Activity for whatsisnameâ€
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edit | Post #40029 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #40026 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #40022 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #39977 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #39971 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #39969 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #39965 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
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A: What to look for in a portable generator? There are basically two major types of generators for this situation: traditional and inverter generators. The expensive ones are the inverter generators, and the difference between the two types is the major price differentiator. The electrical power used in residential applications, and likewise t... (more) |
— | almost 6 years ago |
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A: How to isolate a strong magnet from things it could damage in a small backpack? There is no magnet you can lift that is strong enough to damage a cell phone, so don't worry about your phone, apart from physicial damage e.g. dropping it on your phone. You may need to be careful the phone doesn't violently thrash into the magnet, but other than that, electrically phones are virtua... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: What do the numbers on a sail boats sail represent? One word: Racing The numbers themselves usually don't mean anything. Usually, the number is essentially "how many sails of this model have been produced before this one". So, the first boat will have sail number 1, the 1000th will have sail 1000. Not all boats will come with numbered sails. Howev... (more) |
— | about 6 years ago |
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A: What Is the name of the supervolcano or earthquake epicenter at Yellowstone National Park? I believe you are thinking of the Yellowstone Caldera (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Using a thermometer for hypothermia diagnosis in backcountry? Diagnosing hypothermia requires a special thermometer, as most over-the-counter thermometers are not accurate below 34.4 °C (93.9 °F). Additionally, local body temperature variations means you need to use a rectal, esophageal or bladder thermometer, which you probably aren't going to want t... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Why would a raccoon climb a building? As far as the raccoon goes, there really isn't a whole lot out of the ordinary taking place in this story. It's basically a raccoon doing raccoon things. Raccoons are inquisitive animals and very capable climbers. While I've never seen one climbing a skyscraper, I've regularly spotted them climbing... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Is it possible for birds to develop mental problems? Yes, of course birds can suffer mental illness. Sure, it isn't as studied as it is in humans; it's a lot more challenging to ask birds what they're thinking, but there isn't anything unique to humans or mammals that makes them susceptible to mental illness. The brain of any animal is organ like any o... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: How long can I trust the purity of water in a water bottle? You are way over thinking it. Presuming the water in the bottle was properly clean, potable and microbiologically safe to begin with, and you're a normal healthy human, the water in the bottle will be OK virtually indefinitely. A few days of a backpacking trip? No question. If you have a bunch of s... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Do I still need to hang my food if I have two large dogs? Yes, you absolutely need to properly protect your food. Proper food storage in the wilderness isn't just for you, it's also for the bears. Even if your dogs or you are able to fend off a bear, you may in the process clue the bear in to the fact that where there are humans, there is food. And if you'... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: How do you determine the optimum time to tack? I hope you like a non-answer. There rarely ever is a theoretically optimal time to tack that can be described in the abstract, as there are so many unknown, random variables. The best time to tack, for pure speed, is never. But never isn't a practical answer, as you usually have an ultimate destinat... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: Is it poor etiquette to ask fellow backpackers where they have been/where they are going? No. There's nothing wrong with asking other adventurers where they have adventured. I've asked random people that question, other people have asked me, it never has put me or them on edge or anything of the sort. Sometimes people like to know if the trail they're on leads to something interesting a... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: Combining a Frontpack with a Backpack while hiking I have hauled a backpack and a baby in a front carrier, while also walking two dogs. I wouldn't "recommend" it to anyone, however, I will continue doing it, because it is my only practical option. I have a Bjorn brand carrier, so other baby carriers might be easier to deal with, but I'm doubtful. It... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: Carrying a bridge camera while hiking with a backpack I've gone backpacking many times with a proper DSLR, I found it easy to manage. I have a crumpler bag, which form factor wise is similar to yours. I put the shoulder strap over my shoulder, with the camera bag in front of me. I set the strap length so it kinda hangs right below my sternum. I then pu... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: How can I keep insulin at the correct temperature in sub zero temperatures? Use the same solution anyone uses to make unreliable power reliable: get a gas/diesel/etc generator and heater. (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Is belaying a lead more difficult than a top roped climber Yes. No question. With top-roping, the belayer can be spacing-out quite a bit and still do their job with a minimum of risk. With one hand on the belay tool, and another sensing the tension of the rope to the climber, you feel when there is some slack, then haul it in without even thinking. If the c... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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A: Can I use sunlight to purify water without a special container? PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) bottles are not "special" containers, they are the most widespread containers holding potable water in the world, with more than 100 million used per day. Now, you don't necessarily need a bottle made of PET, but even a basic reading and understanding of how the SO... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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A: What's the difference between a National Park and a National Monument in the United States? The difference is mostly one of administrative/bureaucratic elements. Both are protected areas, the difference is in who creates and manages them. All National Parks are run by the National Park Service (NPS), part of the US Department of the Interior. Creation of new national parks is done through ... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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A: How effective is sulfur for delousing my camp? If lice are a problem, go back to town, get the necessary supplies, and deal with it the right way. Yes it can be fun to play mountain man and try to source everything from the land. But that usually results in ecological damage. This scenario is no exception. (more) |
— | almost 8 years ago |
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A: What are the measurable prerequisites of strength and/or flexiblity for starting to climb in a climbing gym? If you can climb a ladder, you can start rock climbing. You won't be doing crazy stuff unless you get more practice and go often enough to build strength, but there will be routes you can work on. Where arm strength really matters is overhangs. Unless you're doing those, you'll likely find your han... (more) |
— | almost 8 years ago |
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A: How can I prevent a fiberglass crack in my sailboat from getting worse? Gelcoat cracking is pretty much a fact of life in boat ownership. The sun and water is a tough environment. However, gelcoat cracking is usually not too concerning as long as it is fixed right away. While you could probably get by for awhile just slathering some new gelcoat or epoxy over the crack, ... (more) |
— | about 8 years ago |
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A: What type of rope to use for the mainsheet of sunfish? You most definitely want to be selective when selecting rope for a sailboat's running rigging. I'll group sailboats into two categories: racing and non-racing. Racing sailboat is simply any boat where it participates in a race, not any particular construction. For racing sailboats, you will want to ... (more) |
— | about 8 years ago |
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A: Outrigger and/or leeboard when sailing a canoe? The right way to view the pros and cons is to understand the basic mechanics of how a sailboat works, so you can decide what's appropriate for your situation. The first thing to be aware of is that unless you only ever sail straight downwind, then sails don't work like parachutes, they work like ai... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: Could spray foam insulation be used effectively as an emergency sleeping bag? It's a novel idea, but it's not going to work in any practical sense. Most of those foams take about 15 minutes to setup, and you'll have to come up with some way to fabricate a mold while you spray it. It will be about an hour before you could safely enter your foam sarcophagus, and if this is to b... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Backpacking with a dog For part one, there are two aspects to consider: one is the regular old hit to the cardiovascular system that makes you tired more quickly because the air is thinner. This will affect you and your dog pretty much equally. However, many dogs will run until they are totally exhausted whenever there is ... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Renting a boat for overnight in ocean? You've got quite a bit of study before you are ready for this kind of voyage. I am not how far off shore "open ocean" means to you, but if it's anything beyond swimming distance to shore, you're going to need more training. What is the kind of boat called? Generally it is called a bareboat charter. ... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Is campfire smoke safe for inhalation and cooking? To answer the third question: Charcoal is basically wood (technically any biomass, but it's usually wood) that has had its water and other volatile components completely removed, leaving pretty much a lump of almost entirely carbon. Charcoal compared to wood is similar to comparing distilled, conce... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Using a synthetic sleeping bag on/under it's limit Using a sleeping bag liner can usually add 5-8°c or more warmth capability to your sleeping bag. However, do not use a cotton liner if you are in cold climates, as that can hold onto moisture from your body and cause you trouble. (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Ski set that does both downhill and backcountry? In addition to telemark, there are randonnee, aka alpine touring bindings. These are basically regular alpine bindings, where the heel can be released, for climbing. When going downhill, the heel can be clipped back in, for greater support during steep alpine descents. Telemark skis usually aren't s... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: Hitch with no ends For what purposes? For 'general' purpose, you should be able to get by just fine by making a bight in your line, then tying any knot you'd normally use in your situation using the bight as your line. This is known as tying a knot 'in the bight'. For example, the classic bowline could be used with th... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: Big Wall Climbing Portaledge Toilet Etiquette? To my knowledge, all popular routes in the United States require packing out all waste. Here are the rules for Yosemite, which has good guidelines applicable everywhere: http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/climbingtrash.htm Obviously, back country climbing might not have rangers to enforce those ... (more) |
— | about 10 years ago |
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A: What is involved in taking a canoe through a lock on a major US River? There is not a definitive guide for all locks, however most of the major locks in the US are run by the US Army Corps of Engineers, and they do not charge recreational boaters to pass through them. To my knowledge, all locks on the Upper Mississippi are accessible via paddling. As for the Ohio river... (more) |
— | about 10 years ago |
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A: What foods are unsafe to cook over an open fire? Cooking raw brats over a fire is only dodgy because cooking brats well requires fairly precise (for a campfire) temperature control. Even with hot dogs, it can be a bit challenging to get the whole thing consistently cooked through without burning the outside. With a bratwurst, its larger size makes ... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Does water in the sun get purified from or polluted by algae, fungi and bacteria? I'm going to assume that you are employing the SODIS method of water sterilization. To sum up the details of the process, this method is where you fill plastic pop bottles, (PET), up with rather clear water 3/4 full, shake them up, and let them sit in the bright sun for 5+ hours. The mechanism thi... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Are there any phobia-friendly ways to deal with flies? I recommend to go first to a therapist, particularly one specializing in anxiety disorders, preferably one that is familiar with and uses exposure therapy. I know you've already mentioned you are not a fan of "immersion techniques", but professional therapists have a bit more refined skill than what ... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Swimming across a strong current The first step is to make doubly sure there isn't already a bridge, or a common place people already cross at. No sense in getting wet or risking anything if there is an easier, or proper crossing, a few hundred yards up or downstream. The other first step is to make sure you are all safe when you ... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Do I need to hang a bear cache? Bear canisters should not be suspended. Doing so would make it possible for a bear to steal the canister and take it away. The shape of the canisters make it very challenging for a bear to hold or carry, and normally they will eventually give up and ditch the canister somewhere still close enough th... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Is there any upper temperature limit for a given sleeping bag? I have not encountered a situation where a sleeping bag was "too warm" and I was unable to do something about it. I've gone backpacking in the mountains where it was 70 at night one day, and the next day, several thousand feet higher, it got below freezing. At night in the heat, I pretty much just u... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: What's the maximum temperature difference wind-chill can account for? Your understanding of wind-chill is a bit confused. The reason the wind feels colder is because of convective heat transfer. When there is a difference in temperature between two objects, thermal energy transfers from the hot to the cold. In the case of a person in the air, the thermal energy flows i... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: Where in New Zealand is wild camping permitted? Generally, places where it is forbidden there is good signage, or it is a place where it is not surprising to be forbidden. Generally, it seemed that random stretches of highway would be posted, but just a mile or two down the road would be a spectacular place to pull over and hang out. Additionall... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: Does a cotton lined sleeping bag make sense? Some of us, when adventuring, go to far off remote places, in very cold or wet areas, and carry everything with us on our backs. But not everyone does that. Some people only car camp, in the summer, where bathrooms and showers are 200 feet away. For those sorts of camping situations, people's needs ... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: How safe is drinking distilled water? The effects of drinking distilled, deminieralized, deionized, and many other forms of water purification have been thoroughly studied and despite the research, the jury is still out on the subject, with regards to temporary usage. As far as adventuring goes, it appears it does not matter, as long as... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: What are the relative advantages of .308 and .30-06 The two rounds are essentially the same. To a newcomer, the differences are not going to matter. If you are picking between these two calibers of the same model rifle, I would just get whichever has cheaper ammunition. (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: Clarification sought on the six-inch-cat-hole rule One important aspect burying it deep provides, is that it reduces the chances of your feces tainting the local water sources with disease. If you were to just drop a load on the top of the ground for example, water runoff can very easily bring bacteria and other organisms from your feces to streams a... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |