Activity for Olin Lathrop‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: Are there reasons for not putting the mileage on trail signs or is it just a matter of style? Knowing why distance was included or omitted in any particular instance requires asking the people that decided on that particular sign. In other words, in the general case, you don't know why. I've been involved with specifying trail signs. One reason I can imagine that distances were omitted is ... (more)	—	over 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it likely that decimation of its suburban forest habitat would cause a black bear to wander into a busy city if it wouldn't otherwise go there? Bears have definitely been migrating from the Berkshires in western MA eastward over the last couple of decades or so. Everyplace roughly outside Route 128 (about 15 mile ring road around Boston) and parts of the south shore and The Cape has bears. Loss of habitat is pushing them to find food elsew... (more)	—	over 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How does a tree with such an extreme curvature form? That tree got bent over but not snapped when it was just tall enough so that its tip was where the end of the bend is now. One of the small branches near that tip happened to point upwards after the bending. That branch basically became the new trunk. The existing bent wood stayed where it was, wi... (more)	—	over 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How are the routes of hiking trails determined? There are many reasons a trail takes the particular path it does. Probably the most common is historical, as you mention. Probably the least common is deliberate design. Most trails have evolved from usage patterns before anyone went out to deliberately make a trail. Trails that are deliberately ... (more)	—	over 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is this tree with a spiral shaped trunk in Massachusetts? I suspect that tree grew with something else twined around it. That something else has meanwhile died or been removed. Bittersweet is a likely candidate for what might have wound around the tree earlier in its life. There is more information on bittersweet in this question. I can't tell exactly w... (more)	—	over 6 years ago
Answer	—	A: How rare is resistance to poison ivy, and does resistance increase? I don't know how rare resistance is, but it seems the real question is about resistance coming and going. Yes, resistance can come and go for individuals over their lifetime. Exposure, or long periods of non-exposure, can make a difference, but the result seems to not be predictable. Most anecdote... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What to do if you have been stung multiple times by yellow-jackets hours or days from the trailhead? "Get out as fast as possible" doesn't make sense considering you are "hours or days" from a trailhead. If the allergic reaction is going to kill you, like swelling up your throat to the point you can't breath, it's going to happen within about 20 minutes. If you have someone in your party with such... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Where in nature can we find examples of natural "hoods" - either for reducing UV / sun exposure or for providing shelter from rain? Protecting against UV is usually done with a covering like fur, feathers, scales, a hard shell, etc, or pigment. Our own species is a great example of the latter. It seems we emerged on the plains of central Africa where UV exposure is a serious issue. The first humans most likely had dark skin, a... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is there an organization for adults to learn outdoor skills with their kids? I don't know of any organization as you describe, but there certainly ways for adults to learn outdoorsmanship. There are likely outdoor clubs in your area that run educational programs. Here in New England, the major one is the AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club). They regularly run educational progr... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Where can we see genetically pure American Bison, including Yellowstone National Park? Bison roam over large areas of Yellowstone, and you'll certainly spot a few from the road. They don't care about cars and humans much. I remember them being readily visible from the road in various places, particularly along the stretch north of West Thumb where most of the geyser basins are. You'... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Obtaining drinking water from a glacier or icefield, in the absence of snow or reachable meltwater Another answer talks about hardness. There is some relevance to that, but more importantly, ice is brittle, regardless of how hard it is. You don't need much of a tool to scrape or crack chunks from a large piece of ice like a glacier. Also, any large piece of ice has to have edges someplace. I... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why do different kinds of bug bites itch in different ways? The cause of the itch can be quite different. For mosquito bites, the itch is due to a allergic reaction to the mosquito's saliva. The strength of this allergic reaction varies between people, and it is possible, usually after enough exposure, to develop immunity. That means your body no longer ov... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is hiking alone always faster? In my experience, hiking alone is definitely faster if the intent is to get to the destination quickly. I lead organized hikes often (roughly one/month) for the AMC (Appalachian Mountain Club) and our local Trails Committee. I'm sure I've led over 100 by now, so have extensive experience with this... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What animal could strip all the bark off the lower 7 feet of this tree? That was almost certainly done by a porcupine. Like beavers, their primary food source is the cambium layer under the bark of trees. That's actually the only living part of the trunks and major branches of trees. No, squirrels don't do that. They might gnaw here or there, but they mostly eat nu... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How should I prepare my body for prolonged exposure to heat? I go to Arizona and hike around the desert pretty much every summer. One thing I've noticed that makes a difference is to immerse yourself in the heat. Don't try to avoid it; embrace it. I have experienced up to 121 °F (49 °C), that I know of. While that certainly felt hot, the limiting f... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can you tell the gender of a chipmunk from a distance? This is not a direct answer, but still relevant. Technically, "chipmunk" is the common name for a limited few specific species of ground squirrels. These usually have the stripes that run along their sides converge all the way to the nose. There are many more ground squirrels that are not really c... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are "burnable gasses"? Wood is not a simple chemical. It releases a number of different compounds when heated. Try distilling wood some time. Put a few slivers into a test tube and heat it. Pipe the result into another test tube that is in cool water. You'll probably be surprised at all the stuff that collects. There... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Question	—	What is this really tall grass-like plant? Where: North-central Massachusetts When: 8 April 2017 Whenever I'm out and about, I look at wetlands as I go by to see their general state, how much the invasive phragmites is pushing out the native cattails, etc. A few days ago I saw something unusual, at least in my experience. I was looking dow... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to follow the movements of a player while remaining unnoticed? Make the end objective not finding you, but some object. Then you can follow around and watch how the other guy solves the puzzle. (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Bird migration across Atlantic? I don't have a direct answer to your question, but basic logic says that would be unusual. Think about what seasonal migration is for. It is to get access to different conditions than any one place provides over changing seasons. Some species accomplish this by short migrations between different a... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Collecting plant foodstuff in the Canadian wilderness of Alberta during winter? This is really a comment, or several of them, but too big to use the comments mechanism. Alberta is a big place with quite varied climates. In particular, you can divide the province into the Rocky mountains at the southwestern edge, and the plains in the east and north that cover most of the pla... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I identify Woolly Adelgid on a Hemlock tree? As far as I can see, only your original picture from 2016 shows sign of woolly adelgid. The tree is not in focus since the point of the picture was the doves, but here are some clues: The white dots look characteristic of a woolly adelgid infestation, and a rather severe one if the dots can be se... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Hiking with kids - what are the right distances? 15 km (9.3 miles) is really long for the average 5 year old, especially when it's 65% longer and at higher altitude than what she's used to. This sounds like a bad idea to me. You say you can carry the 2 year old "easily", but you need to think about that carefully too. 2 years old is about the li... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Where exactly is this rocky shoreline in the Downeast region of Maine, USA? Unfortunately, much of the shoreline of Mt Desert Island looks like that, particularly on the east and south. Stop and think about what you were doing before and after being there. There is only one way onto the island by car. Did you see this before or after getting to Bar Harbor? How long befor... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What role does information about atmospheric pressure play from an outdoor perspective? Pressure can tell you altitude (both up in mountains or down in caves). This is the basis for how many altimeters work. It helps if you know the pressure at a nearby known altitude. This helps cancel out natural variations in air pressure due to weather. Just about every airport has such a baro... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Tent or hammock safer from lightning? The tent. Whatever you are tying the hammock to is obviously sticking up a bit. Let's assume trees. Things that stick up are more likely to be hit by lightning. Since the hammock needs to be tied to two things that stick up, one would be hit by the lightning and the other not. The hammock is now... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to temporarily mark a trail? Today GPS systems are relatively cheap and widely available. You don't even need a dedicated GPS receiver. For example, I often use a Android tablet with a built-in GPS, and software that can record waypoints and tracks on pre-loaded maps. So the answer is, record the lat/lon coordinates of the sp... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are some blind-friendly wildlife trails in or including Massachusetts? I'm not sure what exactly makes a trail more blind-friendly as apposed to something like wheelchair-friendly, so I'll answer for handicapped-accessible trails in general. The vast majority of trails are always going to be more rugged and not aimed at people with handicaps that prevent them from trav... (more)	—	about 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the difference between a Pass and a Col? Both words refer to the same topography, which is a saddle point. The land goes up in two opposite directions, and down in the two other opposite directions. To me at least, a col is just this basic topography. However, a pass implies the saddle point is a reasonable travel connection between the ... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is there any reason that a wild boars would charge the tent? I have never heard of wild boars charging a tent. I really don't imagine that happening, assuming there isn't a human visibly standing in the doorway or something. Wild boars predominantly charge to protect their young. A person walking around near them could be seen as a threat, but not a fixed o... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Where and when can I see the most seals in Cape Cod, Massachusetts? Seals appear at various times in various places on Cape Cod. There isn't a guaranteed time and place to see seals, but some spots are better than others. For example, this picture was taken at Head of the Meadow Beach in the Cape Cod National Seashore: This is just one subgroup I captured togeth... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is this mountain seen from above the Banks Lake region of Washington State? It's definitely one of the cascade peaks, which are all old volcanoes. The question is which one. As others have pointed out Mt Baker is a possibility. Another might be Mt Hood. It's often not so easy to tell where you are in a commercial airline flight. You could have been further south than yo... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do you assess the weather when getting an alpine start? It's usually not that hard to detect clouds at night after your eyes have adjusted to the darkness. So assessing weather at night is not much different from doing it when the sun is out. However, the real problem is that morning weather is a poor indicator of what is to come that day. Morning weat... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is a "pace" counter and how does it work? It sounds like you are referring to a pedometer. These things basically count footsteps or strides. The purpose is usually to infer distance walked or hiked, although there is some error in going from number of strides to distance. Old style all-mechanical pedometers used a small weight to sense v... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Where to camp for almost free on the surroundings of Los Angeles? Your requirements are conflicting. Think about it. It costs money to build showers and toilets and to provide running water. It's quite unlikely that someone or some organization is going to build a campground with the amenities you want, then let everyone camp there for free, especially close to ... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Hiking uphill, two choices of trails: how to deal with each one? It is impossible to generalize which will make someone feel more tired. That depends on how fast you go, how you handle the intermittent steep parts, etc. You may feel more tired from trail A because you tend to do it at a faster pace, for example. In any case, I'd want to go up trail B and down t... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What's the policy and cost regarding picnic area in US regional parks? The vast majority of picnic sites are available on a first-come first-served basis. This is true across the many local, state, and federal agencies that provide picnic sites. These sites are for individuals or single families. There is usually a single picnic table and sometimes a fire pit or gril... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What should I do to avoid ticks other than wear particular clothing? Probably the single most important thing I do is to tuck the bottom of my pants into the socks. Ticks like to crawl upwards. If they drop onto your feet, they will crawls upwards on your leg looking for the first bit of soft skin with blood vessels close to the surface. If they can get inside your... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What to be aware of if lightning strikes close to me? It seems you are asking about risks of lightning striking close by, but not directly on you. In other words, the lightning current isn't passing thru you on its way between the ground and the sky. There are certainly risks. I think the two main ones are flying debris and ground currents. The curr... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Canoeing in a thunderstorm I don't know how to compute the odds, but being out on a lake in a lightning storm is a really bad idea. The mountains around the lake aren't going to provide cover. There are several models about how nearby tall object protect you from getting directly hit by lightning. None of these are accurate ... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Do tent colors have functional purposes? Personally I want to be as unobtrusive in the wilderness as possible. There seems to be a lot of focus on, even fanatical devotion to, leave no trace. While bright colors aren't technically leaving a trace once you take the tent down, you are unnecessarily polluting the view of anyone else that hap... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are these tracks in the mud tortoise/turtle tracks? This does look like some sort of turtle. Snapping turtles can easily get to the size you mention, and are fairly common. The picture doesn't give the impression the tracks are really 10 inches apart. They seem narrower than that, which would open the possibility for a number of other turtles. Box... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Optimal timing/routing for a year visiting US national parks? In general, you want to be in the south during winter. Another problem is that parks are more dispersed in the east. One strategy might be to start in the northeast (which basically means Acadia) as late in the season as you can handle, then move down the east coast as the weather gets cooler, gett... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Where can we go backpacking out West under 8,500 feet that has much of the feel of much higher altitudes Since you want more open rocky areas at lower elevation than above treeline in the middle latitudes of the country, you have two choices. As gerrit so aptly pointed out, one choice is to go north. The treeline gets lower as you go north. The second option is to find dryer areas. Fortunately for y... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the laws for backcountry ("dispersed") camping in the US? There is no universal answer. Each property is managed separately, so the only real answer is you have to ask the management of each property that you intend to camp in. By separate property, I mean individual National Forests, for example, not the whole National Forest system. Within any one fore... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: What can I provide to help a robin build her nest? The robin should be quite capable of building the nest on her own. Almost anywhere there should be enough dried grass and small twigs around. It is unlikely your robin is having trouble finding building material. The best thing you can do for the robin family is to give them space. For your own e... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Dispersed camping allowing gathered wood fires within 5 hours of San Francisco? Five hours from San Francisco is enough to reach a good chunk of the Sierras and even further north in the area of Lassen and Shasta. There are large areas of national forest within this range. Generally the national forests will have less restrictions than national parks, particularly popular ones... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Should orienting arrow and meridian lines be parallel on a compass? I picture would greatly help. However, I suspect you are looking at the lines on the part you manually rotate relative to the fixed base part. Good compasses have something you can rotate to set the offset for the local magnetic declination. For example, here in north-central Massachusetts, magnet... (more)	—	almost 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is Gaia GPS inaccurate for distances? GPS is simply not a good way to measure trail distance. This is because the raw GPS fixes have a lot of noise on them. If you take them literally, then you get a much longer distance than you actually moved. If you low pass filter them too much, you cut off corners and get a shorter distance. The... (more)	—	about 8 years ago
Answer	—	A: Does the color of hummingbird nectar make a difference? Most hummingbirds are attracted to red flowers in the wild. Therefore, a hummingbird feeder should mimic red flowers for best results. The color of the "nectar" itself doesn't matter. After all, hummingbirds don't see the nectar in flowers. They see the petals, which guide them to where the necta... (more)	—	about 8 years ago

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