Activity for Lostâ€
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Answer | — |
A: Folding versus fixed blade knives One point missing from the current answers: Fixed blade is absolutely essential in any situation where seconds count in emergency life-or-death situations. For example, anything taking place in or under water where you might need to free yourself (or another) from an entrapment. In these situations... (more) |
— | over 12 years ago |
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A: How should I put out a campfire while away from civilization? In the absence of water, smothering with soil and thoroughly mixing the embers with the soil will effectively put out a camp fire. A fire needs: fuel, heat, oxygen. By mixing in soil you remove two of those. A fire is only out when you can run your hands through the soil and not feel any heat. (more) |
— | over 12 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Does any tent manufacturer promise to have replacement parts? Your mileage will vary by manufacturer, tent technology might not change, but designs do quite a lot (just to keep you wanting the next thing...) Check out REI - they have a 100% full return or replacement guarantee on all purchases that extends pretty much for eternity. I demand a lot of my gear, a... (more) |
— | over 12 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: How long does mayonnaise last unrefrigerated in the back-country? Taking the lead from MrWizard, I did a little look for what the boys and girls in white lab-coats say. In addition to the evidence presented at Snopes.com and the experts at the Ketchup Advisory Board (see MrWizard's answer) a few interesting articles (see below) all seem to point to this conclusion... (more) |
— | over 12 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Tent and sleeping bag: pack inside or strap outside a backpack? Outside more room left inside for other stuff. More likely to rip a hole in your gear when you toss your pack down. More options for weight placement (which can lead to off-blanced pack.) More likely to fall off. Inside Better protection from the elements, rocks, branches. Weight is closer... (more) |
— | over 12 years ago |
| Question | — |
How long does mayonnaise last unrefrigerated in the back-country? Yes, mayonnaise. It is sold unrefrigerated, and is an essential component of any back-country sandwich. Has anyone reached its limit and had it spoil on them? (I haven't. Of course, I've never had an opened bottle last more than about week unconsumed...) To clarify just a bit - I know that the labe... (more) |
— | over 12 years ago |
| Question | — |
Mountaineering / glacial traverse: rope-up or go it alone? When crossing a glacier (or other mountaineering activity for that matter) I've heard that roping everyone together without having a fixed anchor is falling out of fashion since more often than not if someone takes a tumble into a crevasse then end up pulling their partner(s) in with them. What is th... (more) |
— | over 12 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Navigational gear worldwide GPS systems can, and do, work everywhere you can get satellites. The coordinate system -- or datum -- you choose to use should vary (even in the US) depending on the maps you are working with, your project needs, the area you are working in, or what the legacy system you are dealing with... In the ... (more) |
— | over 12 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: What is the best way to break up a fight among dogs on a sled line? Since answers are not forthcoming - I'll share what I have learned works, but I'm still hoping someone has some better ideas: Since dog fights are not the result of some deep-seated impassioned hatred for one another (dogs don't carry a grudge) separating the fighters is usually enough to break up t... (more) |
— | over 12 years ago |
| Question | — |
What is the best way to break up a fight among dogs on a sled line? Fights happen. Sled dogs have personalities that aren't always compatible... Is there a technique to breaking up a fight that will minimize risk of injury to both me and my dogs? (more) |
— | over 12 years ago |
| Question | — |
Selecting backpacking cooking pot – teflon, aluminum, steel, titanium, or cast iron? What are the relative advantages / dangers of different cooking wear? I'm a one-pot gourmet that has been using the same stainless steel pot for 15 years, but am considering an upgrade. Some things I have heard but not substantiated: teflon flakes off and you might ingest it. Aluminum can leech into... (more) |
— | over 12 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: How can I hike across the Grand Canyon if I don't have a backcountry permit? In the corridor zone (where you are planning) you are only allowed to camp at designated campgrounds, which are secured on a reservation basis. If they are full, of the options you list, 2. Pray hard a permit is available when I show up is your best bet. The park leaves a percentage of permits unre... (more) |
— | over 12 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: What is the impact of clothing color in a tropical jungle environment? According to one study of one species of mosquito, "attractiveness was found to vary inversely with their reflectivity or brightness, although the different textures represented in the series tended to obscure the generalised relationship" (Brown 1954). Meaning the brighter the clothing, the less at... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Is it better to wear one pair or two pairs of socks while hiking? There are a lot of unspecified variables involved here... type of socks, fit of the shoe/boot, type of shoe, conditions you are hiking in, etc. But in general, double-socking may offer the following which may help prevent blisters: reduced friction - assuming one sock is a thin slick liner sock ... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: What are the differences between high-end sleeping pads and cut to fit foam mats? From personal experience, these are the relative advantages / disadvantages I have discovered personally or witnessed first hand: Ole' Blue: - The lovable, closed-cell foam pad. Virtually indestructible (works even with a 6 inch gaping gash through it) Can be cut to fit (some people go for the sho... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: How could I treat scrapes outdoors without a first aid kit? Wilderness medicine protocols taught by the major Wilderness First Aid / First Responder training companies (and subsequently adopted by most outdoor organizations) are fairly standard and quite clear about wound management in the back-country. The standard accepted practice for treating a wound is... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Question | — |
Are there performance differences between lead and lead-free ammunition? According to this article (full disclosure: I wrote it) lead-based ammunition is a well-known threat to Condors and other scavengers, and may have negative effects on humans who unknowingly ingest bullet fragments. Anecdotal evidence suggests that lead-free ammunition performs just as well as lead-b... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: What are some ways/devices that I can use to charge my batteries in the wilderness? Perhaps the most obvious and commercially available is solar, which has options ranging from small pocket-sized chargers to roll-out military grade flexible panels. I believe Brunton makes a consumer grade version of the latter (not as bullet-proof), and iGo has some nice versions of the former. I ... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Question | — |
Should a hiker be concerned about wolves in the back-country? In this question, it was asked whether bear-spray was effective against other animals, such as wolves. I know the old adage that "there has never been record of a healthy wolf attacking an adult" is not entirely true, but it seems the frequency of attacks may be sufficiently few and far between as t... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Is there a protective substance, like an epoxy, I can use on my feet so I can backpack barefoot? In answer to the original question: There are several products on the market designed for dogs with sore paw pads. These are often wax based, and adhere to the skin to provide some protection. Super-glue bonds well to skin, and can provide a layer of protection. A medically sterile version called ... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Is bear spray effective against other animals? Given that the active ingredient is capsaicin which is used in self-defence sprays for all types of purposes, bear spray should be effective on anything with tear ducts, soft tissue, sinuses, eyeballs, etc, (and will totally dominate a bean burrito). The discriminating difference between "bear spray... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Good ways to avoid snakes when hiking? As with any wild animals, different species and different individuals are going to respond differently in different situations. Some snakes are extra-ordinarily docile, and no amount of heavy-stomping will disturb them, unless you stomp on them. So, to answer the original question, walking with h... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Question | — |
How long is too long to suffer from constipation in the back country? Quite commonly, due to the barrage of newness the body experiences on an outdoor outing (new sensations, new exercise habits, new diet, etc) the body can stop the system up while it tries to figure out what is going on. We regularly warn participants that this is an expected and natural response, and... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Question | — |
How do you properly dispose of human waste while snow camping? Assuming the cat-hole is the preferred protocol for waste disposal in the area you are backpacking, what should you do when the soil is buried below A LOT of snow, and/or frozen? (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Is it practical to get a satellite phone for communication from remote areas? In addition to @Pearsonartphoto's technical specs, it is important to remember that a Sat Phone is one tool at your disposal, and not a replacement for smart decision making, or proper planning. I have seen them provide people with a false sense of security thinking it gives added insurance against m... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: What mosquito nets can be used while camping? There are several types and configurations of mosquito nets that you can use: ones that hang (from a single center point, or from four corners), ones that drape over your bag with one or two poles that go over your head to keep it off your face, full free-standing Depending on your situation, e... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: What are the rules for eating raw, wild meat? Depending on what you mean by "can you eat it" you can eat anything really, it just depends on how much worse off you want to be afterward. According to this article, dangers include: trichinelliosis - from eating meat of a carnivorous animal brucellosis - can be had from raw caribou e. coli, and... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Question | — |
Which will keep my food colder longer, draining the melted ice water, or leaving it in the cooler? Say you have a cooler of frozen food and ice to last for several days or weeks of river-trip / car camping. To keep things as a cold as possible for as long as possible, is it better to leave the cold melted ice-water in, or to drain it out on a regular basis? (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Question | — |
Which will drain less body heat: lying on bare earth or bare rock? For years I backpacked without a sleeping pad, until one particularly chilly night during which I tried to heat up the earth with my paltry 98.6 degrees F (37°C). In that instance, would I have been better off sleeping on bare rock, or on bare dry soil? No leaf-litter etc. was available. (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Question | — |
Does eating snow help dehydration? I have heard many people say that eating snow actually can increase dehydration since the energy required for the body to heat up and melt the snow is greater than the benefits received from the moisture in the snow. Truth or fiction? And please back it with solid physiological evidence. (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Question | — |
Is it better to camp in a disturbed area, or pick a new spot and let the first rest? When practicing Leave No Trace camping (which I am sure we all do), which camp spot should I choose, assuming there is not an obvious well-impacted "sacrifice site" nearby to concentrate my impact in: A slightly worn site, showing the beginning signs of impact A fresh, un-camped spot that can likel... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
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A: Will a tent provide some protection from bears? A tent can provide a psychological barrier for the bear - which won't do much to deter it if it smells something it wants inside (food), but can prevent haphazard encounters. For example, if a bear is wandering through your camp on its way to check out your expertly hung bear hang a tent will be a ... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Question | — |
Which stove fuel has best weight to bulk to heat ratio? Pack stoves come in a variety of flavors, consuming white gas, denatured alcohol, propane, wood, gels, unleaded, kerosene... etc. Given the assumption that I will be carrying all the fuel I need (no wood collecting), and that all stoves weigh the same (big assumption, but for the sake of the discuss... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Question | — |
How can I start a fire by rubbing two sticks together? When trying to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together, what does one need to consider? I am assuming I can't just grab any two sticks and start rubbing... Should they be dead or green? Hard wood or soft wood? Is spinning or scraping more efficient? (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Question | — |
How do you stop blood-flow from a leech bite? Although leeches are relatively harmless, and you are not likely to bleed out from a bite, the blood stain on your clothes can be off-putting to your hiking buddies. Is there any effective way to counteract the anti-coagulant leeches inject into the bite, and thus stop the blood-flow in a timely man... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Question | — |
If I'm caught in lightning above tree-line, what should I do? We all know the general lightning guidelines, but what if I am above tree-line and caught in a freak lightning storm. Is it better to: Run like mad to toward the trees Lie flat, and find religion Find any imperfection in my surroundings (boulders, creek-bed) and try to wedge myself between / bel... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Question | — |
Does hiking with a dog in bear country increase or decrease your risk of a bear encounter? I've heard various rumors that dogs might help keep bears away, or might be a bear attractant. Is there anything more concrete than anecdotal evidence to go on? From the companionship end, they are a net positive, helping to calm your nerves when you hear a strange noise (though it can be disturbing... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: How do I tie a sleeping bag to my backpack? This gets into the realm of "personal preference" but I would suggest only tie those things on the outside of your pack that you don't want at the end of the day. Anything on the outside will tend to get chewed up by brush, be-thorned by cactus, ground into rocks and dirt every time you set your pac... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
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A: What is the difference between external and internal-frame packs? To add to some of the answers already posted: External: The biggest advantage is how forgiving an external frame pack is. Since the load is hanging on a frame, you can get away with more casual disregard for how you pack the pack, and don't have to worry about the edge of that pot digging in to your... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
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A: What is the fastest method to 'break in' full leather boots? I have a feeling this question is going to come up a lot on this site... as I mentioned here it is an old and persistent myth that full leather boots will necessarily have a blister-inducing break-in period. Well-built boots that fit properly can be broken in fairly easily and blister-free. Hot-spo... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: How much water should be carried while hiking in the desert? I led extended backpacking trips in Grand Canyon country for several years, and we required everyone carry at MINIMUM a gallon (almost 4 litre) per person per day -- which adds up. (Though rarely did we plan trips that did not have dependable water sources within a day's walk, meaning we would start ... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Bear bags vs Bear canisters: which is better? "Better" might be the wrong question. Here are few alternatives: "Safer" - Canister, hands down. Depending on where you are, bears have been known to study brilliant bear hangs, find the critical tie point 3 trees over, and with a casual flick of a claw, order takeout. On the other hand, I have seen... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
| Answer | — |
A: Hiking boots vs trail shoes I would argue you answered your own question in your first comment: I think it's the way the boots fit It is a myth that leather boots should require a painful bludgeoning period to break them in. You will come across all kinds of creative solutions to get you over the hump - but all of them a... (more) |
— | almost 13 years ago |
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