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Q&A

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

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71%
+3 −0
What is the best method for storing a 'pre-mixed baking mix' in a camper for long periods?

I have a camping trailer that we keep stocked with food and beverages. When we head out on an impulse trip, it stocked and ready to go. Most of the supplies are canned or dried, so we don't need to...

2 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Monica Cellio‭

60%
+1 −0
Why would hearing muffs be tested against continuous and not impulse noise?

Looking at a new pair of earmuffs that a NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) or 34 DB. However the fine print says that said rating is for continous noise and not impulse (like gunfire). Why would they be...

2 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

75%
+4 −0
What can I burn in an open cup burner stove?

I'm looking for easily obtained fuels for an open-cup stove, such as a Trangia, in case I need to top up while travelling. I have a small simple DIY open cup spirit stove, for boiling water when b...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Chris H‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Pastychomper‭

66%
+2 −0
Accessibility of hiking trails in Nepal during December

I'm planning on Annapurna base camp or Manaslu circuit trek in December (mostly the end of December). I know December is the winter season in Nepal and is expected to be quite cold at that time. Ha...

2 answers  ·  posted 6y ago by Ricketyship‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭

66%
+2 −0
Is it safe to use a slightly rusty butane canister?

I was sorting some old camping equipment at my parents' house and found several butane canisters for a camp stove. One of them has some rust on the metal around the shoulders; it's slightly pitted ...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Sigma‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭

71%
+3 −0
Towing with a Recumbent Trike, Tadpole or Delta?

I have some experience towing with an upright bike I am considering getting a recumbent trike, as my back side does not last as long as my legs. With an upright bike I automatically move my weight ...

2 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Olin Lathrop‭

60%
+1 −0
How many wag bags will the average person use per day?

Wag bags are used in areas where human waste has to be carried out. How many wag bags should a group pack per day given that plenty of people will try to avoid pooping in the outdoors and that numb...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

66%
+2 −0
What would minks be looking for next to a seasonal irrigation canal after dark?

A few nights ago I saw some minks in the grass right next to a seasonal irrigation canal that is dry most of the year shortly after dark. The irrigation canal has no fish or crawdads in it, because...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

66%
+2 −0
What is the survival rate for baby cottontail rabbits between spring and winter?

As the summer goes on, the cottontail rabbits are getting bigger and at the same time I am seeing fewer of them, presumably as predators whittle their numbers down. What percentage of baby cottonta...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

71%
+3 −0
What is this small winged bug with a black spot on its back and dusky colored wings

I just saw this small winged bug out in a prairie would anyone know what kind it is? Top view Side view

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Olin Lathrop‭

81%
+7 −0
How do you train a barn sour horse?

Sometimes a horse will become what is known as barn sour where all they want to do is hang around the stable/corrals and not go on rides. While on rides, they will keep trying to turn back and once...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Pastychomper‭

55%
+3 −2
How do you become a New Forest commoner?

Exactly that... I've done some searching and it looks like a catch-22 situation: To be able to move there you need to do commoning already. But to do commoning, you need live there already. (Hmm.....

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by Heimdall‭  ·  edited 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭

50%
+1 −1
Climbing Kilimanjaro for a newbie

It looks like I'm going to be living in Nairobi for a few years. Along with all of the other amazing opportunities for adventure around here, there's this giant mountain just over the border. Since...

4 answers  ·  posted 9y ago by Gnagn‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by luap42‭

66%
+2 −0
What is the advantage of a running vest instead of a backpack for trail running?

I keep seeing trail runners who instead of a small light backpack, have a running vest with small front pockets and then one on the back. What is the advantage of a running vest over a small backpa...

2 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

66%
+2 −0
Winter boots for -40°C that are snowshoe and crampon compatible?

One should never let middle age men sit around drinking and reliving the glory days of their youth on a holiday weekend. I think I may have agreed to a mid January Presidential traverse in the Whit...

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by StrongBad‭  ·  edited 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭

66%
+2 −0
Akita as my hunting buddy

I thought about trying unconventional breeds for hunting. I stumbled across the "Akita", which was initially cultured to hunt. However, it seems that it's pretty much a common house/pet dog nowaday...

1 answer  ·  posted 8y ago by OddDeer‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Canina‭

66%
+2 −0
Are there any tricks to get a fish to commit to biting a fly?

The last time I went fishing, there were numerous times where I could tell that the fish were nibbling on the fly because it would move the strike indicator ever so slightly, but they wouldn't actu...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  edited 3y ago by Mithical‭

71%
+3 −0
At what temperature does rain gear become a liability?

At what temperature does rain gear become a liability? If it is a couple of degrees above freezing and you are wearing rain gear to stay dry. It helps keep hypothermia (too cold) away. If the temp...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Olin Lathrop‭

75%
+4 −0
What makes pants "tactical"?

The last time I was in looking for fishing gear, they also had a bunch of "tactical" pants. They seemed like they would be decent pants for outdoor activities. What exactly makes a pair of pants "t...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by ArtOfCode‭

66%
+2 −0
How far per record will a stationary GPS unit "travel"?

If you have tracking set on your GPS device and you forget to turn it off overnight, for instance, the track distance will continue to increase even though the device is not moving. What is happeni...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Olin Lathrop‭

gps
50%
+2 −2
Would an Ursack stop marmots?

I have an Ursack to keep my food safe from bears, but above treeline the problem isn't so much bears as it is marmots (who are unfortunately accustomed to people). Would an Ursack keep the marmots ...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

75%
+4 −0
In the United States, how steep can a handicap-accessible trail be?

Once in Yosemite Vally, I saw a sign that one fork of a paved trail was marked as handicap accessible because it was less steep than the other fork that led to the same destination. How steep/what ...

2 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Olin Lathrop‭

71%
+3 −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 4y ago by Neeku‭  ·  edited 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭

71%
+3 −0
Adjusting derailleur with bike upside down, is it ok?

I need to adjust the derailleur on my bike, I don't have a bike stand because I am on the bike trail. I have three options for pedaling while adjusting the the derailleur. Turn the bike upside dow...

3 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Mithical‭

75%
+4 −0
How to keep gloves from getting sweaty?

When shoveling snow in the winter, if my gloves are warm enough to keep my hands warm, they tend to sweat and get the gloves wet from the inside out. How can I prevent this?

2 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Olin Lathrop‭

71%
+3 −0
Equipment for driving off road in the Northeast United States

What equipment is necessary for driving on 4x4 trails and rougher forest roads in the Northeast United States? This would include safety equipment, recovery equipment and any other equipment neede...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Yossarian‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Olin Lathrop‭

66%
+2 −0
At what point does a solar charger become more efficient weight wise than batteries?

For short trips, lithium-ion batteries to recharge your camera/phone/GPS make more sense. For something like the Appalachian Trail where batteries aren't going to last the whole trip, a solar charg...

2 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Olin Lathrop‭

66%
+2 −0
Why would a skunk be chasing a human?

There is a video on reddit where a skunk is chasing a woman around. It's not spraying or even threatening to spray, but it's sure trying to keep up with her. Why would a skunk be doing that?

2 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Olin Lathrop‭

66%
+2 −0
How long does canned chicken repackaged into a ziplock last?

Rather than take a can of chicken while backpacking, it's possible to open the can, drain the juice and stick the meat into a ziplock which makes it much lighter and a ziplock is much more compact ...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

66%
+2 −0
How stay fit enough to make moderately hard rides a couple times a month?

When I have time I like to get my bike and canoe out and do a day trip. Doing a mile or two is not hard but a good day trip is between 8 and 14 miles. When I started at the beginning of the year 6...

0 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

66%
+2 −0
How should I support a droopy basil seedling?

Last year one of my CSA boxes contained a basil seedling in a 4" starter pot. I'd never grown herbs before, but I transplanted it to a pot, took care of it, and had a tasty bounty all summer. Thi...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Monica Cellio‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Natalia‭

60%
+1 −0
How to improvise baskets for trekking poles?

The baskets on trekking poles are very useful while hiking through snow, however, they have a tendency to break. How would one improvise a fix in the outdoors for this?

0 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭

66%
+2 −0
What would the temperature rating of a space blanket/reflective tarp be?

Sleeping bags have temperature ratings that tell you the aproximate temperature that will be comfortable at. Reflective tarps do not have such ratings, probably because most people don't use them ...

0 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭

66%
+2 −0
Trailer connection, off the shelf parts and proven performer

I am planning a long bike and canoe trip (bike tows canoe, canoe carries bike and cart), There are a couple of purpose built products for towing a canoe with a bike dumb stick & woody hitch but...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

66%
+2 −0
How to build surge brakes on bike trailer?

There are a couple of pretty good answers in How to make a cargo trailer?. After looking at those, at the answer to What are the safety concerns of a high vs a low mount trailer hitch? and doing s...

0 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

66%
+2 −0
What are the safety concerns of a high vs a low mount trailer hitch?

When you google for images of (canoe & bike) you find two basic solutions to towing a canoe with a bike. A traditional axle mounted tralier is modified to have a tongue long enough to load/...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  edited 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

71%
+3 −0
What are these small plants with red berries at around 9,000 ft in Colorado

I found these plants while hiking in Colorado, they are pretty small and have red berries slightly larger than peas. The area was old growth that had been burned in a fire at least a few years ago.

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭

71%
+3 −0
How to find a safe portable 1500 watt heater

I have 20+ year old space heater that is nearing end of life. 120 volt, 1500 watts We use it in the camper when have electric hookup, and need a little extra heat. I started looking online for a...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

80%
+6 −0
What causes these big gathering of ants on a sidewalk?

Here is a whole bunch of ants gathered on a sidewalk around dusk, I have seen this before so its not totally uncommon. What would lead to ants doing this?

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

75%
+4 −0
How do you train a horse that bites humans not to?

Sometimes a horse/pony will bite humans. They bite each other to establish dominance and sometimes they will bite humans too. How do you train a horse to stop biting humans?

2 answers  ·  posted 3y ago by Charlie Brumbaugh‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by ArtOfCode‭

66%
+2 −0
Boat Septic Pump Out?

I am very familiar with dumping septic holding tanks in a camper on land. I do it regularly and safely, either at the camp ground or at home. I am considering a boat trip on the Ohio and Mississi...

1 answer  ·  posted 3y ago by James Jenkins‭  ·  edited 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

71%
+3 −0
What are the consequences of — illegally — using a 446 MHz PMR in the North American wilderness?

I've recently bought a pair of PMR446 walkie-talkies with some 5–10 km range, operating at 446 MHz. We've happily used them in Sareks Nationalpark in Sweden. Now I'm moving to Canada, where this ...

4 answers  ·  posted 9y ago by gerrit‭  ·  edited 3y ago by ArtOfCode‭

66%
+2 −0
What is a place in the U.S.A that is between 40°F - 60°F (5°C - 15°C) year round and doesn't get a ton of rain?

I just wanted to know what place in america has forest, temperature ranges from 40°F - 60°F (5°C - 15°C) year round, does NOT rain for days on end, and rarely gets snow. I tried looking around on...

5 answers  ·  posted 9y ago by System‭  ·  edited 3y ago by ArtOfCode‭

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 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

71%
+3 −0
Trekking with a donkey

I've just seen a documentary in which a guy trekks through some rugged terrain while he has his cargo on a donkey. It's a pretty cool and versatile animal overall. What are some pros and cons of t...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by amphibient‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

71%
+3 −0
When should I report a potentially injured-looking animal to authorities in a large, monitored, wildlife area?

We prefer watching animals from a distance, to try and cause them the least disruption. Every so often I've seen an animal in a distant part of a large area that doesn't appear to feel right. For i...

3 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

66%
+2 −0
Flat bottom boat trolling motor power

I am wondering how to estimate the needed motor power for boating upstream on big rivers like, for example, Danube. (mean the bottom to middle part, i.e. where the Danube is wide and "slow"?). To ...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by jm666‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

60%
+1 −0
Portable power generator ballpark fuel consumption

tl;dr What is a likely value for fuel consumption for a small portable 4-stroke gasoline-powered inverter power generator in, say, litre / ( kilowatt * hour )? At times I attend music festivals wh...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by eomanis‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by James Jenkins‭

60%
+1 −0
Are there statistics on how often CPR on someone who has been struck by lighting works?

In all of my Wilderness First Responder classes and books, they have said that people who have been struck by lightning and need CPR have the best chance of it working (in general save rates with C...

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

71%
+3 −0
Hiking with a mule or two?

For an older guy (say 65+) who likes to hike alone - are a mule or two a help or a hindrance? Maybe a mule for the pack, and a second mule to ride when I get really old? Historically people prefer...

6 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Censored to protect the guilty‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by James Jenkins‭