Activity for James Jenkins
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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What are the considerations for using chemical heat pads in sleeping bags? A now-deleted answer to this question suggested using chemical heating pads in sleeping bags at night to provide added warmth. The product suggested is the 'Thermacare ... Fe-loaded material' I looked and it seems to use a chemical reaction to create heat over a period of about 8 hours. ThermaCa... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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Using Camphor (Icy Hot) in the winter for warmth Some products like 'Icy Hot' contain a substance called 'Camphor' that can make your skin feel warm when applied. It is cold out today (1°F or -17°C). I have been making short trips out to shovel snow. If I use a product that contains camphor before I go out, or as soon as I come in, wi... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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Combining a Frontpack with a Backpack while hiking There is a current trend to carry babies in a pack on your front (Wikipedia does not show it but Google images has lots of hits 'front baby carrier') If you are hiking with a backpack, is including a frontpack (with a baby or just gear) a practice you should consider? What are the considerations ... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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How to identify good winter boots for walking on ice? I just saw this BBC news clip Does Canada have the solution to slipping on ice? at about 1:20 into the clip (not counting the commercial) a scientist says "most footwear performs poorly" he also says just looking at the tread of the shoe/boot is not a good guide. For those who can't watch the vide... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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Can I use the blade of a multi tool as a spear point? A recent question asks about disassembling a multi tool pictured below. We have an existing question How do you fashion a spear with a fixed blade. All of the blades pictured are long handled and/or have a long tang. A long tang provides a solid mounting point as shown in the accepted answer. Hal... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: How can I disassemble a multi-tool with no screws on it? The tool pictured is riveted together with solid rivets. It is not designed to be repaired, as mentioned in a comment, if it is not working correctly it should be disposed of and replaced. It is possible to use a grinder to remove the flared head of the rivet and then punch it out. Alternately you... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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Hiking with boots untied? I recently came across a hiking boot maker with a front page photo showing someone walking off trail in ankle high boots that are untied. Source This seems to be a current fashion trend, and if you google untied boots look you get several hits showing and describing how to get the 'look' Shoppin... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Are there human powered generators that draw power from body movement? Ignoring the usb charger and just focusing on light. There are a multitude of mechanically powered lights. Personally I have several of them. IMHO the most effective and efficient are the Shake Type originally marketed under the name "NightStar jP Shake Flashlight" The best are relatively expensive... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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Has a person ever got rabies from a marine mammal? I just saw this 2009 article Can a Whale Get Rabies? which includes this statement, Although there is absolutely no record of a rabid whale, and only one documented case of rabies in a seal—a ringed seal caught in 1980 in Svalbard, an archipelago off Norway—the scenario may soon be of greater con... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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What causes the current in the interior lagoons of Presque Isle State Park PA? There is canoe trail, in the interior lagoons of Presque Isle State Park PA. No gas engines are allowed, travel is bidirectional, like a bike path most travelers make a two way trip on the same path. While I was paddling there this summer, I noticed that the water plants a few feet under the surf... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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What is the lightest arrow practical for target practice? All things being equal a lighter arrow will travel faster when shot from a bow. A faster arrow tends to drop less over a given distance. Both will have similar kinetic energy over a short distance. A longbow or a compound bow requires an arrow long enough to span the draw length. A crossbow arro... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Can a rope&bucket used to gather water from a well be kept outside, tied to this well, or does it have to be kept inside? Wells are covered to keep the water clean, not to keep it dry. A well bucket rope is only going to be as long as needed, one end is going to get wet several times a day. Even in single person home well, you are probably collecting water for the home morning and evening, as well as watering the anim... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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Minimum draw weight for a target practice only crossbow? My wife likes to shoot arrows at targets. She uses a relatively lightweight draw compound bow now. We have been talking about her trying a crossbow. I did a quick search online and found junior models with draw weights from 15 to 60 lbs. I suspect 15lbs is not going to give good results, and 60lb... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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Is Germany or any of Europe really rabies free? Answers at a recent question say that Germany has been rabies free since 2008. My first response was how could that even be possible, must be some significant border protection that keeps wild animals from crossing. So if you look at the CDC site Rabies-Free Countries and Political Units Dogs m... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: What features should I look for in gear to support front wheels of wheelchairs for travel on snowy paths? Given your expected usage, I believe a more practical solution would be an add-on front all terrain wheel. Products like the FreeWheel give the front of the wheelchair similar terrain capabilities as the rear. You can attach and detach it easily, even while in the wheelchair, and it folds up and sto... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Why does poo smell more after someone is back from a trek/hike? Even in a vegetarian diet, changes in diet result in digestion changes. Gas is created by flora and fauna in the digestive tract. If you exclude something or add something at the top of the digestive tract, it would be normal to expect a different result in the end. Given the list of trail food you... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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Can I safely eat grass? A recent comment Cows eat grass, doesn't mean you can! got me thinking. Corn, wheat, rice, etc are all grass that we eat regularly. I am not sure the human race could survive on the planet without eating grass. But in all fairness, for the most part humans only eat the grains of the grass... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Why is it legal to hunt over planted food but not placed food? First it is not illegal to feed and hunt in all areas, only some. Google "deer feeder" there are industries around this market. I discuss some of the considerations in my answer at What are the downsides of baiting game while hunting? Where food is grown, grown food plots are always present, all a... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: How can I keep insulin at the correct temperature in sub zero temperatures? For type 2 diabetics some of the new inhaled insulin products like Afrezza seem to be more forgiving of temperature fluctuations. These appear to only be the fast acting insulin's so not a big help for the type 1 who also needs long acting insulin. There are no products that I am aware designed spec... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: Eye safety when starting a fire with a magnifying glass Use a non-battery welding mask glass. You can carry it in the same pouch as your magnifying glass. One can be Purchased new for a couple of dollars. They can also be had second hand. (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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How to manage the sail of a sunfish when paddling? The sunfish is a small sailboat with a lateen sail. Realistically you can not raise the sail while in it. Usually raising and lower the sail is done at shore. It is occasionally necessary to paddle the sunfish, due to lack of wind and/or obstacles. The spars on the sail are about the same 14 fe... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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Can I use sunlight to purify water without a special container? According to the answers at Does water in the sun get purified from or polluted by algae, fungi and bacteria? & Can sunlight be used to purify water? water in special containers can be purified in sun light in about 5 hours: Can I purify water with sunlight and without a special container? Clar... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: How can I care for a wound that will be immersed in water? Water tight is subject to lots of variable. As you mention just staying out of the water is the least risk. There are Waterproof Transparent Dressings, a good example is Nexcare™ Tegaderm™ Waterproof Transparent Dressing It lists among its attributes "Seals out water, dirt and germs to... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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A: What causes a tree to split into multiple trunks? In the US this is sometimes called a schoolmarm (alt school-marm) there are a number of ways they can form. OSHA Logging terms As mentioned in the existing answer some trees like willow grow very aggressively and a low cut stump can have several shoots that grow in to trees. Two or more seeds grow... (more) |
— | over 6 years ago |
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Do cars really hit 20 moose per day in Sweden? I just saw this claim on BBC news, and found it hard to believe. Annually 7,300+ car vs moose accidents in a country that is 173,000 Square Miles, that is like one collision with a moose (and probably close to one dead moose) in every 23 Square Miles (60 Square KM). It just seems very unrealistic. ... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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How can I tell how much, if any, rain is in an approaching cloud? I am always amazed when there is a rain cloud moving across the country dropping inches per hour of rain as it goes. In my imagination I try to visualize how the cloud could have carried all that water so far inland from the ocean... Some clouds pass overhead, casting a shadow but leaving me dry. So... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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Life Jacket for a person without arms? Inspired by the question Where should a person who can't hold a paddle sit in a tandem kayak? "One friend was born without arms" Many life jackets are vests that are in part, kept on the person by the arms extending through arm holes. If worn by a person without arms, it would seem likely the l... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: Wildlife canoe trails in or near Western Pennsylvania I found and have visited. Presque Isle State Park Internal combustion engines are prohibited in the interior lagoons, which are defined as the continuous body of water between Misery Bay and Marina Lake, excluding Graveyard Pond. A boat rental concession in the Graveyard Pond area provides a ... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: Can I waterproof a tent just before it rains? Most products require 24-48 hours of dry time. Some also recommend multiple coats, with some time (i.e. 4 hours) between coats. Allow article to dry for 24-48 hours Source We often spray waterproofing on our fabrics in the garage. This keeps them out of the rain while drying and allows for v... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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Wildlife canoe trails in or near Western Pennsylvania I am looking for wildlife viewing areas that are open to manually powered boats (i.e. Canoe) in areas within a few hours drive of Pittsburgh PA. Criteria: Motor boats are prohibited (electric only motors, is ok) Manually powered boats are allowed Open to the public most or all of the year Abilit... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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How far from a road do I need to be to not hear the traffic? We are always camping in areas we have not been to before. We usually use Google maps (satellite) to try and guess about the appropriateness of a camp before going there. From experience we know that a couple hundred feet (100 meters) of forest between a camp site and busy highway, means lots of ... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: How should I remove a tick? Some of the answers here suggest really bad solutions. I recently researched an answer for the question Tick removal, to twist or not twist? it focuses on technique. While you can find lots of people with lots of suggestions, the only empirically (science based) proven techniques are to remove the... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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How to deal with diarrhea when using a cathole in the wilderness? I was sitting and thinking last night... If you have gas and loose stool (diarrhea) and you are squatting over a cathole in the wilderness how do keep your pants and foot wear clean? Related What's the problem with burying toilet paper? Why are people so worried about Giardia? (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: Is hiking alone always faster? No, hiking alone is not always faster. I absolutely guarantee that if my wife is hiking alone, she will not get there any faster than a group of average hikers. Some people dawdle more then others; when they are in a group, they do slow the group some, but the group also gives them reason to start ... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: Rigs for carrying axes and machetes From my experience fighting wildland fires, the number of clearing tools and the number of people in the group are usually the same. If you need more tools than you have people to operate, you need more people. Wildland fire fighting is mostly about building fire breaks (trails) faster then the fire... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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How long is Gore-Tex lining in boots effective? I was reading a recent answer and found this statement for the great majority of users, Gore-Tex boot liners fail anyway, and sooner rather than later if any real mileage is being covered. In fact, most experienced users tend to avoid Gore-Tex boots. I have a 10+ year old pair of leather red wi... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: Can you safely use retired ropes for belaying children? My rule of thumb is, if you have to ask if something is still safe to use, the answer is always no. We all try to minimize risk and maximize cost/benefit. When I was younger and had less disposable income, my self answer to 'safe vs cost' questions was often more heavily weighted towards cost. You... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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Are all Ants and Termites edible? Watching wildlife shows you frequently see omnivores (i.e. bears) eating ants and termites. We have the existing Q&A Eating ants/termites on outdoor expeditions explaining that some ants and termites are very good for people to eat. I am wondering if all Ants and Termites are safe to eat? Are ... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: Would Gorilla Glue Work on Goretex? No, it is not a good solution for foot wear. While it will bond, it forms a waterproof bond that you can "Sand, Paint or Stain". It is great for many thing you might sand, but not for things that flex. (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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A: What is this plant in England with large veined leaves and multi-part buds? The thick veins make me believe it is Comfrey. Your image is of a young plant so it is hard to tell for sure. It is and has been an important part of herbal treatments and gardening. It is used across the world. (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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How to make my own liquid camp soap? We use Coghlan's Camp Soap when camping, it is available in handy containers at most stores that have any amount of outdoor supplies. But we can only find it in the 4oz bottle, we would like to be able to refill the bottle from a larger container or make our own. We know reqular dish soap is not ... (more) |
— | almost 7 years ago |
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Do some parts of the world really have 12 hours of daylight each day of the entire year? I live about 45 degree north latitude. Other then at the Equinox, daylight is seldom 12 hours. Sometimes it is more sometimes less. The summer sun can last 16+ hours. I understand how and why there is only a single sunrise and sun set at the North and South Poles. But I am trying to get my mind a... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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What is the risk of starting a forest or wildland fire with a flare gun? When firing a flare gun in the air, what is the risk of accidentally starting a forest or wildland fire? Does the flare go out completely before it touches the ground? (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Camper van conversion sleeping width wise As Chris says in his answer "widest part of a van is about a third of the way up". Everything in his answer is correct. I have slept many nights in a homemade conversion van. If you are sleeping alone, then sleeping diagonally gives much more length. Useing Chris's width of 5'8' (68 inches) a width... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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Why use a blue porch light? I have noticed a few people are using blue light bulbs for the front porch and/or walk way. The light is not very bright and does not cast what I would call sufficient lighting. On some streets half the illuminated evening porch lights are blue. Why might people choose a blue light, to light outdoo... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Fisherman rescue, what gear is required? It is good that you are planning ahead. Assuming no communications, and recovery with your group and available assets is the best choice. Beyond basic first aid, you need a couple of things. Rescue sled (random web link) these run about $1,000 (US) A winch rated for human lifting, there are se... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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Camp fire starting for the novice? We have several posts about fire most of them are about specific challenges. A recent question had myself and others searching for fire starting basics. We don't seem to have a post about it. What does the novice need to know to start a camp fire? This is not a survival question. The novice has... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Should I add holes to my fire pit/bowl? It looks like you clean out and store your metal fire pit someplace after each use; there are no ashes in it, you don't have a hole to drain rain water, and the grass under it is green. Drilling holes will be areas for rust to form. While that is an option, it will quicken end of life as well as let... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Screen cover for boat inspection port After considering the pros and cons of several solutions and desiring a solution with a life span of years, with low cost and easy to reuse, I created my own screen covers. Materials Two squares of 1 inch white wood, 7 1/4 by 7 1/4 (from a 1x8) Two squares of standard window screen Two metal wash... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: How can a barbed wire fence be crossed safely? Barbwire fences are designed to keep cattle in or out of a designated areas. Barbwire intended to prevent human traffic requires additional measures. As previously mentioned it it may or may not indicate a boundary for a traveling human. Where the wire is not intended to halt human traffic there is... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |