Activity for WedaPashiâ€
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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A: How tight should I tie hiking boot laces? Again, how tight is too tight? Probably something that doesn't come off while walking in tall grass, but does come off quick when you want it to, also fast to tie up again is the knot you are looking for. I usually prefer Ian's Secure knot. Such a brilliant link! There is a pair of shoes wh... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Will drinking lots of water in the day(s) prior to a long trek mean I will need less water on the trek? I am not sure if 'pre-hydrating' is a valid term to use for this, please correct me if you know the term. While walking down a tiring route, I was so tired and low on water. All I could think of was, "ahh, I wish I had more water with me". I was carrying enough (for me), but a girl whom I met on the... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: How do you treat frozen lungs? Typically runners exert their lungs the most if compared to Mountaineers. I am strictly not comparing with Swimmers of course. First, why would it happen, how do you know whats happening: Do we normally catch cold, runny nose when its cold outside? Normally we do. "How much cold" can vary from pers... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: What are the different stages of frostbite? Basically people look at the frostbites in 4 principle stages. First Degree Frostbite - Frostnip: Fingers/toes/nose feel very cold, prolonged exposure would numb them. This isn't deep in your body, it's just the skin. Medically, its just the Stratum Corneum and Stratum Lucidum being affected and no... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: Blisters on small of back Ah, that sounds really painful and disturbing. Your description is more like its a Boil than a Blister. Medically, A boil is a localized infection in the skin that begins as a reddened, tender area. Over time, the area becomes firm, hard, and increasingly tender. Eventually, the center of the... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Monkeys and Rock Climbing Monkeys are funny, as well as dangerous. I have already asked a question about how one should go about camping where there are monkeys around: Camping and Monkeys. The best advice would be to avoid them if you are unsure about your own safety. A number of Rock Climbing places in India are habitats... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Camping and Monkeys Monkeys are funny, as well as dangerous sometimes. What precautions do I need to take when I am camping (under unavoidable circumstances) in a region where there are monkeys? EDIT: Referring to Monkeys in India. Rhesus Macaques, Bonnet Macaques, Gray Langur. (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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As Mountaineers what can we give back to Mountains? Might not be a real question for The Great Outdoors.SE, but definitely a real question in our lives, at least mine. I understand, agree and believe in Leave No Trace philosophy. But, when we take countless memories and pride in climbing mountains, what can we give back? Example, Tree plantation. ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: What is the most efficient DIY alcohol stove for narrow pots? If you are not specifically looking for a liquid fuel thing: I always fantasized about making one such thing. But I have never tried. Get a tin Make something that looks like below. Advantages: Tins are easy to find and so are those solid fuel tablets If you break it, worst case you will be ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: What should I do if I disturb a bird of prey with a kill? The best thing to do would have been not disturb them in the first place, but I do understand the need of this question. So I wouldn't add any advice like "Do not disturb them in the first place". From what I have seen, Buzzards and other raptors (not specifically the ones you mentioned) would retur... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Descending a dry grass slope with serious inclination and exposure This post here mainly talks about Ice slopes I reckon. The region where I live, we don't have Ice slopes, but we have lots of grass slopes. Usual threat is a slope, probably a good 100 m, no bolt to an anchor on, no trees, no hurdles. 'A slip and you are rolling' sort of slopes with 60o incline. I ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Hydration for pets We all know when we get dehydrated. And hence we make sure it doesn't get worst. I was on a trek this weekend. A strong stray dog from a village chose to accompany me and being alone, I was happy with it. I couldn't take a detour off the trail to find water for it, so I made him drink water when I t... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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How can a barbed wire fence be crossed safely? How can one cross a barbed wire fence safely? Assumptions: Height of the person: 5.8 (172cm) Distance between barb wires is roughly 9 inches (20-22 cm), Fence is 4 to 4.5 (120-140cm) feet tall, not electrified. The guy is alone, hauling a backpack. Lets not start getting into should one cross a bar... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: Meeting an unknown snake on the trail; what is the best thing to do? Already some great answers here. TBH, haven't been able to go through all of them, so adding in a short summary as what I do and ask people to follow. Answer to question 1: Rule of thumb: Never ever ever ever try to handle a snake. If you don't know what snake it is, whether venomous or not, or ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: How to measure the temperature without a thermometer? Assuming that you are not going to use if for checking fever. There are other ways to check fever. There is no mechanism, or a piece of equipment (other than dedicated thermal transducers) I have heard of that can measure the temperature precisely. If you are just curious about how hot/cold the am... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Keeping safe distance while scrambling On an easy but long scramble, 30 to 45o incline, un-anchored, what should be the safe distance between two people? Should the better person be ahead, or be behind supporting the other just in case? (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Should I run if I come across Hyena? Question prompted by: Should I run if I see wild dogs? Since Hyenas physically resemble Wild Dogs, more or less, is the advice in that discussion applicable for encounters with Hyenas too? Are there any additional points? (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Keeping the Batteries warm I carry a camera that has detachable batteries. I also carry an extra spare battery for my cellphone and a power bank. Batteries discharge at colder temperatures. How do I keep batteries warm so that they do not discharge due to extreme weather? (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Best method of carrying fruits over a period of 3 days while on a trek While trekking, I prefer having fruits in the real form, not dried ones and no pulp or juices. When carried without being squished fruits like apple, litchi and strawberries don't rot in a couple of days. But thats not the case for say citrus fruits like Orange, Sweet Lemon, Lemon or others like Gra... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Breaking a fresh green coconut Okay, continuing the coconut series, How can I break a fresh green coconut without wasting much of it, without using a knife? (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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How can I get a coconut from a tree? Inspired from this question In a survival situation, what can I use from a green coconut palm?, I wonder how can one possibly pluck a coconut from a coconut tree in safest possible ways. We can also consider safer options like not having needed to climb the tree. (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: In a survival situation, what can I use from a green coconut palm? Ah, why wasn't this question already asked here! As Food and Hydration: If you are trapped on an Island (Refer: Castaway) probably Coconut Water can be only major source of potable water for you. As a bonus though, it contains a lot of nutrients, a great source of glucose and Potassium. Coconut mea... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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How to react to cattle charging towards you? Cattle may get aggressive when threatened, or they might just imitate to be aggressive. I have seen cattle charging towards a person when irritated. How should one react if a cow or bull comes charging towards him/her? EDIT: I think the word 'cattle' can have lots of possibilities. So I think its ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Distel Hitch vs Prussik The Distel Hitch and Prussik both appear to be slide and grip knots, used for ascending a climbing rope. I have heard of people using Prussik many times more often than Distel Hitch. Which is a better knot in terms of safety while ascending a rope, Which one to be used under what conditions? (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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What is the best way to give an injured bird water? There is this pigeon that I found the other day, it couldn't fly, had a chewing-gum attached to its wing, and probably a hurt neck, it would just sit and weep. I fed the bird with water using a cotton ball. I dipped the cotton ball in water and press it gently near its beak to feed water, and the bi... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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What are other alternatives to Sleeping pads? What are alternate options that one can use as a sleeping pad if he/she doesn't have one along? P.S.: Lets assume that he/she has a tent. And we are not talking about any sorts of extreme weather and altitude. (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: What are some good tips and techniques for packing a backpack? Assuming that you have the right kind of a backpack according to your requirements. First, you need to separate things that you need frequently and things you'll need less often. The way I camp/trek and plan things, I am okay to pack everything all over again in the morning. Generally, it is best s... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Is this anchor set up right? I was just looking at an article about an expedition on Eiger. I came across this picture. Is this setup right? For more info on the expedition: http://www.markseaton.com/stories/eiger.htm Kudos to the team :) (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: Selection of toilet area, its distance from the trail, its size with respect to number of people in group, placement of holes The two thoughts are correct. The other considerations should be: The layout should ought to be like Trail - Campsite and Kitchen area - Thickets (if there are any) - Toilet area. Preferably it can be a triangle. So that one doesn't have to pass through kitchen area to go to toilet area. "It shoul... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: Where in the world are train-track right of ways, also public right of ways? I'll answer about India, and Indian Railways. While in India, you can't call it legally approved to be okay to walk on railway tracks. I'd say the way things are taken is depending upon where you are. Officially, trespassing any of the Railway property without being a passenger on a train or an auth... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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What are other possible make-shift alternatives for chalk powder? Climber's life rely heavily on equipment. Having all the necessary equipment for simplest of climbs is a must. But, if at all I forget to bring the chalk powder along, what other alternatives I have for that? I have used dry leaves by crushing them and rubbing them on fingers, that worked good enou... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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How to "spot" someone who is bouldering? We have discussed a lot and at length about how to climb and other climbing techniques. I haven't come across a single post that talks about Spotting techniques. What are the duties of a Spotter? What is the best a spotter can do to ensure that the fall of a climber results in minimum or no injury?... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Walking through an active railway tunnel during a long distance walk There is a long trail in the mountains near where I live. It requires one to walk through a Railway tunnel which is roughly 1.2 miles long and is not straight. Usually, there is a margin between the train and the walls of the tunnel. The worst margin I have seen is of 4 ft., but that was with two li... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: Acclimatizing to Hot weather I'd typically go about it in two scenarios, not just the heat alone. Hot + Humid, Typical Example: Coastal regions of India, Sri Lanka, Caribbean Islands. Hot + Dry, Examples, Deserts. In both the cases, the thing to keep an eye on is Sweating. If weather is dry, hot and low humidity, you will... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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What is "Isolation" and "Prominence" in mountain terms? When I was browsing through the wikipedia page of the Denali mountain, I came across some piece of information. Refer the screenshot below. What does the term Prominence and Isolation mean? (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: Trekking Har ki doon (India): Permits and Guides Yes, for Har-ki-doon trek you need a local forest permit. Hiring a guide is not a mandatory thing, but recommended. The guide will take care of campsites and arranging food at a fair bargain. First things first. You can book a cab from Dehradun to Sankri villege. On the way you would pass through... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Acclimatizing to Hot weather When people discuss Acclimatization, it is generally observed that they refer to higher altitudes, or colder weather. While, acclimatization is not only applicable to higher altitudes and/or cold weather. I live in India, I am used to at living at atmospheric temperature of close to 40 oC. So, assu... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Similar knots to be avoided There are knots that have similar sort of a structure or a look-alike looping which can easily confuse someone who is not seasoned in knots and safety associated with them. As a thumb rule, beginners are always advised to get their knots inspected by a veteran before they bank their safety upon it. ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: How do you keep the inside of your backpack organized? Assuming that you have the right kind of a backpack according to your requirements. First, you need to separate things that you need frequently and things you'll need less often. The way I camp/trek and plan things, I am okay to pack everything all over again in the morning. Generally, it is best... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: What should I feed ravens/crows? I'd rather not prefer inviting them for food at all. Usually for what I have seen around, crows scare the hell out of small birds like Bulbul, Robin and Sunbirds. They feast on roadside kills, trashed food, whatever that feels eatable to them in a garbage dump, in short, whatever that appears pretty... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: What easy 6,500m peaks would serve as easy qualifiers for Everest? Well, I'll share a list of peaks that are open and people do in India. Uttarakhand state: Panvali Dwaar (6663 m) - Song(RH) - Khati - Dwalio - Phukia - Base Camp - C - I,C - II and summit (Long: 79o57', Lat: 30o17') Nanda Khat (6545m) - Bharari(RH) - Loharkhet - Khati - Dwali(Vill) - Base Camp,C... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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How to help birds with water? In India, the monsoon lasts for 4 months between June and September. Since last week or so the rain is gone, and this monsoon hasn't been decent, the rainfall had been it's lowest since the 1970's and we are already facing a water-scarcity. The temperature has already reached 38 oC. I have seen b... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Does a bird really abandon the nest? Will similar birds re-use it? This may appear a bit opinion-based. Birds take a while and a lot of effort to build a nest. Is it okay to take that pretty nest as a sample or a show-piece to put in a personal balcony or a garden? I don't know if they or the same kind of bird re-use it. Basically, I have seen birds abandoning the... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: Rock climbing over edge - What can I put under the rope to protect it? Apart from what ShemSeger suggested if you are looking for a make-shift option for now, you can get an inner rubber tube that people use for Cycles. Cut it and run the rope through it at the edge where you see the friction. I have been doing this and seen people in India doing this ever since I have... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: What do you call the bags which help organize items inside a backpack? Assuming that you have the right kind of a backpack according to your requirements. First, you need to separate things that you need frequently and things you'll need less often. The way I camp/trek and plan things, I am okay to pack everything all over again in the morning. Generally, it is best... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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Insoles rolling in when shoes are wet I have a pair of shoes that are really not water-proof. But they are good for not-so-serious treks and have a superb grip over all sorts of terrain in India. The only trouble I seem to have with them is that, after a certain use, the insole and the extra insole that I mostly need to have, they star... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: What do mountaineers eat and drink on the day of an Everest summit? It has to go down to all the High-Altitude diets, and not just specific to Mt. Everest. Anywhere above 23,000 feet / 7,000 meters most of the mountaineers lose their appetite to a considerable level. So, at that altitude losing weight is a common observation. Thats where the fats come in picture. Bod... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: At what point is a rattlesnake mature enough to control its venom? Ahh, I have been waiting for this. This answer would definitely be not much of a help if you hate complicated biology and physiology and related terms. But anyone who is equally interested in snakes is welcome to have a read through. While I am really sorry that I can't simply answer it as these man... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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One-sided overhand bend Why is the one-sided overhand bend also called the European death knot (EDK)? Is it safe for climbing and mountaineering purposes? (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: Considerations for older campers? Basically, you have to be excited and welcoming. Encourage them, thats the most important part of it. For me Camping means getting back to the simpler life. Gear: I don't think that you need any sort of a special gear for older people when you are typically car camping. The normal car-camping check... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |