Activity for renesis‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: What are these grayish plants with little white "hair" in Joshua Tree National Park? I've hesitated to post this answer because of some inconsistencies with my interpretation of your photo, mainly the absence of leaves. But the more times I have revisited this question, the more convinced I am that these are very, dead Mojave Yucca plants (yucca schidigera). What happened to the leav... (more)	—	almost 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Post-hike shoe care I use lysol disinfectant spray on my climbing shoes every once in a while. It works quite well. However, since you say you want to avoid chemicals, you may want to try cedar shoe / boot trees. The 'natural' chemicals in cedar wood are antifungal / antibacterial and it emits it's own aroma to help cu... (more)	—	almost 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Topo map server out there somewhere? You don't say what area of the world you are looking for maps of, but I see your profile locates you in Alberta. If you were looking for locations in the USA, mapper.acme.com tiles USGS topo maps across the whole country like this: There are several options for units etc, which are displayed as ... (more)	—	almost 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What materials from nature can you use to build a pair of skis on a mountain? The technique @helm recommends is (at least in this neck of the woods) called a "Glissade". It is essentially "a method of descending a steep snow-covered slope via a controlled slide on one's feet or buttocks". I have heard of people using other items to assist in a glissade by using them as a sort ... (more)	—	about 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Suffocation while cooking under an umbrella? I assume by "gas" you mean the exhaust from your stove? Carbon monoxide? If you're using isobutane (typical US backpacking stove fuel) CO is not normally a significant emission. Even if it were, you'd have to be cooking in a pit or an enclosed space for it to accumulate as CO is heavier than air. (I... (more)	—	about 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Other than good shoes and a stick, what are some ways to preserve your knees on long hikes? Assuming you are not opposed to it, preemptively taking an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen before your knees start hurting and then re-dosing later if it is a long hike can help to keep swelling / inflammation down. [Edit regarding anti-inflammatories: By all means consult your doctor about saf... (more)	—	about 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is there a recommended type of can for building a penny stove? The all time best for my money has been the 12oz Heineken Keg Can. If cut correctly, the parts are much easier to slide together securely. Unfortunately, these cans can be pretty difficult to get a hold of these days, as mostly regular straight sided cans are distributed now. If you can get them, ins... (more)	—	over 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: When do boats have the right of way? A quick google search turned up a reasonable answer. The following looks like good general set of rules, but it may vary depending on where you are, which you didn't say. Source for the following ... Sailboats under sail power only are always the stand-on vessels in crossing and meeting ... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Stoveless/fireless hiking food suggestions One option, if you still want hot food with no real possibility for starting a fire, would be MREs (Meals Ready to Eat). These include a Flameless Ration Heater that rely on a contained chemical reaction to warm food. They are a bit on the bulky side though. Personally, for my lunches while backpac... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the dangerous animals in Southern Nevada Quick List: Mountain Lions Bobcats Coyotes Rattle Snakes Scorpions Feral Burros Feral Horses Desert Bighorn Sheep Black Widow Spiders Red Rock Canyon & Valley of Fire have very heavy human visitation, so any large predators are likely to be scarce (Mountain Lions & Bobcats). Coyotes are... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are these bulges? Are they harming the tree? It looks like a Burl. They are natural non-harmful (think of them like scar tissue maybe, resulting from injury or infection) deformities in the grain of trees. Both hardwood & softwood trees can develop burls. (FWIW, I'd guess based on the bark & needles laying in the folds of the bark in th... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Bolting Canyons, can your bolt be under water? This got me curious, & using Expansion anchors in construction applications got me looking. While I couldn't find anything specific to climbing applications & submersion, I did find a reference to 304 or 316 stainless steel being used in submerged marine environments (harsher than typical fre... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do you eat nettles? Nettles should be blanched to destroy the formic acid before eating (Handle with gloves of course). Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil & prepare a bowl of ice water on the side. Once the water is boiling, plunge the nettles in the water for no more than a minute or so (the nettles sho... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What trees/bushes are best suited for a simple bow? In the US southwest, Juniper was commonly used by native peoples. I've heard it said that one can still find living Juniper trees around the southwest that have apparent 'slices' taken out of them where material was removed to shape a bow. Also, a quick google search turned up this site with a seem... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Fishing Rods: One Piece or Two Piece If you are looking at two piece rods because of their more compact size, you may also want to consider telescoping rods. I've had (3) telescoping rods & all but the Amazon-special-carbon-fiber job have served me well (the no-name brand amazon one broke into many pieces...), but I've loved the M... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Cleaning the plastic residue of the inside of my old backpack Just a suggestion, you could try putting a small amount of something abrasive (such as rock salt or perhaps gravel) into the bag, closing the bag securely with a zip tie on the zipper pulls & placing it in a clothes drier on the Fluff setting (no heat) for some period of time. Or if putting it ... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What to look for in hiking shoes? A lot definitely comes down to personal preference. Some like tall boots, light weight trail runners, more "classic" hiking boots, regular sneakers, or even sandals (I don't recommend that last one...) My preference is actually for a 8" combat / law enforcement style boot (preferably with a side-zip... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is dyneema rope without a sheath safe for climbing? PPE or ALL climbing gear in general should only be used if there is ZERO question in your mind about the safety of the equipment (ropes, slings, anchors, prussiks, carabiners etc). Your life depends on this stuff. Don't short cut or try to save a few bucks. Do it right or don't do it at all. (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do I protect my book(s) while backpacking? I'm not sure if there is something you know about temperature's affect on books that I do not? I would not have thought temperature would be a problem. That aside, I think the ziplock solution is pretty good. It obviously doesn't provide any rigid support, but if you aren't concerned about that, ther... (more)	—	over 9 years ago