Posts by Russell Steen
For group hikes where we plan on having a fire, I carry a hand chain saw for dead wood. We've used ours for a while now and it is definitely getting dull. How do you sharpen this?
The point of the bent shaft is to maximize the amount of stroke for which the paddle is vertical through the stroke. Take a look at this video. The logic is explain in this video. He does a good...
The calories to melt even frozen water are pretty small, and the water gained is certainly greater than that used to aid the use of those calories. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calorie So 1 calor...
It depends on how many crossings. If very few, I do them barefoot and change. If there are a lot of crossings in a short distance I have shoes that I just wear for the entire hike. I'll cover bo...
Mayo will generally discourage the growth of bacteria while sealed. It is stored at room temperature in the store, but that's after being packed in a controlled environment that minimizes the risk...
We're planning on hiking the AT, and this question prompted me to ask: What gear should we expect to replace, and how often, on the Appalachian Trail? Assume that we know basic gear maintenance a...
To deal with low oxygen environments you need more red blood cells. To get more red blood cells you have very few options. Blood doping Low pressure chamber treatments Actually going into higher...
I've been using the same two pair of swimshorts for years now. They dry quick, they're lightweight, they're cheap. Mine are similar to these (with pockets, but not lots), but I got mine at Target...
When I was growing up and fishing for Large Mouth Bass with my grandfather we primarily used plastic worms. Color and style matters a lot, and different worms had significantly different results. ...
Cornell Labs has several good resources: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Exploring and Conserving Nature. The Sibley app also has bird sounds you can compare to (as do several other mobile apps): Sibl...
I've watched a few videos on cutting tools and the use of axes. However I'm not clear on what the advantage (or disadvantage) is of a tomahawk style axe over a typical belt or hand axe, such as th...
From my archery days, you're primarily looking at upper arm and shoulder. Push-ups can help with that, but are pretty hard on your joints. Shoulders: http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/rehabilita...
If I want to get started on indoor climbing, what is the bare minimum I need to have, assuming I don't want to rent equipment?
Relative humidity is doing to be a big factor here, both on the too wet and too dry sides. Staying warm is generally not something you want to try to do "by the numbers". If you're out in the col...
Several people have talked about having single edge knife so that you can cut down small trees. What is the proper way to cut or carve wood with a knife?
Assuming I am lost with minimal tools, but have my knife, is there any way to improvise a knife sharpener in the woods?
Under the assumption that an emergency kit like the ones listed here are for the emergency of getting lost and being stranded for days, how necessary is a knife sharpener?
Beam spread -- Wide, narrow, adjustable? (depending on what you want) Angle (generally up/down) -= Can you direct it where you want? Ease of turning on/off and changing settings -- I personally ha...
If you want a natural solution, try lemon eucalyptus oil. Considering that B1 does not deter mosquitos, any dose you like will be comparable to 75mg (zero effect). However, if we wish to assume i...
Some methods Alcohol, either hand sanitizer or rubbing alcohol with a microfiber towel to have a "bath" Advantages: Lightweight, fast. Disadvantages: Dries your skin, have to carry the alcohol,...
I have to say that "eating with" falls under the same rules as "eating". Don't go out in the woods and put something in your mouth unless you know exactly what you are dealing with. Many woods ar...
I see that a good option on the sodium is to buy the components (vegetable medley, cooked beef, green peas, etc.) which are all lower sodium than the premixed meals. Instead of buying dehydrated/ ...
When setting up a tent and staking it out, what is the proper tension for the lines? I generally just make them arbitrarily tight, but have no idea how that would perform in high wind or other con...
What is a "buff", how is it used, and why should I have one? I've seen them advocated in numerous places, but I'm not sure why a tube of cloth is better around my neck than a scarf, etc.
For short hikes you can generally ignore nutritional concerns, because you don't generally become malnourished in two days. However, for a long trip like the Appalachian Trail or other long hikes ...
