Activity for Martin F‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: Why do snowshoes have a hole in the front deck? I believe key parts of your question concern both the size of the toe hole and the length of the pivoting, clawed sole plate. I suspect that an ideal adult snowshoe would come in different sizes, large, medium and small, say, and that the length of the sole plate and size of hole would be a closer ma... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it possible to apply DWR to heavy cotton fleece hooded sweatshirt for water resistance? There are at least two companies that make cleaning and proofing products specially for outdoor gear of various materials: Nikwax and Grangers. They both recommend first pre-washing the item in their special cleaner -- Nikwax Tech Wash or Grangers Active Wash -- then treating/proofing them (by washin... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to explain unexpected success following a bearing taken from an iPad Let's address what you refer to as "Grid declination". Unfortunately, there are two competing definitions: First, the definition you are conforming to, is that it is the angle from grid north to magnetic north (see NR Can) -- another name for which is grid-magnetic angle. A different definition is... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: Comparing and combining paddles and pedals for sit-on-top kayak speed and endurance Here are some articles that claim that pedal beats paddle, for speed/endurance on a SoT kayak: paddlecraft.com.au: What-Everybody-should-know-about-Pedal-Powered-Kayaks yakgear.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-paddling-and-pedaling-a-kayak yakangler.com/pedal-vs-paddle-kayaks-for-angling austink... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Question	—	Comparing and combining paddles and pedals for sit-on-top kayak speed and endurance Sit-on-top kayaks are a popular alternative to traditional sit-inside kayaks. One advantage is that they sometimes come with a foot pedals for propulsion. The foot pedals are linked, via gears, either to a propeller or to flippers. This leaves the hands free for activities like fishing or photography... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why does a manufacturer recommend normal detergent instead of wool detergent? The folks at Smartwool explain why you should not use fabric softener on Merino wool: Machine-wash on gentle cycle in warm or cool water (avoid hot water as heat may shrink wool). Use mild soap, no bleach or fabric softener (bleach destroys the Merino wool fibers, and fabric softener coats those... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are snow shoes useful in mountaineering? Yes, snowshoes can be very useful when mountaineering. The ideal conditions for their use are lots of snow and fairly gentle slopes. The deeper the snow, the greater the advantage snowshoes have over just boots. The steeper the slopes, however, the more difficult and dangerous it becomes using snowsh... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Question	—	How to prevent strap slippage through buckle? A strap running through a buckle is typically easy to loosen and tighten as desired. Usually, it stays in place. Sometimes, however, it slowly (or quickly) works its way loose, as though the thickness or smoothness of the webbing doesn't quite match the size or shape of the buckle. What can I do to m... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do people drown while wearing a life jacket? Something not widely understood yet of critical importance is the cold water shock phenomenon. Cold-water shock is the first stage of the sudden and unexpected immersion in water which temperature is of 15 °C or lower and occurs during the first minute of exposure. Cold-water shock likely ca... (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Question	—	How well do mosquito clothing patches work? They are said to be little patches that simply stick onto clothing, lasting for 12 hours. They are made from "natural ingredients" and DEET-free so I have my doubts. How well do they work? (more)	—	over 4 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is there an easy way to remember if you add magnetic declination to magnetic bearings or true bearings? The simple answer is to first draw the declination diagram (or at least picture it in your minds eye). Following is an edit of my answer over at GIS.SE: https://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/61743/applying-proper-conversion-from-true-to-grid-bearing TN GN | MN \ ... (more)	—	almost 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What does it take to become a wilderness skills guide as a business? A great starting point would be to undergo an intensive program in outdoor skills and leadership. In Canada there is COLT -- Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training. COLT is 100 days long and covers camping, open canoeing, whitewater kayaking, sea kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering, and wi... (more)	—	about 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Using hiking boots for amateur rock-climbing You mention hiking boots but you show what are more like mountaineering boots. The difference between the two types of boot have implications regarding their use for certain types of climbing: Hiking boots will have slightly softer soles (possibly with rounded edges), allowing "smearing" or gripping ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Question	—	Best way to use “space” blanket to boost heat when bivy camping A thin, heat-reflective sheet (aka “space” blanket) is a popular outdoors emergency item, having a number of uses. See adventure.howstuffworks.com/survival/gear/space-blanket and gotimegear.com/blogs/survival-gear/do-cheap-emergency-blankets-work. If I’m bivy camping – tha... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Which brands make wider hiking boot sizes? There's a website called Run Repeat that bills itself as "#1 Sports Shoe Review Site". It does meta analyses of shoe reviews. In the search rankings-of-wide-hiking-boots is a list of high ranking models of hiking boots that are available in standard and wide widths. It is "based on reviews from 195... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How is elevation gain and change measured for hiking trails? There are three different ways of describing elevation gain/change for hikes. The least useful – and sadly a very common – method is simply to subtract the starting elevation from the ending elevation. This should be called the net elevation gain and mathematically is identical to the s... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How common are tandem kayaks? Tandem kayaks are extremely common. That said, some degree of qualification is needed. Unlike "solo" and "tandem" canoeing, the terms "single" and "double" are used. (They can be abbreviated to S and D -- allowing the D-kayak to also mean "divorce-kayak".) Double sea or touring kayaks are very popu... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it likely to be my technique or my muscles that cause my arms and shoulders to ache so soon after I start kayaking? Short of seeing a video of your technique, here is some general advice. A very common but poor technique in the forward stroke is where you keep your torso relatively still and repeatedly push and pull your arms in opposition. It will lead to tired arms sooner or later. Your arms are much weaker tha... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Training for Kayaking out of season There are canoe and kayak versions of the indoor rowing machine. Essentially, instead of sliding back and forth, pulling an oar, to simulate rowing, you are sitting/kneeling in place, pulling/pushing a stick, to simulate paddling. Example product images and product pages: https://vasatrainer.com... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Where to buy ethanol in Canada? Ethanol is usually sold as bio-ethanol in Canada, although, strictly speaking, it is really denatured alcohol (i.e., it has an additive to prevent people from drinking it). While you can get it from Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, Lowes, Rona, Ace Hardware, and Walmart, it is generally more expensive t... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Which camp fuel type is the easiest on your stove? Possibly the easiest camping stove to maintain – and very easy to make – is the alcohol stove (aka spirit burner). It's just some form of cup with ventilation – no pressure, no pipes, no nozzles. It burns methanol (aka denatured alcohol, methylated spirits, wood alcohol, methyl hydr... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the different names for and sources of alcohol for my stove? There are four common types of stove alcohol: methanol, ethanol, denatured alcohol, and isopropanol. You can usually find them in hardware stores and (but not always) in camping stores. You can also get it as gas line antifreeze in automotive stores but be careful to read the label because antifreez... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Question	—	What are the different names for and sources of alcohol for my stove? What are the different names for camping stove alcohol and where can I get such a fuel? Note, this is not about white gas (aka "Coleman" fuel). (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to tie a bull hitch using end(s)? The bull hitch is just a cow hitch (aka girth hitch) with an extra round turn. Bring the working end over and around the bar then over itself. Make a turn around itself. Bring it behind the bar. Bring it over the front of the bar... ...and down through the round turn. Pul... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Reusing disposable water bottles vs. buying dedicated bottles I reuse "single-use" plastic bottles many, many times. Generally, they do not break. The big advantage of many outdoor-use plastic bottles, however, is that the lid remains tethered to the bottle. So, if there's some risk in losing a lid – such as when kayaking or backpacking – I'll use ... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Question	—	What material is a good alternative to neoprene? What material – such as polyester, polypropylene or wool – or combination thereof, both works to keep you warm when wet and dries quickly, as an alternative to neoprene? I'm looking for something cheaper and simpler than a dry suit but less restrictive than a wet suit, for paddling in coo... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Should one store a tent loose for prolonged periods between uses to maximize its lifetime? A key part of your question -- "...in its stuff sack..." -- is not addressed here (or in the original, duplicate question). When I bought my first high-quality back-packing tent, I was advised not to store it stuffed into its sac for long periods. It seems perfectly logical to me to not store any "c... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Getting into canoeing - UK It will depend on whereabouts along the Thames you live but there are many canoe and kayak clubs and water-based outdoor recreation centres around. It is possible to get into it without any training but that's not advisable. Most clubs or centres will have some kind of beginner classes. Just do some ... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How important is thermal underwear for skiing? You did not say whether you were going downhill skiing or cross-country. The difference is significant: When downhill skiing you are being carried uphill each time between runs and so are not generating much of your own heat and so are not going to sweat much. You are also never very far from warm s... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Question	—	At what wind speeds do ski operators close chair lifts, for safety? I'm planning to go downhill skiing next week and I notice the forecast for the day in question is for winds of 50 to 60 km/h. That seemed high to me. A few years ago, at the same hill, we were turned away when they closed all chair lifts because of strong winds, but how strong I don't know. Are ther... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can you find your location using the angle between compass bearings? The problem you describe is known in surveying as three point resection – essentially you need to observe angles, from an unknown point, between three points whose coordinates are known. Ideally, you observe the angles via a theodolite (transit). Failing that, a sextant. Failing that, a compa... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the minimum knowledge to navigate with only a compass? As you can see from an answer to your other question, you cannot determine your global coordinates via a magnetic compass. Navigation, however, where you wish to use a compass to help you travel from one known global location to another, has been achieved as follows: Using a Gnomonic map, plot a st... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Kayaking in the UK Regarding Q2, a sea kayak might be a little too big and expensive for your needs, as beginners. A recreational kayak -- a bit of a cross between a sea kayak and a whitewater kayak -- is more general-purpose, and is often far less expensive than a sea kayak or a whitewater kayak. (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Question	—	How to repurpose an old self inflating sleeping pad? I have some damaged-beyond-repair self inflating sleeping pads. On one the hard gel housing the valve has completely disintegrated so it cannot be inflated at all. Two others have dozens of tiny holes, courtesy of the cats’ claws. While I started patching the holes with blobs of silicone gel... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to lock a kayak Most solutions require threading one or two long lockable cables through some sort of “holes” in the kayak and onto the fixed rack. The locking cables can be elongated versions of standard bicycle cable locks. However, you may require a “python” cable lock, which allows th... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Question	—	How to lock a kayak In my garage, and when it is parked around town, I lock my bike to a rack via a U-lock or at least a cable lock. How should I similarly secure my kayak? I realize that a determined thief can break most locks but let’s assume conventional bike locks are good enough to deter casual thieves. (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there types of compass other than the regular magnetic one and the gyrocompass? There are some very crude outdoor compasses which tell us the direction of true north (and assume we can estimate angles from north). The following also assume we're in the northern hemisphere. A sun-stick-shadow compass: If the sun shines, place a vertical stick in the ground. Every 15 minutes or s... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Under what circumstances would I wish to extend the handle length of a snow saw? Another reason for extending a snow saw handle is for preparing a snow stability test, for avalanche awareness. There are various such tests and most initially require digging a trench then isolating a column of snow. The back side of the snow column (opposite the trench face) can be isolated in one ... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Question	—	Under what circumstances would I wish to extend the handle length of a snow saw? A snow saw is useful for building snow shelters and for avalanche danger testing. Some models are said to be easily attached to ski/trek poles in order to increase the handle length. Under what circumstances would I wish to extend the handle length of a snow saw? I read at a forum that an extension w... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can I use a quilt with a bivi bag? The ground sheet should not be necessary -- the bivi bag should protect you from a wet, dirty ground -- but you will need a sleeping pad under you for insulation from a cold ground. Having a duvet instead of a sleeping bag should save you money and weight and, given that you have the bivi bag, draft ... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Question	—	What is a "top cap" on a climber's haul bag? What is a "top cap" on a climber's haul bag and how does it work? In Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills (and also at neilhopkins.us/mountaineering-guide-2/aid-climbing-equipment) is A top cap to the haul bag is a good idea to protect the knot connecting the sack to the haul line and help r... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are these numbers on the back of a pocket transit for? They constitute a sine table for (0 - 45) degrees. Trigonometry: rise = slope distance sine (inclination angle) Example: You observe a slope length of 50m, and an elevation angle of 10°. The elevation gain is 50 sin(10) = 50 0.174 = 8.7m (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Best knot (hitch) to backpack webbing A combination of nylon webbing (i.e., a strap) and a plastic buckle that's both quick to cinch tight or to loosen. They're usually called Accessory Straps or Compression Straps. The strap comes in different widths so make sure it will thread through your backpack straps. Even though they're inexpens... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to DIY a tent footprint for the 'Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2' tent? There are detailed instructions at gizmodo.com/how-to-make-your-own-tent-footprint. The example used is even a Big Agnes (but one with an isosceles trapezoid rather than your simple rectangle). Essentially, you measure your tent base, cut some Tyvek slightly larger so you can have strong folded edge... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is this tool on a Swiss Army knife for? As a reamer, it is for drilling small holes in wood. As an awl, it is for sewing thick material, such as leather, together. Here are YouTube videos on how to sew with the awl-with-thread-hole tool: How to Sew with a Swiss Army Knife Awl / Reamer by Phil Crockett How to sew with a swiss army knife?... (more)	—	over 7 years ago