Activity for James Jenkins
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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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) |
— | about 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 |
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Would waterproofing Styrofoam in a boat make water retention better or worse? In theory Styrofoam is a closed cell product meaning that is water proof. In practice it tends to absorb and hold water It can take months to dry out very saturated Styrofoam. As a rule Styrofoam goes in boats to provide flotation. In many applications the Styrofoam is in locations where water ten... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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How often should I change the lines and sail attachment rings? Last fall I bought a sunfish, best I can tell is built in about 1974 (43 years ago) and has all original sails, sail rings (hold the sail to the spars), tiller, etc. Everything but the lines seem to be original. Yesterday it was sunny and warm, wind at about 9MPH, 15KPH, 8 Knots. I took it out to ... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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When is it a bad idea to follow a game trail? If you are walking on trail, and a game trail heads off in an interesting direction is it ever a bad idea to follow it? If so how would you know when it is OK to follow a game trail? This question assumes you have a good maps/GPS/skills and sufficient supplies. So getting lost and starving to death... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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Aftermarket access panel to clean inside fresh water RV tank? When I was searching for boat inspection plates amazon example I saw a review where someone had bought one to install in the top of their RV fresh water tank to make cleaning inside easy. I thought it was a wonderful idea, so I bought an extra, but now that it is getting close to spring, I am having... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Leather Work Gloves or Aramid Fiber Gloves for Bonfires? If leather gloves are doing the job, why change? There are a lot of variables, but it really comes down to exposure. For the most part gloves only protect your hands. When working in and around a large fire, you also need to consider exposure to the rest of your body as well. Increasing the fir... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: What are the best methods to clean out a fire pits and dispose of the ash? Cleaning the fire pit is a task I generally do on arrival. As mentioned in the question and existing answer, hot ashes can start forest fires. A full fire pit will contain 2 or 3 things. Charcoal - black peices of wood that have not been fully burnt yet Ash - Grey dust, the remains of wood that... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: How to get a top-mount cooking burner for 20 lb propane tank? As mentioned a few places here already, mounting a cooking surface directly to 20lb LPG container is going to be a stability problem. If you shop for a Turkey Fryer you should find something that will meet all of your needs accept the direct mount to the top of the tank. The entire unit with cooki... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: What is a place in the U.S.A that is between 40°F - 60°F (5°C - 15°C) year round and doesn't get a ton of rain? There are several places in the US that meet your requirement if you exclude the requirement for forest, and you are will to accept no snow, in place of rare snow. what place in america has forest, temperature ranges from 40-60 degrees year round, does NOT rain for days on end, and rarely gets sn... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Are there any tips for preventing a vehicle from being broken into while parked at a trailhead? The existing answers by Ken and Liam offer good advice. But unfortunately there is nothing you can do to prevent break ins. Thieves can be surprisingly stupid. True story... A friend of mine drove her jeep wrangler with a soft top to the trail head and parked it before going on a hike. The roof ... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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What are the pros and cons of greased feet in boots? I was just reading this answer at Can you keep your feet warm in ski boots on a very cold day? Yes, add fat to your feet. I don't mean gain weight. Just slather it on before putting socks on. Petroleum jelly will work, as will almost any other fat (other than coconut oil). A nice layer of fat, ev... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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What is the minimum knowledge to navigate with only a compass? Assuming I have memorized the major Latitude and Longitudes as they relate to the world, as shown in the image below and that I know how to identify latitude & longitude with a compass. What else do I need to know? I am not talking about everything I need to know to find my way to a specific sm... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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How to identify latitude & longitude with a compass? I am not exactly sure where I am in the world. It could be that I am in a boat on the ocean, been in a plane crash, or suffered some other calamity. In any case I either have a compass with me or have made one and now I need to figure out where I am. How can I use a compass alone to identify latit... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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I have a compass but no watch, how can I tell when it will get dark? I was reading all of the answers to Are there any situations while backpacking that would require a watch? and surprised at the number of answers that said you need a watch so you would know how long until dark. People have been walking around the world for a very long time, portable time pieces hav... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: What are some blind-friendly wildlife trails in or including Massachusetts? Bill Irwin, author of Blind Courage found the Appalachian Trail to be a mostly enjoyable outdoors experience. While secluded with good opportunities for enjoying nature away from others. The Appalachian Trail offers some challenges. Assuming your blind friend will be with you or another sighted g... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: What are good locations to find wild strawberries? In the bellies of critters... Seriously, anything living in the area is going to know where the wild strawberries grow and will have made a habit of eating them when they get ripe. They grow close to the ground, so unlike black berries and other high bush berries, every critter can easily get to ... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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How to protect a body in the wilderness? I am hiking in the wilderness, a round trip to civilization and back is at least 24 hours. I know where I am and I can return to the same spot. If my hiking partner dies, how can/should I protect the body while I go to get the authorities? I want to protect my partner's body while I am gone, what... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: How to empty bowels before a hike? Bring toilet paper and a shovel, exercise is a recognized method of increasing bowel motility (making you poo). Other than planning for the likely need, there are no reasonable medical measures you can take that will have a positive influence. There are things you can take, but for occasional use, t... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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How effective is sulfur for delousing my camp? Sulfur has been used for centuries to get ride of nasty little bugs that infest the warm places we like to sleep. Assuming I have found natural sulfur sources can they be used to effectively and safely de-louse my camp? If so what is the best way to do it? (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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When should I boil water before distilling it? One of the surest ways of purifying water is distillation water is boiled and only things that evaporate at or below 100C are captured. This does lead to the potential issue of things like petroleum products with a lower boiling point, getting distilled into your collection chamber. It would seem t... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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How to find natural sulfur sources? According to a google search sulfur is widely available in nature. Volcanic regions and hot springs are common sources of it in elemental state. Less obvious sources are iron pyrites (iron sulfide), galena (lead sulfide), gypsum (calcium sulfate), Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) and many other miner... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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In the absence of lead, what can I use for a projectile in a flintlock rifle? A flintlock rifle is a weapon that can be indefinitely reloaded without any reliance on infrastructure. Gunpowder can be made from resources commonly found in the outdoors (urine as the nitrate source) and natural flint used in place of percussion caps. Scavenged lead can be melted and formed into l... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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What should I look for in a used wet suit? I am considering getting a used wet suit for sailing and canoeing in the early spring and next fall. What should I look for? Based on the related Q&A below, it looks like I will want 6-7mm (1/4 inch) thick with neck, wrist and ankle seals. What else should I look for in a used wet suit? Relat... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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Can Propane lose its stink? Propane is naturally odorless, the smell we associate with it is the result of adding ethyl mercaptan. Is it possible for the ethyl mercaptan to deteriorate, bind with something in the tank or settle so that escaping propane would be without odor? I usually get my propane bottles filled from a l... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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How do you make a stone axe? If I am in a survival situation with a knife as my only cutting implement, and I need an axe to chop trees (because I know burning through them is not practical) how would I make one? What attributes do I look for in wood, stone and binding? Using only a knife and items found in the wilderness how... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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A: How exactly do you cut down a tree with fire? Unless you are building a bridge you don't. If you don't have the tools to cut it down you don't have the tools to do anything with it once it is down. You are converting it from a big living standing tree to a big dead laying down tree. Neither of which you have the tools to modify. The only sce... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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A: What are the consequences of — illegally — using a 446 MHz PMR in the North American wilderness? Alternately you may be able to change the frequency your current device uses. In the US you will usually find a "CB Shop" near large truck stops, they should have the skills & parts required to modify the units. Practically, it maybe more efficient to just get new devices. (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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A: How to clean soaked-in winter salt off boots? Put them on a go for a hike where it is wet or snowy and not salty. The post How much sea water can I safely drink? has a bunch of words about salt and water in a body. Leather is skin. The same principals apply. You wore boots in a heavy salt environment and the salt equalized into your boots. If... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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How many trees are there in California you can drive through? A Recent news event (Pioneer Cabin Tree in California felled by storms), brought drive through trees to mind. When I looked at the pictures, I realized it is not the same tree I drove through last time I was in the Redwood Forest. Searching found some different answers. This one by the US forest... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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A: What type of weather conditions would lead to being above the clouds while mountaineering? It is called fog, and you are standing higher then it is thick. Clouds can form at many different altitudes. They can be as high as 12 miles above sea level or as low as the ground. Fog is a kind of cloud that touches the ground. Source (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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A: Optimal timing/routing for a year visiting US national parks? 30,000 Character limit per answer. This is the end of my large answer November Park: Mammoth Cave State: Kentucky Region: Southeast Links: National Park Service, NPS camping, Wikipedia, Weather RV Camping in the Park: Other for amenities Reserve: Nearby Nolin Lake State Park http://www.reserv... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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A: Optimal timing/routing for a year visiting US national parks? This answer assumes a year spent on the road, visiting one national park after the other. With an average visit of one week per park, or four parks per month. The camper (RV) being a self-contained; trailer or motor home with fresh & grey/black water holding tanks. The optimal RV site being in ... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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A: How can I perfect my backyard ice rink? I don't ice skate and my main goals of working with ice are to get it gone. That said, if I did want to even out ice with the least amount of work and expense I would get a weed burner and a bottle of propane. Inexpensive weed burns can be purchased for about $20 US it easily connects to the 5 gal... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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How long can fresh water fish live on a stringer? A fish stringer goes through the gill and mouth of a live fish, providing a way to keep them captive and alive in the lake or river they are caught from. I would imagine the key to survival is how much the stringer impacts the gills ability to uptake oxygen. This question is limited to fresh water f... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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A: Easiest way to preserve a fishing catch - with cooking or pickling SALT Before refrigeration salt was the primary means of preserving fish. As you mention in your question filleting them is a a good first step, they should also be dried to reduce the amount of salt needed. But what you really want Keep them alive, until you get home to clean, and freeze or refrig... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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How to get the best results when applying gelcoat with a brush? I just finished applying gelcoat to my boat. Results were less than wonderful. I have some experience, with bondo, fiberglass and painting, so it did not seem like it should be to difficult to get reasonably good results. Still I did a lot of research online before choosing a product and beginning ... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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Screen cover for boat inspection port Looking for solutions for screen covers for the inspection port on a sunfish. In the Q&A What to look for in Marine Grade Expanding Foams we learn that water in the hull of sunfish can be an issue. There are several posts online about leaving the inspection ports (after you install them) open s... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |
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A: What does "hull weight" include? As Rory states in his answer, hull weight is just the hull. But you need not worry, the mast, rudder, center board, sail, etc. Are usually loaded separately from the hull of the boat. For small two person sail boats, around 100 pound. All the parts except for a couple pieces of hardware come off. ... (more) |
— | over 7 years ago |