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Some helpful points from someone who lives in the western US... Altitude: is a big factor in hikes, often in the West, especially around the Rocky Mountains and Sierra Nevadas, you will experien...
There is also the question of heat exchange. How much of the generated heat will end up in the water/food, and how much will go into the surrounding air. I use a Jetboil for this reason. It has a h...
Urine is normally sterile (barring urinary tract infections) - so, from bacteriological stance, fresh urine isn't going to hurt. The problem is - urine is a waste product, and so is full of stuff ...
Assuming you don't have a genitourinary tract infection, fresh urine should be sterile, the problem is that it is a waste product which, apart from making it not taste very nice, means that consumi...
While this is by far not a universal truth, in general, women tend to have more slender feet than men. Then again - some women have wide, plate-like feet, and some men have thin feet. Also, I've n...
It's always best to back off and walk around it. Rattlesnakes can strike very fast and far. I find that the bigger problem with snakes in common is that you step close to one unexpectedly. Most of...
The best advice is not to unless you are very, very sure. Having said that, and just for fun, assuming you are in a chronic survival situation with no choice, this article describes how to test if...
The single best thing you can do to avoid blisters is making the right choice of boots in the first place. If they are good quality, fit really well and suitable for your chosen activity I wouldn't...
Without knowing just how high you are going and how much alcohol you want to consume, it's difficult to say, however, to be safe I'd avoid any alcohol at altitude... Beyond alcohol's well know eff...
Although the quantity consumed and the altitude where consumption occurs may change this answer, as long as it is in moderation; I'm not aware of any specific problems. I have known people who bri...
The effects of alcohol are exacerbated at altitude, each ounce of alcoholic beverage will have a greater perceived effect on the consumer. This is in part due to the lower oxygen level in the blood...
Camber - Where the ski or snowboard creates a slightly concave shape in relation to the snow surface. Better hard snow and ice grip. Makes the board or ski "carve" the snow. Rocker - Where the...
Generally in England and Wales it is illegal to wild camp anywhere without prior permission from the land owner. Although some UK national parks are more tolerant than others!! In my experience cer...
Best place is to store it in a dry, thermally static environment. Make sure it is well-aired, dry and any muck is removed from it before storing it. Best to check the manufacturers guidelines if th...
Make sure to thoroughly clean and air it before storing, especially for long periods of time - this will get rid of any damp and thus should help prevent mould. Aside from that, make sure to keep i...
Top Roping: Top roping has an anchor at the top of the climb. The rope goes from the belayer at the bottom, all the way up to the top, through the anchor, and back down to the climber. If the clim...
When I bought my sleeping back from the scouts I was told not to store it in its stuff sack for long periods, and instead to hang it on a coat hanger so that it doesn't get compressed. I was als...
First - Please do not only rely on answers in this site for creating top rope anchors. This is something that your life depends on, or the life of someone you care about, take it seriously. Seek ...
Personally, I've found it useful to have just a footprint when backpacking or camping in mild climates to reduce the carrying weight. While just a rainfly and footprint won't keep bugs out, it will...
I have seen people use Tyvek as an alternative. It is cheap and light. You might even be able to score it for free. Needs little work to adjust it to the tent but you should be good after that.
A Picture is worth a thousand words:
According the the UIAA: International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation After 8850 feet a rate of 1250 feet per day above the previous days sleeping altitude is a generally appropriate rate ...
Copy and paste from the answer here: Is it a good idea to drink your own urine in a survival situation (Skeptics SE)? Summary: You can do it, as a last resort, but it's dicey. The US Army doesn'...
In general, anything out of the ordinary can get the attention of a search party or whomever. During the day, a smoky fire is more visible than a bright one. Build the fire, then add wet material...
First - Assess the situation and determine if an active rescue is possible and safe. Many would-be rescuers are caught or killed in follow up avalanches because they acted without assessing the sur...
