Activity for Ben Crowell‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Question	—	Logic behind hikers yielding to horses? Here in California, a lot of trails have signs with a triangular diagram, showing that cyclists should yield to hikers, and both cyclists and hikers should yield to people on horses. I don't have a problem with yielding to horses, but what is the logic behind this? Not to startle the horse? Not to ge... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Which mid-line knot is best suited for a trucker's hitch? What do you mean by a directional figure 8? Is that a figure 8 on a bight? An overhand on a bight is quite secure if carefully dressed and pre-tensioned on every strand in opposition to every strand on the other side. People rappel off of an offset overhand, which is basically the same knot. It's qu... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Some mobile helper for tree climbing? Interesting question! Here is an article describing the techniques used by arborists. The article describes a number of different techniques and different pieces of gear. I'll describe one specific method, using cheap gear, that is based on techniques that I've used in rock climbing. Buy: a short ... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to get started on canyoning? Although theoretically one can do canyoneering alone, in reality it's not something you can safely start doing all by yourself, especially since you don't have mountaineering or rock climbing experience. So the first thing to do is to try to locate someone more experience with whom you can go. Canyon... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Urbex question: How to protect myself from asbestos? Welcome to outdoors.SE! Older buildings often contain asbestos in solid form, and it may be sealed up (under floorboards, in tape around heating ducts, etc.). As long as it's not ground up into dust, the hazard is minimal. For example, construction workers knocking down a building or remodeling it ca... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Rappelling with an injured arm This is an example of a general topic called self-rescue. There are textbooks on the subject: Reference request: books on self-rescue while climbing . The simplest situation would be where the arm was injured before you started the rappel (as opposed to getting hurt while doing the rappel), and the ... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Question	—	What to do at the top of a sport climb I dabble a little at leading trad, but have never led a sport route. If I do a sport lead, I want to make sure I don't make some stupid mistake when I get to the top. For example, I don't want to drop the rope or miscommunicate what I'm doing to my belayer. Suppose I get to the top of a sport route... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Pros and cons of Tent vs bivvy bag Tents, tarps, and bivvy sacks are three different specialized tools for three different jobs. Tarp I typically prefer a tarp to either a tent or a bivvy sack, but that's because I do most of my camping in California in the summer, when the weather tends to be quite dry. In summer in the Sierra, I u... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: What do I do if I lose my belay plate? One method is to build a brake out of carabiners. The minimum equipment for this is three oval biners plus a locking biner, and the diagrams below show how to construct the system with only this many biners. However, this setup doesn't give much friction, especially with a thin rope, and normally peo... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why should the angle in a rope attached to two anchors be 60 degrees or less? The diagram shows three situations that are easy to understand without knowing a lot of math or physics. In the first example, the angle between the anchor strands is zero. Both anchors pull straight up on the biner, and each supports 50% of the load. In the second example, all three angles are 1... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to carry water in freezing temperatures? In my experience, it generally works fine if I simply use cheap, lightweight water bottles (e.g., a 2-liter soda bottle), and put them inside my pack while I'm hiking. The surrounding material in the pack insulates the bottle from the cold air, and my body heats up the pack, so the water doesn't free... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Looking for a Topographical map resource? Google maps is free as in beer but doesn't usually show hiking trails. Open Street Maps is a free and open source site that works sort of like Wikipedia, and it often has good coverage of hiking trails, but the coverage may be somewhat hit-or-miss. For example, I've put in some trails for specific ar... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: What kind of features should I look for on a good trekking backpack? This is a question whose answer depends a lot on personal style and preferences. I prefer an ultralight style of backpacking. For a week without resupply, I would use my Gossamer gear G4, which is a 66 liter pack that weighs 0.9 lb. It's basically a silnylon sack with two arm straps, plus some nettin... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: Painful leather hiking boots - persevere or give up? Any advice is greatly appreciated; I can't really afford new boots, especially since this experience has taught me I probably shouldn't buy cheap ones, but I really do need some as I keep missing hiking and walking activities. I wouldn't characterize those boots as cheap. 150 pounds is $250, whi... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: What scientific evidence is there about the causes and prevention of running injuries? Factors you can't easily control Some factors that you can't easily control play a clear role. These include genetics, being overweight,[Theisen] or having a previous injury. For example, people who want to lose weight may run in order to burn calories; they can't necessarily lose the weight before ... (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Question	—	What scientific evidence is there about the causes and prevention of running injuries? Running injuries are very common, and runners have many different opinions about what causes them and how to prevent them. What is the actual scientific evidence? (more)	—	over 10 years ago
Answer	—	A: What's the maximum temperature difference wind-chill can account for? Wind chill factors verge on being junk science, especially when interpreted uncritically. However, your physical intuition does make sense, and published formulas and tables do have a property very much like the one you have in mind: as the wind speed increases, the incremental effect of adding a giv... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Do mountains really make their own weather, and if so why? Here in California, our mountains influence our weather in a particular way. We have a Mediterranean climate and big mountain ranges inland. Storms build up out on the Pacific, and they blow in toward the land. Often they hold their moisture until they get to the mountains, at which point they dump i... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Use of gore-tex for a DIY Double-layer hammock If you want waterproofing available to put under you, I would just bring along a 2 mil thickness of plastic for use as a ground sheet. This will be much lighter and cheaper than the same square-footage of goretex. That thickness will tend to get torn on a long trip, so you may want to bring a little ... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there any reliable and/or easy to use "rule of thumb" guides for windchill calculations? The whole concept of wind chill is not very meaningful. This can be obscured by all the fancy-looking formulas, which lend it an air of precision. It's little better than junk science, especially if used uncritically by people who assume that it must be meaningful because it's a mathematical formula.... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Climbing with a much lighter partner? In a gym, the toprope will be wrapped over a cylindrical bar. Some gyms have it just over the top of the bar (180 degrees of contact), while others give it an additional full wrap around (540 degrees of contact). In the former setup, a belayer can hold the static weight of a climber who weighs roughl... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: What are the benefits of Vibram FiveFingers? The whole topic of sports equipment, sports health, and sports injuries is one in which the scientific quality of most of the information tends to be extremely poor. However, there is a group at Harvard that does research on barefoot running, and they have a web page with a lot of good information on... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Question	—	Reference request: books on self-rescue while climbing Can people recommend books or online resources on self-rescue for roped climbing? As a beginning trad leader, I think I should have a basic understanding of topics like how to escape a belay and how to rappel with an injured person. I have the book by Fasulo, and I'm finding it difficult to understan... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to take care of steel crampons? There's one good way to make sure that your crampons last forever and are completely safe against failure in the field, which is to leave them in a closet and never use them. Assuming that you are going to use them, you can try to avoid walking on bare rocks in them. Walking on rocks will dull the p... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Question	—	How to take care of steel crampons? What should I do to increase the lifetime of my crampons, maintain them properly, and check whether they can still be used safely? (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Roping together on an icy path? This is a bad plan for several reasons. YakTrax are not well suited for this situation. YakTrax are more specialized for people who want to go running on city streets in places with cold winters. For mountaineering, they're basically useless. They don't give enough extra traction. Microspikes or cra... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are dark or bright clothings preferable in the desert? Although black clothing absorbs radiation from the sun more than white clothing, this is somewhat offset by the fact that it also emits it more efficiently. Good absorbers are also good emitters. If you're standing in dark shade and the objects in your environment are cooler than the temperature of y... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Formula for rough amount of water to carry on hike? The answer to this question depends completely on the weather and on how plentiful water is on your route. In the Sierra, the answer is typically zero, i.e., there is almost never any need to carry any water on your back. (Nor is there any need to purify water in the Sierra; see https://outdoors.stac... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Tips for a novice backpacker Backpackers all end up evolving their own styles. Personally, I prefer an ultralight style for summer. Some things that differ in this style from the heavier style most people practice: a frameless pack such as a Gossamer Gear G4 very small, lightweight sleeping pad such as the one that comes with ... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Cutting snow steps on slopes There's a discussion of this in Freedom of the Hills. The question refers to snow, but usually this is done on ice (or very hard snow). One reason would be if not everybody in the group has crampons. For example, mountain guides in East Africa usually can't afford crampons. Historically, the techniq... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Planning a Trip with strangers To me, hiking is totally different from the rest of the activities on the list. A hike is just walking. The other possibilities require a lot more technical skill, gear, trust, and experience. In those cases, the most important thing to get a feel for is what the other person's experiences have been.... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I tell when water is contaminated with industrial chemicals without any special equipment? You can't tell by looking, and it's an issue that occurs naturally, not just because of industrial contamination. Even if you're hiking in a pristine environment like a national park, where this kind of man-made contamination isn't likely to be a concern, there can still be contamination from natura... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it realistic to teach yourself rock climbing? Freedom of the Hills is a book about mountaineering, not rock climbing. They overlap somewhat, but they're basically different things. Rock climbing can mean a lot of very different things: climbing on top-rope in a gym; lead-climbing in a gym; outdoor sport climbing; and outdoor trad climbing (which... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: First crampon grade to buy It's good for a question on SE to be focused. However, there is a broader context here, which is that you want your activities to be (a) safe and (b) comfortable and enjoyable, so that you'll want to continue doing winter mountaineering rather than letting your crampons gather dust in a closet. In th... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are there any specific guidelines for edible plants in North America? The answer to your question is no. North America is a huge region. Even California is vast and varied, e.g., we have miner's lettuce at low elevations, but not higher up. For a given subregion, e.g., low altitudes in the Transverse Ranges of California, it's fairly easy to learn enough to identify a ... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Walking through a Thigh-high snow An unhurdled slip-and-drop would be fatal without a doubt. If this is the case, then maybe you need a belay. However, if the snow is sufficiently deep and soft that you're sinking up to your knees, why is it the case that slipping and being unable to self-arrest is so dangerous? In these conditi... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are headaches a bad sign at altitude? 10,000 feet is not very high. Most likely the headache you were experiencing was due to some combination of sleep deprivation, caffeine withdrawal, and unaccustomed exertion and aerobic challenge. It would be unusual to experience any discomfort whatsoever at that altitude. Most people don't need an... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: What precautions should I take to protect myself and my camp from bears? As pointed out by Russell Steen in a comment, the answer to this question really depends completely on what area you're in, which determines what kind of bears are around. It's too bad that the OP never responded by clearing this up. Polar bears and grizzlies are completely different from black bears... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: "Must Have" in a starter Trad Rack You don't need a trad rack of your own in order to follow. If you're climbing with experienced trad leaders who have their own racks, then you also don't need to bring your own rack. If you're going to lead, you just borrow their gear. In your situation, there is really no advantage to buying a lot o... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Carry a larger water bottle or a smaller water bottle for backpacking? Is there a general rule to this for backpacking? No, there isn't any general rule. It depends on a lot of facts, perceptions, and preferences. I guess the water where you hike is unsafe to drink, and filtering is a reasonable way to make it safe. If you prefer to carry 5 liters of water in orde... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why do people who backpack sleep in tents instead of tarps? I sometimes bring a tarp and sometimes a tent. Most of my backpacking is in the summer in the Sierra Nevada, which means most of the time there's no threat of rain and I don't take my tarp or tent out of the backpack. When there are bugs, I typically sleep with a mosquito head net over my face. If i... (more)	—	almost 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Are Ice grips worth buying? I have a pair of microspikes, and have a friend who has owned both microspikes and yaktrax. The impression I get is that yaktrax are meant for walking around town on sidewalks covered with snow and ice, whereas microspikes are more for trails and steep terrain. Microspikes have spikes, yaktrax don't.... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is caffeine helpful or hurtful when backpacking? There are various popular beliefs that alcoholic and caffeinated drinks "don't count" for hydration because alcohol and caffeine dehydrate you. In fact, beer consumed in moderation has a hydrating, rather than a dehydrating, effect,[Valtin 2002] and laboratory studies have shown that caffeinated soda... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is the strength of an ATC belay device when used in a guide mode/multi-pitch setup? Welcome to outdoors.SE! It occurred to me that the entire weight of a climber is resting on the strength of the ATC clip and not on any carabiner. This is not quite right. My first quibble is that in the situation you describe where there was slack in the rope, the load is dynamic, so it's much... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: Minimal northwest mountain camping with emerg. bivvy and tarp? Among people I've talked to who have tried bivy sacks, none have had anything good to say about them. Tarping is a great way to save weight compared to bringing a tent, but putting up a tarp is time-consuming, requires practice, and is somewhat dependent on your surroundings (e.g., whether there are ... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Question	—	Placing protection efficiently when leading trad? I'm a beginning trad leader, having done about five easy fifth class leads. I've had some formal instruction, but don't currently have access to a teacher or mentor. I'm finding that I'm extremely slow as a leader, even when the climbing is easy, and I'm wondering whether this is can be improved by d... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to use a Rap Ring It's not complicated. Let's say you're using a long piece of webbing to build the anchor. Before you tie the ends of the webbing to make a loop, you put the webbing through the rap ring. Then when you form the loop, the ring is linked into it. When you form the master point of the anchor (i.e., the l... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Question	—	Anchor without cordelette? I have the John Long book on climbing anchors and also a couple of others that describe the subject more briefly (Pesterfield, Traditional Lead Climbing, and Freedom of the Hills). When it comes to constructing a redundant anchor, they all seem to describe a process in which you place several nuts an... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: How safe is sleeping in bear country? With the exceptions of grizzly bears and polar bears, bears are nuisance animals that are after your food. They have no interest in you except as a source of food or as an obstacle to obtaining your food. In specific, extremely popular camping areas (e.g., Yosemite Valley), bears become habituated to... (more)	—	about 11 years ago
Answer	—	A: What is a typical elongation of a dynamic climbing rope? You have a couple of perfectly good answers here from DJBunk and Mr.Wizard. However, it appears from your question that you need a better understanding of why or how you would buy a rope with certain specs in terms of elongation. The elasticity of a dynamic rope is a compromise. If it's too elastic, ... (more)	—	about 11 years ago

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