General Q&A about the great outdoors and outdoor pursuits.
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I'm looking for a winter jacket that is waterproof and breathable. The main use is as a main jacket during the winter for going around so needs to be warm and as a waterproof shield for short cycli...
Here's my current setup. First I put my earthpad in my pack, using it like a cylinder to provide cushion and make my pack stay upright. Then I place a plastic bag within the earthpad for waterpr...
This partially answered in this question about toilet paper alternatives but it only says be careful what plants you use. I'd like to know specifically what plants are the best in your part of th...
The situation is, that you started a high route with fixed protection (bolts) and misjudged its length, so before reaching the belay the middle mark of the rope passes the belayer. What can you do...
When looking for bird seed (particularly this time of year, Autumn) what kind of bird seed should I be using to attract the most amount of birds into the garden? Is the seed even important or will ...
I have caught bass in the past but they have always been small largemouth bass or smallmouth bass. And this is with wax worms that I often use when fishing with my dad. My dad caught a big largemou...
While attempting to locate a specific climbing wall, our group hiked off-trail through several different areas that had large piles of leaves. In attempt to scare off the snakes, we poked the groun...
I am working on a very fun problem with an overhung roof that induces serious rope drag (Goat Rock Roof @ Castle Rock if you know it). I am very nervous about training this beta intensive problem g...
After watching Everest this weekend, and reading the books about the 1996 events, I was wondering just one question. Why would you not carry 3 or 4 bottles of O's to get you up and back? Or why w...
I am thinking about changing the backing on my reel for something thinner and stronger like gel spun line (I'm currently using 20lb Dacron). The goal is to fit enough backing into the reel for Atla...
I'm a beginner to hiking. Last time, I had trouble easily accessing my stuff. Putting things inside the pack was also taking nearly an hour of my time. The problem is that I have to empty the back...
Backstory: A few months ago, I experienced the following situation: We (two people) were climbing the last pitch of a multi-pitch route. Near the end, there was a cave-like chimney. Basically a ch...
I was recently doing a scramble route in North Wales. We needed to get past a large rock spike, though easy climbing, it was quite exposed and not a good place to take a fall. As a safety backup I ...
Are any natural insect repellents effective against fleas? Although very effective, DEET products are controversial and many people have shied away from their use in favor of natural products with...
Being in control of your body and making controlled movements is a skill I can't seem to get down. Are there any good ways to practice this or any workouts that can contribute to helping me build u...
Please note, this question covers different material than that in Camping with a dog for the first time. I've often seen...
Are dock leaves/rumex edible? They're on of the most common plants we see in the UK (that and stinging nettles) and I find myself wondering how if I could eat them. I've been told before that you s...
I'm trying to mount a geocache on a string inside a pole that looks like this: Can you suggest me an idea how to attach the string to the pole without drilling anything to the pole? The dimensi...
what size of knife should I carry to not make peoples eyebrows raise? what manufacturers would you suggest?
We have a black dog, and we can't really take him out hiking in the heat and sun because he can't cool down fast enough. How do you keep your dog cool when it's hot out and you're away from water? ...
I'm trying to figure out how busy the AT will be in early October in western Maine? We're looking to do a 6 day section and I'm trying to determine whether we need to carry a tent, or if we can ...
I have a pair of shoes that are really not water-proof. But they are good for not-so-serious treks and have a superb grip over all sorts of terrain in India. The only trouble I seem to have with ...
I put some used Superfeet insoles in my new Danners and they slipped just a little on the downhill part of a hike (1/4in to 1/2in) but they're very prominent insoles. Is this a huge problem as far ...
I dabble a little at leading trad, but have never led a sport route. If I do a sport lead, I want to make sure I don't make some stupid mistake when I get to the top. For example, I don't want to...
Imagine, you are shipwrecked in a warm lake (drinkable water) with 25°C water temperature and without lifeboat or anything, plain naked. You have to wait to be rescued and have to pace yourself. So...
There have been an increase in plague cases in the western United States that have been tied to infected fleas. Dogs and cats have flea repellents available on the market, but I've never seen flea ...
I want to practice my self arrest technique. So I need to find a snowy slope to slide down and practice digging my ice axe in, turning, etc. What kind of slope should I be looking for? What kind ...
I've just got a new Burton Throwback, and was wondering how you use it. The instinctive choice seems to be to wear snowboard boots with it. However, there are no ski lifts in my test field so to p...
With autumn starting to appear in the UK I find myself thinking about winter technique once again. I've practiced self arrest technique, but always avoided doing it while wearing crampons. Obviou...
Can anyone recommend what type of rock would work to line a fire pit? I am looking for a type that is unlikely to explode when heated.
Aside from Prusik cord being a different weave, what's the big difference? When would I choose one type of cord over the other? Is there anything I shouldn't I use the different types of cord for? ...
I am 6'2" (185 cm) tall, 200 lbs (~ 90 kg). I am in the market for backcountry touring skis and have my mind set on Madshus Eon. I have demoed similar skis in the past and really liked the wider ...
What does the BMC membership discount encompass? Is it just climbing and mountaineering shops or is it other paid for services? More specifically, would the BMC membership discount apply to the en...
How do I prioritize teaching about the concept of Leave No Trace to someone who is unfamiliar with it, without coming across as off-putting because there are so many rules?
This past weekend, I went on my first backpacking trip. The last 5 miles were all straight down hill which caused a lot of knee pain. Now, three days later, I still have excruciating, stabbing pa...
I have heard that skiers and snowboarders can do a lot of damage to an ecosystem. I am interested in the following backcountry wintersport activities and would like to do them responsibly. cross-...
I have a Paradox Rain Jacket from Costco that's served me well over the years. It's basically a single layer hardshell that I wear over everything in the rain and snow. I know that it says that the...
I have a bike and canoe combination that I have been using to explore rivers in my area that have public access between the river and the bike path. I tow the canoe up the bike path and paddle bac...
I'm interested in taking advantage of the delicious, invasive and underutilized crawfish here in Minnesota. I recently purchased several minnow traps (they look like two metal mesh cones placed tog...
Considering a high level of fitness, but limited mountaineering skills (some indoor climbing, a few via ferratas and high altitude hikes), what hikes would you recommend as training (and perhaps so...
I once tied a bear bag with a haphazard bundle of knots, and despite being seemingly impossible to untie, it came loose when lowering the bear bag and nearly smoked my friend standing under it. Wha...
I'm planning an overnight hiking trip in Alberta, it will involve one night of camping. I know that in Alberta you are allowed to "random camp" in Wildland Provincial parks, so I'll be heading to o...
A friend of mine recently was forced to cancel a backpacking trip because Waterton Lakes National Park (Canada side of Glacier National Park in Montana) canceled his backcountry permit due to a for...
I've never tried rope-soloing and don't have a very detailed idea of how it's done. But reading the 2015 edition of Accidents in North American Mountaineering, I was struck by how many accidents ha...
On both of my backpacks (40L and 100L) the construction is as in the picture. The shoulder straps are connected to the backpack body at some point A on the back of the backpack. Separately, there...
How would you go about preparing an old fashioned torch for use in survival situations where an electrical torch has failed?
I'm looking into purchasing a dog life jacket for kayaking with our Shetland Sheepdog puppy, when he is fully grown (6months, he's currently almost 4months). Ideally this will be for rough water s...
If it rains when sleeping in a tent, and you touch the material, the water can leak through. This means that if your equipment touches the tent wall, it can be soaked when you wake up. What method...
this is my first question. I want to know how many miles can walk a person in different terrains. The terrains are: Flat (Prairie) Snowy Desertic Boggy If a person have a backpack with some ...
A friend gave us a satellite communication gadget that has three buttons to send three messages, two of them to a programmed address ((1) location and (2) alert), and the third is a "911" button. ...
