Posts by DudeOnRock
Purely speculative hypothesis: Worms are coldblooded, which means they depend on temperatures above freezing for their metabolism to function. They survive the winter by burrowing down below the l...
A few suggestions for reducing the likelihood of an incident: Sleep in clearings. Avoid the forest during heavy winds. Avoid sleeping under large branches: even when the tree looks healthy. I hav...
I'll answer the slightly broader question "How should I plan my first backpacking trip in Oregon or California?" (with emphasis on California, since that is the area I know best) Since you are men...
General advice for climbing at night: Don't do it if you are new to climbing. Avoid it, even if you are not new to climbing. Be prepared for it on long routes, even when you are not expecting to ...
This is not a direct answer but more of an extended comment about safety when rappelling on overhanging terrain. When rappelling over an overhang or an overhanging wall, make sure that you are cer...
TL;DNR: It depends if you are backpacking or car camping. I have owned several mesh tents with windowless rainflies. I have not owned any tents with a "window" (an opening to the tent not meant fo...
Quality of sleep can depend on a multitude of factors. These are some of my experiences: Quality and appropriateness of gear Most people sleep poorly if they get too cold or too hot. Having a qua...
I don't know what your situation is exactly, but my advice would be to instead invest in a good down sleeping-bag. Or bring someone to cuddle with. A good sleeping bag will provide that pocket of s...
To answer your question as to the ideal break position when using the munter: It depends. It depends on your comfort and experience with the knot, its application and the situation. I have rappele...
Carabiners always attach to the belay loop. Attaching carabiners to the tie-in-points causes them to get loaded incorrectly. Carabiners are designed to load the spine, which is the side opposite ...
Stay hydrated. Dehydration prolongs the time it takes to recover from exertion. Eat. Make sure you bring enough and the right kind of food for the trip to adequately fuel your body. Sleep. Make su...
Each species and possibly even each individual animal will behave very differently. A good rule of thumb is: if wildlife reacts to you, you are too close. I think this is the most general way to an...
Short answer: Climb lots of other routes in many different areas and have lots of other people climb your routes. Let me get into why you opened a can of worms with your question: Ratings for rou...
I have used the free caltopo.com for my recent trips. They use 7.5 minute quadrangles and stitch them together seemlessly. It is possible to create custom maps by creating tracks or import track...
Doctrine and strict rules create resentment. Children are a prime example of this, but most adults are sadly not immune either. The importance of Leave No Trace is coupled to a place. Yes, ideally...
How do I prioritize teaching about the concept of Leave No Trace to someone who is unfamiliar with it, without coming across as off-putting because there are so many rules?
I am a staunch proponent of leave no trace. I don't carry dish detergent (sand and small rocks work much better on stainless steel anyways,) and I don't use soap or shampoo, not even of the biodegr...
I haven't done that specific trip, but I went from Bremen to Bremerhaven on the Weser river, and thought I would chime in with what I learned on that trip that might be applicable to your itinerary...
Small addendum to the excellent answers already present: Never release a tourniquet unless you have received expert instruction on doing so. If the patient who received a tourniquet does not rece...
Just two small addenda to the great answers from AM_Hawk and JPDurham: Look down. This advice seems obvious, but if you don't specifically train yourself to do this, you might not do it when you ...
Please make sure you know what you are doing before you attempt this feat. Just because you have successfully rappeled there before, does not automatically mean you were/are qualified to do so. Ve...
A cordelette gives you the most versatility and is definitely the way to go in most situations, especially if you are relatively new to climbing. A disclaimer before I elaborate any further: R...
Another option is a cap/visor with a bandanna. I like doing this when I expect windy conditions. Wide brimmed hats (superior in most other circumstances) will have more wind resistance and can beco...
I consider a couple of factors when it comes to dropped gear: Some equipment is pretty easy to inspect. A carabiner has one moving part (the gate, possibly a second, if it's a locker). Nuts and h...
I had a huge problem with smelly climbing shoes when climbing in the gym or on long multi-pitch days. The single most effective thing I have come across is taking the shoes off between climbs/pitch...
