

3 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by Russell Steen‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Does having sex in the back-country attract bears or other critters?

As stated in the title: is there any evidence that the hormones etc that the body produces during intercourse increases one's likelihood of encountering a bear in the back-country?

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by Lost‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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What is Arc'Teryx Technical down?

Today I received an e-mail from Arc'Teryx stating that Fall 2013 ushers in the arrival of technical DOWN and NEW GORE-TEX® Pro technology. What is technical down? I assume it is some sort of ...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by ppl‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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What are the minimum set of shoes required for hiking outdoors

I recently moved to US (New York) and planning to go hiking to all nearby places - NY, NJ trails. Some hikes require that I wear waterproof shoes, and some hikes doesn't specify any. I first thoug...

5 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by oneworld‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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How to Tell When Minimal Running Shoes Are Worn Out?

How can I tell when my minimal running shoes go bad? Let me explain. Conventional Wisdom The conventional wisdom of marathon runners is that running shoes will eventually 'go bad'. That is, at s...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by theJollySin‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Is it safe to swim naked in lakes in Northern Europe?

Is it safe to swim naked in lakes (rather smaller ones) in Northern Europe (north from Alps), when it comes to possible interactions with the fauna? I wouldn't expect to meet fishes such as infam...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Danubian Sailor‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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PLB, SPOT, and similar services; is there any relevant difference in reliability?

There's some discussion here about SPOT vs. PLB. The article recommends that PLB's (Personal Locator Beacons) are more reliable than SPOT (Satellite Communications), a comment says this is not tru...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by gerrit‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Geocaching or alternative game/activity to learn the basics of GPS navigation in terrain

We are 5 friends on vacation. Each of us has a smartphone but most have no experience with GPS. If we were only 2 or so I would suggest geocaching for getting practice. But with 5 it would just lea...

3 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by user829755‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Will barefoot walking harden the skin and help prevent blisters when trekking in heavy shoes?

Blisters are usually happening if you walk much more than you are used to, or the shoes are much harder than those you usually wear. For example on multi-day trekkings in heavy trekking shoes. The ...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Danubian Sailor‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Recipe for baking bread/cake on the trail

I cooked a couple of times but I was just aiding a colleague that also brought all the ingredients and had the know-how. And I have a poor memory, obviously. How do you cook yours? What recipe do ...

2 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Paul Irofti‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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I'm a data geek and I want to buy a watch for running, what should I get?

I would like a watch that would give me access to the raw data it records. Not some magic transfer to the cloud where graphs are built on the fly for me. The data-points that I'm interested in ar...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by Paul Irofti‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Is it possible to do the whole turn of the Mont Blanc (TMB) by bike?

I was planning on making the famous TMB, "Tour du Mont Blanc" by bike ? Is it possible ? Is it authorized ? What are your recommandations ?

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by Vladimir Leiv‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Basics of Via Ferrata

I am going for a two week trip in two weeks. We are two people, with bicycles and backpacks. Small sections of the trip pass through rocky trail with steel ropes. The weather is summer, but the pos...

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by Vorac‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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How do I know that I need to add an insole to my shoe?

I am trying to learn more about shoes, but for the near term goal, I have this query - how do I really know that I need an insole? How to select the right insole that I need?

1 answer  ·  posted 10y ago by oneworld‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Sailing with a child

Inspired by this question on taking an infant sailing, as it is quite different when they can move, I thought I'd ask the same question in respect of a toddler or child. What essential safety cons...

3 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by roryalsop‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Emergency measures: sleeping bag not suitable for the current weather

Related Questions: Keeping warm in an emergency, Light-weight emergency overnight-gear It has happened to me a couple of times that I have shelter and plenty of insulation underneath, but my 1-se...

3 answers  ·  posted 10y ago by Vorac‭  ·  last activity 10y ago by System‭

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Identifying named peaks from the summit of a north-american peak

Is there a good resource for quickly identifying peaks that are visible on the summit of a north-american peak? Currently I use a topographical map and painstakingly identify each individual peak....

3 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by DudeOnRock‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭