Activity for Charlie Brumbaughâ€
| Type | On... | Excerpt | Status | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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How would navigation be different while hiking at night? If one were to hike during the night and sleep during the day, what differences in navigation would one have to take into account? In my experience you are more on instruments (such as a compass or GPS) so to speak because of the lower visibility, but are there any other differences? (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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Do regular lighters not work at high altitude? Here is what I would consider a regular Bic butane lighter. However I have noticed that you can buy High Altitude lighters such as this one. Is that just marketing or would a regular lighter not work at high altitudes? (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Is Permethrin safe for cats after it dries? It looks like the answer is yes it is safe after it drys, Do not expose cats to wet permethrin as it affects their central nervous system. This is not true with dogs, horses, or cows. Cats can be around permethrin treated fabrics once the application has dried. Source If a product containin... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: How should helmets be placed on the ground? Basically, there are happy turtles and there are dead turtles and helmets should always be placed in the happy position. Happy helmets stick around, while dead helmets have a tendency to slide down the rock. Of course you could always clip the helmet to something, but it can be much easier to ju... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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How should helmets be placed on the ground? Imagine you are sitting around ready to begin; you have your gear spread out, and your helmets are off. How should you place your helmet so that it doesn't wander off? (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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Are there any advantages while backpacking to hike during the night and sleep during the day? This is something I have pondered on multiple occasions, when the light of the full moon and the altitude induced insomnia kept me awake long into the night. I realize that this would be an unusual strategy, but I have heard of people doing it, such as Jedediah Smith while crossing a desert on his ... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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What should one do when climbing if someone above you yells ROCK? Hearing someone above you yell ROCK when climbing is a scary experience because that means that an object (usually a rock) is plummeting down to the route towards you. Hopefully you are wearing your helmet, are there any actions/steps one should take in this situation? (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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How to determine the needed volume size when purchasing a backpack? In addition to sizes for different sizes of people, backpacks also have a volume size, usually given in liters or cubic inches, as a measure of how much stuff the backpack can hold. How can I determine what volume size I need, for a given time frame, from say a day hike to a multi-week backpacking t... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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How can I backpack further without resupplying? There are a couple of long hikes that I am thinking of doing, both are 70 to 80 miles (110 to 130 km) long one way. I would like to do a yo-yo (140 to 160 miles, 230 to 260 km) without a resupply. I am not worried about running out of food, since I can just hike until half of the food is gone and th... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Do zebra mothers seek revenge? This happens because stallions will kill foals that are not their own. This is where things can take a dark turn. If the females in the harem have recently given birth, the new dominant male may kill their foals to eliminate any traces of his predecessor, and to bring the females into oestrus in ... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Are there sound-based alternatives to whistle signals for group communication? One alternative is to use animal calls. For instance, on a clear night an elk bugle call can be heard up to a mile away. There are also duck calls or push-to-call cow elk calls. These should not replace a whistle as an emergency signaling device, but as a way to hear where your team members are or s... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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Are there sound-based alternatives to whistle signals for group communication? Whistles can be used to signal to group members, however the downside is that other people may think you are having an emergency. Are there any other devices that would allow you to signal with noise to other members of you team but would not cause other hikers to assume that you are in trouble? (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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What should go in the hiking/backpacking plan that you leave with someone else? It is good practice on a hiking or backpacking trip to leave a written plan behind with someone. Then if you fail to return by your estimated date Search and Rescue will have an idea of where to look for you. Besides the your expected return date, what should go in your written plan and how detailed... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Are there standard whistle signals for communicating with separated party members? From Scouting For Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts Whistle Signals One blast, "Attention"; "Assemble" (if scattered). Two short blasts, "All right." Four short blasts, calls "Patrol Leaders come here." Alternate long and short blasts, "Mess Call." From Scouting for B... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: What is the history of the Duckbill rock formation in Oregon? For your specific questions, The rock type is sandstone. This type of rock formation is called a Hoodoo and they happen when a harder rock type or layer is ontop of a weaker layer. The weaker layer erodes away faster, leaving the cap on top. It was naturally formed. It seems like it only got on the... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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On average, how often do people thru hiking the Pacific Crest Trail resupply? I have been wondering how often the thru-hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail resupply. I would assume that it depends on the part of the trail and the hiker, but is there an average distance or length of time between resupplies? (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Sign in/Sign out sheets for dangerous passages while hiking! Sometimes, especially where permits are required, it is mandatory to fill out the sign-in/sign out books. Usually they are at trailheads, although I could see them on a particular piece or trail and perhaps shelters along the way. However, mandatory or not, it is almost always a good idea to put you... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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How do you get bear spray off skin and or gear? Let's say that you are out backpacking and a bear spray canister accidentally goes off and gets on your skin or in your eyes or onto your clothing? It can't be a pleasant experience as it is meant to deter bears, how can you get it off yourself and your gear in the field (as any residue could potent... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: What and where is the builder's plate on a boat? According to the Guide to the NEW Recreational Craft Directive 2013/53/EU page 8, a builder's plate has the following information on it, Manufacturer’s name, registered trade name or registered trademark, contact address CE marking Watercraft design category Manufacturer’... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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How dangerous are wild horses? In some parts of the western United States there are herds of wild horses. How dangerous could a herd be to a human on foot while hiking or backpacking? If they are dangerous how should a human protect themselves? (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Do squirrels' teeth grow again when lost? Once the squirrel has reached the adult stage, their teeth do not regrow if lost. Infant tree squirrels have three pairs of milk teeth that are replaced by adult teeth when the squirrel is four to five months old. Once the adult teeth come in, they do not re-grow if lost or removed. The baby... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: What are opposite and opposed carabiners? This is what a diagram of opposite and opposed carabiners looks like. The gates are on opposite sides and form a X when laid over the top of each other. The purpose of doing this is to make it difficult for both gates to open at the same time, because even if the rope doesn't slip out, a carabine... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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What are opposite and opposed carabiners? It is often said that when using two carabiners at the same point, such as an anchor, they should be opposite and opposed. What exactly does this mean? (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: How do you set up a z-pulley? Basically it looks like this. The rope goes from the object to a caribiner that is hooked into the anchor. Then it goes back down to where a prussik and a caribiner have been hooked to the rope going to the object. Then you take the rope through the caribiner, back towards the anchor. To make it ... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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How do you set up a z-pulley? A z-pulley or z-drag is a way of gaining leverage to pull a rope tight or to pull an object or person closer to the anchor. It is commonly used to tighten Tyrolean traverses, recover pinned boats in white water or in mountain or rock climbing scenarios. How would one set one up? (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Is this yucky thing scat or slime mold? After looking through all of the pages of Google Image search slime molds, I was unable to find anything that resembled the brown stuff in the above images. There is a list of the Slime Molds of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington and nothing in that looks similar either. I would say that... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: How effective or ineffective are tactical flashlights on bears? At night it would still be a good idea to have the flashlight, because the farther away you could potentially see a bear, the more time you have to adjust your course to avoid it. Whether or not it would blind a bear is hard to say, I haven't been able to find any experiments on bears one way or ano... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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Without rain/snow/wind would it be significantly warmer to sleep under a tarp? If you are sleeping in a rainstorm it would be warmer to sleep under a tarp, since otherwise you are going to get wet. It would be rather difficult to enclose a space with a tarp to the level that a tent provides and so I am wondering if setting up a tarp and sleeping underneath it on a calm night w... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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Are there any general rules of thumb for route finding up a mountain without any trails? Sometimes mountains won't have trails or recorded routes simply because they don't get enough traffic that a trail will be created. Not every mountain has recorded routes simply because people haven't written them down in an easily accessible place for everyone yet. For example, consider this Google... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Lake Tahoe kayaking conditions It looks like there is a possibility of strong winds, Lake Tahoe is also known for its vibrant blue skies, its sparkling cold waters, and its hazardous wind conditions, especially on the eastern side of the lake. Source and it may take a lot of padding in some places to make it to the next leg... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Has Joe Simpson ever explained why he did not cut the rope himself? From Chapters 6 and 7 of the book Touching the Void by Joe Simpson, there are two things that I think would explain why he didn't cut the rope. He thought they were both going to die. I knew he was in the same situation as me, unable to move. Either he would die in his seat or be pulled from i... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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Are there any tips for preventing a vehicle from being broken into while parked at a trailhead? It is fairly common practice to drive to a trailhead, park your vehicle and then go backpacking for a while. It would be a real bummer to come back from a trip and find that your vehicle has been broken into. Are there any tips to reduce the likelihood of this happening? (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: What are the pros and cons of greased feet in boots? Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline) on feet can be used to, Treat dry cracked feet. Treat cracked heals. Reduce friction and therefore the chances of getting blisters. From personal experience the downsides are the ick factor and you are going to ruin your socks. It would be hard to get it out of shoes or... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: At what wind speeds do ski operators close chair lifts, for safety? It looks like the answer is that it depends on the direction, wind speed, terrain and type of chairlift. The ski area you are going to might keep statistics on how often the wind makes the use of chairlifts unsafe or whether or not they think the lifts will be open for those dates. "It's really a... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: What is the HIN number on a boat? It's a unique serial number for the boat. The HIN is a 12 character serial number that uniquely identifies your boat. Source The acronym stands for Hull Identification Number. It is possible to either do an online lookup for that number or one can gather the manufacture, and date of certifica... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Why are these turkeys circling a dead cat? It looks like a combination of checking out a potential predator and following a leader. Turkeys, he says, are naturally fearful of cats, which can be a threat to younger, smaller birds. So it’s likely that, when they came across a dead one in the road, they were very curious to see what w... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: "Due to the sheep in the settlement the surrounding area has no mosquitoes" It looks like there is some truth in it. I don't think that it has to do with the sheep so much as it does with their grazing habits. During the day, mosquitoes like to rest in tall grass or among shrubs in a moist, shady spot. Keeping the grass short deprives them of a resting place. Source ... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: What are the pros and cons of both a DIN and a yoke valve for a scuba-diving regulator? It looks like a DIN valve can be used at higher pressures and has a more secure connection. Since the fitting is more secure, DIN valves allow the use of higher pressures, and are more suitable for demanding diving situations like technical diving-especially in environments like caves or wrecks, ... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Can you find your location using the angle between compass bearings? It is possible and to explain why consider the following question. Is the angle formed by the red or by the green lines larger? Trick question! The angles are identical. You see, if we have our two points on the map and know the angle between the bearing from us to them, then we can use that i... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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Can you find your location using the angle between compass bearings? Sometimes compasses are less accurate than we would like them to be. They can be thrown off by their surroundings, have their polarity reversed, become demagnetized, develop air bubbles or be taken to the wrong hemisphere. However in all of these cases it should be possible to have whatever is effe... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Dealing with anxiety and confidence issues For how to deal with irrational fears I don't think there is any substitute for repeatedly conquering them. For instance I used to work at a place where we would take people rock climbing and rappelling which (for most people) are much scarier then just hiking. People would get to the top of the ... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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What are the pros and cons of air pads vs foam pads for backpacking? Backpacking sleeping pads come in two basic types, foam and air, with some of the air pads being self-inflating. What are the pros and cons of each and how would one decide which type to get? (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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What should go in an inflatable sleeping pad repair kit? While backpacking with an inflatable or self-inflating sleeping pad one runs the risk of getting holes in it. This does happen fairly frequently, and while they do make kits, I would like to know what should be in such a kit if I were to purchase one or what components I would need if I wanted to pu... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Could this year's unusual warmth harm turtles? It looks like it can be harmful for the turtles. Even the healthiest turtle may come out of hibernation too soon and be caught above ground by a spring snowstorm and perish. Many wild box turtles are eaten by foraging animals as they sleep, or freeze to death because they didn’t find satis... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: Do raw eggs need to be rotated for freshness on a long voyage? It turns out that raw eggs need to be either sealed or rotated, the people in the video were doing both. The egg shell is semi-permeable. As an egg ages, it loses the slightest amount of internal moisture over time (which is why an old egg floats). To minimize this loss, there are two technique... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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What are good practices for resolving disagreements on a backpacking trip? On a backpacking trip with multiple people, it is all but guaranteed that disagreements will arise. Pace, food, wake-up times, route and chores are some of the common sources of friction. Backpacking can be a special set of circumstances for a couple of reasons You can't just leave an annoying per... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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Do raw eggs need to be rotated for freshness on a long voyage? Last night I watched a film about a crew that sailed from New Zealand to Patagonia, with a stop in Antarctica, taking over two months to do so. One of the things that caught my attention is when they were talking about their food storage, they mentioned having brought 2,000 raw eggs, covered them i... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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A: How do you create a sense of community on a backpacking trip? Most of it will come from having done hard things together. Just being together, say in a classroom, isn't enough, there has to be an element of difficulty. The extreme example of this is men who have served together in combat, which is described extensively in this book, Tribe: On Homecoming and Bel... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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Are there any situations while backpacking that would require a watch? One of my favorite things about backpacking is the absence of time constraints, you eat when hungry, sleep when tired and sort of track how much time is left until dark. Would there be any situations while backpacking where it would be detrimental to not have a means of telling time very precisely? ... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |
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How do you create a sense of community on a backpacking trip? Having a sense of community on a backpacking trip can mean the difference between enjoyment and misery. It can also be the difference between backpacking as a team instead of as random group of people. The technical definition is, McMillan & Chavis (1986) define sense of community as "a feel... (more) |
— | about 7 years ago |