All Questions
5
votes
1answer
124 views
Does camping in polar bear country require someone to keep guard during the night?
Some animals are big and dangerous and, when hungry, may realise that humans contain a pretty decent amount of meat. I've never hiked in such areas, but they do exist.
Photo from Wikipedia, ...
6
votes
2answers
155 views
In what conditions is a four-season tent needed?
Growing up hiking the southern Appalachians, I've never actually needed a four season tent. However we are starting to look at hikes around the country where the temperatures and conditions get worse ...
5
votes
3answers
282 views
What is a freestanding tent and why should I want one?
What is a free-standing tent? What are the advantages of a free-standing tent as opposed to a tent that isn't, and what are the disadvantages?
See also:
What is a self erecting tent and why should I ...
7
votes
4answers
91 views
New Zealand recommended hiking maps, books and other resources
Me and my girlfriend will go there in January and we plan on hiking for a week or so. Unfortunately there are no maps or books available for NZ hiking in my area. Could you recommend some for me?
...
4
votes
2answers
470 views
What is a self erecting tent and why should I want one?
What is a self erecting tent? What are the advantages of a self erecting tent as opposed to a tent that isn't, and what are the disadvantages?
3
votes
1answer
93 views
Destination for (half-) day hike near Kraków, Poland in late autumn/early winter
At the end of this month, I will be spending some days in Kraków, Poland. I might have a half or a full day available and apart from exploring the city, I'd like to do some hiking in the close ...
5
votes
1answer
157 views
How can I build a safe, effective igloo?
If I want to build an igloo to keep me warm in a snowy climate, how can I go about this?
What size blocks should I cut?
How big should the entrance be?
How can I mitigate the risk of the igloo ...
4
votes
1answer
126 views
How do I recognise quicksand and how do I get out if stuck?
This year, a Danish citizen went missing without a trace in the mountains of northern Sweden. It is not the first time; in total, ten people are registered as missing after venturing into the ...
6
votes
3answers
207 views
What characteristics should I look for in a good torch/flashlight?
I'm looking to buy a flashlight/torch (or build my own even if that works out cheaper), and am looking to take the following into consideration:
Good battery life (LEDs would probably suit best in ...
6
votes
2answers
107 views
How do I reseal a tent bottom with many pinprick holes
Our tent pan has a LOT of very tiny holes in it. We've never had to use a footprint, and our tent has always kept water out, but that is no longer the case. I don't want to carry a footprint due to ...
4
votes
2answers
119 views
Tips for outdoor during the dark winter?
The dark winter is approaching on the northern hemisphere. At my latitude (67½°N), the sun sets at 15:00 by now, and a little more than a month away the polar night will start. So far, I'm virtually ...
6
votes
2answers
150 views
How to be safe on lake and river ice and what should I do when I fall through?
It's late October and in cold, northern hemisphere climates, winter has arrived, and moderate northern hemisphere climates will follow soon. In my area, small lakes are already frozen and people have ...
9
votes
4answers
105 views
What are the advantages of learning to ski on a trip? (as opposed to beforehand)
I'm a non-skier right now but am thinking of going on a ski trip. As far as I can tell there are two options for learning.
On a dry ski slope before I go
Start my trip with learning
What the the ...
1
vote
1answer
48 views
City tickets as exchange objects? [closed]
Is it good idea to use city tickets for public transport (laminated or in string bags) as exchange objects or traveller objects (krets)? Are such items welcomed by the geocachers community?
From the ...
6
votes
2answers
149 views
Near-realtime satellite snow-cover imagery via easy web-interface
I'm looking for a freely accessible website that provides access to recent high-resolution (<~1–5 km) satellite-based snowcover estimates (snow / no-snow). Many meteorology websites provide an ...
9
votes
2answers
362 views
How do I tie a slackline with only carabiners and webbing?
Commercial slackline solutions seem bulky, heavy, overpriced, and a little too industrial for my liking. I have 6 carabiners and 50m of tubular webbing. What knots do you recommend for building, ...
8
votes
3answers
119 views
How do you know if smaller brands of climbing equipment are safe?
There is a local shop that sells small brand name gear for pretty good prices. I am looking at their harnesses and quickdraws and would like to know:
1) Whether the equipment is safe - say compared ...
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 ...
7
votes
1answer
55 views
Pack recommendations for running?
So I've been running to work as my form of commuting and I've been getting by with my Gregory Z45 internal-frame pack for carrying whatever I need for the day. What bothers me about this pack is that ...
6
votes
3answers
174 views
What does glass mean in the context of hunting?
I have read several blogs and watched videos on hunting where I have heard people use the term glass. I have no idea what it means and I have found very little on Google about what it could mean.
...
6
votes
1answer
81 views
How can you make snares safe?
I've been watching a LOT of snare/trap setting videos. They spend an lot of time making the snares nigh invisible. None of these snares would seriously injure a person, but I would like to avoid ...
5
votes
2answers
248 views
What are some mortal dangers in temperate woods?
In very deep temperate forest (5+ days out), what dangers can endanger the life(s) of a group of several fit individuals.
Motivation of the question
11
votes
1answer
82 views
How do you best treat a turned ankle in the back country?
Possibly the most common injury I see when hiking with groups is when someone turns or rolls their ankle. Assuming that access to a vehicle is not feasible, what is the best way to deal with the ...
-4
votes
2answers
70 views
How many GeoCaches are registered in Germany by OpenCaching? [closed]
I was trying to find statistics for the number of caches in Germany, that are registered in portal opencaching.de, a free of change and open alternative to GeoCaching.com. But I've failed to find such ...
12
votes
2answers
126 views
Should I worry about moisture in my inflatable sleeping pad?
I use a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir sleeping pad. This is not self inflating, so I have to breathe in to the sleeping pad to inflate it.
Are there any precautions for storing the bag to avoid gnarly ...
6
votes
3answers
139 views
Does Moss only grow on the North side of trees?
Well does it? Or does it only grow on one side? Or does it grow only on the side further from the equator? Is there any truth to this old adage?
4
votes
1answer
68 views
What are the options for stopping wetsuit booties becoming water logged?
Whenever I surf with wetsuit booties on, either the boots themselves become waterlogged or the leg of the wetsuit fills with water. I've seen people use tape. Is this an effective method? What tape ...
7
votes
1answer
94 views
How can I locate the leak in a inflatable pad, while hiking
Kevin did a nice job of providing a quality answer here for how to find the leak if you are at home. However I usually realize I have a leak when it deflates under me in the middle of the night. If ...
6
votes
2answers
66 views
How can I locate the leak in a inflatable pad
I went camping last trip and my nice inflated pad... deflated. I always carry a patch kit but I discovered another issue: I couldn't find the leak. The leak was small. It took quite a while of me ...
7
votes
4answers
294 views
Is buying an expensive sleeping bag better?
I went camping a week ago and it was so cold. I woke up many times at night shaking because of the cold. I have a cheap and old Wal-Mart sleeping bag, and I am thinking about buying one of these $150 ...
9
votes
5answers
214 views
Are fires in natural caves/overhangs safe?
I have heard that a fire in a cave or under an overhang can cause a rock collapse, potentially injuring the occupant. Is this a real risk?
5
votes
2answers
159 views
What backwoods trick to get pure water produces the most safe water?
So I read this answer and I was wondering what contraption produce the most water when you don't have a water source? So what water trap produces the most water? Specifically, what should I do with my ...
7
votes
1answer
73 views
Storing Fuel Canisters with Stove Pump Attached
The Question
Can I store my white gas fuel canister with the stove pump attached?
Follow-up Questions
Is it safe to store white gas fuel canisters partially filled with white gas?
Does this hold ...
2
votes
1answer
61 views
What's the best climbing website? [closed]
I've not found a "must read," general information (news, trends, photos, product reviews, etc.) rock climbing website.
Climbing.com, for example, is riddled with missing images and dead links, which ...
5
votes
2answers
80 views
How do I reduce bow string travel on a bow drill?
I have created a bow-drill for the purpose of starting fires.
The wooden shaft's diameter is about the diameter of a typical male thumb, and is approximately 11 inches in length.
The bow string is ...
12
votes
1answer
138 views
Will Iodine Tablets Ruin My CamelBak?
In the past, I have gone backpacking with some fairly expensive, heavy water purification tools. But the more I read about water safety in California's Sierras (here and here), the less I think these ...
10
votes
1answer
189 views
Is my tent pole a lightning rod?
I have used the Mega Mid tent almost exclusively for hundreds of nights out over the last many years. It's versatile, well ventilated, light... but has this pole sticking straight up the middle.
Is ...
5
votes
1answer
173 views
How much waterproofing spray to apply to my softshell jacket
I have a Showers Pass Portland Rain Jacket. The manufacturer recommends using Nikwax TX Direct Spray On to maintain waterproofing properties. How much should I apply to the jacket? How do I know if ...
9
votes
2answers
119 views
How should I correctly use poles and other equipment to avoid back pain on long hikes?
3 of my lower vertebra have irreparable damage, so I have various workarounds to minimise pain and swelling at home and in the office, and even on short term hikes (ibuprofen FTW) but on a longer hike ...
6
votes
2answers
151 views
Which types of wood will make food taste bad?
So other than toxic burning wood, which types of wood are safe to use for cooking fires but will just make my food taste bad? I live in the Southwest, and all types of woods that I have cooked over ...
7
votes
1answer
232 views
What wood burns toxic?
So the title says it all. If I am scavenging wood in the wilderness, does some of it burn toxic? If so what kinds. This question is derived from this answer.
9
votes
4answers
1k views
How to properly lace hiking boots?
When I go on hiking trips, I wear proper boots. However, when I lace them tight, my ankles swell terribly after a few hours and start feeling funny (bending the joint feels like touching a balloon). ...
9
votes
5answers
187 views
Can I replace Dish soap?
I have been trying to get my weight down on longer backpacking trips. I have already taken to buying very strong soap and using very little, but I was wondering is there something I can replace the ...
7
votes
3answers
378 views
Can I heat a shelter with fire?
So I built my survival shelter and I decide a nice fire would really warm things up. Is there a way I can build a fire that would heat the shelter without too much smoke? I know I could make the ...
7
votes
4answers
165 views
Cooking over a fire
Is there a way to make a wood fire that is good for cooking? Why is it better than others? Assume little to no wind. Would it make a difference if I cooking hot dogs on a stick or a steak?
4
votes
2answers
127 views
Do I need to worry about snow covering up my tent?
I have a two-layer dome tent, cheap and not particularly designed for winter. Do I need to ever worry that during a heavy snow downfall during the night that tent might be covered up with snow and I ...
6
votes
3answers
222 views
How to set up a tent in deep snow
How should I set up a two-layer dome tent for 2/4 people in deep snow (waist height)? Do I need some additional equipment (snow shovel)? Insulation under the floor (further than the sleeping pads)?
...
-1
votes
2answers
119 views
Gloves, but not for keeping warm? [closed]
It's a bit of a long shot, but I am looking for one right hand glove that doesn't keep you warm. It must not be fingerless, it must be comfortable to wear for a long time and made of something thin, ...
3
votes
1answer
79 views
Rain pants for tall people
I've been looking for a rain pants for myself.
My attention was caught by Outdoor Research Paladin Pants.
These have side zips which are really great.
The problem is: it comes in regular fit only and ...
5
votes
0answers
102 views
Campsites in Virginia which allow alcohol? [closed]
Shenandoah National Park allows alcohol, but it's a bit far from me for a one-night getaway with family. Do you know of a list of camp sites in Northern VA which allow alcohol?
