Activity for nhinkleâ€
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edit | Post #41756 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #40137 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #40095 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #39708 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
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A: Hiking and climbing in smoky areas IMO the best solution right now is not to go. I live in the PNW, and I'm simply avoiding strenuous exercise until air quality improves. I wouldn't enjoy hiking with a mask on, and it's unhealthy to exert oneself with these air quality levels. I had a hike planned for this weekend which I called off d... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Safety precautions for a spotter for his/her own safety This is not a complete list per se. If bouldering outdoors, particularly with an overhang, wear a helmet. This isn't to protect you from a fall, it's to protect your head for if rocks get knocked down onto you. When spotting, maintain an athletic stance. If you just stand normally, you won't be a... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: What does lumen and lux for flashlights/torches actually mean? From a related post: Lumens is the SI unit for luminous flux, which is essentially the total amount of light in the visible spectrum emitted by a source in all directions. Lumens does not depend on distance from the light source, because it must be measured in all directions. A related unit, lux... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: How to treat a severe allergic reaction while hiking? Anybody who has severe allergies which could lead to anaphylaxic shock should carry appropriate medication with them. Typically, that would consist of: An antihistamine (e.g. benadryll) An epinephrine auto-injector (aka "Epi-Pen") Benadryll is available over the counter and you should have it in ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: How to create a cast or splint to aid a broken bone? A cast is meant to promote long-term healing of a broken bone, and getting a cast typically requires a doctor in a definitive care environment. A splint is the preferred treatment for fractures and sprains in the field. The purpose of a splint is to immobilize the limb around the injury. A good splin... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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A: What order of response time can I expect if I hit the "911" button on my SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker? Types of satellite-based emergency beacons Personal Locator Beacons Personal Locator Beacons (or PLBs) have one and only one purpose: to send your location to emergency responders, indicating that you need some kind of urgent help. They use a satellite network operated by government agencies worldw... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Encountering a bear in water? Bears don't generally like people, and the ones who do are usually going to be more interested in dumpsters and campgrounds than a random boat on the river. The likelihood of ever getting into a situation where you have to fend off a bear attack on the water is absurdly small. Bears are usually eithe... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: When is it unethical to dismantle a fire-ring? I would say any time you're in an undeveloped area, it is OK and perhaps the most ethical thing to do, to dismantle fire rings. They encourage over-use of a particular spot, collect trash, etc. When you're in a developed camping area, you should not dismantle them. Having the fire ring there ensure... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: What do you call the criss-crossed elastic strap on this Northface backpack? According to the features list for The North Face Men's Borealis Pack, that is called a: Front elastic bungee for external storage (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Is it safe to cook food during a hike (on trail) when bears are possibly around? Many people travel for days or weeks in bear country. Several existing questions on this site address bear and camp/food related issues. If you've never traveled in areas with bears before, you should definitely give these a read: What are the proper precautions/protocols for storing food while ca... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Should I wear a fleece while cross country skiing? Always bring plenty of layers, so you can add/remove as necessary. When I cross country ski, I often end up very warm. Even if it's only 20°F out I may be skiing in a synthetic T-shirt. The important thing is to have the warm clothes available to put on when you stop or if the weather worsens. ... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: What's a good, lightweight solution for portable cookware? Titanium cookware, combined with a small gas stove, is very common in backpacking. If you look at camp cookware from Backcountry, REI, and other outdoor gear vendors you'll see a lot of titanium. It's sturdy, light-weight, not too terribly expensive, and has good heat transfer properties. If you're l... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: How can I know if a rope is certified? I found a hidden tag I did a bit of research and it appears that NFPA 1983 is a standard for ropes used in technical rescue, similar to UIAA ratings for climbing ropes. The tag you found seems to imply that this rope meets the specifications of the 2001 edition of NFPA standard 1983 for a life safety rope. I couldn't fin... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: How do I self-assess my physical condition after a fall in the backcountry? Self-assessment is difficult because your level of consciousness (LOC) may be impaired. Unfortunately, one's own state of mind is also very difficult to self-assess. I'll list here a brief overview of some of the "self-checks" you can do, but (as I'm sure you're already aware), getting a second perso... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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How does one choose the right standup paddle board size? I've had a couple of opportunities to go standup paddle boarding (SUP'ing) which is pretty fun. Every time I've used one so far, I've rented it form a place where somebody pointed and said, "OK that should be about the right size for you". I know there are different lengths as well as different t... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: How to clean cookware? I like using a soap and sponge, but it's not the only solution. It is possible to cut the weight of a soap and sponge setup pretty significantly. Using a small scrubby like the one shown below works well and is much lighter. You can also take a regular sponge and cut it into a much smaller mini-spong... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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What is the difference between "dry rope", "non-dry rope" and "dry core rope"? I've just recently gotten into climbing and so far the ropes have always been provided for me. I'm starting to look at getting my own rope for outside climbing, and am confused by some of the terminology. Many of the ropes say "dry rope", "non-dry rope" or "dry core rope". What do these terms mean, a... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Drinking alcohol as the last choice in survival situation If all I had was some liquor, I would not be drinking that. Drinking alcohol causes dehydration, so while you might feel some very very temporary relief from having liquid in your throat, it's going to hurt you in terms of dehydration overall. Additionally, as you said, alcohol leads to poor judgemen... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Is a smartphone or dedicated gps receiver better for navigation in the desert? I think you already answered your own question. Most dedicated GPS devices are more rugged, have better battery life, and don't require a data connection to work well. A phone has a lot of power overhead and is fragile. There are a few possible advantages to a phone. If you're already going to be c... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Stuff or roll a tent for storage? There are differing schools of thought on this: Rolling/folding is a lot easier to manage in my opinion, easier to keep track of all the pieces, and when camping in dirty/snowy/wet environments makes it easier to keep the ground side of the tent together and the clean(ish) parts away from it. Stu... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: How much side protection should sunglasses have? Those types of glasses do not provide adequate protection from sunlight, especially in areas with lots of reflective surfaces (desert, snow) and at high elevations where there's more UV radiation due to the thinner atmosphere above you. What you want are either wrap-around glasses which don't let l... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Staying warm in a lightweight sleeping bag Several good tips have already been posted; another to consider is a hot water bottle. I was on a trip for a mountaineering class recently and was surprised by how many people had never slept with a hot water bottle before! Use a solid bottle which won't leak and is designed to handle high temperatur... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: May camping with a tarp be safer than using a tent, in bear country? I see 0 benefit to a tarp over a tent with regards to travel in bear country. this would allow the bear to see you (and leaving accordingly) Bears are going to smell you and your camp long before they see you. If your tarp/tent setup is any good at all, it'll be covering you from most directio... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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When should a belay device be replaced? I'm about to purchase my first belay device, and am wondering how long I might expect it to last. What signs should I be looking at to determine when a belay device eventually needs to be replaced? (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Why might one need a 2000 lumen headlamp? Other answers have addressed the "why", but let's talk about the "what's real" regarding lumens. Before we get into calculation the actual output of this light (which is definitely nowhere near 2000 lumens), we need to understand what lumens are. Lumens is the SI unit for luminous flux, which is es... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Where is the optimal place to do dishes in the backcountry? I think you have the right idea. Leave No Trace principles (and wilderness permit regulations in many areas) dictate that washing be done at least 100 feet from camp, trail, or stream. If there's some soil nearby that would be the best spot, because there'll be higher activity from decomposing orga... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: How to carry perishable foods on a multi-day trip, without it going rotten? There are many methods of preserving food for days, weeks, or even years. Traditional methods include canning, pickling, smoking/jerky, and dehydration. There are modern counterparts to all of these. Canned food is not a good choice if you're carrying the food on your backs. Dehydrated and freeze-dri... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: What is the most effective method to clean skin exposed to poison oak? Poison oak's "poison" is an oil-based substance; therefore any oil-removing soap will do the trick. Dish soap is a low-cost and easily available substance for cleaning poison oak from skin. This study found that: Dish soap was significantly better than no treatment. Dish soap was not significantly ... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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What is the most effective method to clean skin exposed to poison oak? Poison oak season has begun around here, with fields full of the nasty stuff growing everywhere. I tend to dress conservatively in areas I know have poison oak, to avoid getting exposed in the first place. Were I to be exposed, how should I clean the poison oak from my skin? I'm aware of various hi... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: What do I do if a black bear is right outside my tent? Black Bears simply don't like the smell of warm man-flesh; in fact, if one notices you, it's likely to take off. I've had bears sniffing around my camp before. Assuming all your food is safely stored already and you don't need to scare it off to protect your supplies, a perfectly valid option is just... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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Are there standardized signals to communicate with aircraft? Suppose one is in distress in the wilderness, and is being searched for by planes or helicopters because they thoughtfully told their friends where they were going and when they'd be back. Alternately, suppose you're just on a hike but happen to look very similar to a party of lost hikers. How woul... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: How far would you need to fall for it to be fatal? As other answers have mentioned, there are too many factors to determine a fatal fall height. However, the rule of thumb for determining if there's a likely mechanism of injury for a spinal injury is whether there's a fall from more than 3x the person's height. (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Difference between Franz Josef and Fox glaciers I've never been to this area, but searching reveals what appears to be the key difference to me: The fastest (and cheapest) helicopter trip is to Franz Josef Glacier – a 5-minute flight. Fox can be accessed on foot, without requiring an expensive helicopter flight at all. Additionally, poor... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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Is there any difference between a harness used for rock climbing vs for mountaineering? I've recently taken an interest in both rock climbing and mountaineering. Both require a harness, but is there any difference in the harness used for each activity? I understand that the most basic functionality will theoretically be the same, i.e. be securely attached to you and have a sturdy loop y... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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Does a tent need special after-trip care when camping on and near ocean beaches? Does a tent need any special care after camping on or near ocean beaches? I know that salt can corrode metal (e.g. metal in the poles, stakes, zippers, etc.) and sand can mechanically abrade many parts of a tent. I don't know to what extent occasional use in those conditions will affect the longevity... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Should you pop a blister? There's a lot of dubious assertions in the answers here, and frankly some bad advice regarding how long to wait before treating a blister. We just had a lecture on blister management in my WFR class yesterday, so I'll give this a go. The answer to "should I deflate this blister" comes down to a ver... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Where can I camp when driving Highway 37 in British Columbia, Canada? The Milepost Guidebook has a list of points of interest along the Stewart-Cassiar Highway, which includes campgrounds. J 2.5 Cassiar RV Park to west. J 96.5 Meziadin Lake Provincial Park; camping. J 97.5 Meziadin Junction. Junction with BC Highway 37A which leads west 38 miles to 5th Ave... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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A: Is it safe to put snow in water filtration? Yes. There's nothing wrong with melting snow and then purifying it with a standard water filter. Most of the water in mountain streams was snow at some point anyways. That being said, this is generally going to be a very inefficient way to make water, and if the temperature is below (or really anyw... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: Beginners guide to fossil hunting Fossils are very prevalent in certain geographic areas, and practically non-existent in others. A lot of that depends on the geography of the area – both the present geology and the geologic history of the location dating back millions of years. Fossils require very specific conditions to form ... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: Can bears smell food inside dry sacks? No, it will not. A bear will smell your food regardless of what container you put it in. A dry bag may reduce the distance from which a bear can smell your food, but will not make it impossible to smell your food. It's extremely uncommon – especially for black bears – for a bear to atta... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: Storing food in the desert If you're not concerned about bears, I would (ironically) suggest using an Ursack. The Ursack is a kevlar bag that is "bear resistant" but not legally approved for use in many areas which require bear canisters. They weight much less than bear cans, but are very resistant to punctures, so a coyote sh... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: Site with statistics of mountaineering accidents I don't know of a source for Europe, but The American Alpine Club published "Accidents in North American Mountaineering" annually. Published annually since 1948, Accidents in North American Mountaineering reports on the year’s most significant and teachable climbing incidents. In each cas... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: How much does a full/empty jetboil canister weigh? This information is available under the Specs on Jetboil's website. 100g canister: 100g fuel; gross weight 194g; empty weight 94g (51.5% fuel by weight) 230g canister: 230g fuel; gross weight 356g; empty weight 126g (64.6% fuel by weight) 450g canister: 450g fuel; gross weight 645g; empty weight 19... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: Why don't cross-country skis have edges? Many cross country skis do have metal edges – I've owned many such skis. They tend to be backcountry XC skis though, not trail skis. Newer backcountry skis are fat and often practically indistinguishable from downhill skis other than for the bindings, but metal edges skinny skis used to be quit... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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Is there a technique to snow-shoeing besides "walk on the snow"? I've spent a lot more time cross-country skiing than I have snowshoeing, but have some snowshoeing opportunities available to me in the near future. In the few times I have gone snowshoeing, I've basically just treated it like normal walking, just with extra equipment on my feet. Is there a more nuan... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: Beginner or intermediate skis for a first pair to buy? This is a very personal, subjective thing, and I don't think anybody can tell you exactly what type or even style of ski to get when you're first starting out. The perfect ski depends on how much you weigh, how that mass is distributed, what types of conditions you typically ski in, whether you ski o... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |