Activity for Jon Custer‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: How do I get a stuck gas canister (for hiking/camping) out of a stainless steel mug? Soak the mug in a sink of hot water to warm it up quickly. Be prepared to pry the gas cartridge out quickly, perhaps using small screwdrivers or needle nose pliers. The thermal mass of the gas in the cartridge will help slow it heating. Some shaking may help. Then, don’t do that again;)! (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: Knee injuries prevention using knee protectors In the past when my knees seemed more susceptible to irritation of the cartilage, I carried two elastic sleeves for them (cheap drug store items). Mostly they just were loose around my socks. On downhill sections I would slide them up over my knees. Now, I did not count on these to of themselves pro... (more)	—	almost 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do they capture Rocky Mountain Goats in order to relocate them? A recent-ish article in the Seattle Times on moving goats out of Olympic National Park covers the situation pretty well. From a helicopter, the goat is either (1) darted, or (2) directly caught in a net. The animal is then made safe for transport, and helicoptered out to a staging area. From there,... (more)	—	almost 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Has Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) suddenly gotten worse in the United States? I do not have a global (US-wide) answer to the question. However, I can point to my state, where CWD is not getting worse, suddenly or not. In fact, it seems to be getting better. In New Mexico, 58 deer have been confirmed to have CWD since 2002 (year of first confirmed case in NM). The last positiv... (more)	—	about 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Keeping water from freezing while cross country skiing Both sugar and alcohol will, of course, lower the freezing point somewhat (but may add other issues, particularly the alcohol, and sugar really doesn't help much - see this question). The best bet is likely a thermos (HydroFlask, any of a number of other similar items) which will keep the water clo... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: 4wd Truck laden or not on sand For pickup trucks on snow/ice, the conventional wisdom is to throw some weight in the back (sand or cat litter) to add weight on the rear axle, increasing friction and making it less likely to go into a spin as the rear tries to go faster than the front. (And, should you have no traction, the sand or... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How necessary it is to have an SUV with AWD for trailheads in Collegiate Peaks, Upper Ark River Valley? In over 40 years of getting to trailheads across the US, I've used a variety of vehicles. (1) Classic 1970's era rear wheel drive US-made station wagons. These sufficed to get a load of people and gear up forest roads in good road conditions (no major ruts, some washboarding) and good weather condi... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to prevent sleeping bag from expanding in its bag Going back more than 40 years, the answer is to have an air (and water!) proof portion of the packing system. I still use a black plastic garbage/garden trash bag liner inside the manufacturer-provided stuff sack. Then I can sit on the bag, forcing air out (and making the end product more rectangular... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the survival rate for fish restocked via airplane? The web site UtahFishFinder claims a 99% survival rate (assuming the fish hit the water). I presume height of drop could influence it. They drop the fish anywhere between 50 and 150 feet: Once he's over the desired lake, the pilot evaluates his approach and exit, plane speed, windage and altitude... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is there a standard way of marking cooking alcohol containers? The answer is to not use a repurposed water bottle. Further, use completely different types of containers for fuel and water so you can't mix them up. Back in the day (the 1970's) when white gas stoves were popular (yes, the still are - I have one and it works great), there were aluminum fuel bottle... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there any statistics on how many mallard ducklings survive? There is indeed data on mallard duckling survival, which in retrospect is not that surprising given the number of wildlife biologists and the interest of fish and game departments in the number of ducks. One recent paper, Duckling survival of mallards in Southland, New Zealand, Erin J. Garrick et ... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the proper way to ford a shallow body of water in a back country situation? I will answer in reverse order: (2) the least impact to the stream ecosystem, presuming you intend to cross, is to use the preexisting track. First, this restricts disturbance to an already disturbed place (kind of like walking on the trail, not next to it). Second, you aren't going to need to brea... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the considerations for using chemical heat pads in sleeping bags? It is true that the instructions say not to sleep with the Thermacare on you. Most electrical hot pads have the same warning. For some people, particularly those with compromised circulation, the heat directly on the skin can, indeed, result in a burn. As a warming device in your sleeping bag, the p... (more)	—	over 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What's the best way to store/carry olive oil for hiking? Some years ago I had the same problem. But, while shopping at my grocery store I looked at the olive oil options. Several came in small plastic bottles (maybe 3 oz), and since they were 'real' olive oil bottles had the funky no-drip top. After using up the original oil I've just refilled as necessary... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Easily accessible, short hikes in New Mexico? I live in New Mexico, and have done lots of hiking all over the state. Several things first. (1) In the northern part of New Mexico (anything north or, say, Socorro, the Forest Service campgrounds will be closed November 1st until April 1st. (2) If not closed, you will generally have to supply your ... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: 4x4 vs AWD off road I regularly drive my 2003 Honda CR-V AWD on forest roads here in New Mexico. There isn't much gravel anywhere, generally it is graded dirt and rocks. Some roads haven't seen any work in a year or two, sometimes more, but we don't get nearly as much rain as NH. If it is dry, the real issue is groun... (more)	—	over 9 years ago