Activity for ShemSeger‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: What conditions should lead an alpine team to abandon a mountain climb/expedition? Short answer: As soon as it's determined that continuing could run the risk of someone getting into trouble or sustaining an injury. We had to abandon a cave-surveying expedition this past summer because of heavy snow. The expedition spanned two weekends, on the first weekend I was worried I was go... (more)	—	about 4 years ago
Question	—	What is this knot? My 6 year old daughter was playing with ropes today and tied a knot of her own creation. I tried to demonstrate to her the importance of learning to tie good knots that don't slip, but when I went to yank on her knot, it didn't slip at all. Upon further inspection I concluded that it appears to be a ... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to escape a cave in an emergency situation? If someone is seriously hurt deep in a cave, and only hours away from dying, chances are they are going to die. You have a map, but do you know how to read it? Cave maps don't read like a topo map, because they aren't mapping a planar surface. Caves can be just as much vertical as they are horizont... (more)	—	almost 5 years ago
Question	—	What foods attract mosquitoes to your body, and what can you eat that will repel them? I know that eating bananas is one way to turn yourself in to a mosquito magnet. The potassium in the bananas apparently attracts them to whomever eats them. Whenever I meet someone who says they always get eaten alive by mosquitoes I ask them if they eat a lot of bananas. The answer is usually yes. ... (more)	—	about 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do I keep my group together? I've led quite a few groups through one of the biggest caves in Canada, and I've received leadership training from the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides through the Alpine Club of Canada. Keeping your group together starts with establishing leadership. It's the responsibility of the leader to... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Knots for bases of equipment There are several knots that can satisfy your needs. The most common knot for making a loop of cord is a double fisherman's knot. This is what most people use when tying cord for prusiks, abalakovs, etc. The disadvantage to this knot in paracord is you're not likely to get it untied. You'll probably... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it a good idea to do ski binding settings yourself? Your settings are mostly personal preference. Adjusting your DIN settings is not a complicated procedure. It's not uncommon for ski resorts to provide public benches with screwdrivers chained to them so people can adjust their bindings on the hill. I've been adjusting my own settings since I was a c... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can you "kick and glide" and climb without skins in Alpine Touring ski gear? You can, but how well you glide will vary depending on your skins. Some styles glide better than others, and you will glide more with a shorter skin opposed to a full length skin. There's a 2km approach to where I go backcountry skiing most of the time. Most people skin in the whole 2km on the flat,... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How real is the danger of suffocation in an Igloo? Not as real as the danger of death by exposure and hypothermia while outside the igloo. Your risk of asphyxiation in a snow shelter depends largely on its size, and the number of people inside it. People have been living in igloos for hundreds if not thousands of years, and not just for one night o... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Strategy to ascend steep scree slope Climbing scree is a skill all on it's own. The trick is to have good balance and have a good feel for the ground, and gradually transfer your weight from one foot to the other, almost like walking on thin ice, you don't want the scree to "break". If you can plant your foot just right, and ease your w... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Will I be warmer in my sleeping bag inside or outside of my tent, when winter camping? You will always be warmer in a shelter of any sort than you will be out against the raw elements of winter. You would be surprised how much warmth a tent can provide, but they still aren't the best shelter in the winter. Snow is an incredible insulator, so when there's and abundance of snow, it ma... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What kind of material was used to make traditional stove jacks? I was at the Remington Carriage Museum last night and was noticing the stove jack on an old covered wagon that was heated by a wood stove. It was made out of a large square piece of sheet metal. As has been mentioned here already, canvas is far more heat resistant than nylon, so a metal stove jack wa... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Which emergency food for backpacking (meat-like Granola bar?) Pemmican Pemmican was a high energy food used by the Native Americans, who introduced it to the early explorers and fur traders in North America. There's no specific ingredients for pemmican, but it's basically meat/fat, berries, and whatever else you have on hand, but there are plenty of different... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Skull soaking in hydrogen peroxide for days still brown Related: How to clean bones found outside? The over the counter H202 isn't going to do the job with a skull that discoloured. You need to get some stonger stuff. Over the counter hydrogen peroxide is diluted, it's only about 3% pure. Taxidermists use 40 volume hydrogen peroxide, it's far stronger th... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How and when to sharpen ice screws? It's easy to tell when your screws need to be sharpened, because they don't cut as well and get increasingly difficult to place, but with proper maintenance your screws should never get to that point. The best practice is to sharpen your tools and gear after every climb, even if it doesn't really ne... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How should a climbing rope be cleaned? If you want to get your ropes clean in a hurry, use a rope brush: This is the result after pulling your rope through one of these brushes twice: Fill your tub with cool to luke warm water, then make the water a little soapy using a bar of soap and flake your rope in it to soak for a while. Afte... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to "pump" my sail to go upwind or when becalmed? You're essentially "paddling" the air with your sail. I go windsurfing in Waterton Lakes National Park, it's quite gusty there, so I've been caught a few times riding a gust out into the lake when all of a sudden the wind dies and I have to pump to get myself back to shore. You do this by catching ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I carry my compound bow in a backpack without showing any parts of it? If you're simply looking for a bag to transport your bow in, then go shopping for a compound bow bag. There is a large selection of bags available. If you're specifically looking to invest in a backpack that you can strap your bow too, then you can look for a compatible bow cover to conceal your ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What could I keep in rucksack hip pocket? I use my hip pockets mostly for holding snacks or other items that I want regular and immediate access to. When I go out on a hike I pack both hip pockets full of granola bars and other goodies, then I don't have to stop on the trail when I want a quick snack. I keep my keys in the hip pockets on ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Dealing with twists in a rope while belaying One quick way to deal with twists in a rope if you're single pitching is to switch ends on the rope you're climbing with. When it's your turn to climb, instead of tying into the same end the last climber was on, you can pull their end while they are untying until your end is just off the ground. Let ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to fix tears in waterproof pants? Sew it back together and tape the seams. Working with Goretex or any other type of waterproof material is the exact same as any other type of fabric. The only difference is that you tape the seams after you're done. With those rips there you could simply stitch them closed with a broad and tight z... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the immediate causes of the large forest fires that have ravaged the US and Canada over the past several years? Drought. The BC Wildfire Service has an interactive map that shows every reported fire in BC and it's suspected cause. Most of them are ignited by lightning, but it's the unusually dry season, high temperatures and wind that are the cause for the spread of the wildfire. Back home on Kootenay Lake ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Bivouac on glacier: how to be sure not to stand on a crevasse? Probing is the best and only guaranteed technique for safely locating crevasses. Knowing how crevasses form will help you identify areas where crevasses are more likely to be, but you can't be certain a crevasse is directly below you if it is not already obvious from above ground. (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can we be the most respectful to a moose when photographing it up close? First of all, if you're closer than 30 metres, then you're too close, get a telephoto lens and shoot from far away. If you want to see a moose, then the absolute best way to get a good look is to learn how to hunt the animal. Hunters spend countless hours, days, and sometimes weeks tracking their... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Hypothermia risk from deflated sleeping pad Most backpacking sleeping pads are insulated, some are even down-filled. When they're deflated they lose a lot of their insulating properties. This can be detrimental in cold weather, because when you're laying down most of your heat loss is by conduction through the ground. If you take your mattres... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: If you are canoeing on a lake when whitecaps start happening, what is the best direction to get off the lake? Downwind. The first time I got caught in open water with whitecaps was when I was 13. We were on a multiday canoe trip and the winds picked up on the last day when we had to cross the lake. Instead of crossing where we had camped, we decided to go downwind until we were directly across from where we... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Will mountain lions eat wild horses? Would they eat wild horses? Yes, and they do. Would they control their populations? No, not really. The fact that there were 30 - 60 million bison roaming North America before westerners came to the continent should be an indicator of how well predators here are of "controlling" populations. Granted... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What constitutes mountain exposure when hiking or scrambling? "Mountain Exposure" is a very broad term. Simply defined, it means you are exposing yourself to some risk of injury or death in the outdoors. Your level exposure while climbing is determined by how unprotected your climb is, which is summed up by how likely you are to sustain injury if you took a f... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there any natural materials found in the wild that can be used as an effective sunscreen? Red Ochre Red Ochre is a natural earth pigment found in clays that are rich in iron. It's been used for thousands of years by cultures around the world as a natural sunblock. It's also the same pigment used in ancient cave paintings. Native American Indians "war paint" was often worn as a sunblock, ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How long after a forest fire can you safely re-enter a forest? Now that parts of the Park have been reopened, I've learned that there are several answers to this question. In the case of "when is it safe", the answer is essentially, "when the fire is out". There will still be hazards however: There may be hot spots, or hot coals smoldering underground. Falling t... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What to do if you are above timberline and your descent is cut off by a large forest fire? RETREAT Your option 2 is best, but having said that, rescue crews will want to know you're out there sooner than later. In the option 1 you described, you would be activating your PLB, then waiting for rescue above the treeline. Fire doesn't go very far above treeline, but smoke, ash, embers and he... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the best practice to secure a 17ft open canoe to the roof of a vehicle? I have to contend with 100km+ winds with my 17.5ft canoe, so I've tried pretty much every method of attaching a canoe to a roof you can conceive, and the one that works the best is this one: It's called the keelover. It uses four brackets to hold the gunwales so the craft doesn't slide side to sid... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can I use a Canoe Paddle with a Kayak? Yes You can use a canoe paddle without issue, kayak paddles are simply more efficient. They actually make adapter grips so you can convert your two piece kayak paddle into a traditional style canoe paddle: Hobie Paddle T-Handle (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Question	—	How do forest fires affect rain run-off? The rains are doing all sorts of things to the landscape in Waterton-Glacier National Park this summer. All of the trails in the park appear to serve as water ways for rain runoff, and the rain appears to be doing more running overground than soaking into anything. The forest floor is covered with ch... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Fittings to connect together two hydration bladders The best thing to do would be to simply bring two water bladders and switch the hoses over your shoulder after the first is emptied. Alternately, you could try routing two hoses over your one shoulder. Many bags also provide the option of routing the hose over your left or right shoulder, if your bag... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Possible dangerous animals in north-west natural parks of the US in late July I'm a Glacier National Park local, as in I can see the park from my house, and my house is on the map that they hand out at the gate for Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Very Likely. In fact, it's unlikely that you won't see a bear. There are bears everywhere. You will be investing in a b... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Self-diagnosis of hypothermia onset I've been in the early stages of hypothermia before, and I can tell you from experience that when you're in the early stages of hypothermia, you're convinced you're okay and that nothing is wrong; as in shivering and shaking uncontrollably while trying to convince the people around you, "Oh I'm fine,... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is clipping onto the rungs of a via ferrata bad practice? The rule with Via Ferrata is to always have at least one point of safety clipped in at all times. Many people have fallen to their deaths while unclipped from their safety lines in order to pass an anchor, or to pass another individual. You have two lanyards so you can pass an anchor while always hav... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Climbing outdoors makes the skin of my palm red and sensitive Outdoor rock is more abrasive and wears your skin off much faster than the plastic holds in the gym. For example: The rock I climb mostly is considered to be the oldest stone in the Canadian rockies. It is old, weathered, and in places feels like holding onto sharks teeth or a saw blade. It makes you... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to repair a jacket whose pocket zip has detached from shell? Sew it back on and tape the seam. Stitching GoreTEX is the same as stitching any other material, the difference is you want to use Tenara thread, and you waterproof the seams on the inside of the garment after by ironing on GoreTEX seam tape. You can get any seamstress to repair your zipper, they'l... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What attributes should I look for in an inexpensive multi-purpose folding bike? If you're cost motivated, then you don't need to look at anything else other than the price tag. Cheap bikes are cheap, so it doesn't really matter what they come with as long as they work. If you're really concerned about quality, then don't buy cheap. If you want to shop around for something decent... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the benefits of saving bats? Bats eat hundreds of mosquitos per bat every night, which is amazing for human peoples and the principle reason people hang up special made bat houses. Bat guano (poop) also creates habitats for other species. There are entire ecosystems in caves that exist only because of bats. In those ecosystems b... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to keep socks from wicking rain off pants into boots GoreTex Gaiters are what I've always worn, and I've never had a problem with wet socks before. The GoreTex is nice and light, and breathes so you don't overheat or get very clammy underneath. You can get different sizes of gaiters from gaiters that barely cover you ankles to gaiters that go all the w... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is a type of walking trailer a good alternative to a heavy backpack in off-road conditions? I made a hiking "wheelbarrow" out of an old external frame backpack by bolting a pair of swoop handle bars to the top, and a Monty BMX wheel to the bottom. It was pretty awesome, I made it for an older gentleman who wanted to come backpacking with us but had a bad back, so couldn't carry a pack. He h... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there any reliable plants to use for navigation? No, plants cannot be relied on globally for directions. But they can give you hints sometimes. The only thing plants can tell you is in which direction the sun typically shines from. This isn't especially useful to you all the time when navigating, because in most situations you don't have to ask th... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Timing on building a small log cabin A lot of timber gets harvested in the winter, especially now that you can harvest timber from the comfort of the heated cab of a harvester. Falling trees in the winter does the least amount of damage to the trees, the ground, and surrounding vegetation, it also makes it easier to haul the logs out be... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can I use SteriGENE broad spectrum disinfectant on abseil rope? I visit a lot of caves in the Canadian Rockies, and there are similar concerns with transporting microorganisms from cave to cave, as well as diseases such as white nose syndrome in bats. For the amount of organisms you're going to pick up on your nylon rope, it should be sufficient to clean your rop... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why would porcupines sleep on the ground during the day? Porcupines are den animals, and rarely venture far from their dens. Trees are where they find food, but they seek shelter in little hidey-holes wherever they can find them. Most of the time, their dens are on or near the ground. They'll den in hollowed out logs, stumps, gaps in rocks, etc. Sleeping i... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to permanently label Nalgene bottles? I mark all my stuff with an engraver. All my Nalgenes have my name engraved right on the front under the Nalgene logo. You could engrave whatever you want on the front then do marker over top. The marker may rub off the smooth plastic, but not so much out of the engraving. Even if all the ink washes ... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Hot water system as a heater for car camping? Hot water bottles work great for keeping you warm at night in your sleeping bag. They shouldn't be relied on for warmth though, if you're consistently cold then you should get a warmer bag, or learn how to set up a proper sleep system. Hot water bottles are great for getting your bag warm for you whe... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago

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