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Q&A

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

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What is the HIN number on a boat?

Not long ago, my husband and I were at a restaurant in Massachusetts. At a nearby table, a man and woman were discussing a large yacht they had seen moored in Boston Harbor, which intrigued them. T...

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

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At what wind speeds do ski operators close chair lifts, for safety?

I'm planning to go downhill skiing next week and I notice the forecast for the day in question is for winds of 50 to 60 km/h. That seemed high to me. A few years ago, at the same hill, we were turn...

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

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What are the pros and cons of greased feet in boots?

I was just reading this answer at Can you keep your feet warm in ski boots on a very cold day? Yes, add fat to your feet. I don't mean gain weight. Just slather it on before putting socks on. P...

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

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Has Joe Simpson ever explained why he did not cut the rope himself?

I have just watched the docudrama "Touching the void" for the umpteenth time. I am a climber and mountaineer and have a great deal of respect for Simon Yates and his efforts to save Joe Simpson and...

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

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Lake Tahoe kayaking conditions

My wife and I would like to take my 7 year old son kayaking this summer. Was thinking about a circumnavigation of Lake Tahoe. It looks like there are plenty of put ins and take outs. I am curious h...

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

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Hiking with kids - what are the right distances?

We're currently planning a tour in the alps. Nothing too big. Just going uphill with the cable-way and then doing 15 km on top. This is because we've a 2 year and a 5 year old girl with us. We can ...

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

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What kind of portable light is going to be effective at illuminating my path?

Currently I own what I would call the most basic flashlight. It's a small cylinder with a single bulb within a reflective cone. It seems to do a very poor job at helping me follow the dirt path fro...

3 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Itai‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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I've just been bitten by a rattlesnake; how, exactly, do I "keep calm"?

My question is prompted by the answer of @WedaPashi to this question, which is about rattlesnakes, specifically: • Remain calm and first move beyond the snake's striking distance. • Keep c...

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

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Why do horses need to wear shoes?

Lately I chatted with my neighbor while the farrier was there, to provide her horses with new shoes. Later it made me wonder why they even need them. They don't have any in the wild, so why would t...

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

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How can I identify Woolly Adelgid on a Hemlock tree?

Note: An update has been added to this post, and is found below the first set of pictures. I live in Central Massachusetts, in the town of Holden. We're on the border of the large city of Worces...

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

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How do you set up a z-pulley?

A z-pulley or z-drag is a way of gaining leverage to pull a rope tight or to pull an object or person closer to the anchor. It is commonly used to tighten Tyrolean traverses, recover pinned boats i...

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

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What are opposite and opposed carabiners?

It is often said that when using two carabiners at the same point, such as an anchor, they should be opposite and opposed. What exactly does this mean?

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

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How do slow sand filters work and are there any alternatives?

Slight Introduction: A slow sand filter is a filter used to purify water. The original design is composed of a layer of gravel, then a layer of fine sand. Sometimes, however, there is an extra...

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

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SPF Equivalence

With SPF 30 sunscreen, I am usually protected for an entire day and wont be getting more than a little darker. Now, I am getting low on SPF 30 cream but I have a large supply of SPF 15. Can I just ...

0 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Itai‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Collecting plant foodstuff in the Canadian wilderness of Alberta during winter?

Context: I'm writing a story that will have two people forced to spend the winter (late November to mid-February) in the middle of a forest (Alberta, Canada). They'll have food but it'll be mostly ...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by SC for reinstatement of Monica‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Why doesn't it snow much at -30 &#xB0;C?

I live in Canada, and we get a decent amount of snow in the year. However, it is very well known that you never get a lot of snow when the temperature is really cold. For instance, you never get ...

3 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by anonymous2‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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How dangerous are wild horses?

In some parts of the western United States there are herds of wild horses. How dangerous could a herd be to a human on foot while hiking or backpacking? If they are dangerous how should a human pr...

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

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What and where is the builder's plate on a boat?

What and where will I find the builder's plate and CE marking on a boat in Europe? The CE marking obviously does not apply outside of Europe, but has anyone seen one of these and if so, where shou...

2 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by dougal 5.0.0‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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What is this animal with orange webbed feet, a white head with black stripes, and really likes breadcrumbs?

Quite simply: What is this animal? I have searched through various wildlife identification guides (particularly ducks and geese) and have so far not found anything close.

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

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How to begin trail / fell running?

I'm looking to challenge myself more than just running and wanted to know if there were any specifics in how to begin trail / fell running (In this case running up hills / mountains). Is there any...

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

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Is this bar-headed goose's behavior an indication of a problem?

After seeing this question which had this animation: I was left wondering whether this behavior was "normal" or at least healthy. I know sometimes when an animal exhibits odd behavior there's so...

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

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Does a BCY 425x string harm my tradtional recurve bow?

I've a Bear Archery Super Kodiak from 2013 with 40 #. I shoot 8,2 gpp arrows on it. Recently I heard that I should not shoot a BCY 425x string on it since the high amount of vectran somehow harms...

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

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On average, how often do people thru hiking the Pacific Crest Trail resupply?

I have been wondering how often the thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail resupply. I would assume that it depends on the part of the trail and the hiker, but is there an average distance or lengt...

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

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What is the history of the Duckbill rock formation in Oregon?

During an internet search for fun places to go in the Western United States, I came across a number of articles about an unusual rock formation in Oregon called Duckbill. It was called iconic, trea...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Difference between Mittens and Gloves

I have heard and hence used the term 'Mittens' for those that I use while rappelling. But, the ones that I use for bike-riding are referred as 'Gloves'. Is there a difference between Gloves and ...

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

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Are there standard whistle signals for communicating with separated party members?

Similar to the previous question that turned up when I searched on this topic: Is there a standard set of light signals for mountaineers?, but for sound? Repeating sets of 3 blasts is standard fo...

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

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What exactly is a rocker?

Snowboards are often described with the term "Rocker". It seems like a kind of shape or something. What exactly is meant by a "Rocker" snowboard and what are the advantages or disadvantages?

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

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Do zebra mothers seek revenge?

I just watched a documentary on PBS that featured many African mammals in the wild. One scene in the documentary showed a baby zebra that was described as "minutes old" walking next to its mother. ...

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

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Aftermarket access panel to clean inside fresh water RV tank?

When I was searching for boat inspection plates amazon example I saw a review where someone had bought one to install in the top of their RV fresh water tank to make cleaning inside easy. I though...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  last activity 7y ago by System‭

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Why do different kinds of bug bites itch in different ways?

I have gotten bit by 3 different bugs that have all given me itchy bites but they are oh so different. The most recent one is a tick bite, today is the first time I ever remember having a tick bit...

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

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What is the col between Mt Meru and Kilimanjaro?

When browsing Wikipedia's List of peaks by prominence, I was surprised to see that the parent peak of Mt Meru (in Tanzania) is Mount Kenya (350 km away) and not Kilimanjaro (50 km away). The col be...

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

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GPS Altitude Anomalies

On a recent run which crosses the Humber Bridge my GPS watch seems quite confused by my altitude as I crossed the bridge, as if there is an 8m shear drop half way with the south side being lower. ...

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

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How to safely rescue someone drowning as an untrained bystander?

Motivated by a comment thread in this question here. As far as I know the consensus basically boils down to: It is very hard rescuing someone who is drowning. It can be very dangerous rescuing a ...

7 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by fgysin reinstate Monica‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Does anybody know or know where to find the requirements for Russian ice axe tests?

As I bought an ice axe from Russia some 10-15 years ago and cannot remember their ratings, I just wondered if somebody knew (or knew where to find) descriptions of the Russian ice axe test requirem...

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

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Should one purchase a smaller water shoe size?

Do water shoes (not socks) expand some so when purchasing you should go down a size? I wear 8.5 shoe but water shoes do not come in half sizes so wandering if I should go down to an 8 since the sh...

1 answer  ·  posted 7y ago by MEL56‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Are longer kayaks faster than shorter ones?

I've been researching which kayak I'd like to buy, and I keep coming across the notion that longer kayaks are faster than shorter ones. I can understand that shorter kayaks have a greater tendency ...

7 answers  ·  posted 7y ago by Jonathan Landrum‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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How to deal with diarrhea when using a cathole in the wilderness?

I was sitting and thinking last night... If you have gas and loose stool (diarrhea) and you are squatting over a cathole in the wilderness how do keep your pants and foot wear clean? Related ...

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

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Does fordable by 4WD imply fordable on foot?

I am investigating the feasibility of a hike looping around Hofsjökull. Among the foreseen challenges are 17 crossings of named rivers (and many smaller ones). All rivers I need to cross have 4WD...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by gerrit‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Are Icelandic deserts so dry I need to worry about drinking water?

I am investigating the feasibility of a hike looping around Hofsjökull. This will take me through several “deserts” such as Hofsafrétt and Sprengisandur. On photos, this looks pretty dry, but Ice...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by gerrit‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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What are the best places to go for a hike near Mexico City?

What are the best places in Mexico City to go for a hike. Ideally they should be safe, with amazing views, can go with my car with two or three other people, they are not so crowded, last for appro...

0 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by awavi‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Obtaining drinking water from a glacier or icefield, in the absence of snow or reachable meltwater

What are some methods to obtain drinking water from a glacier or icefield, in the absence of snow or reachable meltwater? Collecting ice is much harder than collecting snow. Do I need to bring sp...

3 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by gerrit‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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How to confirm/remove ticks in tough spots when alone?

When in tick country, tick checks are critical. Easier with a buddy who can look where the sun doesn't shine, but even alone, diligent inspection (especially with a mirror of some sort) can go a lo...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by cr0‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Double half hitch, versus two half hitches?

In the 70s, while learning sailing, I was taught to use a double half hitch, where the two hitches are tied in opposite directions. However, in the 90s, I took a USCG course, where in the same situ...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Daniel Griscom‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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How to minimize impact on terrain at camp?

I recently went backpacking above treeline in Colorado. It was in a National Wilderness and there were no designated camping areas. Finding a flat enough spot for 3 tents proved to be difficult at ...

3 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Brad‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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What is this brown dust/powder inside my old pack?

I have a Lowe Aline Attack 50 pack from around 2000 and recently much of the inside has accumulated a sort of brown powder that is either, I suspect, some kind of mildew, or the remains of the deco...

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by Michael Stern‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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How do I strengthen my ankles for long, steepish, snow and glacier routes?

I had to turn around on a long (5000ft) glacier route last week because one of my ankles had really begun to hurt. The ankle was so fatigued after 1000ft that I doubted my ability to safely finish ...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Charles E. Grant‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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How to cool a tent?

We are camping in the summer at the Mediterranean Sea. We camped there already sometimes and in the summers its quite hot. Now we are thinking about how to improve the cooling of a tent. Maybe mak...

4 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Boas Enkler‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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What are the consequences of the Lake Districts WHS status for attempts at rewilding/reforestation?

UNESCO, The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, has declared the Lake District National Park a cultural World Heritage Site (WHS), according to criteria (ii)(v)(vi), ...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by gerrit‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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How far from a road do I need to be to not hear the traffic?

We are always camping in areas we have not been to before. We usually use Google maps (satellite) to try and guess about the appropriateness of a camp before going there. From experience we kno...

5 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭

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Stink bug repellent

Does anyone know of an all natural way to get rid of stink bugs? I know they are harmless but, they seem to really like my house. I don't want to kill them, I just want them to go away.

1 answer  ·  posted 6y ago by Vickijjune‭  ·  last activity 6y ago by System‭