Posts by Sherwood Botsford
Slightly diferent problem: Oh hiking trips I figure that the chance of losing the key in the back country is probably more serious than a key being found at/near the car. I have: Placed the key...
Semi-selfcontained desktop solution: Ozi-Explorer. https://www.oziexplorer4.com This program allows you to have a folder of maps images. You then can download a program called 'map merge' (same...
It's a stupid system, even without looking at it. I don't see it as having any advantages. I don't take my phone with me in the back country. There's no reception. How do I find out the code I'...
For climbers it may be of use. Igneous or strongly metamorphic rocks are much preferred for climbing to sedimentary rocks. Knowing the rock outcroppings may make a difference in new country. If ...
While water works and is precise, I strong suggest doing this outside or in the bathtub. A much easier way is to get a bag of packing peanuts, either by scrounging from your local receiving depa...
It's winter. I daydream of trips in various areas. Using Google/Apple/Bing maps is frustrating. Openstreet has trails if you are near civilization, but names are weak. None of them have coordin...
A lot of it is just by doing it. Both species are quite low density, and the number of wild animal deaths/injuries are very small. Regions that are dangerous for bears are those where they are ve...
I think you need to find out why the plate hurts. If putting a load on the bone is putting tension/torque on the screws that attach the plate, then any form of loading on the bone may be a problem...
In the Canadian NTS series of maps at latitudes below about 60 the maximum difference between grid north and true north is just over 2 degrees. The grid is a 100,000 meter grid: blocks 100 km x 1...
I suspect that sweatshirt fabric has too open a mesh for any waterproofing agent to be effective. Rather than risk a garment you love, buy as close to a similar weight sweatshirt at a thift store,...
Because your foot doesn't pivot at the toe, but under the ball of the foot. Since the pivot is at that point, the front of the foot goes thorough the hole. This helps to anchor the snowshoe going ...
I have tarped for most of my outdoor experience. One year on a bet (be careful what you say at the pub...) I spend a full year under a tarp in the bush near my home. Right now I have a silicone co...
A comment on recent answer suggests that kernmantle ropes are more easily damaged than a conventional twisted rope. This is contrary to what I learned very long ago. So far I've been unable to f...
Much of it is due to conifers -- especially spruce and fir shedding snow away from the trunk. I routinely see trees with 1/3 of the snow under their branches as in the open. A spruce in winter ap...
The advice on Kamik etc is good. A: I buy them 2 sizes larger than my normal size. This allows me to wear 2 thick pairs of socks inside the already thick felt liners. B: Verify that you can r...
OP has qualified his question to be specific for mountaineering, and has clarified to mean 'best practice' instead of 'required by law or guild' In mountains many mishaps are close to instant, or ...
This is what a marlin spike is for. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlinspike It's not special purpose just for figure 8 knots, but is a general tool for tight knots. Dates back to the age of sa...
There are some good videos of the tsunami that hit Thailand some years ago. Thing to remember is that the waves are MILES long. The water rises and keeps rising. I read recently of a similar que...
Mesh lined running shorts. Roughly equivalent to boxers in coverage. I routinely use these on canoe trips and hiking trips under my wind pants. Morning starts with longs, and as the day warms up...
For extended outing using an antipersperant on your hands helps. Overmitts plus fleece liners is my goto. I have a pair of leather cowhide overmits that I use when working -- leather takes the ab...
Wind blocking is important in cold weather. A very small breeze on skin whisks away your warm air. On the flip side, keeping a thin layer of air stationary next to you works very well. I have an o...
Can't speak to deer. I've kept fish on canoe trips from noon one day to breakfast the next morning without a problem. I've also steamed fish, and carried the cooked fish for 36 hours without a pr...
There's a tradeoff: Sealed leather doesn't let water in, but doesn't let water vapour out either. This results in liners getting soaked sooner. You can reduce this somewhat: Apply your choice of...
Much depends on the region you are going to. Check with the local wildlife conservation authorities, park personnel. Jasper Park provides bear proof storage at all their sites, I think. Willmore...
In alpine conditions generally skis will work better. Below timberline skis work on broad trails. Narrow twisty trail and bushwhacking is easier with snowshoes. Snowshoes on a steep crusted side...
