Activity for Voracâ€
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edit | Post #41771 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #41179 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Edit | Post #40170 | Initial revision | — | over 4 years ago |
| Question | — |
What materials are suitable for constructing a sleeping mat? This weekend I forgot my expanded-foam sleeping mat and was cold during the night. The environment was an autumn forest. There were plenty of dry fallen branches. However, I couldn't work out a way to make a soft bed of them. Instead, I imagine they would have pierced my sleeping bag. This was not ... (more) |
— | over 8 years ago |
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A: Blizzard Chaser: What to take on a 5-hour Blizzard Hike? tl;dr: concrete advice under the horizontal line Agreeing with the other answers, alcohol is best left for later because it can disorientate you. And among strength, endurance, body type, environment awareness, wisdom - the last is by far the most important when surviving. A month ago I was the clo... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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What is the correct ice axe grip when descending? It is a common advice to handle your ice axe with the pick facing to the rear. Furthermore, having a single technique of self-arrest aids in training and being prepared for an emergency situation. However, the instructions on the newly purchased Grivel hiking ice axe of a friend advise the following... (more) |
— | almost 9 years ago |
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How do I reliably diagnose my own dehydration? Drinking too much (and wasting it) or insufficient water quantity can be dangerous. The current method that I am using to judge if I am doing it correctly is urine colour: clear white - if water is not abundant, you are wasting it! very light yellow - correct "setting" dark yellow - dehydra... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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Is stringing a recurve without a stringer damaging to the bow? This is my first bow - it's a low-end recurve with a draw weight of 14kg nominal. At the shop they told me not to string it by bracing it against my foot, because the limbs get twisted sideways. They recommended I purchase a stringer. However, I am a bit skeptical. Firstly, at the training grounds t... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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Should compound bows be unstrung when not shooting? I know that a recurve bow should have its string removed when not shooting, so that it does not stretch and the limbs do not experience plastic deformation. On the other hand, the procedure to unstring, string and tune a compound bow looks too involving to be performed on daily bases How often shoul... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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How to hide a trail turn? There is a trail (Not really a "trail" as such), adjacent to my appartment I am lucky to be by a 100m x 500m patch of earth (not an official park), that is not built on. Swerving from the trail, where people walk their dogs, there is a tiny opening, covered by a tree. I like it a lot and would like t... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
| Question | — |
How do membrane-based boots breathe? Yesterday I was shopping for breathable waterproof boots and this is what the salesperson explained to me. The shoe material does NOT matter. The damp air from the foot goes through the membrane (Gore-Tex) to an intermediate "pocket" between the membrane and the outside shell of the shoe. Once the sh... (more) |
— | over 9 years ago |
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How to camp in wolf country? How safe is sleeping in bear country? I, too, like to sleep in a bivy sack under the stars. And while during the summer I am not too concerned about wolves (in spite of locals reporting attacked horses and cattle), the winter scares me. Recently, along with one more person, we slept for 3 nights... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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What is the purpose of the shoulder strap upper adjustment? On both of my backpacks (40L and 100L) the construction is as in the picture. The shoulder straps are connected to the backpack body at some point A on the back of the backpack. Separately, there are adjustment straps, that connect some upper part of the shoulder straps to the top of the backpack (... (more) |
— | almost 10 years ago |
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A: When should you use gear to climb a tree? People perish from falling from 0 meters (just standing, you faint and the back of the head hits the concrete). Others can jump from roofs and continue running (parkour guys). Therefore, I think this is a question of confidence. Cars are among the biggest killers, but we do not generally wear prote... (more) |
— | about 10 years ago |
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A: How should I pack for a week of backpacking in the rain? Non-cheep correct-size raincoat. Mine is a decent quality (maybe 40 euro), but is too small for me and my trousers get soaked. Also, it should cover the backpack, as backpack-only rain-protection doesn't work in heavy rain - water finds it's way. Gaiters and boots, obviously. One more pair of socks ... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Tent placement? Camping under a tree protects against rain wind morning dew heavy sun (worst on beaches) you can hide your bike from the rain ;) But you lose the sight of the stars. If rain is possible, it is a good idea to try to imagine how will the water be flowing downhill and not camp in its way. On the t... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Are carabiners useful tools to have in the wilderness? If so, what would they be used for? Store your sandals or boots on the hip belt of your pack, while walking barefoot. Hook small items to your pants belt rings - while camping or in the city. Hook the nylon pouch, used to collect rubbish, to a tree branch (no one will step in it). Hang your sunglasses pouch to the plastic rings on the... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Add more external space to my ACT Trail 32 Carabiners on the shoulder straps can add two bags of easy-access items. Just don't put more than several kilograms inside, the shoulder straps soft mesh could get damaged. Carabiners on the waist strap can comfortably fit sandals or other shoes. Get the lightest carabiners possible, for example t... (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: Splitting up weight hiking as a couple/mixed gender group I think that a fair way to split the weight between group members is ... everyone to carry their own. Including food, clothes, bedroll, part of the tent. This prevents the inexperienced and unfit new hikers form bringing a ton of cosmetics, drinks, clothes. (more) |
— | over 10 years ago |
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A: What are some effective ways of removing stains from my bush knife? Polishing a blade means sanding it with very fine compound (more than 2000 factor). Specialized pastes exist just for that. For example: (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: How to estimate is the branch thick enough to stand on it? I don't think estimating is the correct approach to climbing trees. See, from mechanics, the tree branch is a cantilever beam. So comparing branches could be done if stepping only at the base of it, only with one foot. Then there is the variable is the branch live or dried out. Lastly, calculati... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: Tips for a novice backpacker For a 3-day hikes, firstly you need a medium-sized backpack. Somewhere between 40 and 60L. Next, you need comfortable hiking shoes, gaiters and a raincoat. Also sunglasses and a nice summer hat. For winter hiking it's much more. To be safe, you need proper winter shoes, and ice axe, crampons, snow... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
| Question | — |
Is there a standard set of light signals for mountaineers? On a recent winter backpacking trip there was some confusion and danger of separation of the group. The group had not walked together before. Some members were not very experienced, while others were quite fit. The group separated several times, during night time. Later days there were fogs. This ... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: How to wash hiking boots Dear Mr. Vitkov, we would rather suggest to proceed in this way: wrinkle with a brush the external part in order to leave out the dirty parts; then you need to take out the Insole and wash the Insole and the internal part of the boot with some detergent; for the external part of t... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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How to wash hiking boots I have a pair of GriSport boots. They are natural leather, with SimpaTex membrane. I use them for biking, weekend hikes and general wear in the winter in the city: salt and car oils everywhere. They are beginning to smell a little. Also, I reckon, the membrane is full of dirt and rubble and does not... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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Do higher shoes breathe less? I wonder about the breathe ability of low (=ankle high) versus high (=20cm above the ankle) hiking shoes. Do high shoes breathe less in the area of the foot (and not the shin)? What are the mechanisms of breathing of the shoe i.e. what moves the air, moisture in and out of a shoe? (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: Walking up the slopes. To walk brisk or to walk slow? This answer address efficiency i.e. to climb quickly, without getting too tired. It is something in between an answer and a comment. One advantage of walking consistently is thermal balance. That's how some old people in my area hike for several hours in the snow, wearing only shoes and short pants.... (more) |
— | almost 11 years ago |
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A: What are the first aid precautions to be taken in case of a snake bite? I am not familiar with the reptiles around the world. I can however, share the results of my (informal) research (read: googling) of several years ago. I did that, because I was going alone in the summer forest several hours from help at any time. I discovered a viper incident report, among the many... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: Is it better to wear one pair or two pairs of socks while hiking? The esoteric "answer": Try footwraps. Advantages: dirt cheep can be wrapped in any preferrable way, to provide the most padding against the most aggressive edges of Your shoe at a short break(5min) - re-wrap the footwrap in the opposite direction i.e. the cloth, that is wet from the sweating feet... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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When are cotton socks actually better? Cotton retains moisture, thus cotton socks will not do the job properly. When would actually one want to wear exactly cotton socks? A few ideas come to mind, but they are just shooting in the dark: in the city or short hikes, to retain moisture in the sock, and not fill the shoe with salt an... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: Is playing musical instruments like Harp/Harmonica, Flute unsafe during backpacking trips? I have been recommended to carry a tin can, filled partly with gravel. This will rattle and oust snakes, boars, bears. I have no idea how effective this would be. Playing a musical instrument should have similar effect, as suggested by all the comments. (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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A: How safe is it for women to hike alone? I have had similar problems. Avoid "drinking houses". That is, shelters in the woods, that are accessible by cars, and where locals go in order to get drunk. Other than that, carry a weapon when in the woods - a knife or a small axe. In the wild, you are on your own and laws are far away. On "law... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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How to cope with thorns when hiking barefoot? There are two main factors that cause me to get thorns in the feet when hiking barefoot: Usually, the forest ground consists of many layers - grass, beneath it rotten leaves, beneath it grass roots, but still aerated. Thorny plants can be hidden beneath the grass and fully invisible. One can't alwa... (more) |
— | about 11 years ago |
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How dangerous is it to fall 3 meters when lead climbing? Consider a vertical rock with clip-ins 3 meters apart, dynamic rope, no more than 15 meters ascent. I guess most probable and dangerous is to fall just as one is clipping in. This way the rope is overextended, plus one i holding with only one hand. How dangerous is it for a for a beginner climber t... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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What can I use an old tent for? Similar to the question about old ropes. I have an old plastic tent. It is for 3 persons, but is heavy and now not waterproof anymore, with some damage to the small room around the door. How can I use it in its end-of-life? I have an idea to carry it to some place that I go often enough, pitch it... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What do you risk when you ignore blisters and carry on walking? On the topic of popping blisters. There are the two contradicting opinions out there, of course. My understanding is as follows. Do not pop a blister if you can avoid it. If walking significant distance is needed, pop it with a clean needle, squeeze out the liquid, and put an antibiotical bandage ov... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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What resources are needed to attempt E3? E3 is a 7000 km hike through Europe. What resources would every member of a small group of average adults need in order to realistically have chance of completing it: Vacation time Money Equipment ? Furthermore, what are the most dangerous spots? Places where one can slip in the mud and fall to d... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Where to carry a folding knife when hiking? A folding knife is always a great idea. I carry mine everywhere - city and backpacking. It gets used at least once a day - open a beer, cut a string of rope, cut up food, remove a thorn, open up a stubborn snack. No need thinking if it is with me or not. Because the knife is important to me, I choos... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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What style of camelback hydrating systems exist out there? For an incoming trip, I am considering buying a camelback hydration system. There are two options available at my local preferred dealer, and I would like some advice on which one to choose. The main concern is to be able to drink while biking. The two models are at the same price. Here they go: (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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Emergency measures: sleeping bag not suitable for the current weather Related Questions: Keeping warm in an emergency, Light-weight emergency overnight-gear It has happened to me a couple of times that I have shelter and plenty of insulation underneath, but my 1-season sleeping bag turns out insufficient for the spring snow that surprised me at nightfall. What should... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What are the advantages of a double sleeping bag? This answer is mostly on comfort, for more technical/practical considerations, please consult Rory's answer above. I can express opinion about this double sleeping bag. Cheap, which affects it's other characteristics. Weights 3.6 kg, takes up most of the space in a large (60+)l backpack. Warmth i... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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Basics of Via Ferrata I am going for a two week trip in two weeks. We are two people, with bicycles and backpacks. Small sections of the trip pass through rocky trail with steel ropes. The weather is summer, but the possibility for downpours exists. We have one climbing harness, a climbing carabiner, some "dynamic" rope ... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: How to deal with little flies flying into the eyes? I deal with this problem by wearing a large set of sunglasses. Mine were originally designed for snowstorms - large circles, which leave nearly no gap to the face, plus side inserts, to limit light and wind from the sides. Work wonders, plus this solution frees the hands for energetic activities, l... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: How to warm up your cold toes and fingers? Cold fingers - put them around your neck. The neck exhibits excellent blood flow and thus, heating power The neck is easily accessible area of the body, unlike armpits, thighs, stomach (with all the layers of clothing) At least for me, it is not very stressful to press very cold fingers agains... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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Rapid backpack readying I have noticed that preparing a backpack for a 1-2-10 day trip can take up to 3 hours. I would like to cut this time way down. Concerning this, I have had several ideas: Have a the pack outfitted with the equipment needed for a 2 day trip in the current season. When a trip is planned, add the ex... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: What should I look for in hiking binoculars Let me share my rather limited experience. I bought a 50BGN == $33 12-50x50 binoculars. Results: There are several small loose parts of plastic inside the binoculars. They obscure small parts of the lenses. Not a very big problem, and I accept it for the money. The 50 will collect more light throu... (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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What is the proper technique for self-arrest when wearing crampons? What is the proper technique to self-arrest and brake a fall, given steep icy (frozen snow) slope, when wearing crampons and wielding an ice axe? Should the crampons be used for stopping or held high in the air, to avoid tumbling over them? (more) |
— | over 11 years ago |
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A: Is a type of walking trailer a good alternative to a heavy backpack in off-road conditions? I haven't tried it, but it looks ridiculous. If you are going to be hiking on flat and mildly rough terrain, why not get a bike with a lot of panniers. This provides for the same carrying capacity (maybe up to 40 kg). Probably will be less expensive than the trailer. There is an obvious advantage ... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: What can I do to keep my hands warm while using touchscreens in the winter? At my local army shop they sell neoprene gloves with detachable finger ends for the index and middle finger ends. Something like the picture below, but without the thumb, and the ends are not cut out but foldable. I have ones without this feature. They are not too warm (good maybe down to -5C), but... (more) |
— | almost 12 years ago |
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A: What characteristics should I look for in a good torch/flashlight? I recently got this. 41bgn. Takes 4 AA batteries (I do not like the tiny AAA-s; also 4, not two). Is VERY bright with fresh batteries. Not too heavy. Also, they claim it is for divers -> good in the rain. I use Eneloop batteries, guaranteed to have very low self discharge (I have been having them for... (more) |
— | about 12 years ago |