Activity for Hartley Brody‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: Are Ice grips worth buying? I recently purchased a pair of Kahtoola Microspikes and they are great. I went with the Microspikes over the Yaktracks because all of the reviews I read online said the Yatracks break pretty easily. But I'm very happy with my Microspikes. I got them for hiking mixed terrain where it's part snow, par... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago
Question	—	What do I need to be aware of if I'm considering purchasing a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)? Obviously, I can't just buy it, push the button and expect a helicopter to show up. Are there monthly or registration fees? Do I need to get a permit or register with someone? How does it all work? Does it get service everywhere (even internationally)? I'm not even sure what I don't know at this poi... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are areas of the body which lose heat more quickly, and how can I reduce that loss? My original answer to this question sparked a surprisingly intense debate, so I'm rewriting it to clarify a few points and offer a more holistic answer. Let me start by saying that every square inch of skin on the human body is capable of allowing heat to escape. That is to say, if you wear a jacket... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are areas of the body which lose heat more quickly, and how can I reduce that loss? To answer the question directly, the three areas that lose heat the fastest are actually: The Head The Groin The Armpits This is why those are the areas that naturally grow the most hair on human bodies. It's an evolutionary adaption to keep us warm. In those areas, there is a lot of blood flowin... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the best rope to have in a survival situation? Most survival experts recommend parachute cord. From Wikipedia: Parachute cord (also paracord or 550 cord) is a lightweight nylon kernmantle rope originally used in the suspension lines of US parachutes during World War II. Once in the field, paratroopers found this cord useful for many other ta... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I start a fire by rubbing two sticks together? You can't. Bring a lighter and matches :) I've seen so-called fire starting "experts" who say they can start a fire with sticks using a spindle or bow, but it almost never works in real life. They usually have a board with special notches or holes (which you won't find in the woods) and special wood... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the best material to make an outdoor shelter roof out of? The same way that modern houses aren't made out of only one material (in most places), your shelter should be made up of different materials as well. Obviously this all depends on where you are and what is available. Primarily you'll need two types of materials. (I'll assume you're in a fairly standa... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago
Answer	—	A: What steps should I take if someone starts sinking? If you're "sinking" that basically means you're standing on a substance that's more permeable than solid ground, but (hopefully) less permeable than the surface of a swimming pool. Probably something like thick bog mud or quicksand. As justnS said, you want to try and distribute your weight across t... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can you navigate / determine your location in thick fog? With fog, the only thing you're losing is extended visibility. This shouldn't throw off your plan too much, unless you were navigating by watching far away landmarks. If you were on a trail, stay on it. There's no need to wander around. If you can't see anything and traveling is becoming dangerous o... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I be absolutely sure my fire is safely extinguished? You need to: Make sure the embers are cool. This is the most important thing you should do, regardless of anything else. If the embers are still warm, there's always the chance they'll spark up again in a strong wind with the right fuel. Embers can take hours to cool off, but if you put your fire o... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are good knots to know for camping and backpacking? Tying knots is actually a bit of an art. Depending on what you need it for, there are knots that slide, create loops, tighten under load, and do tons of other things. Here are some backcountry essentials: Bowline Knot: Use this when you need a knot that absolutely, positively will not slip (unless l... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are essential items in an emergency kit? Obviously, what you decide to pack depends on your trip and the environment, but these are the staples I always bring along: Navigation: You always need to be able to figure out where you are and which way you need to head to get out. In my opinion, a map without topography isn't a map (unless you'r... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the fastest method to 'break in' full leather boots? Blisters usually form when your socks get sweaty and things start to rub around. When I first bought my pair of boots, the man in the store told me to wear them around the house for an hour every night for a week or two before my trip. This gives you a chance to break in the leather slowly over tim... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the safest way to purify water? When you're asking for the safest way to purify water, you're asking for the method that removes the most harmful stuff from the water, like bacteria, viruses and larger impurities like mud or sand. No one method is really perfect at removing everything, so I usually use a two-stage approach: Filt... (more)	—	almost 13 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do I treat hot spots and blisters when I have no moleskin? The #1 remedy I use is good old fashioned Duct Tape. I will usually put a large strip around the back of my ankle every morning before putting my socks on, just as a precaution. It sticks well and allows your boot and sock to rub around without rubbing directly on the skin, causing hotspots. (more)	—	almost 13 years ago