Activity for Russell Steenâ€
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
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A: Footprint or no Footprint in a TNF Assault Yes, if you are camping in rocks and snow, you will want a footprint. Since there don't appear to be any specifically made for this tent, I suggest making one out of Tyvek. It is readily available at most home supply stores here in the states (not sure on your location). Making the Tyvek match you... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: True fish attractants? Yes, it is possible. In my experience, the best attractant is food. You want to put the attractant out well in advance, and preferably over a number of days. Anything blood based will work for most bottom feeders (catfish and the like). Rice also works fairly well for catfish, over a period of t... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Comparing 2-person, three-season backpacking tents Tenting with two people always comes down to a few items. How easy is it to get in/out? Is there enough room to fit both people and gear? How much does this thing weigh? Can we afford it? You've ruled out the cost. Given that all three tents have two doors, getting in and out should be equivalen... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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How can I make Tyvek less noisy? So I've made myself a handy dandy tent footprint out of Tyvek. It's durable, packs easy, cheap to replace.... and NOISY. My entire camping group has complained that it wakes them up when I roll over at night. Is there a way to "wear it in" so that it no longer makes that loud crinkle noise? (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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Is there a Canadian equivalent to Forestry Rangers In the States, we have a Ranger structure, whereby you can call a ranger district that can answer questions about that district. Similarly, you can call higher up the food chain for questions affecting larger areas. Is there an equivalent government entity in Canada? (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: When to kill and bleed a fish It depends on what you have access to. If you have plenty of cooling, then gut, bleed, and ice immediately. However only do this if you can keep it cold. This requires a LOT of ice because you have to have enough ice to bring the fish down to near freezing and keep it there. If you cannot keep th... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: Why do people who backpack sleep in tents instead of tarps? Why I use a tent in three easy-to-understand bullets Mosquitoes Ticks Mosquitoes Yes, I could carry netting, but at that point the tarp + netting would be both more hassle and more weight than my tent. (Which is where Ryley is 100% wrong about a tent not protecting me from nature. I've never ha... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: Do higher shoes breathe less? It would depend on the shoe. A full leather shoe would "Breathe" less because the air has more difficulty circulating all the way down to the toe and back. However, on a good "breathable" shoe, it wouldn't matter so much. My fast drying breathable shoes are all mesh with the vast majority of airfl... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: Can pregnant women parasail? This appears relatively safe. Even accident statistics produced by groups pushing for regulation are pretty mild. Industry regulation is a pretty politicized process, creating plenty of pressures to inflate injury rates -- so if even those are small, it's probably safe. Those sites (such as this o... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: What are the proper precautions/protocols for storing food while car camping in an area with bears? I caution against storing the food in your car. Bears have been known to do serious damage to a car trying to get in. Hence Don't eat in the car - ever Do not store food or other items that "smell" open in you car While in transit, store items in sealed containers in your trunk If you are in desi... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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Does packing boots with newspaper make them dry faster? In one of the trail journals I read, the author mentions packing her boots with newspaper to dry them out. On the one hand I can see perhaps some wicking action, but this would greatly reduce airflow. Will this actually help dry shoes out? (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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How does Frogg Toggs Polypropylene measure up? I saw a new product for rain protection the other day. Frogg Toggs makes a line of rain gear out of a polypropylene material that I have not previously seen used for rain gear. Does anyone know how this measures up to other hiking rain gear in terms of weight and rain resistance? (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: How much warmth dead leaves add if placed under your tent/pad? Leaves under your tent will offer almost no value as you will crush them when you lay in your tent. The primary benefit from leaves comes from dead air space. However they will provide a more smooth and soft sleeping surface. Leaves piled around your tent will provide good insulation as long as th... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What do you risk when you ignore blisters and carry on walking? It depends in part on how you got the blisters, but from the question I think we can take it to mean that they're from friction. In order of what you can expect They will get worse and larger. They will pop. The friction that you haven't dealt with will continue. It is now rubbing on much s... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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What should I do for a dislocated shoulder? Under the assumption that I'm far enough out that I need to hike out on my own, and that I have someone who can help... what is the best way to immobilize a dislocated shoulder for a long hike out of the woods (5+ miles)? (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Precautions needed to be taken regarding bee hives (honey) during Climbs Avoid bee hives Avoid bee hives See 1 & 2 Once you've pissed the bees off there is little to nothing you can do. Getting out of the area is the obvious answer, but that is difficult mid-climb. We have all sort of wasps, bees, etc. in my area of the Southeastern US and the advice is the same.... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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How can you tell if a rocky outcropping (lookout) is safe? We've all been on hikes that pass close by a good lookout. A rock or ledge sticking out with a good view. Sometimes these are heavily maintained by park rangers, but often not. If I'm on a trail and see a lookout, how can I go about making sure it won't fall/collapse if I walk out onto it? (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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How do I find a less crowded trail in the southeast United States on the 4th of July? In addition to "longest walk possible" are there any good guidelines for finding trails/areas in the southeast that are typically less crowded on holidays such as the 4th of July? State parks here in Georgia, and most of the States, become overcrowded and very loud on summer holidays. (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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How tight should the line be kept for toproping? I was climbing with someone recently and they complained that there was too much slack any time the line wasn't completely taut. By the same token when they were belaying me it was almost hard to climb because it felt like the rope was pulling me off the wall the whole time. How much tension/slac... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Washing dishes with seawater or freshwater? You should never plan to not purify. Levels of contamination will depend on the location. A stream running by a pasture 50 miles upstream will possibly contain more contaminants than ocean, even if the ocean (on average) is worse. If you have a way to purify, then purify! If you can't purify, c... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: While backpacking, should one bring hand sanitizer, soap, or both? I just carry hand sanitizer for three reasons Weight Doesn't require water Environmental contamination (the soap goes somewhere, even if just onto the ground) It's going to come down to personal choice, but when I'm backpacking weight and water are huge concerns (and water is weight). (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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Do kevlar sacks work against bears? We ran into a hiker on the AT last year using a kevlar back to keep out bears and rodents. He said the product was an Ursack and seemed very happy with it. However he'd never had a bear try to get into it. Will a kevlar sack actually prevent a bear from getting to food in the sack? (Yes, it's sti... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What is water resistant down and how is it made? Gear manufacturers generally purchase the down (waterproofed or not) from suppliers. There are several water resistant down products, but they all work withing a small range of results with the same basic tech. Things to know: It's water resistant not water proof. For jackets this means you can... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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Advice for first Grand Canyon Hike for Eastern Hikers My friend wants to do an overnight on the grand canyon this summer. We are experienced hikers in pretty good shape. However we've NEVER hiked out west, much less the Grand Canyon. What are the key things we should be careful of that we wouldn't think of as hikers in the Eastern US? (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Dealing with wildlife in the desert of California/Nevada in general and in the White Mountains in particular There are several concerns Rodents. Unlike the eastern US, rodents in the West are much more likely to carry Hanta virus and Bubonic plague. These are not common, but unlike the Eastern US, they are also not unheard of. Scorpions. Scorpions in the east are a minor annoyance. Some of the Western... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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How should I remove a leech? Once a leech is attached, what is the proper way to remove it? (I'm assuming that the method would generic for all leeches, but if there are special kinds, please note that). (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: A removeable solution for slipping insoles? Use the removable sticky stuff that teachers use to hang stuff on walls. (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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Logs & Rocks - Step on or over? Growing up we were always taught to never step straight over a rock or log because it is a good way to step on or startle a snake that you cannot see. However, on a lot of hiking forums I see it advised to never step ON a log or rock due to the risk of losing your footing and falling. Which is the ... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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How thin is "too thin" for tent guylines? In my ongoing effort to cut tent weight we have replaced stakes, changed ground pads, and we're looking at replacing the guylines (no really, it's amazing how much cordage weighs!). At what diameter is there a serious concern of the guyline damaging the tent by cutting through the attaching points... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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How should we split up a 3 person tent? If carrying a three person tent when backpacking, what's the recommended way to split it up so that the weight is balanced out among all three people going? (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What is this knee pain when going downhill? Talked to my doc today during a visit for something else. It's Iliotibial Band Syndrome. The band of connective tissue that runs along the outside of the knee becomes irritated and inflamed. It's often caused by over-pronation and poor gait which is exacerbated on the weight bearing leg (not the l... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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What is this knee pain when going downhill? I can hike uphill practically all day. However as very soon after I start a descent, pain builds on the outside of my knee. What is causing this and can I do anything to prevent/mitigate it (other than Ibuprofen)? Edit: I talked to my doc and the location of the pain is very important in the caus... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What should I look for in hiking binoculars I researched this and there are a few factors Aperture - This is the diameter of the objective (or front) lens and affects the amount of light taken in. Aperture is very important for low light situations. If you plan on using your binoculars near dawn or dusk, or under canopy, then you want a lar... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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What should I look for in hiking binoculars I'd like a pair of binoculars for hiking. I don't have a specific use other than for looking off of overlooks, at animals, etc. What are the important things to look for in a good set of binoculars? There appears to be a very wide range of price and features to choose from. (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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What is a "fast pack" setup for a tent? Reading around forums and in products, I see descriptions and weights for a "fast pack" setup for tents. What does this mean and what is it used for? (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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How do you get the right shape on trim-to-fit insoles? My hiking shoes starting having problems with the insoles, so I got replacements. However the replacements I have are "Trim to fit." How do I get the proper shape so that I don't end up with any misaligned or rough edges? (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: What to do with old hydration bladders? Actually they can probably be fixed. For the cap there are two options with JB Weld that I have used. The first is described here, but basically consists of coating the original cap with JB Weld kwikplastic. The second is more complicated, but a better fix in my experience. First you have... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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When do small waterfalls get significant freezing We went out this weekend to try and catch a frozen waterfall such as the one. We had a great trip but it was clearly a misguided venture at our current tempuratures. At what temperature would we have a decent chance of seeing a frozen waterfall? We went looking for this But instead we saw this... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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What do you do if the fire does get "out of control"? Let's say you are camping with a large group, and someone starts a camp fire. You're away for a bit and come back to find everyone panicking and the fire to be much larger than actually planned (ie, burning into surrounding grass or brush). What steps can/should be taken to get the fire under contr... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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Do bag liners add the same warmth value to all sleeping bags? I have a bag liner that claims to add 15 degrees to the "range" of a sleeping bag. Is it reasonable to assume that it would work the same for all bags? For instance, would it extend a 40 degree bag to 25, and a 0 degree bag to -15? (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: How far is a reasonable distance for someone to hike on their first trip? Gym training, especially body building, weight training, and strength training do not translate well to hiking, so don't count on that to carry you and get you through. If you are new to hiking/backpacking, I would advise the following for "first hikes": Not more than five miles Not more than one ... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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Is there special etiquette for hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) during AT Season Is there any special etiquette or "good things to know" for hiking a section of the Appalachian Trail (AT) during AT, or peak, season (for that section)? (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: How to clean rock-climbing shoes? Instead of cleaning them, fill them with cedar balls and hang them. That should eliminate the reek. (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: Can you keep your feet warm in ski boots on a very cold day? Yes, add fat to your feet. I don't mean gain weight. Just slather it on before putting socks on. Petroleum jelly will work, as will almost any other fat (other than coconut oil). A nice layer of fat, even external, does wonders for heat retention. (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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Is it safe to use denatured alcohol as an antiseptic? A lot of hikers carry denatured alcohol for cooking. Is there any risk to using it as an antiseptic for cuts and lacerations? (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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How to avoid pendulum descent when belaying? I recently started indoor rock climbing at a local spot. I got to the top and (after appropriate communication) my partner started to belay me down. I instantly starting swinging and spinning pretty wildly, more than 10' arcs. I was able to catch the wall, but every time I let go the same thing wo... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: What are the key factors when choosing a sleeping bag for backpacking? Warmth -- This is after all why you are buying the bag. Not all bags rated for the same temperature will provide the same warmth. Fit -- A bag that fits you closely, but not tightly, will provide better insulation and is more comfortable in my view. For this reason I prefer mummy bags. Rectang... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: Kepler Track: Brod Bay to Iris Burn Hut in one day? In average to less than average physical shape, I'd say that is pushing it a bit. There is a serious incline followed by a steep decline, which are going to slow you down. It's going to make for a very long day. If everything goes well 10 to 11 hours, if you don't stop for breaks or lunch. If you... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: Repairing a North Face Tent rain cover If you're going for sealing, just stitch some silnylon over it with a sewing machine and seam seal it. I would recommend sewing two rows as they did, one in the middle of their two, and one an equal distance to the outside of the two existing. The first of the two should provide strong support due ... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: Trail maintenance: what is considered inappropriate when maintaining a trail? As a general rule in the US Private: Ask the landowner, they are probably happy for the help. State: Don't touch anything. National Forest: Do it if it's an established trail. It's probably not "approved" but the rangers and other hikers will appreciate it. National Park: Don't touch anythin... (more) |
— | about 12 years ago |