All Questions
17
votes
2answers
158 views
Which careers allow working in the wild on a daily basis?
If someone wants his job to take place mostly in the wild, what kind of career should he look into?
17
votes
3answers
158 views
What equipment is recommended when camping with a baby?
I have a 3 month old daughter and am currently planning a short camping trip next month here in Australia where the weather should be warm but may also be wet. What should I take to ensure an ...
17
votes
2answers
213 views
As an experienced backpacker in the Eastern US, what should I know before hiking in the Western US?
I have done a good deal of hiking and backpacking in the Eastern US (mostly in New England), but I recently moved to California. What are the major differences in terms of preparation or equipment ...
17
votes
7answers
570 views
What clothing would be appropriate for hiking in -18°C with up to 30 km/hr wind?
I recently moved to Germany and am planning to do a hike in the Harz mountains. The weather is expected to be around -18°C. Most of the trail will be sheltered by forest, but the mountaintop is ...
17
votes
5answers
476 views
How bad do circumstances need to be before activating a PLB?
Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) can be carried during outdoor activities to use in case of an emergency. But are there any guidelines on what exactly constitutes an "emergency"? For example, what ...
17
votes
2answers
154 views
What can I do to prevent altitude sickness?
I will be going above 15000 feet (4500 meters) on a trip next month, and I've heard people will often get altitude sickness. Is there anything I can do beforehand to prevent sickness or take while I'm ...
17
votes
2answers
780 views
Best/safest wood to carve a spoon from?
Say I want to carve a spoon from wood that I find, are there any trees I shouldn't use due to their toxicity? Are any that are particularly easy to carve or hardy?
16
votes
6answers
2k views
How to keep water cold in hot weather?
When doing outdoor sports like hiking or biking I'll always take a lot of cold water with me. I love to drink cold water and I feel more refreshed compared to drinking warm or not-so-cold water. But ...
16
votes
5answers
511 views
Selecting backpacking cooking pot – teflon, aluminum, steel, titanium, or cast iron?
What are the relative advantages / dangers of different cooking wear? I'm a one-pot gourmet that has been using the same stainless steel pot for 15 years, but am considering an upgrade.
Some things I ...
16
votes
3answers
733 views
How do I treat hot spots and blisters when I have no moleskin?
A few times I've been out walking or backpacking and have no moleskin with me. Sure enough, my boots start giving me blisters. How can I prevent or treat hotspots and blisters without using ...
16
votes
5answers
2k views
How much water should be carried while hiking in the desert?
I live in the Arizona desert, and during the summer, despite my best intentions, I always seem to end up doing some hiking in the summer heat.
What is a good formula to figure out how much water I ...
16
votes
3answers
316 views
What do you do if you see a cougar?
Hiking on the west coast of British Columbia, there are likely to be cougars around the trails. What do you do if you see one?
16
votes
4answers
6k views
Should you pop a blister?
When I'm home running or on a day hike, I prefer to pierce the skin as soon as a blister forms and drain all fluid from a blister to reduce the pain and further irritation/inflammation. In this case, ...
16
votes
2answers
2k views
What are the different methods to purify water?
What methods can I use to purify water? And what's the difference between those several methods (safety, duration needed, ...)?
16
votes
5answers
906 views
How to deal with wet feet?
Say for instance I'm walking on boggy ground, I find a small muddy hole or some other minor tragedy that leaves one or both of my feet soaking wet and caked in mud. What is the best way to deal with ...
16
votes
4answers
311 views
What should I do when I'm lost?
What should I do when I get disoriented or lost? How can I find help or make myself easier to find?
This is a general question to do when lost in the wilderness, whether it is a meadow or mountain. ...
16
votes
3answers
1k views
Can I eat rotten meat and carcass providing enough cooking?
I've met often with the concept, that rotten meat and carcass is inedible because of bacteria and toxins. The most harmful of it the botulinum toxin.
However, in the question Can any waterborne ...
16
votes
4answers
870 views
What are some toilet paper alternatives you could use in the woods?
When in the great outdoors, nature is bound to come calling, so what are some good natural toilet paper substitutes when the real thing isn't available?
16
votes
4answers
294 views
What are the rules for eating raw, wild meat?
Can you always eat raw meat (wild) as long as it is fresh?
16
votes
1answer
937 views
What are the advantages and disadvantages between gas, liquid and solid fuel?
It seems you can get fuel for stoves in either gas form (butane, propane, etc.) liquid (methylated spirit) or solid fuel tablets.
What are the particular advantages and disadvantages with each ...
16
votes
2answers
311 views
What to look for in a durable, 3-season sleeping bag?
I'm looking to purchase a camping sleeping bag. I'd like one that's high-quality, durable, and suitable for weekend hiking/camping trips during spring, summer, and fall in New England. (Most of my ...
16
votes
2answers
823 views
How can I hike across the Grand Canyon if I don't have a backcountry permit?
I am going to try to hike across the Grand Canyon in May, from the South Rim to the North Rim, and back. Unfortunately, I have discovered that I am probably too late to secure a back-country permit ...
16
votes
3answers
344 views
What do I need to look for in good, quality hiking boots?
My wife and I are going to buy some hiking boots as we've been using regular tennis shoes anytime we go on a hike.
What are the things I need to keep in mind when looking for a good set of quality ...
16
votes
3answers
227 views
What are the dangers of swimming in natural waters?
What are the dangers of swimming in natural bodies of water? In essence I would like to know about all types of waters, but I am mostly interested in sea because it is most relevant to me. Like many ...
16
votes
6answers
4k views
How to harden feet to avoid blisters on long hikes
I've enjoyed hiking my entire life but I have one huge problem. The skin on my feet is extremely soft and sensitive. I wear good wool socks with properly fitting boots and change socks during long ...
16
votes
2answers
126 views
Cascades mountaineering school
I'm looking for a mountaineering school on Rainier or elsewhere in the Cascades that provides sufficient training to climb Elbrus. Glacier travel, crampon use, crevasse rescue, and self arrest are the ...
15
votes
7answers
925 views
Can/Should I cook in my tent?
When camping in bad weather I'm always asking myself if it is a good idea to cook in my tent with a gas cooker. Obviously there is the danger of fire. But how dangerous is this really? Can you easily ...
15
votes
7answers
7k views
What are areas of the body which lose heat more quickly, and how can I reduce that loss?
What are the higher heat loss areas of the body and how can I reduce heat loss in those areas?
15
votes
2answers
1k views
Is it possible to sunburn through clothing?
I sat for 45 minutes last summer in the hot sun (100 degrees) I was pinned in on the bleachers so I wans't able to get up and move, I could feel the sun burning through my pants, now I have everyday ...
15
votes
4answers
683 views
How do I wash Gore-Tex clothing?
I have a bunch of dirty hard-shell pants and jackets. Are these safe to put in the washer and dryer? If not, how should I clean them?
15
votes
2answers
228 views
If I cross paths with a bear, what should I do?
If I'm out hiking, and I come around a corner and stumble upon a bear, what's the best course of action to take to minimize the chance the bear will act aggressively?
Do different types of bear ...
15
votes
2answers
490 views
Is it safe to camp in the desert without a tent?
I'm looking to hike the Grand Canyon (found out that as a single I do have a good shot at securing the permit!), and now I'm trying to make sure I carry as little as possible on said hike. First ...
15
votes
4answers
1k views
How can I acclimatize to cold?
People used to tolerate a much wider range of temperatures. What techniques can I apply to widen my body's range of comfort?
A few examples that may or may not help:
Spend a lot of time slightly ...
14
votes
7answers
649 views
What can I do about those obnoxious biting flies?
In addition to Mosquitos, many of us northwoods campers have been made victim to the vast swarms of biting flies.
Despite slathering myself with DEET, they don't seem deterred, and they especially ...
14
votes
4answers
182 views
How can I be absolutely sure my fire is safely extinguished?
One great problem with fire in the wild is that it may not be completely out. What is the recommended procedure to prevent accidental forest fire?
14
votes
5answers
199 views
Keeping warm in an emergency
When roaming the outdoors, it might happen that one finds oneself in a situation that is much, much colder than one planned for.
What can one do in such an emergency, especially when it's so cold ...
14
votes
3answers
424 views
What are some things to keep in mind when stealth camping?
Stealth Camping definition:
Stealth camping is the act of quietly finding a place away from people where you can camp for the night and then quickly slip away in the morning without being ...
14
votes
5answers
560 views
What is the difference between external and internal-frame packs?
I am starting backpacking and there are both internal and external-frame packs. What is the difference, and is one recommended over the other?
14
votes
4answers
295 views
How can you prevent kids getting lost at night while camping?
When camping in more remote areas with young kids, how can you make sure they don't take a stroll and get lost in the middle of the night?
We won't be near lights, established "bathrooms", etc. The ...
14
votes
6answers
249 views
How should I treat poison ivy?
If I'm struck by poison ivy, what should I do? Is there a way to suppress the itch?
14
votes
4answers
10k views
How do you determine how long a hike will take?
Is there a general rule of thumb for converting miles to hours when looking at a potential hike? For example, how long does it take an average person walking at an average speed to walk a mile on the ...
14
votes
3answers
526 views
What are some ways/devices that I can use to charge my batteries in the wilderness?
When backpacking, I might carry a MagLite flashlight or something similar that requires two AA batteries. I tend to favor rechargeable batteries for a variety of reasons.
How can I recharge my ...
14
votes
5answers
2k views
What essential items should go in a small first aid kit?
Another question asked what survival equipment should be carried in an emergency kit. But very little was about medical or first aid supplies (band-aids, gauze, tylenol, moleskin, etc).
What items ...
14
votes
2answers
2k views
Climbing rope is rated to X UIAA falls. What is a UIAA fall?
When looking at buying climbing ropes, they are rated to a number of "UIAA falls".
What does that mean?
14
votes
4answers
412 views
Where in the Alps is it safe to drink the water without filtering?
In some places, the Swedish Lappland for example, it's perfectly fine and even recommended to drink water directly from streams.
Is it also recommended whilst hiking in the Alps, and if so is it only ...
14
votes
4answers
276 views
How to cheaply introduce someone to backpacking
I meet a fair number people who would like to try backpacking. Unfortunately the initial cost seems to be pretty high. Even an overnight requires a lot of big ticket gear (tent, sleeping bag, etc). ...
14
votes
3answers
280 views
Synthetic vs Down sleeping bags?
What are the best conditions to use a synthetic sleeping bag vs a down one? Can you always use a down sleeping bag as long as you keep it in a dry waterproof bag?
14
votes
2answers
196 views
Where are good places to look for water sources when I have run out on a multi-day hike?
Luckily this has never happened to me, but even the most prepared hiker can often get themselves into difficulties if they run out of water. My question here is in your experience in remote arid ...
14
votes
1answer
161 views
Is digging a “cold hole” really effective when sheltering in a snowed area?
One recommendation I got in case of emergency or intentional sheltering in a snowy location is to dig a lower hole, so that the cold air can move there, while one can sleep higher up where the heat ...
14
votes
3answers
173 views
How do you properly dispose of human waste while snow camping?
Assuming the cat-hole is the preferred protocol for waste disposal in the area you are backpacking, what should you do when the soil is buried below A LOT of snow, and/or frozen?
