LBell

6,561 reputation

1351

bio	website	twitter.com/lbell
	location	Taos
	age
visits	member for	1 year, 3 months
	seen	2 days ago
stats	profile views	21

During my adult life I have spent more nights outdoors than in.

I have served as an outdoor guide, educator, conservationist, researcher, crew leader and enthusiast from the bear-chomps of Alaska to the rock-falls of canyon country.

Currently working at a remote research station deep in the rain forest of Borneo studying primate ecology.

"I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on Earth" - Steve McQueen

	6,561 reputation	bio	website	twitter.com/lbell	visits	member for	1 year, 3 months
1351 badges		location	Taos		seen	2 days ago

summary answers questions tags badges favorites bounties reputation activity

182 Comments

suggestions reviews revisions comments badges posts accepts all

Feb 2	comment	Can I shoot a bear in self-defense? FYI - I'm not too familiar with different caliber's but have heard that many will just bounce off the skull of a Griz (which is what you will be presented with if one is charging you - not a nice broad-side heart/lung kill shot). To wit, when I worked in Griz country (Alaska) we were required to carry 12-gauge shot-guns loaded with slugs. +1 for bear spray.
Feb 2	comment	Is it warmer to sleep naked in a sleeping bag? @david - I believe standard accepted practice now is NOT to buddy up to treat hypothermia. Best to construct a 1-person burrito wrap. Should be its own question on here if not already.
Feb 2	comment	Should you pop a blister? Pretty sure this is the recommended approach by just about every wilderness medicine authority these days. If you can keep it closed, keep it closed. Do what you can to protect it. A blister IS a bandage. If it opens on its own, clean and treat as you would any other wound.
Jan 27	comment	What fps does a bow need to hunt moose? I call "photoshop" on this one...
Jan 27	comment	Staying dry in severe weather Still seems a big vague - with lots of unknowns - could cover lots of subjects - recommending it be closed
Jan 27	comment	What is the difference between Gore-Tex and Mountain Hardwears DryQ? I can't speak to all products, but I believe that one reason we saw a proliferation of "water-proof breathable" fabrics hit the market a few years back was because Gore's exclusive patent ran out on Gore-Tex(TM), allowing the same exact membrane to be manufactured by other companies under other names.
Jan 26	comment	What is the preferred knot for cinching a hard item to your car rack? +1 for the trucker's hitch. I've yet to find a load that couldn't be wrangled with a truckers and a couple of half-hitches.
Jan 26	comment	Staying dry in severe weather Is this possibly a duplicate of outdoors.stackexchange.com/questions/344/… or am I missing the point of the question?
Jan 26	comment	How can I get rid of mold on climbing skins for skis? Why do you need to? Is it affecting the stickiness?
Jan 26	comment	How can I be absolutely sure my fire is safely extinguished? I would like to add to this answer instead of writing a new one that the only DEFINITIVE way to know your fire is OUT is to make sure its cool to the touch through and through. Start with the back of your hand near the coals to check for warmth, then actually sift through with your hands while mixing with water. This is a time-honored technique practiced by rangers and wild-land firefighters.
Jan 26	comment	How can I start a fire by rubbing two sticks together? I am down-voting this answer for the following reasons: --The original question did not say this was an emergency survival situation, but only asked for techniques. --Though perhaps difficult, it is possible, so "You can't" is just wrong. --"Bring a lighter" is not very constructive, nor germane to the question.
Jan 25	comment	How do I avoid leeches? Any evidence for the tobacco water story? I've heard this one as well, but have never verified it.
Jan 25	comment	How do I recognize if someone is suffering from hypothermia? Summed up by saying to watch for the "-umbles": stumble, mumble, fumble.
Jan 25	comment	How much water should be carried while hiking in the desert? The difference could come from how we are defining "hiking in the heat" - From sunup till about 10-11 am or so, the day can be fairly pleasant in the desert, and starts cooling off again starting around 3 or 4pm. During the hottest hours, your best bet is not to hike, but find a boulder to shade up under. The devil is in the details.
Jan 25	comment	How do I tie a sleeping bag to my backpack? I'm wondering about that myself... Please comment if you downvote.
Jan 25	comment	How do I tie a sleeping bag to my backpack? No - you aren't missing anything - its that Internal frames are designed to be sleek, and closer fitting so you are unencumbered when traveling off-trail, or scrambling. Thus, most manufacturers assume you won't be hanging stuff on the outside - except maybe an ice-ax or trekking poles (which is what it looks like those loops were designed for)
Jan 25	comment	How much water should be carried while hiking in the desert? Well, see Timothy's link, as well as this one: nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/hiking-faq.htm#CP_JUMP_100064 and we see that even the Park has varying recommendations. I personally carry more so I have plenty to share with others in need.
Jan 25	comment	Can any waterborne pathogens survive boiling? I know there is some question whether you need 'minutes' or just bringing to a rolling boil is enough. I lean toward the latter, and have never had issues.
Jan 25	comment	What is the most efficient food to take a for a 12-15 day hiking trip? `and don't care about eating the same tasteless thing every day if necessary` <-- This makes me sad. If you are suffering, you are doing it wrong ;) - when you have your tent set, your pot on the stove, and watching the sunset, who wants tasteless? You want a symphony of flavor with that back-drop. Delicious doesn't have to be heavy.
Jan 25	comment	How do I treat hot spots and blisters when I have no moleskin? Bonus tip: wrap duct-tape around your water bottle, or trekking pole, or pack-frame, or something that you always take with you... it will come in handy often.