All Questions
2
votes
1answer
65 views
Boot tongue orientation?
I recently bought a pair of Meindl Ohio winter boots. I am generally happy with them, but I have noticed that, after a day of wearing the boots, the tongues of each boot tend to migrate outwards.
...
9
votes
1answer
124 views
May hiking in Eastern California
In May this year (6–8 May) I will have a workshop in Mammoth Lakes, California. I would like to do some hiking in addition to this workshop (roughly one week). I have never been to the United States, ...
7
votes
3answers
201 views
Safe Way to Mark a Carabiner
At the crag this weekend I noticed that my climbing partner's carabiner had a great feature: a red line painted such that you know the carabiner isn't locked until the red is hidden.
I love this ...
13
votes
3answers
118 views
Good resources for information about hiking trails near Boston
I'm a Hiker who recently moved to Boston, MA. I'm interested in hiking within a 2 hour drive of the city, and I really would love alpine hiking (above the tree line), on trails that are 4 to 8 miles.
...
7
votes
1answer
232 views
One-day hike around Prague
I'm planning on visiting Prague and I was wondering if there are any nice one-day (two-day tops) hikes that I could do around there.
It doesn't have to be in the mountains, although that would be ...
4
votes
1answer
48 views
SkyDive Equipment
In 2009 I successfully completed the AFF course, after a stop due to the birth of my son I'm going to resume regular activity.
I currently have 31 jumps, all carried out by renting the equipment, and ...
20
votes
2answers
3k views
How to avoid exploding rocks
It seems that every tutorial I read and show I watch shows people using rocks for everything from a cooking surface to boiling water. However, I have had rocks crack in half on me, and I've always ...
5
votes
1answer
203 views
Should I use my cold weather boots in 40-80°F weather?
I need to select a pair of shoes for when I go out to Yosemite this weekend. The weather has been fluctuating like crazy - last we checked, there was a foot of snow on the ground, but now the ...
19
votes
4answers
491 views
Practicality of Beards
I have several friends with full beards. After talking at length with one, he started to convince me the protection it offers might be worth it.
So, I thought I would come and ask. What are the Pros ...
11
votes
5answers
529 views
How do I know what size ice axe I should get?
I'm going to start mountaineering. Is there a recommended size per height/weight for ice axes for general mountaineering?
11
votes
2answers
168 views
Rappelling in the Rain
Last night I had a nightmare that I was 5 pitches off the ground and it started to pour rain. When I woke up I realized I have no idea how to deal with this.
Asking around, everyone says two things:
...
3
votes
1answer
63 views
What is the main purpose of the foam inside a self-inflating mat?
All self-inflating mats I have seen are self-inflating in the sense that you’re supposed to inflate them yourself. [That is, the mat self-inflates a bit, but mostly you have to breathe the air in.]
...
3
votes
5answers
105 views
What good factual books have you read on an outdoors topic?
What books have you read that have given you a better understanding of an outdoors activity?
Ideally I would like to compile a list for all activities. i.e.:
Climbing
Canoeing
Backpacking
...
2
votes
3answers
70 views
Trousers and jacket for winter walk up to 1085m (Snowdon)
I will be walking up Snowdon in Wales, 1085m, this February and am looking for advice on what jacket and trousers to get. Weather supposedly is windy, may be snow-covered and probably wet.
Should I ...
3
votes
2answers
64 views
What’s the difference between a B and a T ice axe?
Some ice axes are labeled as “B”, others as “T”. What’s the meaning of these letters and what are their practical implications?
15
votes
4answers
644 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
7answers
6k 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?
7
votes
2answers
226 views
Sleeping with two people in one hammock
My girlfriend and I both like sleeping in hammocks in the outdoors. We now sleep in two separate hammocks. However, I've seen many hammocks that are designed, or at least make it possible to sleep ...
0
votes
1answer
60 views
What are a few backpacking foods that have the calories yet are lightweight? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the most efficient food to take a for a 12-15 day hiking trip?
A list of suitable foods for a long hike
I normally carry brown rice, oatmeal, instant potatoes, ...
5
votes
0answers
61 views
Lacing materials for huaraches
I have been walking/running/hiking in my huaraches for about half a year now and have worn through 3 pairs of laces. I have been using accessory cord used in climbing as lacing material, since it has ...
5
votes
1answer
93 views
Legal issues when entering school areas while geocaching in Europe
What are the legal issues when entering school areas while searching for geocaches? Some caches are located in such places. The first is available without problem for children and teachers, but what ...
5
votes
3answers
104 views
Where in Europe is wilderness meeting the U.S. wilderness definition?
In this excellent answer, LBell quotes the U.S. definition of wilderness:
(1) generally appears to have been affected primarily by the forces of nature, with the imprint of man's work ...
6
votes
3answers
160 views
Walking trailers
Heavy backpacks can spoil the pleasures of being in the outdoors. There are two ways to resolve this:
Carry less
Find an alternative to the backpack
While the first option is usually the best one, ...
7
votes
5answers
308 views
What is the fastest style of sled?
Winter is here and, like every year, I am still thrilled when the extended family rounds up all the little kids and we go sledding. This year we compared our sleds found that some were significantly ...
6
votes
2answers
169 views
What is a typical elongation of a dynamic climbing rope?
I'm looking into buying a rope for rock climbing, and I know that I need a dynamic rope for lead climbing. However, trying to find information on the elongation percentages of ropes is proving tricky.
...
5
votes
3answers
533 views
Dome tents vs popup tents, are there any inherent pros or cons besides price and ease?
I was lucky enough to be given an almost new double skin popup tent.
Where I'm camping right now it's got windy a couple of times and rainy a couple of times.
A friend of mine who is camping in his ...
14
votes
3answers
157 views
How should I check climbing equipment to tell whether it is still safe to use?
I have, unfortunately, not had the opportunity to go climbing (and thus use my climbing equipment) for a couple years. I know that such equipment, especially the rope and webbing, can degrade over ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
Art supplies on backpacking trips
I have always been inspired by the sketches and watercolors of explorers, cartographers and scientists who lived before the invention of photography. I have tried bringing watercolors myself, but ...
5
votes
2answers
64 views
Minimizing impact of small groups on wilderness areas
I have been given conflicting information for how to minimize the impact of traveling in small groups in wilderness areas.
For groups traveling off-trail in areas where it is appropriate I have heard ...
2
votes
0answers
55 views
How can I find manuals for old Kelty equipment?
I've come across a Kelty Kids carrier. The tag says 'Kangaroo', and the date code on it is F11-95, style 21959030. I've called Kelty and looked on their website. The problem is that the Kangaroo is ...
8
votes
1answer
272 views
How do I mount a hangboard in an apartment?
The last few months I have come to the conclusion that I need to have a fingerboard at home if my rock climbing outdoors is to get to the next level.
But the problem is that I live in an apartment. ...
14
votes
2answers
171 views
Is there a definitive list of the tallest mountains in the world that require little or no mountaineering experience?
I was wondering if there is a list of the tallest mountains in the world where you can walk or scramble up to the summit? As opposed to using even basic rope skills?
18
votes
5answers
2k views
Tent and sleeping bag: pack inside or strap outside a backpack?
When I bought my pack, we were told to always pack the tent and sleeping bag in the pack. Since then I have seen a lot of articles and hikers doing the outside. What are the benefits on packing the ...
3
votes
2answers
244 views
How often should I waterproof a tent?
Currently I waterproof my tents at minimum once a year and often times 2 or 3 times a year. Other than condensation I don't usually have too much of a problem. On the other hand I live and often camp ...
5
votes
3answers
90 views
For what it's worth: climbing-tape
The other day I used some mysterious, ultra-sticky climbing-tape at my local gym, which got me thinking: How much should I be paying for my tape?
Prices for climbing-specific tape seem to be somewhat ...
16
votes
2answers
1k 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, ...)?
17
votes
8answers
1k views
How can I stay warm in subzero weather?
I'm going on a campout this weekend and the temperature isn't supposed to rise above 0° Fahrenheit the entire time. I've been in subzero weather before and I didn't last long, even with plenty of ...
7
votes
1answer
273 views
Methods for taping hands, wrists, and fingers for climbing?
I've been climbing off and on since I was a teenager, but one thing I've never done much of is taping my hands. As I'm getting older I can see more value in it than before.
What are some good ...
5
votes
2answers
109 views
When does a geocached area become “saturated”?
The 161m (0.1mile) rule in Geocaching is a pretty infamous one. However, the rules also state this:
Please don't hide a cache every 600 feet just because you can. The two main goals of the ...
4
votes
3answers
258 views
What gear for sleeping in wild camping in western Scotland in May?
I intend to go camping in Scotland (mainly the Isle of Mull, that is Western, central Scotland) next week, i.e. last week of May. I have read quite a lot about the weather and know I should prepare ...
33
votes
5answers
678 views
What are essential items in an emergency kit?
What are must-have items in an emergency kit for a multi-day hiking trip?
3
votes
1answer
46 views
How long does it take to hear back about a Grand Canyon Backcountry permit application
We've applied for corridor campsites for May 2013 - problem was that we applied January 21st.
How long does it generally take to hear if we've got reservations? (Our alternative is to wait and ...
4
votes
2answers
95 views
Can you keep your feet warm in ski boots on a very cold day?
After a few ski trips in slightly painful hire boots, I decided to buy a pair that would fit properly. After trying quite a lot of pairs, I eventually found some that fitted well all over my foot, ...
9
votes
6answers
151 views
How to avoid the layer of ice inside a water bottle during winter activities?
Is there a special way to avoid the layer of ice that forms inside a water bottle during winter activities?
9
votes
1answer
67 views
How can I make a snow shoe in the wilderness from commonly available materials and simple tools?
As in the title really. In the hypothetical situation that I'm caught in the wilderness in winter and there's a heavy snow storm resulting in an unexpected level of snow, snow shoes could well come in ...
22
votes
8answers
8k views
Does eating snow help dehydration?
I have heard many people say that eating snow actually can increase dehydration since the energy required for the body to heat up and melt the snow is greater than the benefits received from the ...
13
votes
3answers
7k views
How can I start a fire by rubbing two sticks together?
When trying to start a fire by rubbing two sticks together, what does one need to consider? I am assuming I can't just grab any two sticks and start rubbing...
Should they be dead or green?
Hard ...
6
votes
2answers
146 views
What are different knots named in English?
As English isn't my first language, I don't know the English words for different knots. Any translator fails on this part too.
Can someone point me to a source?
edit: Please also describe synonyms ...
17
votes
5answers
334 views
Barefoot Backpacking: Liquid Boots?
Yes, you read it right:
Is there something that works like epoxy or natural tar that I can apply to the most delicate impact points of my feet (balls and heel) that will form a very durable bond, and ...
3
votes
2answers
77 views
What's the best protection for my knees while bouldering?
I've been top-roping for several months. About a month ago I found out how much fun bouldering is. I've been getting quite a few scrapes on the knees working certain routes, or from falling. I'm ...
