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This is a common question for beginners to ask. Climbing feels overwhelmingly strenuous when you're starting out. There are a variety of exercises that are recommended to strengthen your fingers,...
Here's a lot more advice than you aked for: Around 24000 people in the entire world are struck by lightning each year. Supposing you live to be 85, that's 2 million people in your lifetime. On 7 ...
If I already had the right to vote I would give a +1 to Patrick Scott's answer. Probably the best hand and finger exercises that help with climbing are the ones actively performed while climbing! A...
If you don't have proper base layers, you may be regretful during that 15-20 slow lift ride while you're sitting in your own sweat. You do not need to buy base layers made by a ski/snowboard compan...
Some thoughts about qualities of a (big) backpack for multi day hikes: I think the most important is to check if the backpack actually fits your back. You should be able to adjust it so the belt c...
Its not a piece of equipment, but if you're transitioning to climbing out doors, you probably want to have some training in how to rig a toprope, and / or how to lead. Climbing guidebooks that adv...
I use 2 sided foam tape and hardly notice them at all. The good thing is that it keeps the insoles put yet is pretty easy to remove when the insoles need changing. They leave some traces, but not e...
I lived in Yosemite for over a year and saw TONS of tree belay stations. Most of them were there to stay with a number of slings and belay rings attached "for good". Yosemite had a number of bolts ...
http://www.madeinusa.org/nav.cgi?data/camp allows you to search for camping items made in the US.
I'd start with class II or III. In addition to the good points MaskedPlant laid out, also be aware of the length of the rapids. A long class II can be every bit as exciting as a short class III, an...
You may have luck with a thermos flask, or similar insulated flask above a regular water bottle. If you're only going out for a day or so at a time the flask should keep the contents at a stable en...
The Petzl mini/micro-traxion are what most people seem to use. Outdoor gear lab did a recent comparison with a few other devices. I've also seen Gri-Gris used for that purpose, though it's obviou...
Keeping some outward tension on the belay device really helps. If you're toprope belaying you should already be doing this, if you're lead belaying basically keep the climber locked off unless you...
I don't believe there's an easy way of doing it. I used to live in a hilly area and was able to forecast the weather based on where the thunder was coming from, the wind, the smell in the air, th...
As @slybloty says, there is no hard and fast rule, however: For your location, be aware of prevailing winds, the location of seas, coasts, mountains, deserts etc. as these will guide your guesses...
Unless it is in a national park/forest or private property you should be able to go where you want. I have never been bothered as long as I was in a public area. They require wilderness permits in ...
I have lots of leeches in my (otherwise) lovely swimming hole which is in a creek just as it leaves a lake. I read up on possible leech deterrents and now I rub my exposed skin with just about any...
If you're using mid- to high- length boots, there are a number of models of pants that have a small hook or strap at the very end of the pant leg used to fix the pant leg to the boot lace at the an...
Very important: Do not exhale air into your gloves/boots or at your hands/feet while still exposed to cold conditions. It may warm them up for a few seconds but since your exhalation contains moist...
A neat little (recursive) acronym i learned in my survival education in the army is STOP (freely translated from Swedish): Stop - Don't panic, Think - Consider your situation, and do not deny the...
The simplest ones are like this, and even the more complex ones are typically broadly similar. Usage is to have set your peg at a useful distance (ie not too close to the tent, as it won't hold th...
Sand will be an inherently trickier environment to camp in successfully I would imagine, since it retains moisture well and isn't as solid as earth. Personally I've never camped in sand, but I wou...
I would definitely pack the following: GPS receiver - this may be your phone if you're starting out, but a dedicated receiver really does wonders if you're looking at Geocaching often. They're mo...
There's a number of options for dealing with such an issue, each can be appropriate depending on the situation in hand. The wonders of paracord can come to the rescue if you have some on hand (an...
As a Boy Scout, I prefer the external frame backpack. The internal is more comfortable, but on long hikes, the external is not only practical for more gear, but vents your back so it's not dripping...
