Activity for Chris Johns‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: On a coast to coast walk across Scotland, which areas would require the most self-sufficiency? One possibility is that Kielder Forest Park covers quite a lot of the Scotland England border. This should provide enough wilderness for wild camping and exploration off the beaten track but is also close enough to the well established Berwick to Gretna trail that you have the option of a more 'civi... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Tips for a novice backpacker There are a couple of specific areas to look at : 1) Knowledge : you should make yourself aware of the basic skills that you need to travel safely in the wilderness. This includes things like basic survival skills and an understanding of the weather conditions and terrain that you will be travellin... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Am I allowed to "wild-camp" in my car? In practice what is permitted will depend very much on the attitude of local law enforcement and your perceived intention. Clearly camping without permission is not the crime of the century but if you do it as way to get around a bylaw where camping is posing a persistent nuisance then expect troub... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Folding versus fixed blade knives The big difference is that you will be able to get a good quality fixed blade knife for much less money than a folding equivalent. Once you are in the mid-market the practical differences are really more about personal preference. Ease of access is a bit of a moot point, a fixed blade knife does... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Material of shirt for desert hiking A lot of the cooling effect of sweat comes from evaporation so it is debatable whether wicking vs non wicking is better in hot dry conditions. Having said that in very hot and low humidity environments it may be a moot point. One area where it may make a difference is if you are wearing a large pac... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is a smartphone or dedicated gps receiver better for navigation in the desert? It is also worth mentioning that there are other ways to obtain absolute position references by using astronomical observations. Most of these are centuries old and of course, are not anywhere near as convenient and in most cases not as accurate a GPS however they do have the advantage that they don'... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How did/do scouts venture into the wild? In terms of self sufficiency in the wild there are two main approaches, the first is to take everything you need with you in as lightweight as form as possible the second is to avoid carrying consumables (food fuel etc) and focus more on the tools and knowledge required to obtain what you need from y... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there any exceptions to the layer principle? The advantage of layering is that it is versatile so for example if you have a base layer an insulating layer and a shell layer you can wear only the base layer in hot weather, base layer plus shell layer in mild but wet weather, base layer plus mid layer in cold dry weather or all of the above in ex... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why not use a cotton base layer? Another disadvantage of cotton is that, because it holds on to moisture and gets saturated quickly it can get very uncomfortable where it is between your skin and your pack, especially around the straps and back. Over a long day this can get quite unpleasant and over a few days you can get serious sk... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can you navigate / determine your location in thick fog? In poor visibility you need to fall back on the basic navigational techniques of dead reckoning and any terrain features that you can still positively identify and follow. Dead reckoning involved keeping close track of the direction you are walking in and how far you walk. With practice this can be... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How dependable is a cheap compass? Inexpensive compasses in general are fine. Even from a good brand the base models are not much more than the price of a few beers. Indeed in most cases these are all you ever need. However cheap button compasses are a bit suspect. To be fair it looks like that picture is 4 separate images photoshop... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it necessary to carry a knife sharpener? If you are only carrying a knife for emergencies it is unlikely that you are going to need to sharpen it over the course of a few days, assuming of course that it is properly sharp to begin with. However as studiohack rightly points out a diamond file is so lightweight and a sharp knife is so impo... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Where to carry a folding knife when hiking? For ease of access a knife with a pocket clip can be a convenient solution. This can either go in your pocket or clip through a convenient loop or strap on your pack or belt. For small, easy to lose items like knives, compasses and torches it is not a bad idea to fit them with a loop of cord or goo... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What causes these shallow indentations in cheek of axe head? That just looks like forge scale. Those axes are hand forged and during the process oxides build up on the surface of the metal and if flakes of scale get picked up on the head of the hammer (probably a power hammer in this case) they can get driven into the surface of the steel making a shallow inde... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What sleeping gear should I use in a lean-to? A hut like this should at least be dry and reasonably sheltered so you might get draughts but not direct driving winds. This means that you can afford to focus on warmth rather than more general shelter if you are confident that you can reach a hut every night. In this sort of context down sleeping... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How bright a flashlight would I realistically need for searching through terrain? For serious organised search and rescue there is an argument that you want as much light over as wide an area as you can possibly get as this maximises your field of vision and reduces the area of ground you need to cover on foot. there is also the consideration that a bright light is more likely t... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How should I regulate hydration on long hikes in hot temprature? The amount of water you require can vary a lot depending on the conditions and your level of exertion and conditioning. Dehydration can affect your physical and mental performance quite quickly so it should be a high priority. Similarly, if you are hiking between water sources you need to make a ca... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Does any Household Object Function as a Passable Fire Steel? The most important thing for a firesteel striker is that it is hard and has a 'crisp', although not necessarily sharp edge. Stainless steel knives tend not to work quite so well as plain carbon steel ones. In general when you use the back of a knife as a firesteel it needs to be ground with a well ... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: If I have to cross an icy, flowing river, what are some ways I can cross safely? The first thing is to think very hard about whether you really need to cross it, in most circumstances the answer will be NO so there needs to be a strong reason to do so. DO NOT cross a river just because you are travelling in a straight line and the river is in the way. A river is a good source o... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why static rope rather than webbing for toprope anchors? Static rope may not be that much more expensive than equivalent tape and is certainly a lot more versatile. In particular rope gives you a lot more options for reliable knots which are also be familiar from climbing rope use. Many people consider any knot in tape to be a bit suspect. The range of k... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why is it tiring to "keep down" with a slower person on a walk or hike? In general every individual has a natural walking cadence (steps per minute) and they vary their actual speed by increasing or decreasing stride length. Even amongst a very fit group the most comfortable natural pace will vary and some people will be built for speed on the flat while some stroll up b... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Preparing rice and mashed potatoes with warm instead of cooking water If you have to carry all your water with you then you might as well use 'wet' food rather than dehydrated as it works out at the same weight in the end anyway. Pouch type meals are becoming increasingly mainstream and have the advantage of being perfectly palatable cold and straight from the packet. ... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the best rope to have in a survival situation? I agree that good quality para cord (look for 550 cord from a reputable supplier) is the best general purpose solution. It is strong enough that you could just about abseil off it with nothing else than a couple of carabiners in an absolute life or death situation or use it as a safety line for cro... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What essential items should go in a small first aid kit? I tend to treat emergency first aid and everyday 'maintenance' as separate requirements and I think that this helps to keep things rationalised and logical. The everyday kit is aimed at treating the normal problems you might get over a few days: this fits in a small wallet for short trips. A lot of... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is a good knife for survival in a forested environment? In bushcraft and survival there are a range of tasks which a bladed tool can be used for. In the context of woodcraft and survival you are likely to be a lot more interested in making tools and implements, preparing wild food and game and generally extracting resources from your environment than in ... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do you lower a backpack over a cliff without damaging it? You could always improvise a simple sled from branches to protect the side which is sliding over the rocks. It might also be worth repacking it so that any external pockets are empty and can be taped flat to the main pack so they are less vulnerable. Another approach is to pack your kit in individu... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How should I vet belayers? What should I look for? A Pragmatic way to approach this is to suggest a 'warm up' where you both have a couple of goes at deliberately dropping off the wall just above the ground and then go to a few metres. This will give you some sense that your partner knows what they are doing and is in any case a perfectly sensible ... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there any affordable night vision goggles that are good and available to civilians? There are 3 main types of night vision equipment: Image intensification This is the type most commonly used by the military. It works by effectively amplifying the available light and may work in the visible light spectrum, the IR spectrum, or both and works in a similar way to a TV camera. The... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do you pitch a tarp so that you will not get wet in a heavy rain? There are a few different ways to pitch a tarp. In all cases the challenge, compared to a tent which is full self supporting, is that you need to find enough anchor points to be able to pitch it with adequate tension. In fact often the exact configuration you use will be determined by what points you... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How much should your backpack weigh? To put the upper limits into context 25kg comes up a lot in a military context and is often quoted as a standard combat load. For example 25kg is the load for the hill phase of British special forces selection, albeit held over very severe terrain distance and time constraints and for the infantry a... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: A snake glides over a very rough, hard surface with no signs of discomfort...how? The skin of snakes is covered with tough scales, similar to fingernails. On the upper surfaces of their bodies these tend to be approximately round or diamond shaped and on the underside are usually longer bands running across. These scales both provide protection from abrasion and can also help it... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: In a survival situation, should I drink unpurified water? Dehydration will very quickly reduce your ability to undertake the activities required to survive and so finding and conserving water should be a very high priority in any survival situation. Clearly there are potential dangers associated with drinking contaminated water but these need to be weighe... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I safely wade through swamps/bogs? There isn't really a safe way to do this. The problem is that you have no way to tell how deep the water/mud ahead of you is and there is always the risk of getting entangled in submerged holes, branches or other obstructions, plus marshes tend to have viscous mud or silt at the bottom whcih can suck... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is a tepee, log cabin, or lean-to configuration most effective for starting a fire? All are perfectly valid, which works best depends on the circumstances. In my experience a log cabin stack is good when you have short square sticks, for example what you would get from splitting sawn logs and a teepee tends to be easier to build when you have more irregular branches and twigs. ... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I signal for help in the wilderness? It is generally a good idea to carry some sort of emergency signaling equipment if you go into the wilderness. Whistle : has limited range but is especially useful if you get separated from your party in fog or snow or if it is likely the peopel will be searching for you on foot. Internationally r... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to store a knife An excellent thing to use to protect a knife blade for storage is microcrystalline wax ( a common brand name is Renaissance Wax). This is a refined petroleum wax which is less prone to oxidation than plant based oils or waxes. The issue with oils drying is that they oxidise as they dry which can m... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to plan a day hike As well as checking the weather forecast you should research the general weather conditions for the area you will be visiting, often conditions in hilly or mountainous areas can change quickly and without warning so you should be prepared for the worst possible conditions you might encounter. This al... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago

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