Activity for ab2 MonicaNotForgottenâ€
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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How do you build a warming fire in an old barrel? I learned to ice-skate on a lake in Connecticut. My father built a warming fire in an old barrel (oil barrel?) and a group of us would skate, warm up, skate, warm up and repeat, for hours. How does one build a warming fire in an old (oil??) barrel? What are the caveats? For how many fires will th... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: What should I do about large trash left by others on USFS land? I agree with the answers that recommend notifying the managers of the land. In addition, if the area is served by a packer, I would notify the packer. The packer might be able to take the trash out in a return trip when his mules were lightly loaded. As James Jenkins said in his answer, organize th... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Why is it tiring to "keep down" with a slower person on a walk or hike? It is understandable why it is tiring to walk faster than one's normal pace in order to keep up with someone younger and/or fitter than oneself. Simple physics: one is exerting more energy per unit time than one can sustain. But walking at a slower pace than is natural is also tiring. And restin... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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How do you pitch a tarp so that you will not get wet in a heavy rain? A noted authority (Ben Crowell) stated in a comment on What sleep quality do you get in the outdoors? A properly pitched tarp works fine in a heavy rain. It just requires practice to set it up properly. I've sat out a very intense storm under a tarp without getting wet. Question: How? For... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: Yosemite in late March a good idea? Check out the website http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wildcond.htm As of March 3, 2016, the website said this about General Conditions under the heading Wilderness Conditions Be prepared for winter conditions throughout the park. The current snowpack is about 85 - 100% of average for th... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A snake glides over a very rough, hard surface with no signs of discomfort...how? Yesterday, I saw a snake smoothly glide over about 30 feet of rough gravel in our parking area to get to the woods. It showed no sign of discomfort -- but I am not sure I would know what an uncomfortable snake looked like. I suppose part of the answer is that the area of the snake's underside that ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: Is there statistical backing for asserting the wilderness is safer than the highway? The Relevant Highway Data Source: National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), Quick Facts 2014: (VMT is vehicle miles travelled) Combining the data for 2014 for passenger cars and light trucks, we get 20,936 occupant fatalities in 2.71 trillion VMT (rounded). We now have to con... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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How can the attitude that one is a guest in black bear country prevent hassles with bears? A traveller to a country with different customs is well advised to read up on the customs of the people of that country, and to learn how the residents expect polite people to behave. Everywhere, guests try not to offend their hosts. Similarly, if a person is travelling in bear country, it makes ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: How can I signal for help in the wilderness? See the question and answers in What order of response time can I expect if I hit the "911" button on my SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker? We've scorned such wimpy behavior (carrying a satellite personal tracker) for years, until a good friend gave us one, and insisted that we carry it. We... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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How well do timber rattlers swim? Today's Washington Post reported that the state of Massachusetts plans to establish a sanctuary for timber rattlesnakes on an off-limits 1,400 acre island in the Quabbin Resevoir, 65 miles west of Boston. The reservoir is the largest body of water in Massachusetts. There are only 200 timber rattles... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: From the point of view of wildlife, what is the most dangerous component of roadside litter? This is an addition to Aravona's excellent answer. Plastic litter poses especial dangers to wildlife. See here, posted by Defenders of Wildlife. In the Ocala National Forest of Florida, a black bear cub digs through trash, only to have its head become encased entirely in a plastic jar. The... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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From the point of view of wildlife, what is the most dangerous component of roadside litter? As my other litter question stated, I live on a semi-rural road, and about twice a year pick up litter from the verge. Others pick up litter too, but there are swathes of floodplain land, conservation land, as yet undeveloped land, two houses owned by very old people....The result is that I do most ... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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Is there any evidence, one way or the other, that "Adopt a Highway" programs reduce littering? My husband and I have just spent 3 person-hours picking up litter along a one mile plus stretch of quasi-rural road, both sides. We have been doing this twice a year for a long, long time, but things have gotten worse since the county repaved the road. As for the 2 larger roads that it connects --... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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A: Camping 3000 miles from home: how best to get our gear to the campsite? What makes the most sense in terms of effort, cost, etc? (1) Assuming you don't have small children: It is no more effort -- actually, it is easier -- to pick up your luggage at the carousel than to make a separate trip to Mail Boxes to get your gear or to go to a camping store for rental. My ... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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A: How to help a fox with rabies? Question: Are we even perhaps able to help it (even if it means "kill it")? The only way to help a rabid fox, or any rabid animal, is to kill it. If you have a gun -- and know how to use it -- kill the rabid fox. It is the humane thing to do for the fox, and protects other people whom the fox ... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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A: Can you tell the gender of a chipmunk from a distance? As to the OP's question: The answer is Most Probably Not. From http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=345000, a State of Connecticut publication on the Eastern Chipmunk: There is no difference in appearance between males and females. From How to tell if the Chipmunk is male or fem... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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A: Skis or Snowshoes for Colorado I am willing to take the time to learn what I need to, so I don't want to go with the "easier to use at first" option. If you really mean that, then you can't not try skiing. There are many trails in Colorado where it is no easier to go uphill on snowshoes than to go uphill on skis, given ev... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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A: Considerations for older campers? What sorts of considerations, gear, practices, should I/we/they acquire to help them get back into car camping? Others have covered the questions of comfort well, and I have nothing to add to what has been said about comfort. (I still need only an ensolite pad.) But I can say something about... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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Have attacks on humans by raptors other than owls been documented, excluding cases where they were defending their nests? The Washington Post recently reported that a juvenile owl was attacking early morning joggers on a trail near Bethesda, MD. Signs have been put up on a section of the trail reminding users that the trail is open from sunrise to sunset only. Officials said they believe the attacker is a juvenile... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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What are the most frequent crimes perpetrated by people against people in the Great Outdoors? This question is prompted by two comments on this site: Sue, in What are these bulges? Are they harming the tree? and Erik, in What are the dangerous animals in Southern Nevada (1) Sue: "Have you been to the Blue Hills, south of Boston? ..... They have a wildlife museum with an exhibit called 'most... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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What large mammals have become extinct or rare in the Colorado Rockies and Sierra in the past 100 years? In decades of hiking and backpacking in the Sierra and Colorado Rockies, I have seen only six species of large mammals: black bear, coyote, moose, big horn sheep, elk and deer. If I had been hiking a century ago in the Sierra and Colorado Rockies, what other large mammals would I have been likely ... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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Meeting an unknown snake on the trail; what is the best thing to do? The newsletter from the Virginia Wildlife Rescue League reported the following incident. A man, his partner and her 4 year old daughter were walking in Farquier County (a rural county), when they saw a snake, about three feet long, thin and striped, on the trail. The man told his partner and her da... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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A: Should I run if I come across Hyena? Hyenas aren't closely related to wild dogs (1), but a predator is a predator is a predator, and running from a predator says "I am prey." How worried should you be if you come upon hyenas? The first thing to note is: are they striped or spotted? If they are striped, they may be more interested i... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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In real life, could the best possible archer pull off the shots that Katniss Everdeen routinely performs? This is not an opinion-based question. For example, if someone were shown doing a quintuple axel on figure skates, anyone who knew anything about skating would point out that a "mere" quadruple axel has never been done, at least not in competition. (The "quad" is a quadruple toe loop.) The link pr... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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A: Any dangerous animals attracted to fire? Two parts to this answer: First, I am playing around with some statistics on assaults and murders in the US National Parks, and I am coming to the conclusion that the most dangerous animal in the outdoors is homo sapiens, who will be attracted by your fire. Second, maybe 20 years ago I read a specul... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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Pros and cons of different types of snorkeling fins I need to buy a new pair of fins. There are many choices, so I would like some technical guidance. I am savvy in the water, but not as strong as I was, so I would like fins that give me the most help for their inertia. Thus, a very long fin does not seem good for me. I've looked at a split-fin,... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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Looking for snorkeling sites with healthy coral I've snorkeled only in Hawaii, the Seychelles, Palau and Yap and never seen anything but healthy sites with no bleached coral -- maybe because I was with guides who knew the area. Thus, I am spoiled. I'd like recommendations for good sites within a few hours flying time of Dulles (Washington DC a... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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A: How to prevent frost / ice damage camping equipment? We have experience with ice accumulating on our tent, but we just bang it off manually. We've never had to deal with a tent encased in strong ice. Usually we'll reposition the pegs and ties because the tent has slumped from the moisture and then ice, but we just manually knock any of that ice of... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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A: Best method of carrying fruits over a period of 3 days while on a trek We have never hiked in temperatures that went up to 95 F, but we have taken oranges on much longer trips than 2-3 days, with no problem, with day-time temperatures in the low 80s, and very sunny skies. As others have said, put the fruit in a plastic bag in the middle of your pack; it will be protec... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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A: A little bit of acclimatisation or no acclimatisation at all? There isn't much difference in the two "acclimatization" options. In neither option do you get more than a start on acclimatization. In both options, you serve notice on your body to get ready. Option 2 might be "safer" in that your chances for a good night's sleep and a good dinner are better at t... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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Is there a mesh mini-tent on the market that covers head, shoulders and arms, allowing you read comfortably in buggy terrain? I like to read for a couple of hours after getting into my sleeping bag, and I don't like to use the tent unless the weather is bad. So usually I am lying propped up against my pack (food removed) attended by a circle of no-see-ums or mosquitoes trying to dive-bomb under my hat, the brim of which is... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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A: Case example on Altitude Mountain Sickness: How to detect and react properly? As a speculation, you may have a ceiling of about 16,500 feet. This speculation is reinforced by your starting to feel stronger as you passed 16,500 on the way down. Was this the first time you climbed above 16,500? My husband had an office mate -- very tough, fit guy -- who puked regularly at 13... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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Acclimitization: Would 20 min at an "oxygen bar" deliver more than an ephermal boost to a healthy person? My last trip was just a hiking trip, so I stayed at a hotel. For $35, the hotel offered 20 min at their "oxygen bar". I was tempted, but did not succumb. I didn't have a headache, or feel nauseated, just low in energy. Thus I don't know exactly what was on offer -- I am guessing it was a mixture ... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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Proper food storage against black bears on a LONG (e.g., 14 days) trip, partly in black bear country? (enough bear canisters not practical) This question is prompted by the replies to Questions about specifics of black bear encounter with mother and yearling cub. That question was about an encounter over 30 years ago, before the era of portable bear canisters, or at least before they were routinely used. And it was a 14 day trip, and t... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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Questions about specifics of black bear encounter with mother and yearling cub I hope the bear experts on the site can shed light on several aspects of a black bear encounter my husband and I had some years ago in the Sierra. It was mid-May, about 9500 feet, well above timber line, and the ground was almost completely covered with snow, except for a few bare patches. I conclu... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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Is there a connection between stress and difficulty in acclimatizing? In the experience of users of this site, does intense stress hamper acclimatization? I recently experienced much more difficulty in acclimatizing in an area where I frequently visit. The only difference is that I recently have come under a great deal of stress. (Please note that I am not asking ... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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A: What are the Pros and Cons of a Full-coverage Rainfly? The obvious cons of the full-coverage rain fly (FCRF) are the added weight and volume in the pack. And, it probably takes a bit more time to pitch and take down simply because of the added material to manipulate. Because your bio says you want to go ultralight, these cons may be very important to y... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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A: Why do I often see male robins with female robins? I am not a robin or even a bird expert; this answer is solely from googling "Do robins mate for life?" From Journey North American Robin -- Annenberg Media http://www.learner.org/jnorth/search/RobinNotes2.html "No, robins do not mate for life. Pairs usually remain together during an entire breedi... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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What are the pros and cons of a digital altimeter over an analog altimeter for backpacking? Our analog altimeter, which we had had for over 20 years, was stolen this summer. We are now faced with a choice between digital or analog altimeters. What are pros and cons between the two? (e.g., reliability, accuracy, sensitivity, ease of use while backpacking) Are there any other devices that ... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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A: Toothpaste in the back-country and the principle of leave no trace Floss. If you brush with water only and then floss, your teeth and gums will be OK for even a multi-week trip. The dentist of @Henning advises flossing first, then brushing because "the dirt that you floss out from between the teeth is highly aggressive stuff that shouldn't remain on them." Thus I... (more) |
— | about 9 years ago |
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What order of response time can I expect if I hit the "911" button on my SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker? A friend gave us a satellite communication gadget that has three buttons to send three messages, two of them to a programmed address ((1) location and (2) alert), and the third is a "911" button. We've never been close to needing emergency help, but of course that is no guarantee of the future. Doe... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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Backpacking with a dog Please note, this question covers different material than that in Camping with a dog for the first time. I've often seen dogs on high-altitude multi-day hikes with their people, many of them (the dogs) carrying packs. Part ... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: What is the most efficient food to take a for a 12-15 day hiking trip? The most efficient "food" you can carry is the body fat you can afford to lose. In our younger days, we went on 12 to 14 day backpacking trips, with a much more varied diet than suggested in the other answers. We took freeze-dried breakfasts and dinners, bread, cheese, butter, sliced ham, chocolate... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Pack of coyotes in my neighborhood Your small dog is at great risk. A coyote recently took the small dog of a veterinary technician at my vet's from the front walk of her house; she was outside and saw it. And if she saw the coyote, the coyote saw her. The coyote did not get a good grip on the dog, and he got away, with a bite wound.... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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When is it unethical to dismantle a fire-ring? I've dismantled several fire-rings in an area that has many fire-rings strung out between a major trail and a river. (Colorado, 8,500 feet). These are not official camp sites. Over the years, people decide to camp here rather than there even though a fire-ring was already there. Then they build a ... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Leave no Trace: Are campfires unethical? Campfires are not flat-out unethical in all circumstances, but too often they way they are built and used are. For example, if you passed a fire ring not long ago, or know there is a fire ring not far away, do not build another one just because you want to camp here. If you have to build a fire ri... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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Is any subspecies of black bear more -- or less -- aggressive than another? There are 16 subspecies of Ursus americanus, the black bear. The Wikipedia article describes their different physical characteristics and geographical distributions, but not differences in temperament. The article discusses attacks on humans, and attributes the majority to habituation to people and... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: What are the Pros and Cons of No-Cook Backpacking? Just considering weight: The great advantage is that you save weight by not carrying a stove and fuel, a pot, a Sierra cup and a largish spoon for stirring. The disadvantage is that you carry more weight than if you had taken freeze-dried or dehydrated food. That is, you have to carry the water cont... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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How much experience is needed with llamas to hike with a llama, on one's own? I've seen people on multi-day hikes with a llama, and the llama seems docile and easily led. It seems too good to be true. I would never go out with a mule or a horse on my own. If my husband and I went on a short (two or three day) trip with a llama handler would we learn enough to go on a longer ... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: What clothing would be suitable for hiking and camping in 0°C? I just browsed the meta site, and am encouraged to add an answer. I agree with the above answers and comments, especially (1) don't wear cotton pants; (2) carry spare socks and mitts; (3) poly is lighter and warmer than wool when wet; (4) your clothing is on the light side; consider the additions s... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |