Posts by fgysin reinstate Monica
I have a fair little collection of bones and skulls at home, which I have gathered since I was a kid on countless hikes and vacations in the great outdoors. What I normally do: If the skull does...
There is one very efficient trick I will call reverse chopping. (No idea if this technique has a proper name, feel free to correct my answer.) The problem with a hatchet is that it is quite light ...
I think one of the reasons for the popularity of fishermen hat types is that they are easily rolled up/folded and put away in a pocket. The same is not possible with most traditional (felt) hats, a...
This picture shows the proper technique for stringing a recurve bow without stringer. (In @Charlie Fishers link this is called the Step-Through Method.) It's what all the people in my archery club...
I think this question is hard if not impossible to answer on this SE format; after all we're outdoors men and women and not lawyers. I'd still like to offer some points, (though IANAL and don't eve...
I'm gonna offer a super-cheap and quick workaround for the problem: Bring along an IKEA bag (assuming there are IKEAs where you live). They are basically very large shopping bags made out of ...
A couple of additional points which I think have not yet got the attention they deserve. Time is of the essence. I've once seen a report that stated that the average swimmer can make it about 50 m...
I own a couple of different Fjällräven items (trousers, jacket, hat, duffel) and a number of my friends do as well. While my personal experience with the Greenland wax is limited, it is my understa...
I would treat this exactly like walking on ice: use the penguin technique, i.e. always keep your center of mass above your feet and take small slow steps. Also see What's the best way to avoid sli...
From my experience the arrow shafts will be exactly the length as specified, at least with all the vendors I dealt with so far. (It might be safest to just ask them however!) If you're putting tog...
In 2013 I did an long trip (12 days) in the Rockies (near Banff/Lake Louise National Parks). We were entirely back country, except for the very first camp site. In this area brown bears are the big...
I guess one of the central concerns with AMS is that you can never know when it hits you. You can prepare, acclimatize and try to avoid all the stupid mistakes - but even under perfect conditions, ...
It's hard to give a definitive answer, but based on your description one possibility could be a badger. They make some really astonishing noises ranging from grunts to screams to barks. Maybe head...
There exist a plethora of different camping fuels, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Depending on your cooking equipment (mainly the used stove/burner) and the environmental conditi...
It is normal to a certain degree that wet leather, after drying, is a bit stiffer than before. The effects will generally be worse the longer your leather was in contact with water if the water ...
One trick not yet mentioned, but surprisingly efficient: When I start sweating in this area (and I'm out in the woods where I won't meet a lot of people) I usually just open the zipper on my pants...
After years of experience doing short and long treks in various climates this is the first time I hear of a trekking umbrella. And honestly, I'm not convinced. Yes, rain protection will be good, b...
You should keep in mind: DEET is not an insect repellent that will prevent insects from landing on your skin! DEET is a contact poison that will be very unpleasant for any insect who gets into cont...
On my treks I usually keep a trail journal. I only bring a pencil and some eraser (i.e. super light-weight), and use this to write about the journey, draw small maps/diagrams and sometimes even ske...
Merino wool (e.g. IceBreaker shirts & long underpants) is very warm compared to its pack size and weight. It combines well with most other outdoor clothing like fleece - and you'll be wearing l...
Before deciding on the tent to buy think about the characteristics of your different options. Tent size (how many people does it hold, is there room for luggage or even indoor cooking?) Tent weig...
Rectal infusion I have read of a case where people survived in a life raft not by drinking their own urine, but by rectally infusing urine through a tube. This is apparently quite a safe way to g...
I would suggest not sleeping on the boat. Apart from the safety issues this will bring up - the boat could slowly lose air, or could start drifting away, the water could rise, ... - it will not pro...
I have good experiences using cloth grocery bags (note: breathability). Depending on how many mushrooms you are gathering it might be necessary to put something like a bowl/small basket into the b...
Full leather shoes are easy to take care of in a way: they'll perform exactly accordingly to how you treat them. First off: if the shoes are new, don't to anything. They'll already be treated/impr...