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Q&A

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

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Are "fall-arrester" devices used in climbing/mountaineering?

I came across an interesting looking device on the Petzl website. As per the description, the mobile fall arresters follow the user automatically as he moves, whether on an inclined or vertic...

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

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Is sleeping on a yoga mat better than on an airbed during winter camping?

This is a follow up on question that my friend asked earlier, but I can't comment on. My friend and I have an ongoing argument about a question : During cold winter camping (-20C air temperature, ...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by b0nd‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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What type of insect is this orange-camouflaged creature?

The picture below was taken at the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, a park with lots of flowers and vegetatation in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Can anyone identify the bug I found there, shown in the picture be...

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

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Emergency Call Madagascar Satellite Phone

I will go to rural areas in Madagascar and have an Inmarsat satellite phone. Does anyone know which number I can dial with this phone in an emergency? I already know that 117 is the local emergenc...

0 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by IndexOutOfBoundsException‭

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Trekking in Russia similar to Kungsleden

I've been walking the Kungsleden in the Sweden Lapland recently and I enjoyed it very much. I'd like to try again a similar trek but this time I'd love to go to either Kamchatka or South Siberia (n...

0 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by None‭

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What should I do when I find a dying dog?

A few years ago I was on a cycling holiday - on my own - in remote mountainous countryside in the north of Greece. One day, I came across a dog lying by the side of the road. I had passed quite a f...

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

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What features should I look for in a trail camera?

Trail cameras are motioned achieved cameras that are used to capture pictures of wild animals in the outdoors. The idea is that you can set it up in a place where animals are like to be such as a t...

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

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Fact or Fiction: "If you want to keep your feet warm, wear a hat." (and the various explanations for it)

Inspired by several questions and answers here and also one at Biology SE, I have been looking around to try to find out whether this idea I heard constantly as a youth has any merit, or it just fo...

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

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Is the Battery Life of the Garmin InReach Mini enough for a 2 week trip?

I am going hiking for 2-3 weeks with no possibility of charging the battery again. Assuming I only turn the InReach on only once a day to send a "I'm ok"-message and then turn it off again, would t...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by user5227744‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Can Cormorants swallow and digest large prey like eels whole?

Can a cormorant really manage to digest a huge, living eel, bones and all? Does the poor eel (it was quite a bright/pretty green color) stand any slim chance of escaping (that thrashing, biting, e...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by user45620‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Who to contact for a bird with broken wing in Portugal, Algarve?

I saw a bird with an injured wing among the rocks on a beach in Portugal (Algarve). The bird has been on the beach since Friday evening, and her wing feathers have completely dropped off by now. I...

3 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by ozmichka‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Systematic and random error of GPS or barometric altimeter. How to optimally use GPSMAP 66s?

A barometric altimeter is supposed to be more accurate than a GPS altimeter in the relative sense (total ascent, total descent, during stable weather), but may have considerable error in the absolu...

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

gps
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When to clean out old bird boxes?

We had birds (blue tits) at who work last year nested in a metal wall mounted cigarette bin, this year we provided a hand-made wooden bird box specifically designed for blue tits and then blocked u...

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

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What to look for in climbing shoes?

Having just completed my Boulding induction at a local rock climbing gym, what requirements should I look for in a pair of my own climbing shoes? Assume here cost is not a primary factor.

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

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Any actions to take with GPS rollover?

For those of you who haven't noticed, your GPS may have become a time traveler this week. Background The GPS system was invented in the 1980s and uses an epoch of Jan 1, 1980 as the starting poin...

2 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Sherwood Botsford‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

gps
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What are these grayish plants with little white "hair" in Joshua Tree National Park?

While hiking Ryan Mountain (elevation 5457 feet) in Joshua Tree National Park last month, I saw several of these grayish plants near the top of the mountain. I did not see any at lower elevations. ...

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

77%
+5 −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 4y ago by Chris H‭  ·  last activity 3y ago by Pastychomper‭

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What is the leave no trace thing to do when parallel trails start to form?

Sometimes in areas with sandy/muddy ground, multiple parallel trails will start to form. What is the least impactful way to walk a trail like this? Do you stay on whichever trail shows the most ...

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

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Choosing a kayak for a 5'9" 300lb man

I'm looking to get myself a kayak, but weight limits are an issue for me. I like the ascend kayaks from Cabala's because of the high back seats. I'm undecided if i want to get a 10' hybrid kayak or...

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

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What can I do when I or someone in my party falls through a floating mat?

Once, I had the opportunity to walk on a floating mat on a guided tour with a nature organisation in De Wieden (Dutch: trilveen). On the surface, it looked (to my amateur eye) exactly like other p...

0 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by gerrit‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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how shelf stable is pocket (portable) soup?

This video for Portable Soup (aka Pocket Soup) from James Townsend popped up in my feed. If you don't know (like I hadn't until I saw the video) Pocket Soup is basically a shelf-stable ultra-reduc...

0 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Van‭

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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

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What is this dime sized black bug with white on the segments near Loveland Colorodao?

On my walk around town today I found this small black bug, (keychain carabiner for scale). Closeup It has two antenna and it seems that there is white on the edge of the segments. Does anyon...

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

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Can butane be transferred from one pierceable canister to another when its below the boiling point of butane?

I use pierceable butane canisters for cooking outdoors: Given that butane boiling point is 30 to 34 °F, is it safe to punch a hole in the canister when the outside temperature drops below 30 °F ...

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

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Why do they turn the 9/11 Memorial Lights off for birds?

On the morning of September 11, 2001, two airplanes flew into the "Twin Towers," part of the hub of the World Trade Center in New York City, United States. The towers, which at one time had been th...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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What signs can I use to navigate a cave if lost?

I'm working on a story where a character gets trapped in a cave but use his knowledge as a weatherman to navigate and escape! Are the any weather-related clues you could use to escape a cave specif...

2 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Jori Richman‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Using roof rails to set up hammock

Has anyone experience with attaching a hammock to roof rails of a regular car? I just bought a hammock for my next camping trip. I will be traveling mostly by car and sleep in a tent but wanted so...

3 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Jon Isr‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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Cycle of actions and voice signals on a multipitch climb

When climbing multipitch, what is the cycle of things you do when climbing each pitch, and what are the associated voice signals?

4 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Ben Crowell‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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Tioga Pass (Yosemite) Day Use Opening Timeline

NPS has opened Tioga Pass for through traffic but not for day use recreation. I can't find any historical information about how long after the initial opening it typically opens for day use. Anyone...

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

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Is sleeping on the ground in cold weather better than on an air mattress?

My friend and I had an argument about this topic. He says that the cold air in the mattress will stay at the ambient temperature, so if it's -20 outside the air in the mattress will stay at -20 so ...

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

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What are some good ways to go outdoors in a city while safely social distancing?

I live in a downtown urban center. Normally I exercise by going to the gym or by taking long walks around the different neighborhoods or some local hiking trails in parks. Current social distancin...

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

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Damaged Gore-tex boots

I bought Aku Slope boots with Gore-tex at a good price and as it turned out they have punctures in one place, which are probably minimal when I check them inside the shoe. I do not want to use the ...

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

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What degree and/or type of athleticism is required in no-limits free diving?

This question is prompted by reading The Dive by Pipin Ferreras. It is a story of a world-class competitive free diver, in the subclass of free diving called No Limits. According to the second li...

1 answer  ·  posted 5y ago by ab2 MonicaNotForgotten‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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What is the proper way to use a sauna?

I thought that, according to what I've read from the web, people alternate between sauna and swimming. I tried to do that but people thought that I was in trouble. I posted the whole experience to ...

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

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Looking up fish species by body of water and vice versa

U.S. here (and specifically New York state but that's probably irrelevant). Is anyone aware of any websites, apps or DEC resources that allow you to look up what fish species live in any given lake...

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

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What is the difference between SPF and UPF, if any?

I read on https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sun_protective_clothing&oldid=930941768: A relatively new rating designation for sun protective textiles and clothing is UPF (Ultraviole...

1 answer  ·  posted 4y ago by Franck Dernoncourt‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

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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 4y ago by James Jenkins‭

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How do you wave off a search and rescue helicopter?

We were out on a night hike. A helicopter showed up, by behavior it was search and rescue, looking not too far away from our group. It might have simply been doing training, but if it was a real ...

3 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by Loren Pechtel‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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What is this brown catipillar with white stripes and two black spots near the head in Loveland, Colorado?

I was riding my bike today and I saw a number of these brown caterpillars with white strips and black spots near the head crossing the sidewalk. (Penny for scale) Does anyone know what kind of c...

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

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What to look for in eco-friendly sunblock?

With sunblock it's relatively easy to know what to look for in terms of SPF, UV types etc, however with eco-friendly ones that aim to not put chemicals back in the ocean (used by surfers, swimmers,...

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

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Yosemite Fire Rings - What to Expect?

I'm planning a Yosemite trip for this summer. In reading up on the rules on fire restrictions, I saw this: When and where fire restrictions are not in effect, wood fires are allowed in existing...

5 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by scohe001‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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What is the Leave No Trace way to dispose of coffee grounds?

If one makes coffee in the backcountry, there will be used grounds. Coffee grounds are biodegradable, but should one instead pack them out completely? What is the Leave No Trace way to deal with u...

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

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Water sources: which are safe and which should be avoided? (UK)

I have been trying to find a list of water sources that should be avoided. I have checked online and looked at several water companies, e.g. Scottish Water. I haven't found any information on which...

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

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What conditions would lead to lake ice being extremely clear?

There is a video where a couple of people are walking on extremely clear lake ice. Usually, lake ice is far less clear, what conditions on this lake would lead to the unusual clarity?

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

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Is a slackline, ratchet, and tree protector alone enough equipment to setup the slackline?

I'm new to slacklining and planning to buy a slack line kit from Amazon With the rope and ratchet and tree protector which will be used on trees. Is this enough to be able to tie the rope between ...

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

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Leak proof ice container, for RV fridge

I have a propane/120 volt refrigerator/freezer in my camper. For safety reasons I turn off the propane when moving. I keep the freezer section mostly full of the blue ice containers, which keeps t...

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

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How do they tell the sex of Peregrine Falcon chicks?

Related to this question where the difference in size might possibly be due to one of the 3 peregrine falcon chicks being male, how do they tell whether a peregrine chick is male or female? Eventu...

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

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Which tree produces heart shaped seeds enveloped in a long pod?

Which tree native to Florida produces these seeds? The pods are really long and the seeds inside are in the shape of little hearts.

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

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Why would a polar bear give away his kill?

I am reading Three Among the Wolves by Helen Thayer, who is best known for walking and skiing to the North Magnetic Pole accompanied only by her husky, Charlie. In a subsequent trip, she and her ...

0 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by ab2 MonicaNotForgotten‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

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How can I reduce the pressure of backpack straps on my collarbone, perhaps by fixing padding to the strap?

As some of you who are also active on bicycles.se may know, I broke my collarbone in a bike crash last year, and it's now got a titanium plate in there. I'm not sure whether it's the plate or not,...

3 answers  ·  posted 4y ago by Chris H‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭