Activity for nhinkle‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Question	—	Is there a more practical type of cord to carry than "550 paracord"? Paracord is widely considered a must-have for wilderness survival, and there are hundreds of tutorials for making bracelets out of it, etc. With this popularity has come a glut of people selling "paracord" that doesn't actually have the strength and durability of "real" paracord, and may not even be ... (more)	—	almost 10 years ago
Question	—	Preventing hand blisters while paddling I went kayaking for the first time this weekend, and it was a blast! Unfortunately, I also ended up with some abraded skin on my hands, where the paddle shaft had chaffed the skin. I've done other paddle sports before, and while my hands would often develop callouses over time in specific areas, I ne... (more)	—	about 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to carry a bicycle in a canoe? With a large enough canoe, you can simply put the bike in the canoe, albeit somewhat precariously. What's more common though is for people to bike their canoe to an input, lock up the bike on shore, then return to it. A good alternative is a folding bike. They're not as efficient to ride for lo... (more)	—	about 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: What lighting equipment do I need for playing ultimate frisbee at night? With ultimate specifically, traditional outdoor lighting methods won't work well. Flashlights are right-out, because you need both hands to play. Headlamps are a bad idea because you'll blind your teammates. Lanterns don't cast light far enough to illuminate a whole field. Glowsticks work well f... (more)	—	about 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Leading an inexperienced group As Jim alluded to, you need to be very explicit about gear. I've taken groups of 2-6 very inexperienced people on assorted trips, from strenuous dayhikes to backpacking trips. Here's things I usually make sure to include: Be very strict about no cotton clothing, and explain why. People may show up... (more)	—	about 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Snake dangers while hunting in the desert? I'm no herpetologist, but in my experience, snakes are in the "you don't bug me, I won't bug you" category. If you're sitting in a blind and are still, you aren't likely to surprise them. Surprising a snake or making it feel endangered is what causes most bites. If you're still, they'll tend to just ... (more)	—	about 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to get weather forecasts at Yellowstone? A forecast should be posted daily at all ranger stations and visitor centers in the park. This will be the most reliable (i.e. not dependent on technology) way to get an up-to-date forecast. On the National Weather Service website, it says the following: The National Weather Service does not p... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: If injured and lost, what are your biggest priorities for survival? Obviously, this is a scenario that could be avoided with proper planning and better practices. The best solutions would have been preemptive. Regardless, this scenario is where my question is to be asked from. (...) Assuming a normal load out (normal clothing, some water, a knife, etc.), what... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is burying human waste always the lowest-impact solution? In some heavily used areas, especially where there's little chance for natural decomposition to occur (such as at high altitudes where there is poor soil), you're required to pack out all human waste. For example, climbers on Mt. Rainier in Washington are required to carry specific bags to pack out t... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Do truly all-season tents exist? Of course. You can (almost) always cool down a 4-season tent, but you can't very well protect a 2-season tent from a blizzard. The primary concern is weight, but if you're going to be camping near a glacier with -5°C winds, you'll want a sturdy tent, so that's going to come at a certain cost of... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Tent Fly Coloured Reflective Tape As Russell mentions, flagging tape can work well in this situation. I carry a roll in my first aid/survival kit, as it's also useful for marking your path if you're lost, among other uses. A more permanent and reflective alternative would be to get some type of reflective fabric and attach it to yo... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: What does the status "W: Available at the Facility" mean regarding trail permits? In areas with quotas on permits, often only a certain percentage of permits can be reserved. The remainder are available on a first-come first-serve basis at the ranger station. For Mt Whitney, there is definitely a quota. There's likely to be a lot of competition to get a permit for such a popular... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it safe to be in a vehicle during lightning/thunderstorms? It is safer to be inside the vehicle than out. The NOAA National Weather Service's lightning safety page recommends vehicles as a safe location during a thunderstorm: You are not safe anywhere outside. Run to a safe building or vehicle when you first hear thunder, see lightning or observe dark t... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Makeshift Stretchers The first question you need to ask yourself is, do I absolutely need to move this patient. If somebody is too injured to walk out themselves, you want to avoid moving them without proper equipment if at all possible. If there's any chance of a properly equipped rescue team arriving in the same amount... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Should one run (or walk) back to civilization if bitten by a rattlesnake? First, to directly answer your question: no, don't run. Running increases your heart rate, which increases how fast the venom will be spread through your body. It also increases the likelihood of another injury such as a twisted ankle, which would further delay treatment. Your first priority is to d... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is saltwater antiseptic? Seawater is not itself sterile, in fact, it has all kinds of organisms. Salt in a wound is likely to hurt, and saltwater won't be a particularly effective antiseptic. With wound cleaning, it's always a question of trade-offs. It might be better to use less-than-sterile water to clean an extremely d... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Do I need to hang a bear cache? You should not hang a bear can; as whatsisname mentions it could be counterproductive and make it easier for a bear to make off with it. Not just that, but it will be a significant hassle for you to hang it. You should always prop some rocks around your can so it can't be rolled away as easily. Don... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I contact emergency services in the US via the internet? Almost every emergency dispatch center has a non-emergency phone number. While services like Skype and Google Voice can't call 911 directly, you can look up "<region> non-emergency dispatch" and get a number with a local area code. Call them and tell them this is an emergency but you couldn't a... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: How are backpacking conditions at Yosemite in April? If you choose to go backpacking in the Sierra Nevada in April, prepare yourself as if you were going in winter, because there will still be significant snow, and you could be hit by a blizzard at any time. To quote the National Park Service: Hiking and backpacking options are still limited in Ap... (more)	—	over 12 years ago
Question	—	How can I prevent my sun glasses from fogging up when skiing? When I'm cross-country skiing, I usually wear glacier glasses to protect from the intense glare off the snow. When I'm moving, they usually stay clear . Whenever I stop though, my glasses seem to fog up almost instantaneously. It's a pain to have to wipe them off, and takes a while for them to clea... (more)	—	over 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: What precautions should I take to protect myself and my camp from bears? This answer will focus on food storage, since that's what I know the most about and it hasn't been addressed in other answers yet. There are two common means of food storage in bear country: Hanging and counter-balance methods The basic idea behind these methods is to hang the food in a tree in su... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago

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