Activity for ShemSeger‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: How can I make sure there are no more ticks around? You can't. All you can do is throughly inspect yourself or have someone check you over to see if they can find any. But there's nothing you can do to ensure there aren't anymore around, you can only hope that you've found them all on your person. When I first got married, my wife and I went for a h... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: If I have extra space in a backpack, am I better packing it short and fat or tall and thin? Neither. It's important to pack your bag so that it is balanced. If you pack it too tall, you're going to be top heavy and using your core a lot to keep you balance. If you pack it low and fat, then you're going to be hunched over because your bag is going to be pulling you back. You want to pack you... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is this really tall grass-like plant? The "reeds" (or whatever they are) are very tall. Taller than phragmites... I find this statement a little hard to swallow, considering Phragmites australis subsp. australis can reach heights as high as 5m (16 ft). So my first question would be, "Are you sure what you're looking at isn't a Ph... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Which option should you use for a multi-pitch climbing anchor after traverse? What you want to do is use a directional piece, but I would not recommend including this piece in your belay anchor. In option #2 up there you're going to switch from a 4 piece anchor to a 2 piece anchor as soon as the rope is weighted. Remove that piece, and place a bomber piece below your belay an... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Backing up a abseil anchor with a human Sicherungsmann Before they invented the first climbing aids, human anchors were all alpinists had for protection. This sounds exactly like something I would do. In fact, I've done it. When I was a kid I would rappel off of anything with anything, including the handrail of my grandparents deck, an... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the top-down (reverse) shoe lacing good for? I only do this on the top hooks myself. It helps lock off the laces and prevents them from popping off the hooks. If you leave it the other way around (bottom to top), and don't tie your boots tight enough, then your laces can come off the top hooks, or the knot could roll over the top of the tongue ... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What should one do when climbing if someone above you yells ROCK? How you react will depend on the situation. If you're climbing and you hear someone yell "ROCK" then your default reaction should be to hug the rock, brace for impact, and hope the rock misses you, or glances off your helmet. If the call comes from above, you should repeat it in case your belayer d... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there sound-based alternatives to whistle signals for group communication? Percussion Drums have been used historically to communicate over long distances in forested areas, so you could send messages simply by knocking on wood. Pick up a couple of hard sticks, and knock them against each other or something else that has some good acoustics. You could communicate with mors... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why doesn't it snow much at -30 °C? It's actually kind of the other way around, it's not that being too cold prevents snow from falling, it's that an absence of moisture in the air allows the atmosphere to cool. Low pressure systems bring with them (relatively) warm moist air which precipitates as snow. The clouds overhead act as a b... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Ski setup for skijoring You and I would probably get a long very well. I ski downhill exclusively in the back country, and whenever I put my XC skis on I'm typically also wearing my skijor harness and getting pulled around by my dog. I have gone skjoring in deeper snow with m AT skis, but can't cover any great distances at ... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the pros and cons of air pads vs foam pads for backpacking? Air Mattress Pros: Comfortable (Come in many varying thicknesses.) Warm (Some air mattresses are down-filled.) Compact (I have one air mattress that can pack down to fit inside a pop can.) Lighter (Not necessarily true for all air mattresses.) Cons: More Expensive More Maintenance (Can easily ... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Salomon Cross-Country Ski Pole Straps Too Short The straps are supposed to be short, it helps give you more power on your pole stroke, and keep better control of you poles. When you properly fit your straps, you're supposed to adjust them short enough be able to draw your poles behind you and lift them off the ground with your hands open. This g... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why do my socks roll down towards the toes of my shoes while mountaineeering? This typically indicates you have movement in your shoes, perhaps your insoles are worn and squashed and need replacing. The balls of your feet sliding on the bottom of your boot will eventually bunch your socks up, as will heel lift. One solution is to get a pair of socks that will "anchor" on the... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Question	—	What are some usable sources of iron for producing iron tools in the wilderness? Hematite is one of the more common ores for smelting iron, but as illustrated in the comments from this question—the answers to which focus on the processing of iron—there are apparently other sources of iron as well, such as algae from bogs that the average person wouldn't expect could... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Should I use one or two trekking poles? They weight of the extra pole is counteracted by the energy saved using it. Poles do more than offer stability, they also save you legs precious energy on the climb, and on the descent. At 16,000ft you'll sing praises to your hiking poles, and I guarantee you'll find yourself resting on them a lot mo... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: If in a survival situation, how can one preserve a hide of an animal with a minimum amount of tools and skill? If it's below freezing, then you don't need to do much more to it apart from take it off of the animal. The Inuit in Northern Canada wear raw caribou hides, and keep them in the freezer over the summer months. So if you're in need of a warm coat to stave off the cold. You can just put it on raw and i... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to process iron in the wilderness? Iron ore is called hematite. It's pretty simple to identify, just look for red rocks that appear to be rusting. Iron is the 4th most abundant element on earth, so it's pretty common in most areas. The most primitive way to smelt ore is to construct a furnace out of mud, create a fiery inferno insid... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is a good length for first back country skis? There are many factors to consider when purchasing skis, but for the most part, unless you're an avid skier and recognize the advantages of having one pair of skis over another then it's probably not going to make much of a difference for your first pair. For example, I'm currently riding a pair of... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why do I always wake up freezing? If you're consistently cold in your sleeping system, then you need to change your system. An adequate sleep system for cold weather constitutes two sleeping pads: a solid foam sleeping pad underneath of an insulated air mattress. Your sleeping bag should be rated to well below the temperature you'... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can I use a quilt with a bivi bag? All a quilt is, is a sleeping bag without a zipper. I have a down barrel sleeping bag rated to -10°C that is advertised as being useful as a duvet/quilt in summer months. You can use a quilt in any situation you would use a sleeping bag, but you're more likely to feel a draft if you don't tuc... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Techniques for handling pumped arms? Avoiding Pump: Warm up, warm up, warm up. To avoid serious arm pump you need to do at least 15 minutes of EASY climbing. That's 15 minutes of you doing what you feel is exceptionally easy, even if that means doing traverses back and forth across the wall, or climbing up and down a step ladder. You w... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What's this knot called? I've shared this knot with a few members of the Alpine Climbing Club of Canada. The national representative for my section liked it a lot. I told him I was planning on naming it the 'abseil bend', and he disagreed. He's decided that it should be called the 'Shem-lock'. I was reluctant to accept that ... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to measure strike plate position? How to measure the strike plate position for the purposes of this calculation is given in the instructions for the calculator: (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the measurable prerequisites of strength and/or flexiblity for starting to climb in a climbing gym? I know some amazing climbers who can't even do a single pull up. Climbing is more about balance and technique than it is about upper body strength. I'm a skinny guy, and one of my favourite things was when some gym rat would wander over from the weight room into the bouldering cave to check it out.... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What should I look for in a used wet suit? You do not want a 6-7mm wetsuit for spring canoeing, you'd have trouble moving freely in it, and you would overheat very easily. They use 7mm wetsuits for arctic diving. I surf and swim in glacier lakes using a 4-3mm wetsuit (4mm torso, 3mm arms and legs). For paddling especially you want the extra m... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the advantages of horizontal front points on crampons? Think of a shovel, you use the sharp edge to cut into the snow, and the flat blade to pack it down. When you're climbing soft ice, you don't want to cut through it, you want it to support your foot so you can you stand on it. The horizontal front points are used for hiking glacial ice, snow and non-... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Choosing socks for frequent switching cold-warm For any type of cold you want wool socks. I wear one type of socks all year-round: They are 74% merino wool, 20% nylon, and 6% Lycra Spandex. They breath very well, and keep you feet warm even when they are wet. I wear them in my hiking boots in the heat of the summer, and all the way down to -3... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can I get crampons for small feet? I have a pair of Charlet Moser walking crampons, and just for fun, I fit them onto my 3 year old's size 25 winter boots (US/CAN size 9C): I had to cheat of course, I removed the bar that attaches the toe and heel peices, then overlapped them. But looking at the crampons, I think they fit a size 32... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How best to arrange a rope that you intend to sleep on top of My recommendation would be to coil it into a carpet, it's be the easiest and most comfortable, but it wouldn't stay together very well. You could put your tarp over top if you have a rope tarp, that would help keep it nicely coiled a bit, but tossing and turning at night would eventually end you up i... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Question	—	What is an ice circle, and how does it form? I've seen ice do a lot of strange things, but I've never seen it do this before: Ice Circle spinning on Middle Fork Snoqualmie River (Vimeo). What causes ice circles to form? (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Question	—	Can sunlight be used to purify water? I have an ultraviolet water purifier. It uses ultraviolet light to kill 99.9% of all viruses and bacteria in one litre of water in 90 seconds. I was wondering: if UV light can purify water, then if you were to leave a clear bottle of water in direct sunlight would the natural UV rays from the sun k... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there any techniques for starting and maintaining a fire in snow? Aside from what is mentioned in the answers to this question (How to light a fire with wet firewood?) the things you need to be concerned about in winter are the cold, frozen wood, and your fire being extinguished by snow. On winter camps one story that always went around was one of a man who died b... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Question	—	How much stronger is a vertical v-thread than a horizontal one? I was out ice climbing with a group today and they were using three-point anchors using two vertical v-threads (abalakovs) with one backup ice-bolt. They said the vertical v-threads (one hole over top of the other) were superior and stronger than the horizontal ones (holes side-by-side). How much s... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is a "top cap" on a climber's haul bag? That's exactly what it is, a top cap or knot protector is simply there to help protect your knot on the swivel from getting abraded against the rock while you're up-hauling: Source Source (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there fish in lakes with a lots of glacial flour? Oh there are lots of fish in there. I grew up only 70km from the glacier that feeds the Elk River, and I've spent a lot of time up at the lakes just below the glacier. In the winter, the water is crystal clear, the clearest I've ever seen in my life. After spring run off however the water turns gre... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are ways to reduce swinging momentum when climbing? One method to reduce swing is to get your centre of gravity up higher. On this problem it would be a matter of locking off on your left arm while going for the blue hold, then when you grab it, get your upper body as high as you can and keep your core tight. This may be difficult, because if that gre... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is there an easy way to tell if a bee in my yard is being raised in a hive (domestic), or if it's wild (feral)? I actually had to research backyard beehives not long ago because our Peace Officer discovered someone in town who had hive on their property, and our land use bylaw didn't allow it. I found out that a lot of people in cities keep bees, your neighbour could have a hive and you might not even know it.... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How much will the ceiling of a snow cave drop by during the night? If you build it properly this shouldn't happen. If my ceiling sagged overnight I'd assess what I might have done wrong while constructing it, or what I could have done better. Did the pile set properly before I started to hollow it out? Dig I dig the walls too thin? Did I not shape the arch of my cei... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Trustworthyness of a claim that a "not hung" doe can't be completely processed You really shouldn't waste any time after you shoot a deer, how long you wait to dress your deer can affect the taste of the meat. The first thing that happens after you kill a deer is rigor mortis. Chemical changes in the muscles cause the meat to tense up and the carcass to get stiff. If you want ... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the best breathing holes strategy for a quinzee? I'm somewhat of a claustrophobic sleeper when it comes to quinzhees, so I'm very particular about my ventilation. How much ventilation you need is proportionate to the size of your quinzhee, and how many people are sleeping in it. Larger quinzhees need less ventilation than smaller ones, and more pe... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How dangerous are kangaroos? Potentially, very dangerous. Kangaroos can be big (largest confirmed stood 2.1 m (6'10") tall and weighed 91 kg (201 lb)!), they're strong, they have killer claws that they will use to try and gouge the eyes out of opponents, and an even larger claw on the end of their powerful feet that can easily ... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: When rappelling, should a screwgate locking carabiner be orientated up or down? Manufacturers all instruct that their screw gate carabiners be used in the upright position when attached to your harness, but in many cases it doesn't really matter as long as it's locked and there aren't any burrs in either end of the biner that could abraid the rope, and your ropes are properly ma... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to learn route setting? Forcing moves is one of the hardest things to accomplish in route setting. In general, setting easy routes is easy, setting hard routes is even easier, but setting beta specific intermediate routes can be next to impossible. One of the most effective methods I've found for establishing interestin... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What can I do about a rock climbing ban? Access to climbing areas is an ongoing issue in many climbing areas. In the United States for example, it is claimed that 1 in 5 climbing areas is threatened by an access issue. There are many funds, societies, and advocacy groups who work on behalf of climbers to protect public access to climbing ar... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Dangers of solo hiking (in Ontario) Traveling solo doesn't necessarily make a hike any riskier, or lessen your chance of injury. What is does do, is increase the response time of rescue workers. When you're hiking in a group and something happens, then you have immediate help right there to address any critical needs; from putting pr... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: As Mountaineers what can we give back to Mountains? One way to give back is to be actively involved in reclamation projects. Growing up I was actively involved in scouting, and every year we participated in a fund raising program known as Trees for Canada, now known as Scoutrees. We would plant thousands of new trees in a day in clear cuts where timbe... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Correct way to wield a machete? I think your particular problem with your ulnar pad has less to do with your technique and more to do with your machete. Your handle looks kind of like the end of a baseball bat. Compare that with my machete pictured below. I can comfortably hold my machete high in the palm of my hand, hook the hand... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Kayaking with a shotgun Kayaking with a shotgun isn't an original concept, in fact it seems to be increasingly popular with water fowl hunters: All you need to do is buy some kayak gun mounts: As far as transporting your gun in the waterproof case, I'd probably mount some D-rings to the top of your craft, as well as... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Do mountaineers use dynamic climbing when traversing rock/ice? Dynamic climbing is never recommended when mountaineering. The most dynamic you'll get is jumping over a gap. The first rule of trad climbing and ice climbing or any other form of high exposure climbing without fixed pro is don't fall. High altitude rock is not like what you may be used to climbing ... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: First skills to learn for mountaineering Mountains 101 The first thing you need to learn about Mountaineering is what mountains are, how they got there, and how they behave. You need to understand the terrain, so that you can better assess your risk of exposure, plan routes, and avoid hazards, especially in glacier travel. In most high alt... (more)	—	about 8 years ago

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