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Q&A

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

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What are the steps in the PBUS method of belaying?

The more common way of belaying is called PBUS which stands for Pull, Under, Brake, Slide. What is the correct way to do this (including illustrations)?

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Hiking map for Hokkaido and/or other resources

I plan to go hiking in Hokkaido next spring. I'd like to hike two weeks and to keep away from the cities during this time. I'd like to visit Daisetsuzan Park and Shiretoko Park. I've read about Da...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by Shan-x‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Are there any Draisines-Railbike Companies that have wheelchair accessibility?

Railbiking is so much fun for those of us who are not limited physically in one form or another. Are there any Draisines-Railbike Companies that have wheelchair accessibility options for the disabl...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Ken Graham‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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What is a good length for first back country skis?

I am looking for my first skitour skis. I have main focus 90% on ascent, and 10% on descent (mostly on piste). I am 184 cm heigh, and weight is 87kg. What should I consider? my weight? inclusive...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by andilabs‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Is there a Leave No Trace equivalent specifically for boaters?

This question lists the principles of Leave No Trace, taken from the Center for Outdoor Ethics website. While the general principals apply to many types of outdoor activities, this particular set ...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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How to cross rivers or streams at night or in darkness?

I am preparing a dayhike with some buddies of mine but to get to the trailhead, we have to cross more than ten river crossings which are passable by huge vehicles. The water there is quite fast and...

3 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by user19652‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Under what circumstances would I wish to extend the handle length of a snow saw?

A snow saw is useful for building snow shelters and for avalanche danger testing. Some models are said to be easily attached to ski/trek poles in order to increase the handle length. Under what cir...

3 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Martin F‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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How can one know where to throw one's spear when spearfishing?

Spearfishing has been around ages and everyone has heard of how great the Native Indians were at spearfishing. As we all know, light is refracted (bent) when it enters water. The key to spearing f...

3 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Ken Graham‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Can a compass be thrown off by its surroundings?

Would it be possible for a compass be affected by its surroundings, such as a large iron deposit or other rocks to the point where it is not working correctly? I am not talking about declination ...

4 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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How to find natural sulfur sources?

According to a google search sulfur is widely available in nature. Volcanic regions and hot springs are common sources of it in elemental state. Less obvious sources are iron pyrites (iron sulfide...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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If you are faced with surviving on your own for a prolonged period, should a sling make your short list of hunting tools, and why or why not?

If you are putting together a survival package for a prolonged period, should a sling make the short list of your hunting tools, and if so, why? By prolonged, I mean a year to decades, during whic...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by ab2 MonicaNotForgotten‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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How to process iron in the wilderness?

How do you smelt and forge iron sources from & in the wilderness? People must have started somewhere with this sort of thing! I once saw a video from a primitive technology practitioner on Yo...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by cr0‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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When should I boil water before distilling it?

One of the surest ways of purifying water is distillation water is boiled and only things that evaporate at or below 100C are captured. This does lead to the potential issue of things like petrole...

3 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Is sunscreen toxic to marine life, especially coral reefs?

As part of an effort to be a responsible user of the world's waterways, I've been thinking about ways to reduce marine pollution. A friend told me that certain chemicals in common brands of sunscre...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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If in a survival situation, how can one preserve a hide of an animal with a minimum amount of tools and skill?

If in a survival situation, how can one preserve the hide of an animal with a minimum amount of tools and skill in order to make clothing or bedding? I am not asking how to make things with the hi...

4 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Ken Graham‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Compass compatibility: Can I use my US compass in Australia?

Background I bought my compass in the US last year. Next week I'm going to travel to Australia. Question Is my US-compass compatible with Australia? or do I need a special compass? Do I need an...

4 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Christian Deckert‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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What date does a moon phase guide represent?

I'm trying to plan a night trip around the New Moon to have my first go at Astrophotography, so I'm looking at Moongiant. I'm trying to learn what date a moon phase guide represents. For example, ...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by Ryan‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Are there types of compass other than the regular magnetic one and the gyrocompass?

Today I learned about the existence of the "gyrocompass". A gyrocompass is a type of non-magnetic compass which is based on a fast-spinning disc and rotation of the Earth (or another planetary bod...

4 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by user12359‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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What are some usable sources of iron for producing iron tools in the wilderness?

Hematite is one of the more common ores for smelting iron, but as illustrated in the comments from this question—the answers to which focus on the processing of iron—there are apparently other sour...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by ShemSeger‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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When ski mountaineering should I bring a whippet or ice axe?

I've seen whippets while skiing and am thinking of taking one (or two?) on a 4 day tour in glacier terrain, but am confused as to their purpose. Do they replace ice axes or are used in conjunction ...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Sean Kolk‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Is it worth getting a divemaster certification if I don't plan to work as a professional dive master?

I have been an avid diver for over a decade. Once upon a time, I wanted to get my divemaster certification in order to work (for a short time) as a divemaster. However, that ship has since sailed, ...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by Bob Smith‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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How do you pace yourself while doing strenuous hikes above 3,000 meters (10,000 feet)?

How do you know how fast or slow to go while hiking at elevation (say above 3000 meters) on an instant per instant basis? Elevation, weight carried, steepness, surface underfoot (e.g., trails, cros...

4 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Sean Kolk‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Multi-day hiking trip [California, early April]

I just learned that I am going to end up in San Francisco for 2 weeks in early April. I will be meeting a couple of relatives there who will travel from tropical places, so they won't have a lot of...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Quentin Geissmann‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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When back country camping, how do you avoid being attacked by a mountain lion in your sleep?

I'm looking to camp in SE Oregon. At minimum, my girlfriend and I will have sleeping bags. We're open to adding a tent, fire, and other stuff as recommended. Our goal is to be able to hike around l...

9 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by William Grobman‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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How can people survive really cold nights outside with minimal equipment?

There are people who had to survive one or more nights in altitudes above 7000 m at temperatures far below zero, without tent, sometimes without sleeping bag or even a proper jacket. Some examples ...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by Sophia‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Why does the intensity of sunlight at sunset/sunrise depend on your latitude?

Why is sunlight in mornings and evenings more intense in the temperate zones than in the tropics? It is more difficult to drive facing the sun at 7am for example in Auckland, NZ than at Singapore.

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Sam Kavil‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Why do my socks roll down towards the toes of my shoes while mountaineeering?

After nearly a decade of regular mountaineering, I am having this issue for the first time. And, I am almost sure to claim that it may not be because of the shoes that I use since I have been using...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by WedaPashi‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Is there any statistical evidence that hunting reduces the likelihood of mountain lion attacks?

There has been some discussion on this question about whether or not hunting would increase or decrease the likelihood of a mountain lion attack. I have seen some websites saying that it does not, ...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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How to lock a kayak

In my garage, and when it is parked around town, I lock my bike to a rack via a U-lock or at least a cable lock. How should I similarly secure my kayak? I realize that a determined thief can break ...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Martin F‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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How to repurpose an old self inflating sleeping pad?

I have some damaged-beyond-repair self inflating sleeping pads. On one the hard gel housing the valve has completely disintegrated so it cannot be inflated at all. Two others have dozens of tiny ...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by Martin F‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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What are these loops on my backpack for?

On either side of my backpack, I have a loop with some kind of locking mechanism on them. They look like this: They are placed on the upper center of my backpack: The plastic bit at the end c...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by Birjolaxew‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Good Hiking Route Planner

I'm planning on hiking from John O'Groats in Scotland to Land's End in Cornwall via the Three Peaks. I'm wondering if there are any good online hiking planners that let you set waypoints and minimi...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by Persistence‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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How to protect a body in the wilderness?

I am hiking in the wilderness, a round trip to civilization and back is at least 24 hours. I know where I am and I can return to the same spot. If my hiking partner dies, how can/should I protec...

5 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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How to clean picked berries?

After picking berries, you are often left with a pail full of berries, some leaves, some sticks, pieces of stems, sometimes little white worm creatures and some dirt. Is there an easy way to clean...

4 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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How to stalk lynxes in the black forest?

I'm living near the black forest and one of my favorite animals are lynxes. Since 2014 the lynx-population in the black forest is growing. Still they are quite seldom and of course shy. Nevertheles...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by OddDeer‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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How do you create a sense of community on a backpacking trip?

Having a sense of community on a backpacking trip can mean the difference between enjoyment and misery. It can also be the difference between backpacking as a team instead of as random group of peo...

5 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Are there any situations while backpacking that would require a watch?

One of my favorite things about backpacking is the absence of time constraints, you eat when hungry, sleep when tired and sort of track how much time is left until dark. Would there be any situati...

14 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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What are good practices for resolving disagreements on a backpacking trip?

On a backpacking trip with multiple people, it is all but guaranteed that disagreements will arise. Pace, food, wake-up times, route and chores are some of the common sources of friction. Backpack...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Are the Goldtip and Easton spine declarations AMO/AMA or ASTM?

I need to convert the spine of my Goldtip and Easton shafts to the AMO static spine standardization. They've their static spine declared as for example "500" which translates into a deflection of "...

0 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by OddDeer‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Alcohol-fuel for burner at the Glasgow Airport

I will travel to the Highlands and have a very quick stop-over at the Glasgow Airport since I have to catch the bus from Daluir. Is there any chance to get alcohol-fuel for a burner? In some countr...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by ruedi‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Could this year's unusual warmth harm turtles?

I currently live about 25 miles northeast of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. On February 20-21, 2015, a fairly significant snow and ice event struck the area. On February 29-March 1, 2016, a smaller event...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by cobaltduck‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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What should go in an inflatable sleeping pad repair kit?

While backpacking with an inflatable or self-inflating sleeping pad one runs the risk of getting holes in it. This does happen fairly frequently, and while they do make kits, I would like to know ...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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What are the pros and cons of air pads vs foam pads for backpacking?

Backpacking sleeping pads come in two basic types, foam and air, with some of the air pads being self-inflating. What are the pros and cons of each and how would one decide which type to get?

6 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Resources for finding organised treks based on specific criteria

I'm unsure where to go this summer/autumn. Among my options would be to join an organised trek somewhere I wouldn't (currently) want to go independently (such as for experience, language, cultural...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by gerrit‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Can you find your location using the angle between compass bearings?

Sometimes compasses are less accurate than we would like them to be. They can be thrown off by their surroundings, have their polarity reversed, become demagnetized, develop air bubbles or be take...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Telescopic trekking poles: clamp vs. screw system

I'm looking to get a new pair of trekking poles for my next trek as I find them an invaluable tool on longer hikes with higher pack load. It seems others and science agree to some degree at least, ...

0 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by fgysin reinstate Monica‭

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What are the pros and cons of both a DIN and a yoke valve for a scuba-diving regulator?

I'm looking at buying regulators for scuba-diving this weekend and we came across the options to have a DIN or a yoke valve for our first stage. What are the pros and cons of both a DIN and a yoke ...

3 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Aravona‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Does the altitude you live at influence the time required for acclimatization?

Let's say that two persons are going to attempt to climb a mountain that is 6 000 metres high. These persons are equal in every way, except that one lives at sea level and one lives at 2 500 metres...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by HenricF‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Do American mourning doves only make their plaintive cooing sound where people can't see them?

We have American mourning doves in abundance in Massachusetts. They spend months in our yard, eating seeds both on the ground and in the feeders. They also peck around in my flower garden, so I thi...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Why are these turkeys circling a dead cat?

I recently came across a gif file showing a gang of turkeys circling what appears to be a dead cat. It appears to be a structured formation as the turkeys are trotting at the same pace and spacing ...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Skooba‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭