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Q&A

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

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Are there something like student mountain guides clubs in Western Europe?

Student mountain guides clubs are very active in Poland. They are organizing non-commercial mountain backpacking trips, where participants have to pay only their part of costs, such as when you tra...

1 answer  ·  posted 12y ago by Danubian Sailor‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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How many GeoCaches are registered in Germany by OpenCaching?

I was trying to find statistics for the number of caches in Germany, that are registered in portal opencaching.de, a free of change and open alternative to GeoCaching.com. But I've failed to find s...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by Danubian Sailor‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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Does Moss only grow on the North side of trees?

Well does it? Or does it only grow on one side? Or does it grow only on the side further from the equator? Is there any truth to this old adage?

3 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by MaskedPlant‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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How can I locate the leak in a inflatable pad, while hiking

Kevin did a nice job of providing a quality answer here for how to find the leak if you are at home. However I usually realize I have a leak when it deflates under me in the middle of the night. ...

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by Russell Steen‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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Bleaching Dyneema/Spectra

My white full Dyneema backpack is old and dirty and stained. How do I clean it? Can I wash it in chlorine bleach or some other fabric bleaching chemical? If so, how? Even if the bleaching agent d...

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by themirror‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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How should I correctly use poles and other equipment to avoid back pain on long hikes?

3 of my lower vertebra have irreparable damage, so I have various workarounds to minimise pain and swelling at home and in the office, and even on short term hikes (ibuprofen FTW) but on a longer h...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by roryalsop‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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Is buying an expensive sleeping bag better?

I went camping a week ago and it was so cold. I woke up many times at night shaking because of the cold. I have a cheap and old Wal-Mart sleeping bag, and I am thinking about buying one of these $1...

4 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by Conrad C‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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Storing Fuel Canisters with Stove Pump Attached

The Question Can I store my white gas fuel canister with the stove pump attached? Follow-up Questions Is it safe to store white gas fuel canisters partially filled with white gas? Does this h...

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by Michael Pell‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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What's the best climbing website?

I've not found a "must read," general information (news, trends, photos, product reviews, etc.) rock climbing website. Climbing.com, for example, is riddled with missing images and dead links, whi...

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by amacy‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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How to properly lace hiking boots?

When I go on hiking trips, I wear proper boots. However, when I lace them tight, my ankles swell terribly after a few hours and start feeling funny (bending the joint feels like touching a balloon)...

4 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by rumtscho‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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How much waterproofing spray to apply to my softshell jacket

I have a Showers Pass Portland Rain Jacket. The manufacturer recommends using Nikwax TX Direct Spray On to maintain waterproofing properties. How much should I apply to the jacket? How do I know i...

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by Benzo‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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How much garlic in the mountain kitchen?

How much garlic should I use in the mountain kitchen during backpacking camps? I'm asking from the perspective of the person who wants to plan such a camp and the menu on it. Walking a lot with a ...

1 answer  ·  posted 12y ago by Danubian Sailor‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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Is it safe to use water purification tablets after their expiration date?

As I understand it, water purification tablets (Chlorine, in this case) are just chemical tablets sealed in foil. So what causes them to expire? Are they still safe to use after their expiration da...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by berry120‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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How big a fall is a "major" fall?

I answered a question about rope safety with some advice about retiring the rope after a "major" fall. Another user asked me what would constitute a major fall - and I have to admit that I can only...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by HorusKol‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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How to estimate distance in sea

While kayaking or swimming out in the open waters, it is quite important to be able to judge distances accurately before attempting to get from one point to another, such as from island to island. ...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by Question Overflow‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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When should you be alert for snakes?

Are there specific seasons or temperatures that increase the likelihood that a hiker would encounter a snake? I go backpacking solo in the mid-Atlantic (US) and carry a snakebite kit as an extra pr...

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by BMitch‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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What to look for when purchasing a fixed blade knife

I'm planning on doing some back country canoe camping this summer. I would like to avoid bringing a hatchet if possible. I also find my folding knifes get full of gunk and I am a little bit afrai...

7 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by sixtyfootersdude‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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Dealing with a campsite that is full of rocks or not flat terrain?

What do you do before setting up your tent when the your camping site is either: full of rocks ? not flat ?

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by Amine‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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How do I identify dangerous, marshy land?

At a casual look, grass with a bit of surface water on it can look very similar to a potentially deadly marsh, and in many rural places there can be lots of both after it's been raining! In dry wea...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by berry120‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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How to maximise the chances of survival when stranded in open sea?

I read with interest about news of a scuba diver being stranded in the open sea when the diving operator failed to account for all members of a group. Mishaps like this and accidents such as boat c...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by Question Overflow‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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Tent floor waterproof rating

I'm currently looking to buy a new tent. The old one had a floor that was said to withstand a hydrostatic head of 10000 mm, but the tents I find in the stores here go to at most 3000 mm for the flo...

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by Lagerbaer‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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What are the critical dimensions to a safe bear-bag?

Many outdoor areas that have bears have bear bag-lines setup for hikers. In situations where the bear-bag line is not there or it is full, what dimensions should I keep in mind to protect my goodi...

3 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Patrick‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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Forecasting the weather in the wilderness

We didn't always have the weather forecast available everywhere, and there's times when it would be useful to be able to be able to take a good guess at weather conditions in the near future by loo...

3 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by berry120‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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How to choose a class of rapids for a variety of skill levels?

I've been whitewater rafting (and inadvertent whitewater canoeing ;) a couple times, and I'd like to get a bunch of friends together to go with me. I'd bring enough people to fill a raft (5 or 6), ...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by Laura‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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What brands make propane lanterns, stoves, heaters, and accessories in America?

The accessories I'm looking for are things like propane trees and hoses, and obviously stoves, heaters, and lanterns are self explanatory. Nobody seems to talk about where things are made anymore, ...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by Bryson‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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What to look out for when buying used backpacks

I'm looking to buy a used backpack in the near future. What are the key things I should look out for/avoid when inspecting used paks?

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by Colin Akins‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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What qualities should I look for in a good walking pole?

I've seen walking poles range from <£10 to >£100 - and to a casual observer there doesn't often seem to be much to distinguish them, with both having good grips and shock relief / suspension....

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by berry120‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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Probability of Being Struck by Lightning

I just moved to a new place (Edmonton, Alberta) and I wasn't really prepared for the strange weather here. My room is really hot right now and I want to sit outside for a bit in the rain where it'...

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by dspyz‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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Calculating time until sunset

Is there a relatively reliable way of calculating the time until sunset, without any specialist equipment, when I'm in the wilderness?

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by berry120‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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How much vertical distance is it possible to make in a day?

Are there some numbers on how much vertical distance can people make in a day’s hike? I know that greatly depends on fitness and other factors, but I’d be happy with some statistical curve that wou...

5 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by zoul‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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Big group/basecamp tent

I want to buy a large group tent. I want it to be our communal cooking/dining tent. I'm look at things like the Mountain Hardware Yurtini or Space Station but it won't be used at altitude (so the l...

2 answers  ·  posted 11y ago by Simon‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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What pre/post season maintenance is recommended for a 2 cycle outboard motor?

I just acquired a used Yamaha 50TLR. I'd like to know what kind of routine maintenance I should preform to keep it in good working order.

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by Homer‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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What can I do I to loosen up my outboard steering?

The steering on my Yamaha 50TLR outboard motor is very stiff. What can I do to make it easier to steer?

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by Homer‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

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How to make two strand cord or string?

How is two-strand cord braided? What shape cordage material works best for this technique? Do you need to start from relatively round cordage or can something strong but more flat (like a tough gr...

1 answer  ·  posted 11y ago by Russell Steen‭  ·  last activity 11y ago by System‭

diy
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Avoiding compression when packing synthetic sleeping bag

I came across the following comment (From durable 3-season bag.): don't forget that synthetic doesn't last nearly as long even if you take extremely good care of it (i.e. never compress it) – R...

2 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Henrik Hansen‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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What is the best stroke for swimming in rapids aggressively?

So I know that most swimming in rapids should be defensive, on your back feet together and pointed downstream. However, there are times you need some good aggressive swimming to get to an eddie or ...

2 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by MaskedPlant‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Will boiling be enough to decontaminate standing water from pathogens and toxins?

Will the boiling of the water itself be enough to decontaminate water taken from such standing water reservoir as that: This water looks horrible, and probably drinking it raw would cause serial ...

2 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Danubian Sailor‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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How is "pack weight" measured

In ultralight or lightweight hiking, "pack weight" is a very common number to discuss. What does pack weight exclude? Is it limited to just what's in your pack, or does it also include clothes, s...

2 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Russell Steen‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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An alternative to geocaching, but with classic maps instead of GPS?

Geocaching is a great fun, but it is oriented on GPS devices. I'd like to participate in searching caches, which location is given on the map (full, or fragmented, or just a drawing) - like in orie...

3 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Danubian Sailor‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Is it safe to camp in the desert without a tent?

I'm looking to hike the Grand Canyon (found out that as a single I do have a good shot at securing the permit!), and now I'm trying to make sure I carry as little as possible on said hike. First t...

2 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Affable Geek‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Long or short sleeves on a hike in the Desert?

I have heard different things from different people, but here in the South West we do a decent amount of desert hiking. Protection from bugs is usually little concern because most of the time in t...

2 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by MaskedPlant‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Searching for a lost group member

Following on from this question, what searching methods and techniques are best used in scenarios where a single group member (or perhaps couple of group members) become lost and separated from a g...

1 answer  ·  posted 12y ago by berry120‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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What can an injured person in the outdoors do to prevent infection by flesh-eating bacteria?

Perhaps you've heard about Aimee Copeland, the 24-year-old adventurer who contracted a flesh-eating disease after getting injured in a zip line accident over the Tallapoosa River. She's already los...

1 answer  ·  posted 12y ago by samthebrand‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Reattaching waterproof rubber on GPS

The black waterproof rubber seal round my Garmin etrex h has just started to peel away, and while not a major issue at the moment I don't really want to use it in the rough when it's waterproofing ...

1 answer  ·  posted 12y ago by berry120‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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What are the vitamin considerations for extended backpacking

For short hikes you can generally ignore nutritional concerns, because you don't generally become malnourished in two days. However, for a long trip like the Appalachian Trail or other long hikes ...

3 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Russell Steen‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Is a compass generally accurate in only one hemisphere, or both?

Possible Duplicate: Navigational gear worldwide I'm not that well travelled (never been outside of Europe!) but at some point I'd love to head elsewhere to perhaps hike somewhere a bit m...

1 answer  ·  posted 12y ago by berry120‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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How can I tell when pemmican has spoiled?

Following this video I have made pemmican. When making the pemmican I used a food processor instead of rocks (because I'm lazy). I handled it with care, and according to this handbook, this stuff...

1 answer  ·  posted 12y ago by Russell Steen‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Making own Hammock

I have been looking but unable to find a good video or step by step with photos to make my own Hammock. I have a ton of paracord lying around and plan on using that, but I'd really like a guide and...

1 answer  ·  posted 12y ago by MaskedPlant‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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How do I correctly clean (remove) Tri-Cams?

Tri-Cams have a reputation for fitting where other protection will not, and they are light weight and inexpensive compared to SLCDs. Unfortunately they also have a reputation for being hard to cle...

1 answer  ·  posted 12y ago by Mr.Wizard‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭

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Is it illegal to remove rocks from a riverbed in the UK

I would like to take just a few rocks from a local river bed to use in my aquarium. Is this legal?

2 answers  ·  posted 12y ago by Stewart‭  ·  last activity 12y ago by System‭