Activity for StrongBad‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: Self rescue procedure when falling through ice, but the ice keeps breaking What do you do in this situation? Just keep moving, trying to basically swim through the ice, while breaking it hoping to reach thicker ice or the shore? More or less, yes with two caveats. If someone else is in the process of attempting a rescue (e.g., their first rope toss came up short or th... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Tips for leading project climbs I look a fall while clipping the 3rd clip (in the danger zone). There is no reason that a climber should be at risk of a ground fall while making the 3rd clip. Even the second clip should be safe in a gym (and ideally outdoors). Something seems off and you should ask either a staff member or a m... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there artificial climbing holds that feel like granite? There are a handful of manufacturers that make climbing holds from granite. My recollection is that Petrogrips used to make 30 cm x 30 cm panels of granite with various features cut into them. I cannot find them online, but this website sells some real granite holds by Petrogrips. There is also Natur... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to keep a llama from being eaten by a bear? There are a lot of different types of bears. Protecting a llama from a giant panda should be quite easy as you are unlikely to see one in the wild and their diet is almost entirely bamboo. If you are in polar bear territory, you should probably be more worried as they are natural hunters, curious, an... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to learn route setting? It is a lot of trial and error. Setting bouldering problems tends to be easier since they are shorter. The biggest thing to consider is height. Assuming you are reasonably tall individual, solicit feedback from some of the strong junior climbers. They will often be able to tell you where they need a... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Sleeping outdoors without a tent in a high altitude Mt. Tapulao? The general question is not really answerable, but the specific question in regards to Mt Tapulao is answerable. The link you provided says that guides have been required since 2013. While I am not familiar with the quality and experience of guides in the Philippines, there are some questions you sho... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Question	—	Stove efficiency The Jet Boil Minimo is supposed to be an efficient cooking system that uses FluxRing technology: FluxRing® technology makes it possible to heat a conveniently shaped vessel with extremely high efficiency. This patented technology captures the heat of the burner and directs it into the conten... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How could a lighter winter sleeping bag also be warmer? I think it is easiest to see the difference here: Specification Chart The heavier one is a semi rectangular bag while the lighter one is a mummy bag. Both bags have the same amount of loft, which is usually the key to warmth, but in this case the difference in cut matters. (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What knot tightens under pressure and is difficult to untie under tension? Despite not being a knot, I think a bale sling meets your requirements. There is little resistance on the hitch meaning it will cinch tight pretty easily and it is difficult to release while loaded. You also might want to look at a barrel hitch (again not a knot). It doesn't cinch tight in the same w... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can a cooler (warm weather) sleeping bag be used when combined with a warmer (cold weather) under quilt for hammock camping? From my understanding, the EN 13537 temperature rating is for sleeping bags and not quilts making comparisons difficult. A regular (6', 183 cm) 30°F (-1°C) top quilt (e.g., the katabatic Flex 30) has around 11.0 ounces (0.31 kg) of 900 in³/oz (520 cm³/g) fill down. I cannot find s... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Designing a sustainable and portable high-energy diet Andrew Skurka has a lot of advice on his blog about a backpacking diet. He is a world class hiker and does serious mileage over serious terrain. For an Alaska backpacking trip, he packed 4,750-5,000 calories a day and aimed to supplement that to 5,500 calories a day by eating in trail towns. His diet... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Should I eat when I don't have anything to drink in a survival situations? In a survival situation without water you will die in days and without food you will die in weeks. So in general, there is no need to eat in a survival situation. That said, the quick burst of energy you can gain from eating a sugary snack could make all the difference. There is probably little harm... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to second a "french free" / A0 move? Assuming a vertical, as opposed to traversing, route that is not overhanging, you unclip the rope from the piece and then pull yourself up just like the leader did. Once you are high enough above the piece to account for rope stretch you have the leader take in the slack. The key is that after weight... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to stash firewood without it getting wet? Depending on the type of wood, 50 kg of wood will take up about 0.1 m^3 when stacked. Depending on local rules, I would simply bury it in a cheap plastic tarp. Just make sure you remember the location and bring a shovel. This would be best if you can bring it all in one trip, but if not, just dig the... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Extending a two bolt anchor with one sling? It is hard to tell from the photo exactly how the carabiner would be loaded if clipped directly to the bolts. I think of cross loading as when the carabiner is weighted along the minor (short) axis. I wouldn't use the term cross loading when a carabiner gets weighted over an edge or weird bump in the... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Question	—	Tahoma Creek suspension bridge history One of my more memorable hiking experiences came on the Wonderland Trail in the summer of 1994. The trail is about 93 miles (150 kilometers) long. It's in the Mount Rainier State Park which is located in the State of Washington in western United States. The hike involved crossing Tahoma Creek on a ... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Question	—	How much kayaking experience is needed for a trip on the Alabama Scenic River Trail? My family, including my 7 yo, are thinking about taking a week trip down the Alabama Scenic River Trail next year. What type of kayaking experience is needed for a trip like this? How can we benchmark if we are ready. We can take 1 day trip on local flat water rivers and lakes. (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Where can I recycle or refill small 16 oz propane cannisters? In the US you cannot refill the small tank at a propane distributor, at least not in any state that I am aware of. In general, the small tanks are classed as not refillable. There is small risk of fire and explosion refilling the tank on your own. If you chose to do it be careful and keep the refille... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Legal deep-woods campsites or forests that allow off-trail hiking and ad hoc camping in Maryland? Most campground in Maryland State parks are not dispersed. The exception is Green Ridge State Forest Primitive camping has become a rare opportunity as most Public and Private campgrounds have adopted a more improved and consolidated approach to managing camping facilities. Camping at Green Ridge... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Am I packing too much for a 2-3 day hike in the forests? Trying to cut pack weight is all about leaving "extra" things out and then replacing needed things with light versions. Some things that jump out at me as "extra": Tent for 2 people If there is only one of you, why do you need a 2 person tent. For only 2 or 3 days, I would go with a tarp which ... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Explanation of aid climbing grades While most people think that the YDS system is easy compared to the British rating system, I am not sure that is the case. In the YDS system, there is a rating, a grade, and a class. The grade indicates the length of time the route typically requires ranging from I (the route takes a few hours) to V... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Will aid climbing make you a better trad climber? In aid climbing the frequency of difficult placements and the length of potential falls essentially determines the grade. Basically anything A2/C2 and up is going to require you to use some combination of hooks, cam hooks, bashies, and pins. These skills generally do not translate to trad climbing. I... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How dangerous is it to climb a via ferrata alone? Quantifying the total risk of an activity is hard and to an extent opinion based. The increased risk of being solo, is more quantifable and that is what my answer focuses on. The major increase in risk of doing a via ferrata alone (as opposed to in a group or with a partner) is that if you get injur... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Carrying soda instead of water due to nutritional energy? Let's say we have a liter of coke and liter of water. Both of them weight nearly the same. However, the coke contains a lot of calories whereas the water contains none. The law of conservation of mass, tells us that the total mass/weight of a solution is equal to the sum of the masses of the sol... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are important components of a camp kitchen? A good car camping kitchen, in my mind, mimics a home kitchen. Propane stove(s) with a total of 2-4 burners (maybe 6 if it is a big group) Propane oven or grill (either propane or charcoal) depending on your menu Multiple lighters Pots, pans, and utensils suitable for the menu(s) and group size I... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Which knot to use to hold a rope in a loop, tight, around a large object? I would go with either a barrel hitch or a barrel sling depending on the exact purpose. With the added constraint that the rope can only go around the object once the the "magic" needs to be in the knot/hitch, I think a trucker's hitch is probably best (but not very good). It will let you get a tigh... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Whippet as trekking pole? The Whippet is marketed as: ... the ultimate ski mountaineering tool ... that can help keep minor slips from turning into slides for life. For ski mountaineering, it is not feasible to carry an ice axe in your hands so the Whippet is better than nothing. Performing a self arrest with an ice axe... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Question	—	Why not use a cotton base layer? I am a little confused by this answer about whether or not cotton "kills". Cotton is clearly a poor choice for an insulating layer in wet environments since its insulating properties are heavily dependent on its moisture content. The point of a base layer, however, is not to provide insulation but r... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do you avoid Norovirus on the AT? The best strategy is to probably hike an alternate hike. Instead of the traditional NOBO GAME route with a start date at the end of March, you could go SOBO, or do a flip flop, or start early or late. By avoiding the crowds, you reduce your risks. You can also avoid shelters and hostels. Good hygien... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Question	—	What is a splice in spools of tubular webbing? While trying to answer Why static rope rather than webbing for toprope anchors? I immediately thought about splices in long pieces of webbing. For example, REI says that spools of Blue Water webbing may not be continuous, although I cannot find a reference on Blue Water's site. I haven't worked with... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is there a general rule for climbing runout grading? From what I can piece together, according to the The Gunks Guide by Swain the protection rating system was proposed in Rocky Heights, A Guide to Boulder Free Climbs by Erickson. According to Swain the ratings are: G Protection is commonly considered excellent. A falling leader probably will suffe... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do you pitch a tarp so that you will not get wet in a heavy rain? In a lot of ways you pitch a tarp similarly to a tent. Running ground water is an issue for both types of shelters. Many tarp users use bathtub type ground cloths which are essentially the same as tent floors. In heavy rain you want to pitch your shelter in an area with good drainage. Tarps come in... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Things to consider when approaching deer The animal may startle causing harm to itself or others. For example Nature Workshops says: Wild animals that have been approached too closely, have: Been startled and run into traffic where they have been hit by vehicles. Lost footing on cliffs and fallen. Fled suddenly and suffere... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Abandoning a multi pitch climb My philosophy when bailing from routes is to first try and escape to an easier route. If that fails try and down climb/down lead. If all else fails, rappel off a single bomber piece. Ideally the single piece is a bolt or natural feature, but if not a nut. I have never left a cam. My basic setup is a... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Question	—	How to get kinks and twists out of a climbing rope? One complaint about using the Munter hitch for belaying is that it twists and kinks the rope. After doing a full rope length rappel with a Munter hitch down a slightly overhanging face to the base of the climb, what is the best way for a pair of climber to get the twists and kinks out of the climbing... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Efficient and reliable method for managing a nut tool while following on a trad climb? When free climbing with a partner the first time, I explain that he/she owes me a beer for every nut that I need the nut tool for. This drastically improves efficiency since it makes the leader realize that you do not need to over set a nut for it to be secure. For the few nuts I need a tool for, a s... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Question	—	How to use a Munter hitch to belay and rappel? There seems to be conflicting information on the web about how to use a Munter hitch for belaying and rappelling while rock climbing. The way I learned decades ago is consistent with Nols Wilderness Mountaineering by Phil Powers: The Munter hitch differs from a belay device in that the braking po... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Warmth of two sleeping bags In terms of clothing insulation there is the concept of the CLO. The key equation is T = (31 − 0.155·P·R)°C where P is 48 W/m² while sleeping, R is the number of CLOs, and T is the temperature in Celsius. To stay warm while sleeping at 20F you need 5 CLOs (yes there is h... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the advantages of a double sleeping bag? There can be a slight weight savings for a double bag over two single bags. This is difficult to fully calculate, especially if one person sleeps warmer than the other or if there is a height difference (e.g., one person needs a long bag and the other a short bag). There can also be a comfort advanta... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Question	—	Bypassing river fords in Maine's 100 Mile Wilderness I am considering hiking 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine with my son. He would be 7 at the time. My biggest concern as we are thinking about this are the river fords since some of them can come up to the waist of adults. I think some of the fords would be swims for him (which I am not comfortable with). ... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Question	—	What accreditations should a professional rock climbing cams reslinger have? Rock climbing cams often have integrated slings. Like all webbing, these slings can be degraded by UV and wear out much sooner than the cam themselves. There are numerous companies that will "professionally" resling cams. One of the advantages of reslinging a cam professionally is the loop of the sl... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How long of cord do I need to make a three-point cordelette? To set an equalized 3 point anchor, at a minimum you need 3 single length sling (2 ft) lops (6 feet total), a 1-foot, 3-strand, clip in loop (3 feet total), and a couple feet for the knot. With such a minimum length cordelette, the anchor in the photo, would need an extra quick draw (or possibly even... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are pets allowed to thru-hike US National Scenic Trails? NSTs do not have a uniform set of rules. That said for the major trails, there are good websites that can answer many of your questions. The ATC website says that dogs are NOT allowed in 3 areas: Baxter State Park in Maine, Great Smoky mountains National Park in Tennessee, and Bear Mountain State Pa... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Which fingers to use in a 2 finger pocket when rock climbing? While not supported by any hard evidence, in How to Rock Climb by John Long he says Because it is rate that a pocket will accommodate all of your fingers, the first choice is the strong middle finger, next the ring finger, then the index finger, and so on. Using the middle and ring fingers in a t... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Question	—	Which fingers to use in a 2 finger pocket when rock climbing? While rock climbing, when crimping a hold, I always use my index finger (and whatever other fingers fit) since I can stack my thumb on top. For two finger pockets is it better to use your index and middle finger or your middle and ring finger (assuming either pair fit). (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What qualifies as a bear bag? There are two types of bear bags. The first is similar to a bear canister but made out of strong cloth (often kevlar) and wire mesh with a metal insert to prevent crushing. The brand I am most familiar with is URSack, although there are probably others of equal quality. These bear bags are slightly l... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Roof-top tents vs conventional tents? The obvious disadvantages for these types of tents are that they occupy valuable roof space making mounting racks (e.g., bike, kayak, or gear) more difficult and that you must pack up your tent every time you want to drive someplace. As for advantages, they allow for a smaller footprint then having a... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Question	—	Does a pound on your foot equal 5 pounds on your back? I have heard a number of people say that a pound on your foot equals 5 pounds on your back. Is there any hard evidence to support this claim and how does the terrain affect it? (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Question	—	How does drying stuff in your sleeping bag work? A pretty common trick when winter camping is to dry anything that gets damp/wet (e.g., base layers and socks) in your sleeping bag (cf. How do you dry wet socks when camping/backpacking if it's raining and the socks cannot be hung to dry outside). Similarly, people will also sleep with their boot... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago

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