Activity for roryalsop‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: Any swim goggles that may be beneficial for a surfer? For years I used to wear Oakley Razor Blades when surfing (yes, I am that old...) but once I started to manage slightly bigger waves, even wearing a strap to hold them on wasn't enough. In reality, unless you are on small surf, you will have them ripped off when you wipe out, so your best bet is to ... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Backpack with rifle/bow holder without camo? If your reason for not wanting camo is that you want to be obvious (maybe to other hunters so you don't get shot) then you can always flash a backpack with reflective material, or use a hi vis pack cover such as those recommended for cyclists. Home-modding a rucksack to incorporate the barrel ties a... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Sticks leaning on a tree building a hut-like formation - what's the purpose of that? While that construction has no shelter currently, Scouts and other outdoors groups will often make a frame like you describe, and then cover those branches with leaves, moss or even a tarp in order to provide a shelter. Using the tree trunk gives a solid support for this sort of thing, and often the... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Difference between full keel and fin keel? A full keel is very stable and gives you better tracking through seas - you don't need to adjust your helm much as you crest waves. A fin keel loses some of this stability, but you gain manoeuvrability - the shorter keel lets you turn much more sharply. (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is a portable jump starter dangerous? Yes, it is safe as long as you store and transport sensibly. @jrodatus listed a few points: keep it charged don't get it wet don't drop it only charge within the correct temperature range But additionally, especially if it is in with metal objects, you must make sure it does not get shorted out ... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Does newspaper (in shoes) kill Gore-Tex (breathability)? Your final sentence is correct. The newspaper will wick water from internal fabric, but it will not pull water back through the Gore-Tex layer. It only allows water vapour to pass through. You actually need quite a head of pressure to force water through Gore-Tex, otherwise it would leak when you wa... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Calculate true north with a compass and map At night it is very easy to find true north using the stars (true south doesn't quite have an equivalent.) First identify Ursa Major, the Great Bear or Big Dipper. Then take the two stars at the end of it away from the handle, and follow the line they make for 5 times its length. The star you hit is... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why do some prefer methane to cook food This may be a contrary position, but I think methane has actually gone out of favour in many parts of the world (definitely in Europe) as propane and butane have become popular. In fact propane or butane have greater energy by volume and are available at every camping supplies shop. (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Any reasons to prefer braces over belts? Braces have a couple of advantages I can think of: the weight of the trousers is taken on your shoulders, not your waist they can come up higher than your waist These are important for snow sports, eg snowboarding in Scotland, where trousers can end up both soaking wet and covered in snow, so the... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is there any practical use for a grappling hook? You wouldn't want to use one to climb. My favourite quote I found on the Internet: Here's my advice on climbing with grappling hooks: don't climb with grappling hooks. Real climbers never use them, and for good reason. You have no idea what they hook onto, so you are trusting your life with some... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Question	—	What locations am I likely to find sloe bushes? After reading @Aravona's question on the best time to pick sloe berries, I was wondering where I should actually go to find sloe bushes. I think I can recognise them from pictures online, but are there locations that these bushes are most likely to grow? (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Twisting board technique when turning a snowboard? I first learnt snowboarding twenty years ago, when boards and bindings were rigid, the boards were long and asymmetrical, and back then carving was the way to turn. You'd lean right over (sometimes 75-80 degrees over) and the board would carve itself round a turn. Modern boards are much more flexibl... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is a "sling belay?" A sling belay is typically used to connect 2 points at an anchor. An example belay sling from Edelrid. (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is the outdoor ”cottage industry” only about ultralight? To be honest, the two terms, "Ultralight" and "Cottage Industry" are orthogonal - there are cottage industries producing many items. You are probably seeing more Ultralight items in this space because cottage industries are more likely to succeed where big business doesn't have the volume to play p... (more)	—	over 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: How did people make topographical maps in the pre-modern? What you describe is exactly how it was done: Accurate measurement of distances and angles Obviously, measuring distances on flat ground is relatively straightforward: you use a known length measurement (perhaps a robe marked at known intervals); and to measure the distance to a distant point, us... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Properly using a Gamow Bag These are emergency kit - specifically to help those suffering health problems due to altitude. As I understand it they are used within the climber's tent or bivouac, which provides the shelter required, and they provide an environment that matches a lower altitude, through pressurising the bag, allo... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Help identifying black and white "square winged" bird? Of the three possibles I came up with from your description (wagtail, oystercatcher and lapwing), wagtail was ruled out by its size, and you would have seen an oystercatcher's beak as they are pretty bright (and oystercatchers don't have a swooping flight) - the only one that matches correctly is the... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do I make sure my cliff-diving location is safe? Always surface dive/snorkel first. I have cliff dived in two locations - one is normally deceptive: poor visibility, shadows etc but on visual checks turned out to have 100 ft straight down to a sandy floor; the other looked clear and deep but had rocky ledges at about 20 feet! Considering we dived... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to prevent chafing in my lower regions Having suffered similar on a marathon I had to run in freezing rain once (ending up with not just large areas with the skin chafed off entirely, but also deep cuts into my thigh muscles from the stitching!) I can heartily recommend combining very supportive underwear with non-slip, stretch leggings. ... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What type of rope should I use for roof work? While there are slightly different needs (on your roof you are likely to get more friction against edges than a climber) for most purposes you can use perfectly normal climbing ropes, and a standard figure eight knot to connect to your harness. However - you should be equally as interested in how yo... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Best sun protection for swimming You will want to look for a sun cream that is designed for swimming - don't bother looking for specific ingredients, look for the bottles that say they are for sun and swim. Usually in addition to the SPF they will have a rating or guide as to how often you need to reapply (eg every swim, or every t... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What can I do on a honeymoon in New Zealand while five months pregnant? Who says you can't hike? If you have no medical concerns (ie high blood pressure, blood results showing complications etc) then guidance is to keep doing the sports you enjoy (with some exceptions - generally sports where impact or similar forces could cause injury - bungee jumping, motor racing et... (more)	—	about 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the most effective way to flee from an alligator? They can't run for long periods. They have brief sprints up to about 12mph so you can outrun one, especially if you keep going. That said, alligators don't attack humans. From this LA Times article: Alligator attacks are still extremely rare. In fact, the likelihood of a Florida resident being i... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there any sunglasses with prescription insert that does not alter depth sense? Paul and Kevin are correct here - any corrective lens has to alter what your eye sees. Your brain very rapidly corrects (a few minutes) but it is a basic function of optical physics that is unavoidable. It's not because of two layers of glass, it is the correction process - you are changing the light... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Avoiding 4WD-areas in Iceland If you wanted to avoid the 4WD areas my suggestion would be to make your start point for a multi-day hike at one of the furthest reaches of a 4WD trail. And if that trail is one of the lesser used ones, you should be well away from petrol-based signs of civilisation rapidly. That said, with the ongo... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What knot is this one? What are its purposes? They are examples of a round turn and two half hitches. Sometimes known as an anchor hitch or a fisherman's hitch. http://www.animatedknots.com/roundturn/index.php?Categ=boating A Useful Boating Knot: A Round Turn and Two (or more) Half Hitches (ABOK # 1720, p 296) is useful for attaching a mo... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is an effective way to join a map that is printed on several sheets? Most applications will let you minimise your margins, which reduces waste, then all you do is cut the margin off one page, and then stick that page over the other one, which gives you a solid connection - adhesive tape front and back. (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Crossbow draw strength Yes - 50lbs draw means you need to be able to pull 50lbs, unless you have a pulley/gear reduction. So if you increase to a higher draw, you'll need to be able to pull it. (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Rock Climbing falling.Turning upside down It can happen, sure, but because of the way a climbing harness fits (you sit in it) and because of the way falls typically happen (you fall straight down from an upright position in many cases) it is generally very easy to remain upright. There are various pros and cons on holding the rope when you ... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Tips and tricks for backpacking with a guitar My solution to this is a Hohner G3T and a 1 Watt Marshall amp. The Hohner fits easily down the side of my bigger rucksacks, and the amp is tiny. They don't add a huge amount to the weight of my pack If the weather is wet I'll wrap them both in a plastic bag, but they have entertained me on many ... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can I light a kerosene lamp with flint & steel or a magnifying glass? A magnifying glass will not light it, and I don't think a flint and steel will directly - you need a flame rather than a spark - but that is easily solved through using a piece of newspaper with kindling, or taper. Just use your magnifying glass or flint to light the paper, then use that to light the... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to prevent fingers from freezing? If the suggestions in Everything's answer don't work, try these heating options: Heated gloves (I have linked to an example) Hand warmer packs to tuck into your gloves My wife has Reynaud's which leads to poor circulation in fingers and toes, so needs to use these solutions on occasion, and they ... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: When should you use gear to climb a tree? I think this is quite a tricky one. Even when I read the Health & Safety Executive guidance in the UK (a country quite keen on its health and safety rules) it isn't clear: HSE has an 'Are You a Tree Surgeon' page, which links directly to their Working at Height page. There we have: Falls fro... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there ski exercises I can do whilst sitting at a desk? Here are a few quick and easy ones that will help your strength: Squats will be the most useful. Not exactly at your desk, but you can definitely do it next to your desk. Seated leg raises. Keeping your legs straight, hold the side of the chair and raise and lower your legs Calf raises. Put your we... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Do climbers shave limbs? It's not as clear cut as for cycling. For cycling you have definite benefits, and of the 3 listed in the accepted answer on the cycling page: To prevent infection when crashing. To pull off bandages more painlessly after dressing a wound. Are really not an issue in climbing. Crashes in cycling of... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How many "Munro" revisions have there been? Although I had originally thought Wikipedia had a good list, nivag pointed me in the direction of walkhighlands, and the Munro Society pages have more info. 1884 - 236 1891 - 282 or 283 1921 - 276 1974 - 279 1981 - 1984 - 1990 - 1997 - 284 2009 - 283 2012 - 282 (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Reusing the same water bottle for drinking tap water As long as the water you are filling it with is clean, it won't be the problem. What may cause an issue is your mouth. Human mouths are not especially clean, and while microorganisms are kept at bay in the mouth, they can start to multiply rapidly in water. I always recommend washing bottles once a ... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do I balance the muscle usage and strength of my body when long-distance hiking? You have outlined a couple of assumptions in your question which there is no evidence for. Back in prehistory, people did what they needed to do to survive, and that often wasn't very long. One thing they didn't do, as far as the evidence suggests, is any extra exercise - there was no need for fitne... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do you locate the "North Star"? The simplest way (assuming you are in the Northern hemisphere) is to first find the Great Bear / Ursa Major / the Big Dipper / The Plough, and use the two end stars as a sight line. The star in Ursa Minor that they point to is Polaris, which is currently our Pole Star. This does change, but not notic... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it safe to sleep for more than 16 hrs a day at altitudes above 6000m? Anecdotally, the only three factors which may cause you problems are: supplies running out losing fitness boredom And these are really only an issue if you are stuck for extended periods of time. Your solutions are: exercises you can do in your tent, or just outside - stretches, press-ups, sit-... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are some effective ways to deal with sand when camping on or near the beach? Having spent most of my life within a couple of miles of the beach in pretty windy areas, I have learned some tried and tested things you can do (although I have never found it much of an issue in any case) Always point the opening of your tent downwind so sand doesn't blow in. This will prevent th... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: Measuring actual distance walked on a map (Allowing for changes in height) Pythagoras is actually exactly what you would use, approximated as finely as you need for accuracy. What I mean by approximated, is: If you are following a continuous incline, you really only need one right angled triangle to calculate your hypotenuse, but if your incline varies, a more accurate f... (more)	—	over 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: How much spare strap should I leave when trimming a pack down? This is a difficult one. Like you, I always trim down my distance packs because I can't stand excess straps flapping about (for small day packs I just tie them up if necessary) The way I do it is pack for a worst case cold winter trek - planning for the longest expected time I would go for, and all ... (more)	—	almost 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Fitness for surfing? Having been a keen surfer since the late eighties, I can give you a reasonable list of the essentials: Press ups Pull ups Sit ups Burpees Swimming That's it. Seriously. All you really need to focus on is upper body strength and cardiovascular fitness, and you can do all of these without buying eq... (more)	—	almost 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are some good kayak fishing areas in Friendship, Maine? The list of fish in that area is relatively easy to find, but the trick is identifying useful areas - the fishing trip websites don't give too much away. One useful place a friend told me about is between about 5 and 10 miles south of Friendship, northwest of Allen Island. This time of year you can... (more)	—	almost 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Wasp repellent for an object/area? Citronella candles set up around a perimeter are what we use when camping. If we are going somewhere exceptionally bug-ridden, we do sometimes use DEET - it is much more effective, but rather toxic. As long as you are spraying and then leaving the area, I'd go with DEET. I hadn't realised it woul... (more)	—	almost 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Sleeping bag too hot Unfortunately you are limited in your options: use a mat under you and the sleeping bag as a blanket. This will be a lot colder, though buy another bag, perhaps rated to -5 as an alternative. If you have the carrying capacity, it can be simpler to have a lighter sleeping bag plus blankets, so you ... (more)	—	almost 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is a tour book used for? No one uses them as absolute evidence, as you could always fake them, but they can really help a tour guide get a feel for your level of experience and to understand which situations you felt comfortable with and which caused you problems. They also help you remember how a particular tour went, as a... (more)	—	almost 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Kayaking in the UK Some answers: 1 - British Canoeing is an excellent website for this sort of thing. 2 - It would be acceptable to use a sea kayak. 3 - Completely depends on your kayak. For a quick temporary repair, you may be able to get away with a patch and glue (costing about £5) but you'd be better off wi... (more)	—	almost 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to anchor a raft on a river If you want to remain stationary, you need a solid anchor, and the best option is going to be to attach to a tree or something that you can securely fix to on the bank. Not knowing that river, I can't say whether that would work or not, so I'll discuss anchoring to the bottom. This is the same proce... (more)	—	almost 10 years ago

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