Activity for Olin Lathrop
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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A: Is my tent pole a lightning rod? To answer your other questions: No, don't insulate the pole at the bottom with a sandal, and yes, you are overthinking this. In the relatively unlikely (but possible) event that lightning does stike your tent pole, you want the current to be conducted to ground as easily as possible. If not, it mig... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: What should I do when caught in lightning while in my tent? The first thing to do is to not pitch your tent in the middle of a flat area when there is a chance of thunderstorms. Sometimes that's not so easy, but that doesn't make it any less a good thing to do. For a properly sited tent, the best thing to do during a thunderstorm is to stay put. Lightning ... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: Swimming across a strong current I would avoid swimming across if possible. For fording the stream, find a wide and shallow section. If you have a group of people, interlock arms and walk across together with the line of the group being parallel to the stream. This gives each person stability up/down stream, which is the directio... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: Ways of attaching a DSLR on a ACT Trail 32 backpack Personally I would not want to mount a camera on a backpack. Sooner or later you're going to slip or bump into something and the camera is going to get hurt. Mounted on the backpack doesn't sound like it will be easily available. If you're not walking around ready to take a picture as the right si... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: Depth Perception in the Mountains Unless you're talking way above treeline, you can get some idea by what the vegetation looks like at the top or how far the peak seems to be above the treeline. This works reasonably well in the White Mountains of NH where treeline is about 5000 feet and the tallest mountains a bit over 6000 feet. ... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: How to dry wet shoes quickly? Consider whether you really need to have dry shoes before going thru all the trouble. In the winter, wet footwear can be a serious problem. However, when it's warm out there is really no danger from wet shoes. The only issue may be that you simply don't like the feel of it. In situations where it... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: How much water should be carried while hiking in the desert? I visit AZ every summer and include some hikes in the desert when I'm there. First, don't just take water. That can lead to electrolyte loss, as actually happened to me the first year I did this. Now I dissolve some gatorade powder in the water, and I haven't had that problem since. I usually mix... (more) |
— | about 10 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 is no such place. 40-60°F is a very narrow range. 20°F can be just from day and night variation, which leaves basically nothing for seasonal variation. Even if you meant daytime highs, I still don't think there is any place on earth that fits this description, let alone anywhere in t... (more) |
— | about 10 years ago |
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A: Large Tents and Traditional Campsites I would at least look into multiple smaller tents instead of a single large tent to handle all. Other than the cat thing (I really don't know how to respond to that), I'd probably have one tent for sleeping, and another for the "office". A third thing that isn't really a full tent but more just a c... (more) |
— | about 10 years ago |
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A: What are good designs for volunteer-buildable trail bridges? Here is a bridge design we (the Town of Groton Massachusetts Trails Committee) used recently that seems to work. It feels plenty strong and sturdy when walking on it. The first bridge of this kind was only installed two months ago, so we don't yet have any direct evidence how long it lasts. Howeve... (more) |
— | about 10 years ago |
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What are good designs for volunteer-buildable trail bridges? We have several places on local trails maintained by volunteers where the trail crosses a small stream or ditch. In these places the stream is a bit too wide and deep to expect people to jump accross. We want to install small bridges accross the streams, but aren't structural engineers. What are p... (more) |
— | about 10 years ago |
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A: Practical uses for urine Whatever you do, DO NOT DRINK URINE. People who suggest this, including a example I saw on a survival show, are just plain wrong. The job of your kidneys is to take out the trash. This trash is in the form of various chemicals that are biproducts of other parts of the body doing their jobs. Energ... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Flashlight or headlamp for night hiking? I have used both for night hiking, and I like a headlamp way better. The main reasons are that it leaves the hands free, and the light is aiming roughly in the direction I'm looking. I made my own headlamp with 4 white LEDs in series: This seems to be a good brightness for hiking and seeing the ... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Why do people who backpack sleep in tents instead of tarps? As others have already noted, keeping out mosquitos can be a big deal in some locations at some times of the year. However, when I go camping around Arizona in the summer that's not the reason that I use a small tent instead of a tarp. The biggest reason in this case is larger critters that can hur... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: How dangerous is a band of coyotes to a lone, unarmed human? Coyotes now live in our area in significant numbers. There was a den on our property this winter, and a few months ago there were four pups romping around in our back yard. We hear them howling pretty much every night. I've been in the woods and in open fields with coyotes around and never felt th... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Carry a larger water bottle or a smaller water bottle for backpacking? This depends greatly on where you will be going and therefore how available water is. Dehydration is a serious issue, so if in doubt bring a little extra. For example, if you're going to be hiking in the Arizona desert in summer, figure you're not going to find any water and you have to bring all t... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: How to prepare for and survive wildfire? This isn't a direct answer to the question, but I want to point out that most ordinary forest fires pose little danger to humans. It is the relatively unusual crown fires which can be very dangerous. In generally dry pine forests, like many parts of the western US, forest fire is a natural and rela... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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How to find new poles for old tent? I have a nice and small tent I really like that is around 30 years old. It is from Sierra West, but I don't remember the model name. Here is a picture so that you can see the size and general construction: This tent is held up with two bows of fiberglass rods that fit into each other. A small b... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: Dealing with rashes between thighs and around the groin I found the best answer is tight underwear made from a slippery fabric with legs that extend just far enough down to cover where things rub in the crotch area. I currently have a pair of Underarmor brand that work very well. They are made of a stretchy but slick synthetic fabric. The garment stays... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: Car camping meal ideas? You left out a lot of particulars, like who exactly "we" is and whether you expect to camp for several days away from civilization, or will drive around enough that getting to a grocery store once a day or two isn't a problem. I have a similar situation (within the course details you provided) every... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: Is it possible to develop immunity against mosquitos? Yes, increased exposure can reduce the ellergic reaction that results in the itching and swelling. The very first time we are bitten by a mosquito, nothing happens. That triggers the immune system in a way that subsequent bytes cause a allergic response. There are roughly two levels of "immunity" ... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: What should I do for a dislocated shoulder? You don't want to immobilize a dislocated shoulder. You really need to fix it. Even if held at just the right angle and not being jostled around, a dislocated shoulder hurts. After a while the muscles will tighten, then start spasming periodically. Then it really hurts and it becomes much more di... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: Where to keep valuables when separated from them This isn't a direct answer, but a relevant anecdote. Many years ago in college I went with some friends to a nearby state park with a lake. After a while, we decided to walk around the lake a bit away from the crowds at the official lifeguard-patrolled beach. We got to a nice spot to get into the ... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: What's the problem with electrolyte imbalance and how do I mitigate it? I'll weigh in on the Gatorade part. No, you don't need Gatorade, or any other drink with the right salts in it. However, you do need to replace the salts somehow. I use Gatorade because it's convenient (I have to carry the water anyway), the amount of electrolytes I need to replace is well matched... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: Dealing with wildlife in the desert of California/Nevada in general and in the White Mountains in particular I live in the northeast US, but have done a bunch of hiking in the desert of AZ and NM. Big animals aren't really the problem. Most everything like that will run away from you. Camping with bears around is something you have to think about, but that is not really different from New England. In fa... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: Camping in (US) national forests Camping regulations vary significantly between different national forests. The only way to know what is allowed is to ask each forest you plan to visit. For example, in the White Mountain National Forest of NH, car camping is highly restricted. It is only allowed in designated areas and along a ve... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: What kind of mementos, if any, am I allowed to collect from State and National parks in small quantities? Generally in a national part, national monument, or official wilderness area in the US, don't take anything. These areas are managed with preservation being a high or the highest goal. We simply can't have every human on earth take even a small rock. All parts of the environment are connected. No... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: Is it ever safe to let a hypothermic person sleep? I am not a doctor, so I can only repeat what I think I understood from lectures by those that do have medical training. I'm pretty sure I remember Dr Murray Hamlett (I highly recommend attending one of his lectures, if he's still doing them. He is not only a leader and pioneer in cold weather medic... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: Do bag liners add the same warmth value to all sleeping bags? I'd say yes, it would add roughly the same temperature boost to all bags. This is of course assuming other conditions are the same, like the surface you are on, stillness of the air, etc. Short of the material actually changing physically (like down getting more fluffy), one piece of insulating mat... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: What areas in the south-western US are the wildest? Other than the airplane overflights, this will be pretty easy to see by looking at a map. I don't know why you care about stuff like commercial jetliners because they are 5-8 miles up, hard to see, and don't seem to bother wildlife any. As for roads, looking at a map is a good guide. Few roads mea... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: Good resources for information about hiking trails near Boston I live about 35 miles northwest of Boston, so I can answer this. The first thing you should do is join the Boston Chapter of the Appalachian Mountian Club (AMC). Once you are a member, you will have access to the extensive list of hikes they run. There will be a bunch in the White Mountains of NH,... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: How to create campfire which will burn overnight? To get a long lasting fire, you have to limit the cumbustion somehow. Think embers as apposed to much flame. Wood stoves are specifically engineered to allow you to control the rate of combustion. This is done by controlling the air intake to the fire, which limits oxygen, which limits the combust... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What is the main purpose of the foam inside a self-inflating mat? I have a self-inflating mat, and I think the foam serves three purposes. In order of importance: It sets the shape of the mat when inflated. Think of the foam as limiting how far the opposite walls of the mat can be in any one place. If you didn't have this, the mat would become more of a circula... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Minimizing impact of small groups on wilderness areas You say you go to wild places to get away from trails, but that is actually the root problem. One purpose of trails is to funnel all the human use to narrow areas to minimize the overall damage. Lots of places have policies that you need to stay on the trail for this reason. This is especially imp... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Packing delicate equipment for a hike There is little point in bringing a camera if you're just going to pack it away. The best place for a camera is around your neck and shoulder when you're hiking and not immediately taking pictures. When you want to be a little more ready, just aound the neck is better. However, that's not so good ... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Is a national forest always a forest? No, a "national forest" here in the US is a legal designation and does not mean the land is actually covered with trees (a forest). In the US, there are quite a number of governmental divisions that own and manage land that is open to the public to various degrees. Sticking just to the larger feder... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Long distance hiking trail markings in North America or parts thereof There is no standard for the color and shape of blazes used to mark trails in the US. Generally, trails are managed locally, so at best a set of blazes follows a pattern in a particular area. A few longer trails have well known consistant blazes the whole length. The AT, for example, uses a vertic... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Interactive online map of long-distance / marked trails against best freely available topographic map background I don't know of a site that lists all trails in the US. This is probably because trails are managed by the same patchwork of authority that manages the land. There are various federal, state, regional, town, and private groups that manage land that contains trails open to the public. The best I ca... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Hiking popularity in North America vs. Europe Camping restrictions and permits to enter particular areas are actually very rare when you look at the total land area. I believe in every case these are done only to prevent degradation caused by excessive use. By definition, these systems are therefore in place in popular areas, which is why you ... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Can I mix fuels when using the MSR whisperlite international stove? The issue here isn't about mixing fuels since white gas basically is gasoline. The difference is that commonly available "gasoline" as used in cars for example, contains a lot of additives. These can leave residue and deposits, cause corrosion, and make the combustion products more toxic. This is ... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Water-resistant shoes for Trekking in New Zealand Think about whether it really matters if your feet stay dry. Will this be in warm enough weather when trenchfoot and frostbite are not problems? If so, the simplest answer may be to let the feet get wet. Wet or damp feet by themselves is not really a problem. I do most of my hiking in New England... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Should I be more careful about postholing during winter hikes? This is really up to you, but I think if postholing is enough of a issue it would be good to wear snowshoes. If nothing else, it just makes things easier. One problem of postholing can be sometimes difficulty in getting out. You're not likely to actually get hurt, because "falling" onto the snow i... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: If lost in the wilderness, what is the first thing I should do? Yes, first stop to not make things worse, take a deep breath, and collect your thoughts. After that it depends a lot on the situation. I don't like most of the other answers because they assumed certain situations without stating their assumptions. What you should do next depends on a lot of thing... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: How much heat can a candle lantern provide while winter camping? Getting 10°F (6°C) temperature rise from a candle in even the smallest of tents is clearly nonsense. Do the math. Figure a candle puts out about 80 W. Of course there is large variation from candle to candle, but this is in the reasonable range for a typical modern paraffin candle. Let's... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What is the proper way to tarp tent to avoid condensation? Let's look at the physics behind where all the condensation came from. At night the air gets colder, but the ground has a lot of "thermal mass", so stays much closer to the average day/night temperature. This means at night the moisture from the ground will be entering the air at the ground, but th... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Is it dangerous to sleep in a tent alone in a forest in -20°C? Yes, it is definitely doable. -20°C is only -4°F. The real question is whether it is doable by you at the level of discomfort and hassle you are willing to put up with. Only you can answer that. At best we can point out what the hassles and discomforts will be. First, your fear of dying ... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: How to decrease the risk of being injured by a Moose? This is a great example of technically true statistics being misleading. I'll take their word for it that more people get injured by moose than any other animal except hippos. However, I strongly suspect that most moose injuries are due to automobile collisions with moose. Moose have evolved to be... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Trail maintenance: what is considered inappropriate when maintaining a trail? It's always OK to move fallen debris from the trail, assuming you are sure you are on a real official trail. Make sure you don't accidentally remove "brushed in" trail entrances. That is where brush was deliberately piled so that a trail is not used, hopefully eventually reverting to just woods aga... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Are there any exceptions to the layer principle? It's not clear what you think the layer principle, is but you don't have to dress in layers. It's the performance of the complete stackup that matters. In cold weather, this could be achieved, for example, by a polypro sweater then wool sweater then wind breaker, or with a single "winter" jacket. ... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: The outdoors, solitude and dealing with loneliness Being alone in the wilderness and being there with a group or with friends are two different experiences, each with their own merits and drawbacks. You have experiences with groups already, so I'll talk about going out alone. I do this much more often than going into the wilderness with others. Wh... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |