Activity for Russell Steenâ€
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question | — |
What is a good tool for minor trail maintenance while hiking? I hike a few trails in the lower Appalachians which are very infrequently traveled. Maintenance when it happens, is performed by hikers. I much prefer to just clear smaller blowdowns as I come to them than to make an entire separate trip. What is the best carry tool for minor trail maintenance on ... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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Storing Headlamps: With or without batteries? When we store our headlamps, currently we store them with the batteries. Should they instead be stored separate from the batteries? (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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When is it too cold for Tarping? I'm looking to get a tarp, and considering when I want to go out with it. My three season tent with the rain fly has pretty good heat retention, and while it doesn't get toasty, it does stay warmer than the surrounding outdoors. Tarps from my current experience have to be pitched with quite a bit o... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Tool for draining/crushing isobutane fuel canister Cheaper and easier solution. Attach your stove thingy (In my case, a pocket rocket). Open all the way and invert the can (away from flame sources obviously). Use a cheap and old fashioned church key to puncture the side. Total cost, approx. $0.50. (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Is department store merino wool less effective than branded (i.e. SmartWool) merino wool in staying warm and wicking moisture? As with everything -- it depends. My wool socks from wal-mart have outlasted literally everything else we have purchased, including most of our gear. They still keep my toes toasty warm. Wal-mart is a go-to kind of store for hunters in the south because they have good inexpensive warm clothes. Wo... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
| Question | — |
How to seam seal Tyvek? Tyvek generally comes in 4' and 5' wide sheets. To make a suitable tarp, footprint, groundcloth, etc. I will need to sew together a couple of sheets. How do I seam seal the Tyvek to prevent leaking at the joint? (Assuming I have determined what kind of Tyvek to buy) (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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What can I use to label my medicine tubes? For my first aid kit, all of the medications are repackaged. I use nalgene snaptop vials like these. I have found that even permanent sharpie marker rubs off fairly quickly when hiking. I can usually recognized the difference between medicine, but I may not be the one pulling out the kit. Wh... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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What kind of Tyvek is suitable for footprint material When buying Tyvek online, there appear to be a myriad of options and numbers. Which numbers are suitable for making a tent footprint? Known numbers: 1443R, 1622E, 10G, 10GX, 1460, RV, 14M... (may be others) A Note: I can just go buy a "Tyvek Footprint". However I believe the products specifical... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Tips for hunting nocturnal deer Follow their patterns. You need to know where they sleep, eat, and drink. 20 acres is small, are they only on your property for food? water? Can they get these anywhere else? Find the trail and be patient. You will almost never see deer in the middle of the day. Dawn and dusk are your friend... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What lower temperature limit should I look for in sleeping bag for the Appalachian Trail? Lower half temperatures are quite warm. You'll regularly get 70°F+ at night. I would advise for a lightweight synthetic, as you may also end up damp from rain and sweat. I use a travel sack in the summer. Alternatively a heavy liner may do fine, such as the reactor. I've been hiking down he... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Winter food : Should I change my habits for winter? Caloric intake is certainly the largest factor. Calories are energy. If you are on a low fat diet normally and a very fit individual, you'll likely need to increase your fat intake. However the primary concern is that you are getting fats, so if you are already, you should be fine. Drink more wate... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: How do I light a spirit (ethanol) stove when it's cold? Make sure your fuel container is not in direct contact with the ground. It'll suck the heat right out of your fuel, reducing vapors. Warm your fuel first (armpits work, closed container obviously) If you are using actual alcohol, you're going to have trouble below freezing. As Olin mentioned, th... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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What natural (non-synthetic) fabrics are good for the winter? Which natural (non-synthetic) fabrics are good for hiking winter weather? I know cotton will generally trap moisture and invite hypothermia, while wool is warm but heavy. What other natural fabrics will work well in winter conditions? (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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In what conditions is a four-season tent needed? Growing up hiking the southern Appalachians, I've never actually needed a four season tent. However we are starting to look at hikes around the country where the temperatures and conditions get worse in the winter. What's a good guideline for knowing when to bring the four season tent instead of th... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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How do I reseal a tent bottom with many pinprick holes Our tent pan has a LOT of very tiny holes in it. We've never had to use a footprint, and our tent has always kept water out, but that is no longer the case. I don't want to carry a footprint due to weight. It's impractical to find all the small holes and seal one at a time. Is there any sort of l... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Tips for outdoor during the dark winter? Carry a low lumen headlamp and a brighter torch (flashlight). Use a long lasting, low lumen headlamp for basic activities and only use the torch when you really need the extra light. This is the headlamp I use (and we read, play cards, etc. in addition to hiking after dark). It's the Petzl Tikka P... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What does glass mean in the context of hunting? Glass generally means using your binoculars or scope to look for game. (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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How can you make snares safe? I've been watching a LOT of snare/trap setting videos. They spend an lot of time making the snares nigh invisible. None of these snares would seriously injure a person, but I would like to avoid hurting people with traps. Is there a way to flag a snare set or trap set so that it warns humans witho... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: What are some mortal dangers in temperate woods? I think a list of dangers is potentially useful, but not a "single answer" question so I'm going to make this a CW -- Add your stuff here: Hypothermia Dehydration Hyperthermia/heat stress/heat stroke Falls leading to mechanical injury or head trauma Getting lost and dying of dehydration/starvatio... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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How do you best treat a turned ankle in the back country? Possibly the most common injury I see when hiking with groups is when someone turns or rolls their ankle. Assuming that access to a vehicle is not feasible, what is the best way to deal with the injury to make it several miles out without causing further damage to the joint? (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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How can I locate the leak in a inflatable pad, while hiking Kevin did a nice job of providing a quality answer here for how to find the leak if you are at home. However I usually realize I have a leak when it deflates under me in the middle of the night. If you're not near home (or a bathtub, or other large pool of water), is there a reliable way to find th... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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How can I locate the leak in a inflatable pad I went camping last trip and my nice inflated pad... deflated. I always carry a patch kit but I discovered another issue: I couldn't find the leak. The leak was small. It took quite a while of me lying on it for the pad to deflate. I was not able to locate the leak in order to patch it. How do you... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Is buying an expensive sleeping bag better? I'm going to assume and interpret a little, and forgive me please if I put words in your mouth. What you really seem to be asking is: "Do I have to spend mad cash to stay warm?" I would say, in 50F (10C), certainly not! With each item, I give my "cheap", and "good but costly" options (I have no as... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What backwoods trick to get pure water produces the most safe water? The key is to always have a trash bag. Your most reliable backwoods method for clean water is condensation, either through natural action, or via a still of some kind. The primary component of this is having large enough suitable material to make said still. If you are depending on natural action, ... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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Are fires in natural caves/overhangs safe? I have heard that a fire in a cave or under an overhang can cause a rock collapse, potentially injuring the occupant. Is this a real risk? (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Storing Fuel Canisters with Stove Pump Attached I would under no circumstances store your white gas stove that way. White gas is pretty volatile stuff and the increased chance of a leak is just not worth it. In addition, why? I am not sure what benefit this would provide. Yes, it is safe to store partially filled white gas canisters. I would ... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Will Iodine Tablets Ruin My CamelBak? nope yep (actually, yellow, not purple, thanks Clare) Not in my experience, but I use clarifiers which remove the flavor in the water. Also to clarify from comments, we did this for years before we started carrying a filter and it never damaged our containers. The plastic probably gets more dama... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Which types of wood will make food taste bad? Many pine woods will leave your food tasting of turpentine. Depending on the wood, it won't be enough to be toxic, but will still (imo) be a very unpleasant flavor. Generally, due to my experience (in the southeast) this has developed into "don't use evergreens." Avoid woods with much rot. Avoid w... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Cooking over a fire It depends on what you are cooking Make sure you know your wood. Some woods produce toxic fumes. Others will produce a very unpleasant taste. What woods to use is a topic of its own. If you are just roasting on a stick, that's all you need to know. Just get a flame and roast. However if you ... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Can I replace Dish soap? What I do is carry a small microfiber cloth. First I rinse my dishes, then I swish with a small amount of boiling water (usually left from our post dinner coffee), and wipe with the cloth. Voila, clean dishes. Sorry I missed the part about "found in the wilderness". Given that just skip the cloth... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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Are used climbing shoes safe? We have several used gear shops locally, which also sell climbing shoes. I'm looking to start climbing and I am considering buying used shoes to save cost. Is it ever safe to buy used shoes, and if so, what would indicate that a pair is no longer "safe"? (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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How do you fashion a spear with a fixed blade What is the proper way to make a spear with a fixed blade to prevent breaking as described by Vorac in his comment here? (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: How do I prevent rocks or sand from getting in my boots? For me it's all about gait. We do river hiking where it's easy to flip up sand into a shoe if not careful. The trick is to lift your feet and step without either toe or heal dragging, as well as to set them down in a controlled manner. (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: What pre/post season maintenance is recommended for a 2 cycle outboard motor? This is based on what we did for ours, and may not be specific to your model (but should hold true) Take off the prop and grease every season When storing drain all fluids I actually find that mine works better if the first tank of the season is premium, good quality gas. Take out the spark plug an... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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How to make two strand cord or string? How is two-strand cord braided? What shape cordage material works best for this technique? Do you need to start from relatively round cordage or can something strong but more flat (like a tough grass) be used? (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: Should I leave my boat lift above water or submerged when in storage? I would say yes. From experience, leaving your lift in the water will cause damage to the lift itself more quickly than leaving it above. Also lifts are not usually made to hold a boat in the water with the frequent wake action you find on lakes. The force of wakes pushing the boat is probably mor... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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What types of resources are best for identifying trees while hiking? I'd like to start identifying trees in my area as a project with my kids while we are hiking. What is best for tree identification? Is it a good color book such as the Audubon Field Guide to North American trees, which they have for the Eastern Region, and the Western Region? Is there a good tree... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: Will boiling be enough to decontaminate standing water from pathogens and toxins? Once you open it up to toxins, the answer is clearly no, boiling is not enough. There are many examples: Alkali Salt Heavy Metals Blue-green algal toxins, which appear to be present in your photo If you are trying to clear up truly noxious water, try this method: https://outdoors.stackexchange.... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: What to do if you cross paths with a buck? Time of year is very important Bucks don't keep their antlers year round. They grow towards the fall and drop in earlyish spring. This time of year, if you did not lift the tail and check, it may have been a buck. Outside of mating season, you probably have zero concern. No antlers, no worry. ... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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Would a tampon be a good addition to a survival kit Jezebel magazine suggests a tampon for your survival kit. I don't question that, if you just happen to have a tampon, you can use it. But at the end of the article they suggest even guys carry one because it's such a great survival tool. When I pack a kit, the question is not "is this good", but "... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: Practicality of Beards My beard experience Itches Hides ticks well, allowing them to go undiscovered Good nest for lice, fleas, etc. Mosquitoes can't get through (but since you're not ape-man this doesn't really help, they'll just bite you elsewhere). Catches food and grossness. Regarding summer/winter -- it's not sign... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: Long or short sleeves on a hike in the Desert? Long sleeve, breathable, wicking fabric. Failing that, long sleeve, ultralight and blousy (loose to allow lots of airflow). (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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How can rope/cordage be packed to minimize tangles? I generally pack my cordage in little bundles like Unfortunately for any significant length (100' for instance) it just turns into a wadded mess when I try and use it. How can I pack this stuff without that happening? (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: Pros and Cons of paracord Paracord Better strength/diameter ratio. 550lb paracord is 5/32" (4mm) in diameter generally. Twisted poly of a comparable strength is around 3/16" (4.75mm). So the paracord will pack smaller. More versatile. You can easily divide it into multiple ropes. Its form also makes it much easier to b... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: Is there a website with current river water levels for Arizona/Utah? USGS: http://waterwatch.usgs.gov/index.php?r=us&id=wwcurrent National Weather Service Map: http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=ffc This is an easy to read table for GA, but I can't figure out how to navigate to other states on their site: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ffc/html/rva.php Mor... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: What is the ultimate car camping bed solution -- for two people? ALWAYS bring a patch kit for an air mattress. If your airpad is going flat something is wrong (though perhaps the wrong part is just getting a cheap mattress). Get a pump that you can plug into your car (you're car camping after all). Buy memory foam to lay out on top of your pad. Do not inflate ... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: How often should I waterproof a tent? I camp in the Appalachians (pretty darned wet). We have had the same Kelty tent for over four years with anywhere from six to twelve trips per year. We've never waterproofed it. It still repels water and performs very well. It poured rain for over 12 hours our last trip and the kiddos in the tent... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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Cam Sling Modification How do you modify Cam slings with a straw as described here for easier removal? (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: What are the benefits of a baitcaster over a spinning reel for bass fishing? My experience is that I can cast farther and with greater precision with a baitcaster. That being said, you have to practice... A LOT. There is a tensioner for the gears. You have to balance the tension for your personal style to avoid backlash, but still get a good distance. Backlash is bad, ver... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: What should I replace guylines with? I recommend highly reflective line. Many manufacturers make this. I have had excellent results with Kelty Triptease. One 50' line cuts down to easily make 4 guylines for a tent. It is highly reflective and even a little light will make it really stand out at night. You may also consider reflecti... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |