Activity for roryalsop‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: How to repair a surfboard leash? Miguelmorin's answer is very comprehensive, and if you do want to make a repair, I would definitely recommend following his guidance, however: Your leash can be the difference between life and death or at the very least saves loss of your possibly expensive surfboard so it is not worth the risk of h... (more)	—	almost 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to get out of thicker wetsuits efficiently and quickly? In the Falklands, because the water is so cold as it comes up off the Antarctic peninsula, I always wore 6mm wetsuits even for kayaking. The two solutions we used were: talc. Yes, it gets wet, but really helps with seals round wrists and ankles a friend and solidly rooted poles or bars. Much easier... (more)	—	almost 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can I make a safe climbing-anchor with a 2-ton working-load sling that was meant for lifting vehicles? My only concerns would be around its tear resistance (in case of rubbing against a sharp bit of the tree) and bend radius. If those are appropriate, then it should work as a sling. Be aware that it will have no elasticity, so you'll still want to build in whatever "give" you need, but a short sling... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the mortality rate of Mt St. Elias? Mt Elias isn't even in the top ten for number of deaths. It comes in in 24th place according to https://www.shughal.com/25-of-the-deadliest-mountains-in-the-world/ with Everest at number 1. This site takes into account the ratio of deaths to number of attempts, as well as total deaths. For the top t... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What degree and/or type of athleticism is required in no-limits free diving? The abilities required are developed through practice and mostly focus on three areas: increasing the oxygenation capability of the body retraining autonomic apnoea responses minimising the metabolic requirements through lowering heart rate etc Resisting the increasing pressure is, surprisingly, ... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How much heel is optimal on a small katamaran in low wind? As you mentioned, a vertical sail gives you more power, so where possible that should be your goal, but the drag caused when heeling is enough that for most catamarans you want to minimise it as much as possible. So aim to keep the windward hull just out of the water in calm seas, and a little high... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What to do with a yacht when a stronger blast come? If your concern is regarding broaching, then the two actions you take are: allow the head to come towards the wind, reducing the sideways force. This can be instant. if needed, slacken the main, depowering the sail. Unlike in a dinghy, where this can also be an instant move, in a yacht this is a bi... (more)	—	almost 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the differences between boats and "ice yachts"? Early ice-yachting was done with converted boats, but that is rare now. There is a class designed for unstable ice that can sail in water if needed, and in the Netherlands blades are still added to small boats in the event of a cold enough winter to allow ice racing. From @Willeke: Link in Dutch, ... (more)	—	about 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Skiing demo plate vs no demo plate If you know exactly where your bindings need to be fixed then you don't need the demo plate, and fixing directly to the ski gives a more rigid connection between boot and ski. A demo plate is only really useful if you need adjustment. (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What's the hardest wearing multibraid rope type? Dyneema is the most hard wearing, however if you need it to run through any friction grip or clutch it is not a good choice as it is very smooth and shiny. Polyester really is the cost-effective, UV resistant and strong, especially when paired with a Dyneema core, so this is probably the way to go, ... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the purpose of being close-hauled when sailing upwind? While a close-reach or beam-reach is going to give the vessel the highest speed through the water, this may not be what you want. Being close-hauled will point you higher so while you lose speed, the end result may still be faster to your destination, or more appropriate through narrows, or in order ... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are coasteering routes graded, or does one have to rely on a qualitative description of the difficulties of a route? From the coasteering excursions I and my family have been on in Scotland, the rest of the UK and some other European countries, there appears to be no consistent grading. What I have seen is use of common grading for the climbing parts plus usually a comment on the "relative danger" on the drop to w... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why is there a cock vane/feather? This one is actually much simpler than you might realise: On a three feathered arrow, the nock is at 90 degrees to one feather, and at 30 degrees to the other two feathers. If the cock feather was pointed towards the bow, it would be much more likely to hit the bow than the other feathers would if ... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Hiking in France in August - Grenoble This is all information you can get from a plethora of online sources, but from a quick 2 minutes I found this: for Grenoble, a 20cm snowfall is a high average. Temperature change between day and night can be around 9C (+2 to -7) in winter but more like 12C in August, and the higher up you are, the... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: When, how and by whom was sport climbing invented? According to what I can find on Wikipedia and elsewhere, it looks like it was in the 1880s. Before that, bolts had been used as climbing aids. Best candidate for first climber and route is W.P. Haskett Smith up the Napes Needle in the Lake District in 1886, however most climbers that used artificial... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I be sure that I'm ready to do the Three Peaks Challenge? I have a few colleagues who have done this, and one team who did it with a colleague in a wheelchair. They are all reasonably fit, but the day job is desk-based, so if you have managed Kili easily, and train regularly, I can't imagine you will have many problems. I'd suggest you go for it. You will ... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I tell how much, if any, rain is in an approaching cloud? Randall Munroe has the single best article on this I have ever seen, over on his What-If site where he discusses what would happen if all the water in a cloud formed one giant raindrop. I recommend reading the whole thing, even if just for the destructive vision he has, and especially the final line... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why don't climbers use electrically heated suits? Firstly there's the weight issue - as Paparazzi commented, batteries are heavy! Then there's temperature - battery performance drops considerably in the cold And finally reliability - if your electrical circuit goes, you will freeze unless you have properly insulated clothing... so why bother havi... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the ecological justification (if any) for bird feeders? If we exclude the birdwatching explanation Shem gives, the only possible ecological reason for a bird feeder is to counteract the negative effect we have on the bird's habitat by having our house there. This doesn't explain why we only tend to feed "cute" animals - if we are to be honest about ecolo... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Do squirrels have front and full peripheral vision? Like many prey animals, vision is optimised to detect danger coming from anywhere. They can see you with one eye very easily, and their reflexes are on a hair-trigger to take them away from incoming attack. They can see above them, and all around, with a blind spot to the rear, and a very small one j... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What could be the cause of condensation on the tent floor? Condensation is usually caused by high humidity combined with a temperature differential. It sounds like you have a very humid atmosphere, which in a tent is added to by the high moisture content of your breath, and if you are warm at night, also sweat. It doesn't need to be that cold, especially no... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How often should I change the lines and sail attachment rings? I have always taught sailing students to run a full check every time they rig the boat (if it's a dinghy or the mast is regularly lowered) or annually before returning it to the water after winter. Additionally, a full check after any collision or incident, or after heavy weather/storms is recommend... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What should I look for in a used wet suit? Always check used wetsuits for wear, especially around seams, under arms, between the legs, and the seat. These areas typically wear through fastest, and although they are often strongest (extra stitching and padding) they take a lot of punishment. Check internal stitching carefully, as well as any ... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the measurable prerequisites of strength and/or flexiblity for starting to climb in a climbing gym? One aspect not yet touched on is that for beginner climbers, upper body strength is not actually as important as you might imagine. If we exclude overhangs (which is reasonable for early stages of training) then legs really are where all the power requirement sits. In fact when teaching folks on cli... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to manage the risks of sleeping and cooking in a camper van? The three risks that are relevant here are the risk of fire, suffocation and carbon monoxide poisoning I'll take suffocation first. A gas leak can exclude oxygen to the point that you can no longer breathe, but there are standard mitigations: the gas canister is usually mounted external to the pas... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How and why is the red kite bird disturbed by wind turbines? There are a few aspects: Collision: some birds are better than others at avoiding wind farms, but this is a risk. Noise: the noise from the turbine and blades unsettles and upsets animals and birds Movement: birds of prey are very sensitive to movement, and the unnatural and fast blade movement up... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the feathers under the hackle in the rooster saddle? Yes, those do look like a soft hackle of some kind. I don't know which bird, but as long as they are soft they can be useful for a number of purposes. Globalflyfisher.com has some excellent info on specific fly tying, and their page on soft hackle includes this: Using soft hackle Soft hackle... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What does "hull weight" include? The original meaning was the weight of the water displaced by the hull, but typically the hull weight is used to mean just the weight of the hull - minus fittings etc. Hopefully that helps solve your problem. (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Do flashlights (torches) with multi-color capabilities have any applications for usage in the great outdoors at night? Red has been covered already, and it really is the most practical colour to have with you at night, as it is the only one that doesn't impact your night vision significantly. The others, though, are useful for all sorts of signaling or navigation purposes. It can be easier to signal a red or green r... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I build a board to mount climbing holds in my house? Typically, using 3/4" (19mm) plywood board is strong enough for this use. And the bolts you want are 3/4" (19mm) plus enough each end to screw into the hold and to accept a nut. Bolts used for most holds are M10 or M9.5, so check which your hold supplier uses, and then make sure the holes you drill ... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why do most tents have black floors? One reason (and I don't know enough to suggest this is the main reason) is for identification. When putting a tent up you may have a bundle of fabric that you need to set down on an uneven surface, sort and erect. Having it in black distinguishes it from the varied colours of the tent walls so you c... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why would fatigue cause fever? Fatigue itself shouldn't cause fever, as it is really a symptom, not a cause, however being fatigued definitely leaves you less able to defend against illness, and an oncoming fever or illness makes you much more likely to be fatigued. If you have spent a year without any exercise and then have a fa... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Nose-diving when catching a wave on a longboard When learning, lying down on the board is perfectly normal, and you can surf a wave just fine like this (typically with a loss of agility as it's hard to move your body weight) and a board This happens for two reasons: The simple one you have already mentioned is being too far forwards. Especially ... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can I repair my climbing helmet strap? The concern here would be if the helmet could move far enough that it doesn't protect your skull adequately. If you can move it significantly I'd want to sort it - remember in an emergency it could take a good hit. Personally, I'd replace the entire strap set at this point, as I'd not be convinced a... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Which type of car rack will transport a tandem kayak on a car with no side rails? I swear by Thule for transporting anything on the roof. Over the years I have had various vehicles, and various transport requirements, and this type of bar has: replaceable mounts, so for the cars with side rails I can connect to them, and for those without I have been able to clip on. standard si... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is the fishermen's greeting "Petri Heil" accepted all around the world? I grew up in a fishing community on islands north of Scotland, and never once heard this. The folks up there used English and Norse greetings, but not a German one, so I would imagine it is German-specific. So Universal? No. (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Do jellyfish actively avoid swimmers in Mediterranean? Jellyfish, while mobile, are not capable of much evasion. They can steer their bodies, but they are limited in their ability to get out of the way of a faster organism - which is why the majority rely on their stinging tentacles, and migration up to the surface and back down to follow food. One thin... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: To activate PLB if you know search and rescure are looking for you but there is no emergency? The PLB is very much for highlighting to the emergency services that you are in an emergency situation and need a rescue. It can incur significant costs as the services are called out but gives a fairly accurate location so the search is short. One of your challenges here is that you may not know it... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it a good idea to drink blood to avoid dehydration? While various sources suggest drinking some blood in emergency will help, the risks outweigh the benefits. From 5 Myths of Dehydration: Sure, there’s water in blood. But whose or what’s blood are you planning to drink? Some of the traditional cattle cultures of Africa still consume... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: New Suunto Ambit3 and don't know how to move log data from watch to moves count Section 6.1 here shows what you should do. Once movescount is installed, it should just work. If this doesn't work then you may have a technical issue which you will need to take up with Suunto. (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can deep wave action be partially predicted by lunar phases? The ocean floor is almost entirely undisturbed by waves - What you are finding comes from the coastal littoral. You can gain some general estimates from direction and strength of storms, but the movement of the sea is chaotic overall. Oceanographers can make general statistical predictions, but ther... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the Chincoteague Pony Swim on Assateague Island in Virginia and Maryland? The Chincoteague Pony Swim is an annual event where around 150 adult ponies and their foals from the North and South parts of the island are rounded up and swim at slack tide from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island. From assategueisland.com (highlights mine), The Pony Swim is usually broa... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Essential windsurfing moves Once you are past uphauling, it is not a move you are likely to use again. It is a high effort move that in high winds is next to impossible. The moves you will need to learn are: beach start tacking (where the nose of the board goes towards the wind - simple, but slow) correct foot and sail positi... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Travel trailer with pets during a tornado If you don't have a shelter, then you want to find somewhere as safe as possible with solid walls surrounding you, at the core of your building. Garages don't usually fulfil this role, as while you may have solid walls, the door is easily ripped off by high winds combined with the pressure different... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Paper bin waste suitable to stop an arrow? The simple answer is yes, you can definitely use waste paper or cardboard to stop an arrow. Various folks have used cardboard boxes, flattened, and piled up to anywhere between 6 and 12 inches thick, held together with straps or duct tape. You'd need to use trial and error to find out what thicknes... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why do so many people hike with such light footwear? For certain types of hiking, lightness is key. I can't talk for everyone doing that (some may just be unaware of the consequences of their kit choices) but I really like speed hiking / fell running, and for that I use very lightweight Salomon boots that are almost trainers/sneakers. My wife briefly t... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Which ABEC to use for park skating? Until you are an amazingly skilled skater, just go with a 5. They are cheap, and to be honest, you won't be able to notice the difference. I've skated for years and I can't really tell when I'm on a board whether it's a 5 or a 7 or whatever. Higher tolerance bearings will last longer, theoretically,... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Snowboarding / Skiing - snow gathers on our goggles - what do you do to deal with this problem? This is why most snowboarding and skiing gloves these days have a wiper built in. Rain-X and other coatings can help a little, but there appears to be no all purpose solution, so just get a pair of gloves with a wiper, and get used to using it frequently. (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do I prevent myself from getting pumped when climbing? Having your muscles "pumped" is not a problem in itself. If you have problems with movement because of it, it is most likely down to muscle type, muscle mass, and cardiovascular effectiveness. Because I used to do a lot of weight lifting, my muscle mass is pretty high (which actually gives me a poor... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Does moisture harm a skateboard? If the board is new then the main thing to worry about is the bearings. Riding through puddles increases your chance of picking up grit and other abrasives that can ruin bearings, and although many modern bearings are rust resistant, not all are. Older boards, especially those with some damage can a... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago

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