Activity for Justin C‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Edit	Post #40461	Initial revision	—	about 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: How does Frogg Toggs Polypropylene measure up? Polypropylene based rain gear is a subject of great debate. It seems to fit some people's needs perfectly while it is terrible for others. Frogg Toggs is one company, I know DriDucks is another. They both seem to get similar reviews, hot or cold. The material leads to very lightweight rain gear comp... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: New to fishing in Virginia As for the Potomac, it can be complicated because you have a large freshwater river with tributaries in multiple states that opens to the ocean. If you plan to saltwater fish you can find license information here. If you are staying in the fresh water portions you can find the license you need here.... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: A removeable solution for slipping insoles? I haven't used this trick for your exact issue but I have used it for similar issues. I would attach a small amount of velcro to the inside of each shoe and the bottom of the insole. You'll want to be careful with your placement so that it doesn't alter the feel of the insole, which I'm guessing is ... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Caveats of dual (propane, liquid) fuel stoves There are no reliability problems specifically with dual fuel stoves. Reliability really has more to do with the design and the manufacturer than the fuel(s). So the best stove for you really depends on what you are doing. If you are making lots of short hikes with occasional multi-night treks, then... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is there special etiquette for hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) during AT Season I think what you are trying to get at is the proper etiquette for hiking on the AT during peak season, when the most hikers and backpackers are on the trail. Exactly when peak season is, and how many people you will see at peak season really depends on where you are on the trail. Various places will ... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Safe to use Old Water Filter? As I understand the technology, your microfilters will not expire on the shelf if maintained and stored properly. Their lifetime is determined by the number of gallons pumped. What can happen is if you don't properly dry out your filter before storing then it will develop mold. In that situation you... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is freeze-dried food healthy? Generally there are no known health side effects to eating mostly or only freeze-dried food. Freeze-dried food tends to hold more nutrients, and hold them longer, than most other shelf-life extending approaches. Freeze-dried fruits hold nearly the same amount of vitamins and antioxidants as their fr... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Boot tongue orientation? This could indicate a poor fit, but if they boots are otherwise comfortable then I would not say it is due to a poor fit. It is very possible that as they break in more and more this problem will happen less and less. If the boot tongue does not have loops to pass the laces through there is not a lo... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I make a snow shoe in the wilderness from commonly available materials and simple tools? The easiest way that I know of requires you to have some kind of rope or long straps and to be near evergreen trees. Depending on the strength of the needles and width of the trees limbs take anywhere from 1 to 4 ends of an evergreen tree limb. Be sure to use green wood so they can bend without brea... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it safe to use water purification tablets after their expiration date? There are two common chemical options to water purification; chlorine and iodine. Both forms use some kind of expiration date. The consensed quantity of the chemical slowly degrades. Some things like sunlight cause the degradation process to speed up, so these are usually packaged in foil (as in you... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Soft or hard drinking bottle? I look at soft plastic drinking bottles as a great but slightly risky way to trim weight. Soft plastic should always be lighter than hard plastic, even if the difference is minor. The same applies to thin metal bottles which have the same benefits as hard plastic. The risk is in the ability of the s... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: When should you be alert for snakes? I hike in generally the same area of the country, mostly on the AT around NC and VA. Snakes in this area will be most active during spring and fall months. Generally they will be more active in moderate temperatures. In extreme cold and extreme heat you'll see less snakes. In the summer they will ... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Question	—	Where can I find an iodine crystal water purification product? For years I used a product called Polar Pure for water purification when weekend backpacking. It was an iodine based solution, so not great for a thru-hike, but fine for a week or less. Specifically, it used iodine crystals which slowly dissolve over time and can work for a couple thousand treatments... (more)	—	almost 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: What to do if you cross paths with a buck? Specifically for biking, they do make spray cans to keep dangerous animals away. Most of my experience with these products have been dealing with loose dogs. I would think it could be used for an animal the size of a buck, but obviously more research than my word should be taken there. Dog repellent... (more)	—	almost 12 years ago
Question	—	What sleeping bags are needed for a northbound thru-hike of the AT If you were attempting a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, starting roughly now (being mid to late March) and going northbound, how many sleeping bags and of what types would you need, assuming cost is not an option? So a little background. I've talked to a number of people who have thru-hiked nor... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: Selecting backpacking cooking pot – teflon, aluminum, steel, titanium, or cast iron? The absolute best is going to be titanium, but it also happens to be the most expensive. I'm not sure where you heard that it shatters in the cold, but being a space age metal I would think it can handle cold earth temperatures just fine. If you can't shell out the cash for titanium it's more or les... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the tradeoffs for a Tomahawk over an Axe Unfortunately the words "Tomahawk", "Hand Axe", "Hatchet", etc are not rigorously defined terms. If I wanted to make my own heavy blade attached to the end of a stick and sell it, I could use any of those terms. That said, typically a Tomahawk has a lighter head on a longer handle (and usually a sma... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Question	—	How to treat shin splints while backpacking It's been a couple of years since I last had bad shin splits but I can still recall how painful they can be. I was able to heal them before mostly with a couple weeks rest. If the pain came back when backpacking, a day or so away from transportation, what methods can be used to at least control the... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: How long does water need to be boiled for to kill all bacteria / viruses? The EPA recommends boiling for one minute for most people, and three minutes for anyone above 5000ft or 1000m (sic) in elevation. reference - https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/emergency-disinfection-drinking-water That is what I have always done when backpacking. I don't boil for ... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there any specific techniques that should be used when starting a fire in the rain? When building a fire in any weather condition you need some kind of starter. If you are expecting to experience wet conditions a great planning step is to store some starter in a waterproof location. If you don't have any household material, then gathering kindling and storing that will work. When ba... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Question	—	How to calculate backpacking food requirements for a dog So I know how to calculate how many additional calories a day I need while backpacking. My question is how do I calculate how much food my dog will need while backpacking. I'm hoping for a general equation based on how much a dog eats in a regular day, but I'll provide specific information about my... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it better to wear one pair or two pairs of socks while hiking? Two pairs of socks reduces friction and absorbs more moisture, both of which help prevent blisters. Personally, I prefer thin neoprene socks underneath thick wool socks. (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: For a DIY wood burning stove, is there a significant advantage of the double wall "bushbuddy" style? The short answer is, it all depends. Using a double-walled system will add weight to your stove, but it will improve your stove in a few ways. You should get a higher level of heat and your fuel will burn more completely. Personally, I would think the increase in bulk would be worth the increase in ... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Question	—	What are the differences between high-end sleeping pads and cut to fit foam mats? I'm pretty tall and I find that to purchase a brand-name sleeping pad means shelling out serious $$$. To solve this I have always just purchased a roll of foam padding that I could cut to make sure it would a couple of inches longer than me. The thing is, I rarely backpack in harsh conditions. So fo... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: Backpacking or hiking in areas open to hunting Hunting seasons and licenses are an issue handled by the states in the US. So check the website of the state you want to backpack/hike in to find out about their various seasons. Honestly, in most areas this isn't a problem because hunting has to be kept to private land. I live on the East Coast and... (more)	—	over 12 years ago
Question	—	How to harden feet to avoid blisters on long hikes I've enjoyed hiking my entire life but I have one huge problem. The skin on my feet is extremely soft and sensitive. I wear good wool socks with properly fitting boots and change socks during long hikes. Still, if I am going to be on the trail for a few days in a row, I will develop numerous blisters... (more)	—	over 12 years ago