Activity for wallyk‭

Type	On...	Excerpt	Status	Date
Answer	—	A: Why would you climb hard bigwall projects in Yosemite in winter? I was there in early January. While the valley was below freezing, upon the first 50 feet climb in elevation after sunrise, the air temperature was very agreeable (50+ °F/10+ °C) with lots of sun. Rejoice for there was no ice underfoot—unlike on the valley floor. Also, everyone who h... (more)	—	over 5 years ago
Answer	—	A: Do mountains really make their own weather, and if so why? I live in western Oregon and frequently ski areas in the Cascades. One winter, a weather forecaster said the weather at a ski area was going to be warm and wet (mixed snow and rain) that day; another weatherperson said it was going to be very cold and dry. A rare forecast for sure. Both have excel... (more)	—	over 6 years ago
Question	—	What to video during a solar eclipse? I will be in the path of total darkness during the solar eclipse of August 21, 2017. I plan to be in alpine wilderness (Oregon Cascades), but will adjust my location as needed so that there are no clouds. I'll have a single 4K video camera, tripod, ample recording memory, and batteries. While the ... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Can I waterproof a tent just before it rains? If one were to discover a leaking section of fabric during a rainstorm, a highly effective solution is to rub wax (candle, ski wax, paraffin, etc.) on the fabric. No need to heat it: rubbing cold works fine. It is better to apply from the outside, but it works okay from the (more comfortable and c... (more)	—	almost 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Which wood sources produce toxic smoke? At The Wood Database is a table of 235 wood types—intended for woodworkers—which indicates the irritation reactions, type of irritations (skin, eyes, respiratory), and irritation potency. It should be helpful to infer which woods might be poor choices to burn and breathe. For example, D... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Technique for swimming with fins? I am a 25+ year scuba divemaster. Alas, poor fin kicking technique is very common, even among experienced scuba divers. First of all, selection of a fin which is too flexible is better than one which is too stiff (within limits). If you sometimes use a full 7 mm (1/4 inch) wet suit and other times... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I tell which way is "down wind" How can I tell which way is down wind? How do I know which way is down wind? I turn so the wind is coming around me from the back and is equal on both right and left sides. I feel it in my hair, on my face, and on exposed arms and legs. If the direction is variable, use an average direction. ... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: What should you do if your sleeping bag gets soaking wet at night? Years ago I was caught in a totally unexpected and sudden blizzard/snowstorm. I started out the trip at 85–95°F (30–35°C) in August so I was totally unprepared for cold weather in the days when I owned a goose down sleeping bag only. I hastily found a reasonably wind-sheltered s... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Is it possible to use a flint and steel with wet tinder? The standard emergency tinder in most places I have been is a lichen called Old Man's Beard. It can appear in several forms. Here are the first two from Wikipedia: Even if it is soaking wet, heavily raining, caked in ice, or encased in snow, one need only remove most of the excess moisture by v... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How can I clear spiderwebs in my path while hiking? If you hike in a group, ideally arrange the sequence so someone big and not-so-bright is first. Maybe they won't notice the webs. :-) I have not ever seen anyone wear a mosquito net. Not during spider season. Not in the tropics, jungles, or rain forests. I have years of total trail time. But i... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Why are plastic vanes used instead of feathers? An arrow's fletching should balance between providing good spin and minimizing drag. See the video here. Feathers: Superior in-flight characteristics: recede well at high airspeed (decreases drag) while springing back exponentially as airspeed decreases (increases stability) Lighter weight Higher... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How should latex socks be fitted to a drysuit? I scuba dive with dozens of divers who exclusively used Viking drysuits. The photo you have shows a similar drysuit, though not as heavy duty. After about a dozen or two dives, each one of the drysuit wussesdivers would be cutting and pulling out a glove or boot and installing a new one. The seals... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: How to keep small rocks and stones out of hiking boots? While gaiters might be useful for many hikers, for me that is too high maintenance. Instead, I choose where I hike to avoid the problem. Steep hills "encourage" me to walk slowly and to carefully select where I place my feet on each step. And staying on the main path (usually) has less loose debri... (more)	—	over 7 years ago
Answer	—	A: Backpacking Through Rain Backpacking in rain is pretty normal in Oregon—especially along the coast and in the western Cascades. No matter the time of year, it is usually not more than a week until the next rain shower (except this summer which is unusually dry). I don't take any special or particular precautions. T... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago
Answer	—	A: What's the best way to avoid slipping on ice? So far, no one has stated the obvious: Don't step on ice! Walk on snow, bare pavement, rough ground, lawns, flowerbeds, or whatever alternatives there might be. When stepping on ice is unavoidable, here are some observations which can make slipping less likely: Ice is most slippery when it is... (more)	—	almost 9 years ago