Activity for Kate Gregory‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: What Canadian national/provincial/territorial parks permit random backcountry camping, if any? You need to distinguish between a backcountry campground - a bunch of sites together - and a backcountry campsite. In Algonquin, while you may only camp on designated sites, you are all alone as though you had chosen a random place. You reserve a particular lake, which could have anywhere from a hand... (more)	—	almost 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Logic behind hikers yielding to horses? Generally "X gives way to Y" rules can be found not just on trails but on open water (steam gives way to sail) and in rivers and channels, even on city sidewalks. They seem to be based on these (potentially contradictory) reasons: slower movers should allow faster movers to pass them and carry on a... (more)	—	almost 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to preserve cheese while backpacking? I buy small bricks of "light" cheese (typically cheddar; we have also tried mozzarella) and keep them sealed as long as possible. (The lower fat cheeses are less likely to sweat beads of oil on a hot day. This isn't about going bad but it doesn't look nice.) After opening a sealed pack I put it in a ... (more)	—	almost 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to prepare for a 1 day 10 mi hike around Gettysburg, PA? I'm not 74, but I'm closer to it than to 24. If you can walk for an hour easily, you can probably walk for 10 hours easily. That's basically how humans are built - we can walk the entire time we are awake (unlike our ancient prey, who literally cannot do that.) Some people can't walk for an hour, but... (more)	—	about 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Splitting up weight hiking as a couple/mixed gender group I face this problem not for hiking, but for portaging. That is a slightly different situation, but not entirely different. We often went as two families: 4 adults and as many as 5 children. Not only could some children not carry anything, some of them had to be carried. Our approach: separate kitch... (more)	—	about 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are some good gluten-free foods for backpacking? I have several gluten-intolerant people in my life, and though I haven't taken them camping, here's how I would feed them. Breakfast: for a short trip, bring some gluten-free muffins or bagels. For a longer trip, learn how to make a dough (premix the rice flour, xanthan gum etc at home) you can rise... (more)	—	about 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is a tarp necessary if you have a tent with a rainfly and a footprint? I don't take a tarp to protect my tent, I take it to create another dry area outside - typically for cooking and eating. It can also create shade for cooking, eating, and just lounging around. (On a rainy day I'll lounge around in the tent if anywhere, but on a nice day there are lots of options.) P... (more)	—	about 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: What's the maximum temperature difference wind-chill can account for? No there is no limit to the math of wind chill, though there is a maximum wind speed that has ever been observed. Here is what wind chill is. Imagine you have a hot cup of coffee. You can leave it at room temperature for a while and it will cool down to where you can drink it. Or, you can put it in ... (more)	—	about 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: How water proof are these kinds of tents? It's hard to know what it is about that picture you consider partial. Is it the triangular opening through which you can see the door? Or, more significantly in my opinion, the fact that the fly doesn't come down to the ground? My tent is an Alpine Meadows. It looks like this: (picture from a cla... (more)	—	about 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can the sheer existence of snow lead to dehydration? If being in air below 0C is not normal for you, the difference is probably caused by breathing through your mouth vs your nose. Where there is visible snow, it's colder than 0C. You can feel uncomfortable in your nose breathing in this cold. You won't actually get ice crystals forming in your nose, ... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: How do you dry wet socks when camping/backpacking if it's raining and the socks cannot be hung to dry outside I have a pair of rings inside my tent up at the top that allow me to string a clothesline - I use a hockey lace and leave it in place all the time. I can then hang things up inside my tent. On a sunny day, this is far slower than hanging them outside, but on a rainy day it is obviously quicker than o... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I boost morale on long backpacking trips? On canoeing trips, especially with a lot of people, I schedule at least one "stay put" day for every two or three moving days. This allows different people to do different things: hike up to a hilltop, lookout, waterfall etc - the stop is strategically positioned to put this side trip in reach, and... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Will the benefit of an axe outweigh the drawbacks and win over a large knife? I have never taken an axe or hatchet camping with me, and I canoe-camp and car camp where space and weight are far less an issue than they are for hikers. In addition to weight and space there is the safety issue using a heavy tool that you swing hard. I use a folding saw (and carry spare blades) an... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Car camping meal ideas? My preferences are to minimize stove time. To my mind if you have a stove and a cooler that's luxury and you should have no problems at all. In the mornings I like to just boil a kettle, no stove at lunch, and full on cooking for dinner. Breakfast. Boil a kettle for tea or instant coffee. Also use t... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Sweating in sleeping bag Plenty of places sell sleeping bag liners. Sometimes they are designed to make the bag warmer, other times to be more absorbent. For example, Mountain Equipment co-op sells quite a few, some of which are cotton and mention "absorbency" and "comfort" in their descriptions. I don't doubt that other sup... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Any tips to reduce chance that I have to get up and pee in the night (not counting dehydration, of course) Three things pee right before you go to sleep. I know it seems obvious, but people forget keep warm and sleep well. You can wake up just bursting to pee in the morning, or you can wake up kinda needing to pee at 3am and you can't get back to sleep. The sounder you sleep the more likely you can slee... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Question	—	How would you evaluate sailing lessons for adults? I am lucky enough to live within an hour of several cities (or large towns) on Lake Ontario, and near "cottage country" which is full of lakes. I'm considering a learn-to-sail program this summer. A quick search reveals a large array of possibilities, all requiring about an hour's drive each way. Som... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Experiences hiking with a baby: diapers I've carried them out, and I've burned them in the nightly fires we were having anyway. This was canoe-camping rather than hiking, so weight was less of an issue - but a weeklong trip accumulating diapers from two toddlers: smell was a problem. We used a dedicated bag for them, and kept it well away ... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: What do you do if the fire does get "out of control"? I see three priorities: Make sure no one gets hurt Make sure possessions needed for survival (food, tents) are not destroyed Make sure the fire doesn't spread further and become a forest fire If the campsite you're using is an officially-sanctioned one, this last is probably the least likely to b... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I acclimatize to cold? I am not sure why you want to do this, but I have noticed that in a group of people in cool (not cold) weather eg 5 C which is 41 F, those who live in places with a very cold winter (rural Ontario like me, Winnipeg) are not even zipping up their coats while those who live in year-round warm places (T... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can you make a MSR WhisperLite stove simmer? When I get to the "simmer" part of cooking on the Whisperlite, I take the pot off the stove, put the lid on, and wrap it in a towel including underneath and on top. Whatever I am cooking will stay simmery for at least 20-30 minutes that way. It's great for making a sauce with dehydrated ingredients. ... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the fastest style of sled? If all you want is to go fast, look for something with ridges or raised runners on the bottom so it will have less snow contact. However you may find it hard to steer - it will pretty much just go straight down the hill unless you lean wildly, which may cause you to fall over. $20 The discs are mo... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are some effective ways of reducing itching from a mosquito bite? I use Solarcaine, which contains a local anesthetic, on both mosquito bites and sunburn. Just don't get any in your eye, nose, or other tender areas. It's sold for sunburn relief but works just as well for preventing itching. It's readily available in Canada and this page lists some brand names a... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Winter food: which types of food are less inclined to freeze? The big guideline for you will be water content. Dried food, with little or no water, won't freeze. Fresh fruit and vegetables, eggs, peanut butter and so on probably will. In most cases, freezing will hurt the quality (consider a raw egg, raw apple, or raw carrot) and certainly repeated freeze-thaw ... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: What dried vegetarian foods have the highest ratio of calories to volume? Peanut butter has good calories. Dried beans are good too though they take a long time to prep and cook. You can home dry any vegetable - carrots, tomatoes, corn, mushrooms etc. I also take tomato leathers - mix canned tomato sauce and paste then prep like a fruit leather - and add to boiling water t... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is a varied diet necessary while backpacking? I would split your nutritional needs into long, medium, and short term. Things like Vitamin C and Vitamin A are long term. A week or two of being short on them will not cause you problems during the trip, nor afterwards when you return to your normal eating patterns. You can essentially ignore them,... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: What can I do to keep my hands warm while using touchscreens in the winter? Two suggestions. You can get fingerless gloves that also are mittens. Here's a child version so you can see how they work: Second, you can try to get a touchscreen that works with gloves. For example the Nokia Lumia made quite a big deal out of this at their launch. It makes sense that people i... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to decrease the risk of being injured by a Moose? The primary way people die in a moose encounter is in car accidents. When a car hts a moose, because their legs are so long, generally the moose's body slides across the hood and collides with the windshield and people. Combined with the larger weight of a moose compared to a deer or other wildlife, ... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Apart from down, is there any outdoor material that should not be stored stuffed? Thermarest and other self inflating foams should be stored inflated, not deflated and rolled up. Generally anything that has a small form and a large form, and is expected to transform into the large form on its own should be stored in its large form. (So an air mattress you inflate can be stored in ... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is a freestanding tent and why should I want one? A free standing tent can be put up in a location that won't let you put pegs into the ground, such as on a rocky surface, because it establishes structure of its own and the pegs are just to keep it from blowing away. You can tie the tent to rocks or trees if pegs won't go into the ground. In a pinch... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I build a safe, effective igloo? Building an igloo requires: the right snow training to know what the right snow is a snow knife some practice building the walls so that they taper in yet are supported as you go In the absence of training and practice, which I would posit is very rare, go with a quinzy instead. You dig snow a... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to estimate distance in sea On water, you can use the curvature of the earth to help you, and change your height instead of moving. According to the Boat Safe Kids web site, the formula for how far away the visible horizon is over water (in other words, how far you can see) is 1.17 sqrt(eye height in feet) = (distance in ... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Bending wood, how do I know it is far enough? When I built my canoe, the front and back keel stems needed to be bent. I steamed the wood by putting it in some ABS pipe and putting that over a kettle. It's been over 25 years, but I think there was cloth stuffed at the top of the pipe to keep the steam in, or something like that. I left the wood s... (more)	—	over 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is there any repellent against wasps, bees and hornets? My mother swears by a combination wasp-repellant and sunscreen that she buys from Boots in England. I see they also carry wasp repellant alone, at http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Pharmaceuticals-Repel-Insect-Repellent-Spray-Wasp-120ml-1207452/#detailedInfo You could poke around a little on sites lik... (more)	—	almost 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: The best solution for carrying a D-SLR when hiking We use a padded bag that goes around the waist like the dreaded fanny pack. It's handy to keep snacks, first aid kit, and so on in, as well as the camera. Here's the sort of thing I'm thinking of, though it's not the one we use: http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/Packs/CameraBags/PRD5027-259/mountainsmit... (more)	—	almost 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the ultimate car camping bed solution -- for two people? When we car camp the night before a canoe-camping trip, we bring an extra comforter from home and put it on top of the Thermarests, under our sleeping bags. We also bring pillows. These combine to produce a luxurious sleep as far as we're concerned. I've also slept on my fair share of air mattresses,... (more)	—	almost 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: What practical issues do I need to be aware of when hiking or camping on my own? I would not recommend camping alone if you have not camped before. There is quite a lot of multitasking - in a group of 4 adults often every single one works simultaneously for an hour or so when we reach a campsite - and you could find yourself trying to do things in the dark (which is dangerous) or... (more)	—	almost 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: The outdoors, solitude and dealing with loneliness You don't have to go on a solo trip to experience a little solitude. For example, you can go with a group, and when you're planning the trip, plan for a day during which you will go off on a solo hike, while the others stay at camp and fish or read or the like. Or perhaps it's a day where they all go... (more)	—	almost 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: I put a big gouge in the bow of my canoe going across rocks. How can I fix it? During the trip: duct tape. It's strong and flexible and it's easy to carry 3 or 4 feet with you. I've used it to repair a yoke in the middle of nowhere. Once you're home: a little fiberglass cloth and some epoxy resin. Or if it's more a deep scratch than a gouge, just the resin. (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: What equipment is recommended when camping with a baby? If you aren't in the habit of spending 12-16 hours a day outside then there are quite a few things that you might forget to bring: sunscreen (ok for babies kind) physical sun protection like a sunhat, a parasol you can clamp to the side of a canoe (technically they sell them to clamp to strollers),... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: How should I put out a campfire while away from civilization? If your fire has been burning for several hours in a stone ring, you need to deal not only with putting out flames and cooling embers, but with cooling the stones, which get very hot and could help an ember reignite. There's really no substitute for a lot of water. We use "washing up bowls" that hold... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: Legality of "semi-permanent" wooden structures in state and national forests in the US I will suggest that the legality doesn't even matter if the law permits things other visitors will be uncomfortable with. Since other people come to the site between visits from these friends, any one of those "other people" could decide the site was "too civilized" and undo what's been done. I have ... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are some good tips and techniques for packing a backpack? One option that is super useful when you're travelling in a group is to have different packs for different purposes rather than each person carrying their own stuff. For example we have a "tent pack" and a "kitchen pack". The advantages include: a significant weight difference, which you could use ... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: Cooking by pouring hot water into plastic bags? I use Nalgene bottles (much more heat resistant) for rehydrating dried meat or beans. I pour in boiling water, leave the lid loose until it cools a little (otherwise it shrinks in the bottle walls and cracks them) and then tighten the lid and carry the bottle with me through the day. At dinner time i... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: What's the advantage to a bent-shaft paddle? With a straght shaft paddle, one of two strokes is common: you put the paddle in the water ahead of you sloped like this \ and don't get great efficiency on the first half of the stroke, because it's hard to pull something down when you're above it you skip that whole first half of the stroke and j... (more)	—	about 12 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I keep my iPhone going on a multiday hike? My solution is to let the phone be a phone (and GPS and web browser and ...) and take a camera to be a camera. My camera uses AA batteries, it's simple enough to bring spares, and I have a solar recharger for them too. I can take hundreds of pictures before I need to recharge the batteries. I can tur... (more)	—	about 12 years ago

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