Activity for Sherwood Botsford‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: What methods can be used to keep a cooler cold longer? When car traveling we freeze pop bottles mostly full of water (2" header air space) A 2 liter (2 quart) bottle takes a fair amount of time to thaw; it doesn't spill and make things soggy; and you have drinkable water in camp. Another trick: when you can, wrap the cooler in sleeping bags. This will... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are those other three holes in the boat's transom? A 23 foot hull might be capable of using an inboard motor, in which case two of the holes could be for cooling water. Boats are usually designed to be maintained. You should be able to get to the inside face of the transom fairly easily. (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How should I manage my woods to attract more deer? Deer are browse feeders. They nibble on shrubs during the winter. You want to keep the forest clear enough of trees that shrubs do well. In our region (Alberta) dogwood and alder are the big ones for deer browse, but most willows, high bush cranberry, snowberry are also palatable for them. Ideal ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to avoid getting wet when exiting a canoe onto shore? When a canoe has one end on shore,it's unstable. It helps if one person squats with knees on either side of the bow while the first person steps in. At the end, the bowsman steps into the canoe and pushes off at the same time. Approaching shore, try for a spot with few rocks, and hit the shore mov... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How would one person control two canoes? Towing doesn't work well. The trailing canoe will tend to swing wildly from side to side. This is a chronic problem when towing a swamped canoe to shore. This may be affected by how the trailing boat is loaded. Try loading it stern heavy. Another effect with towing: the towed canoe will not hav... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What do you call what amounts to a modern hybrid between a sneaker and a high top moccasin? I have not found anything yet, but have two partial solutions. Sneakers + gaiters. For this I need to buy sneakers in at least 1 full size larger, and go extra wide. My intent is to go in wearing two pairs of thick socks. The gaiters keep snow out of the shoe. Ideally the sneaker part is a simpl... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Tips for outdoor during the dark winter? From experience, traveling under a full moon works well. Warning: The shadows are inky dark. You will still need a torch or headlamp, but in the open you can turn it off. I have done winter trips by dogsled where we camped after 10 p.m. in December. You actually want to be out during a waxing gi... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Question	—	What do you call what amounts to a modern hybrid between a sneaker and a high top moccasin? Thirty odd years ago there was a fad for shoes generically called snow joggers. It was a super lightweight boot in appearence -- usually 6-8" tall, but with a very light construction throughout. They were somewhat wide to accommodate more socks. They had essentially no ankle support -- or maybe th... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Question	—	How do you take field notes at below 0 °C, without freezing fingers? I'm taking inventory on my tree farm. The temperature today is -7 °C with a light breeze. Windchill of -10 °C. I figure that there are lots of people who have this problem. Writing a journal, describing observations, and so on. How do people who work in the outdoors take field notes,... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Lead free brass fittings on potable water hoses Various sources say 5 to 10 micrograms/deciliter of blood is the usual point of concern. In adults symptoms show up at around 60. Children are developing so the lower 5 is recommended as their max level. Half life of lead in blood is about 40 days -- may be longer in children because some is absor... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is a tree that has been standing dead for a year dry enough for firewood? Try and see. Standing dead poplar burns very well, as does standing dead spruce. Standing dead birch produces a short burst of flame from the bark, and then smoulders with little heat and extremely irritating smoke. Alder is nearly as bad. I heat with wood burning about 6 cords a year. I burn m... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Will a Sunfish mast and rigging fit any other dinghy models? I don't see why it wouldn't. Any small sailboat that had a place for stepping the mast and that already had centreboard or leeboards should work. Caveats: I had a 1 week course in sailing using sunfishes, and I've read up on sailing since. I am far from an expert. Considerations: If the ma... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How is elevation gain and change measured for hiking trails? I use total elevation change -- where down is also counted as well as up. I find that downhill (especially steep downhill) also slows down horizontal travel, so when estimating time for a trail, I count 1000 ft elevation change up or down as the equivalent of an extra mile horizontally. This is an ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is a good way to clean the inside of a water bottle straw while on a multi-day backpacking trip? Solution 1: Make a tool. When I played the flute I made what amounted to a shepherds crook with an almost closed loop on one end. Thread the corner of a rag through it, and draw it through the body of the instrument. You could do the same, but instead of 1/10" brass rod, you would use bailing wir... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Under what conditions does heating a tent artificially make objective sense? After reading the "you're doing it wrong if you need to" I'll take a contrarian view: I've camped several times using an outfitter's tent -- canvas walled, barely liftable dry, and barely dragable wet. These are often equipped with an non-flammable thimble for use with a wood burning stove. What c... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it safe to drink rain water from a stream after a long drought? I have spent somewhere around 1000-1200 nights in the Canadian Rockies, Prairies, boreal forests and tiaga. I rarely have used either a water filter or sterilizer tablets. Nor have people on our trips. Have we had stomach troubles? Some. Nausea, gas, frequent and runny stools. Usually stopped wit... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is there any effective repellent against deer flies (Lipoptena cervi)? Cannot speak to your specific species, but I have found that any form of grease: lard, margarine, butter, engine oil, transmission oil, is effective against at least horse flies, black flies, sand flies and whatever deer fly infests Canada's north. They will continue to do touch and go landings, bu... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is there a simple at-home test to objectively measure the insulating value of a sleeping pad? Simulate the setup as follows: Use several 1 gallon milk jugs as your 'person' In the middle jug, put a hole in the cap, and insert a temperature probe. (Many multi-meters come with a temperature probe too.) Fill the jugs with hot water. Lay your sleeping bag on the mat. Put the jugs in the sleep... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it dangerous to go to Mountains when snow is melting? Charlie Brumbaugh's answer is fairly comprehensive about the dangers. I will address some ideas on how to deal with this sort of trip. Avalanche Hazard. A: Take an avalanche safety course. It will teach you something about how to recognize possible danger zones. B: Take a set of avalanche beacon... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do I find a less crowded trail in the southeast United States on the 4th of July? National Forests In the U.S. you have a huge system of national forests. Many of these have extensive trail networks. Many have parts that are too rough for economic logging. Go remote Places that are far from a major urban area are far less likely to be used at any time of year. Most people wi... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Portable canopy leg weights, how heavy? Sorry, but this is a 'how long is a piece of string' question. Variables: Size and shape of the canopy. (Yes, sides will require greater weights) Nature of the site (exposed, sheltered) Speed of the wind. However, all is not lost: If you are car camping, having a set of buckets in the car is a... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to fix tears in waterproof pants? Duct tape works as a temporary repair. Get rid of the duct tape glue. A: remove the duct tape. B: trying various solvents, remove any residual glue. You can try solvents first on the duct tape itself. Solvents to try include alcohols, mineral spirits/varsol, naphtha (camping fuel), gasoline, et... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How are backcountry campground reservations enforced? The national parks, such as Jasper are pretty sticky about trail use, especially on popular trails. (Jasper's skyline trail has a party every 15 minutes both ways when I did it. Never again.) At the time, the regulations allowed non-campsite camping but had a minimum requirement (500 m?) that you h... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Device with very accurate GPS location Ten feet isn't unreasonable, although it's right at the edge of day to day accuracy. I used a Garmin 60c along with aerial photographs to create an orienteering map. I had an overall accuracy of about 5 meters, coupled with a 8 meter differential between photo and GPS caused by the 40 meter differe... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the trade offs between kayak and canoe for solo multiday trips? A big part of this is "which canoe? which kayak" A long paddle in a white water kayak is a pain. They are slow. Ocean kayaks are much faster but are less than nimble to turn. I find the position in a kayak uncomfortable, and painful after about an hour or so. Canoes also come in whitewater versi... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How stuffed is a sleeping bag stuffed in its recommended stuff sack size? You stuff it into a bag that fits it reasonably. To small and it's a lot of work to stuff it. To large, and you don't have room for your other stuff. I prefer to use a bag that easily fits my sleeping bag. Then the remainder of the volume carries spare socks, fleece, rain jacket. (I still use an... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: If you are canoeing on a lake when whitecaps start happening, what is the best direction to get off the lake? Much depends on wave size. A sudden strong wind will kick up small white caps on a short reach. Not much to worry about. Give the wind 10 km or so of water to run over and it doesn't much wind to kick up large waves. Canoes generally are loaded stern heavy. If you travel downwind, you can get to ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Hypothermia risk from deflated sleeping pad You don't mention what temperatures you expect to encounter. From experience temps of -5 to -10 C [ 23 to 14 degrees F] are 'safe' but unpleasant without a sleeping pad. You end up putting most of your clothing underneath you. You end up turning over frequently, as the ground side gets cold. I ha... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: how high does a fence need to be to prevent European brown bear to climb it? Bee keepers in central B.C. will use old school busses as portable bee yards. Each hive base is bolted to the floor, and a tunnel leads outside. They use a solar electric fence charger to charge the skin of the bus. This allows them to either move them from crop to crop in the fruit areas, or follow... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Pack to carry two 30 L barrels Find an old aluminum external frame pack. Remove the bag and discard. Lay the barrels crossways on the frame. Cut wedges that match the curve of the barrel. Fasten the wedges to the frame. (There is a certain amount of cut and try to this, depending on the frame) Now you have a frame that you... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do you survive getting towed under a log jam? Stage 1. You come around the corner and see the strainer. Backwater. The technical term is a backferry. You want to move slower than the water. Move the stern over a bit in the bank you want to land on. Net result if you are any good, and the current isn't too bad is that you move sideways acro... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the best way to store paddles? Don't worry about padding anything. I worked as the outdoor equipment manager for St. John's Cathedral Boys' School. We had 120 kids in the school with a 3 week canoe trip at the end of each school year. The important thing about paddles: Don't walk on them. The leading causes of paddle breaka... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Canoeing in a thunderstorm I've been inquiring about lighting safety in general, and the more I read the less certain I am about anything. A: While boating incidents are a big fraction of lightning deaths, and deaths of fishers are over twice as great as of beach bums, there's a confounding factor: Fishermen spend more time... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I keep a water-proof barrel dry for use in a canoe? The shape of the ring matters. If someone has stepped on it it will be flatter on that part and won't pinch the lid to the barrel rim as tightly. Check that. If the seal rubber is old it gets rigid. It can also get nicked. If grit gets into the either on the seal or in the groove where it seats ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: When is improvised water filtration warranted for survival? A sand filter won't take out bacteria, but will take out larger critters like giardia. Anything that makes the water clear will increase the penetration distance of sunlight. UV is tough on bacteria. Mud is not particularly harmful. You can boil muddy water and drink it. (On the Athabasca and Sl... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the different names for and sources of alcohol for my stove? Martin's answer is good. Adding a few tidbits: Most alcohol stoves will burn other alcohols. Denatured alcohol usually refers to ethanol with an agent added that makes it undrinkable. The 3 carbon alcohols (propanols) also burn well. Iso-propanol is often marketed as rubbing alcohol. Read the... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Creek discovery. Two structures at opposing ends of the bank. What are they? I've seen these or very similar pics before. Did you ask on another site? I can't tell from the pix if there is mortar or just mud holding the stones together. In a similar question it turned out there had been a bridge upstream that was taken out by either flood or ice dam. The materials were sp... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Machine Washable Sleeping Cot Water resistance: Yes it affects washability. Water can't wet the surface. Soap helps. Gortex type coatings can get clogged pores, especially if not well rinsed. Read the owners manual with care. Coatings: I washed a urethan coated nylon tarp. The force of the water hitting the non-coated sid... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do you flavour your water on camping trips? Depends on the activity. Depends on the time of year. Summer on the trail: Water. I don't bother with anything else. Salted nuts are part of my lunch and there is a salt shaker with supper. Since in my hiking country stream crossings are rarely more than an hour apart, water is convenient. A 5... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Question	—	Relative risks of various outdoor activities? I got into a 'discussion' with the vice principal of the school I work at. He was worried about the dangers inherent in our fairly extensive outdoor program. I pointed out to him that an analysis of the previous year's infirmary logbook showed that we had far more lost school days from basketball t... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the pros and cons of plastic and aluminim vs wood vs composite paddles for canoeing? I've used wood, fiberglass and Mohawk paddles. My preference is for wood. A good blade can be made of ash or spruce. The latter will have a thicker shaft that may be uncomfortable for small hands. Wooden paddles will break. In 30 years of canoeing I've snapped about 6. Once in a rapid. That go... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the best practice to secure a 17ft open canoe to the roof of a vehicle? More canoes are destroyed by flying off a car than are wrapped around rocks. (Western Canoe Company factoid) Best is if you have roof racks. A: Secure mid point of the canoe to the back of the roof. B: Secure the stern of the canoe to the rear bumper, preferable as close to the corners as possible.... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How much of a difference in insulation will a reflective tarp make? I have one, and have used it for years. As a warmth device it works primarily as a air movement blocker -- you would get the same effect from a chunk of plastic. As a ground sheet it's wonderful: Silver side up, the low-e effect of the aluminum means that no dew condenses on it. This seriously red... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there any animal behaviors that can be used to predict weather conditions within a 24 hr time period? Two of my three dogs hate thunderstorms. (The third dog is a bit simple.) I can tell by their behaviour one to three hours before a storm hits that they want to go back to the house and stay inside. Given canine hearing I suspect that they are hearing distant thunder. They are discriminating. Ru... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Reclaiming water lost from breathing In cold weather a simple thick scarf over face and nose is effective and reducing exhaled water by between a quarter and a half. On inhaling, the scarf is chilled. On exhaling, some of your breath moisture condenses. On your next inhale some of the wet scarf moistens and warms the incoming air. G... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Question	—	Is it generally safe to hike a pass in a thunderstorm? Friend and I had this discussion, and came to no conclusion: Hiking in the mountains. Crossing a range through a pass. Peaks on either side are a good thousand feet higher. Are you at serious risk of getting hit by lighting? More generally: If you are walking a ridge line, and see a storm devel... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How is the maximum legal altitude for campfires determined? I have never run into this regulation, but then I use the national/provincial forests and not the parks. But if I speculate: Subalpine areas have very low biological productivity. 3 foot high trees can be a century old. Impact of wood collecting would be extreme. If this were the reason, then yo... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Self-diagnosis of hypothermia onset It's reasonable to identify stages up to the start of shivering. But shortly after that judgement goes out the window. If you are traveling in a group, set up a buddy system. Each person has a buddy and you monitor the other party for symptoms. Look for the 'umbles. Fumbles -- fine motor coordi... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Reusing disposable water bottles vs. buying dedicated bottles A reasonable compromise is any pop bottle -- one designed for carbonated beverages. They are several times as strong as the water bottles. I've never managed to break one. I have a polyethylene conventional water bottle that fits a pocket in my pack. I also carry a 2 liter pop bottles for times w... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Titanium Carabiner: what is its ideal use case? Ignoring the valid criticisms on the design of this particular unit, the chief virtue of titanium is the strength to weight ratio. In principle you can cut the weight by half or so compared to a steel one. (not checked) This link: https://www.makeitfrom.com/compare/6061-T6-Aluminum/Grade-5-Ti-6Al... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago

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