Activity for Jeff W‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Edit	Post #41825	Initial revision	—	about 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: Where is the farthest I can get from civilization while staying in florida? In the southern part of the state, a section of the Florida Trail passes through Big Cypress. From what I remember, it's about a 20 mile stretch of trail where you won't see many others. Though it has been a while since I've been (12 years?), it was very remote (as FL goes) and I cannot imagine tha... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to replace an unknown propane lantern globe? From my experience (across multiple vendors!), the glass globes on propane lanterns are fairly standard sizes. It seems like there are two or three which are very common. Unless you have a real odd-ball size/style (and lacking a photo or more detailed description of what you have), you should be ab... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Handheld Compass Triangulation Typical Error Range 400m is a bit extreme. I would estimate that I can reliably get well under 100m depending on the quality and scale of my map. As you indicate, there are many contributing factors to the absolute error: the resolution (and error) in your compass, your ability to use the compass, and the distance. ... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Waterproofing a sleeping bag I would strongly caution against anything which might affect the ability of the sleeping bag to breathe. You sweat while you sleep, and I don't think most of us realize how much. Sleeping bags are designed to be porous, and anything which might alter this could be dangerous. I had a friend who d... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Camp fire starting for the novice? As mentioned in an earlier post, there are three critical components: fuel, oxygen, and heat. Understanding how these interact is critical to successfully creating a fire. The oxygen is the easy part given that we're surrounded by it. Still, you must keep circulation in mind. The process of comb... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Question	—	What are "burnable gasses"? When wood is heated, the first thing to ignite are the "burnable gasses" released by the heating process (producing flames). Some time later, the combustion of these gasses heat the wood to the point that the carbon eventually burns (seen as embers). What is this gas which is given off by the woo... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the best type of shoe to wear for crossing deep rivers? I've owned pairs of both Keen and Ecco sandals, and have been quite happy with both. They each have solid leather construction with comfortable padding on the inside, and they tend to hold up well. The sandals are cut so that water flows out of them quickly. The down side is that this allows grave... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to plan a day hike I'll second the earlier nomination of the "ten essentials" list (@Nate Eldredge). There are two versions of this list, with the classic version of the list tracing its roots back to the 1930's. These lists are presented convenently on REI's web site (http://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essen... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are good knots to know for camping and backpacking? Others have covered the basic knots here already. Rather than post more, I want to point out that you should know one or more knots for each basic use: Tying two pieces of line together requires a "bend". Three common bends are square (reef) knot, sheet bend, and fisherman's bend. Each has some ... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is a hammock ridgeline and how do I use it? A ridgeline is generally used to suspend a tarp above a hammock. It attaches to the trees at or near the level that the hammock attaches to them, but it is pulled tight so that it is well above the level you will be sleeping at. Some hammocks, such as a Hennessey, have integrated ridgelines. Others,... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Question	—	What is the best way to re-waterproof a nylon tarp? I have a ProForce All Weather Shelter, which is listed as being "210T rip-stop nylon". On a recent outing, we had four hours of rain overnight and it leaked on me the entire time. Upon closer inspection, there are areas where the fabric appears to have either worn thin or has lost some sort of coat... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Question	—	What is the easiest way to remove creosote from pots and pans? I just returned from a five day trip during which we used a friend's Solo Stove (wood burner). My pots are now covered with a thick, sticky, black layer of creosote. I've tried steel wool and soap, but this is a HUGE amount of work (20+ minutes per pot). What is the easiest way to remove this gumm... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why should I take a pocket knife for wild camping / hiking? A multi-tool or a knife? A multi-tool can be a very appropriate tool for backpacking. It combines the function of many of the tools you mentioned. You may carry the tools you mention above, though. (Note: I've NEVER needed a bottle opener...) If you mean a knife, read on... I do a lot of backp... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How did cartographers map out shores before modern times? The topics of navigation and cartography are two sides of the same coin, and there are entire books written about each. It is interesting to study the history of cartography because it very graphically shows the corresponding improvements in navigation over time. In order to make an accurate map, y... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the basic considerations for hammock camping? I've been hammock camping for about four years, and there are a few issues you should be aware of. First, as already noted in the comments under your original question, insulation is critically important. I know that below about 65 F (18 C), I sleep uncomfortably cold. This is because your insulat... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Question	—	How would I identify between MSR Wisperlite and Wisperlite International stoves? About three years ago, I picked up a used "MSR Wisperlite" for a great price. At the time, I was not aware of the difference between the classic and the International versions of the stove. Since purchase, I have only used white gas as a fuel. As far as I can tell, these two stoves are nearly iden... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to lock a trucker's hitch without losing any tension? I tie two half hitches, with the second one being slipped. I don't have any trouble with tension, and it's easy to remove later. (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Hitch with no ends You could do two half hitches using a bight in the cord. In fact, I would expect many (most?) hitches to work well using a bight. I do this frequently when hanging a ridge line for my tarps using an overly-long cord and it holds well. (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How precise is a pedometer for estimating on a backpacking trip? It depends a lot on the terrain. I wear a pedometer throughout the week (health program for work), and I use a GPS when hiking. From experience - on level terrain - I know that I get between 2100 and 2200 steps per mile. I walk between work and the coffee shop (a round trip of about 1.25 miles) ea... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What to look for in a quality tarp? There are a few things to think about: Fabric. Selection of fabric will affect weight and durability. Whatever you get, make sure it's UV resistant, and you should probably consider something with rip-stop. For me, the ultrasil nylon is a bit light (I doubt it would handle much of a tree branch f... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I tell if I am dehydrated or have low electrolytes (need salt, etc.)? From a few years of hiking as an adult leader with the boy scouts (who are NOTORIOUSLY difficult to keep hydrated), I can say with certainty that symptoms vary between individuals. Personally, my muscles begin to cramp and I get a headache (in that order). These symptoms are fairly common. Many of... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are trekking poles proven to be helpful? I have recently hit 40 and have been using hiking sticks for the past five years. When I began having problems with my knees, my doctor originally suggested the problem was with osteoarthritis. Doing a little bit of searching on the Internet suggested that hiking sticks would help so I purchased a ... (more)	—	over 9 years ago