Posts by Sherwood Botsford
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 insi...
I'm taking a different tack. I have slept both in and out of a tent on many winter nights, and I will not use a tent unless there is significant wind or precipitation. Here's the problem: The te...
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 h...
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 tri...
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 ma...
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 extreme...
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 ...
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 positio...
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 t...
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 ri...
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 ou...
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. S...
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 hand...
If the water is sufficiently clean that you are willing to eat the fish, it's clean enough to use to bleed the fish. Dirt as such isn't poisonous. Clear water isn't necessarily safe. Two ways ...
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 r...
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 t...
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 ...
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 ...
I have tried paracord, and don't like it. True paracord is kernmantle construction, with a braided sheath and linear core. The sheath wears too fast. The hard braided nylon cord works well. You ...
Any amount of insulation helps. There are 3 main areas of heat loss. Head, sides of chest, and groin area. Any form of fabric will work. Yes, even cotton. (Cotton's problem is when it's in the...
As mentioned above, things like energy bars work well. Prefer the ones in aluminum coated plastic packets as they are more airtight, and don't go rancid. If you go with nuts, get ones that are se...
PLB: Robust. Simple to operate. Most have a battery that enables standby for years. No account needed. Newer ones provide GPS location. Downsides: Inflexible. You can only say, "I'm in t...
Routine is your friend. Tent pegs: One person picks up all the pegs. Start from the front and go around. Count the pegs. Cup & spoon: Top right pack pocket. Rain gear: outside top pocket. ...
Agree with Charlie Brumbaugh Manufacturer's figures are based on smoke and mirrors, bragging rights, and what someone thinks would be possible in good conditions. I tell you that loading a canoe ...
Real examples abound. The best one from a story perspective is Wallace's "Lure of the Labrador" An entertaining read for so many bad decisions. They were out 5 months, expected to live by huntin...
