59
votes
Accepted
Should overweight people ever climb?
Should overweight people climb? If they want to, then yes of course they should.
I don't have any hard fact to back it up, but I do know a few climbers that are slightly overweight and have ...
- 21.7k
46
votes
Accepted
How should I prepare my body for prolonged exposure to heat?
There are a few things that influence your body's ability to regulate heat. Nutrition, clothing, behavior, and practice are the big ones.
Nutrition is important as far as making sure you're properly ...
- 576
44
votes
Accepted
How to treat a severe allergic reaction while hiking?
Anybody who has severe allergies which could lead to anaphylaxic shock should carry appropriate medication with them. Typically, that would consist of:
An antihistamine (e.g. benadryll)
An ...
- 8,710
42
votes
Accepted
How much sea water can I safely drink?
How much sea water can I safely drink? = None
If you drink sea water, how much fresh water do you need to drink to off set the sea water you drank? = 2.8 units of distilled water per 1 unit of sea ...
- 30.3k
42
votes
Could a tick make several test bites in a circle?
I don't think they ever do test bites.
If it looks anything like a dot surrounded by a ring, go see a doctor as you might have Lyme disease.
From the Centers for Disease Control
Tickborne diseases ...
- 1,970
34
votes
Other than good shoes and a stick, what are some ways to preserve your knees on long hikes?
Carrying less weight makes a big difference. My packing follows the "be prepared" style more than the ultralight one, but even I admit it's easy to carry too much.
Stepping cautiously especially on ...
- 26.1k
33
votes
First aid: alternatives to hydrogen peroxide
Water.
The American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid courses in 2021 recommend irrigating wounds with at least a liter of potable water, using an irrigation syringe. If you don't have enough potable ...
- 1,124
32
votes
Should overweight people ever climb?
I'm fat, and I climb.
Now to be fair I climb indoors and not up the side of a mountain, but some of the problems I face would tend to be the same. Also I climb for fun. It's a much better workout ...
- 2,810
26
votes
Should overweight people ever climb?
You could ask the similar question "Most runners I see aren't fat, so is it wrong to start running as a massive guy?"
Of course the good and really good climbers are most likely on the thinner side ...
- 12.2k
26
votes
Accepted
Other than good shoes and a stick, what are some ways to preserve your knees on long hikes?
As excellent as the previous responses have been (and they all have great advice), I'd add that you want to be FLEXIBLE. Stretching is crucial, and not just for your knees. Hip flexors are a very ...
- 376
25
votes
Hiking and climbing in smoky areas
IMO the best solution right now is not to go. I live in the PNW, and I'm simply avoiding strenuous exercise until air quality improves. I wouldn't enjoy hiking with a mask on, and it's unhealthy to ...
- 8,710
25
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to 'live off the sea'
Theoretically, it might be possible to survive on fish, rainwater and desalinated seawater. In one 1930 experiment, two men survived for a year eating exclusively meat without experiencing any health ...
- 1,329
24
votes
How should I prepare my body for prolonged exposure to heat?
It takes about 2 years to fully get used to heat.
A ball cap is not good. Get a vented brim hat. The old straw hats are very good, they absorb moisture, and cool by evaporation. The woven reed cone ...
- 2,040
20
votes
Had to drink untreated water: Any immediate action to avoid getting sick?
The best thing you can do to both ward off illness, and catch any illness so it can be treated early, is to schedule an appointment with your doctor, soon. When you request the appointment, make sure ...
- 4,384
20
votes
When do you put on long underwear?
There is some merit to acclimatisation, but you have to be careful if you're out in the cold for prolonged periods. It's also unclear to what extent you acclimatise in terms of just comfort, and in ...
- 26.1k
19
votes
Accepted
Is it safe to drink snow?
If it is clean, fresh snow, it is safe to drink. This is basically drinking rain water. It hasn't had time to pick up pollutants when it is newly fallen. I live in New England, and kids do this all ...
- 4,219
19
votes
Accepted
Why did people rub snow on frozen feet?
Was there any logic behind this practice (rubbing frostbite with snow)? Is this method encouraged /
discouraged by modern medicine?
According to Hypothermia, Frostbite and Other Cold Injuries: ...
- 23.4k
19
votes
Could a tick make several test bites in a circle?
That definitely sounds like a tick bite from a lyme disease infested tick. Get to the doctor ASAP and they can give you an antibiotic that can kill the disease before it becomes a long term problem.
- 299
18
votes
Accepted
What is the most effective means of melting snow with body heat for drinking?
The best way to melt snow is to put it in a bottle inside your jacket under your mid layers while you're on the move and let your body heat melt it. Do not place it against the skin, leave a layer or ...
- 53.5k
16
votes
Accepted
What are the different stages of frostbite?
First I will describe the stages of frostbite focusing on how to detect them and what are the implications of each. Secondly I will address handling frostbite.
Classification
Stages of frostbite are ...
- 21.7k
16
votes
Can I use ear plugs while ascending or descending a mountain?
Ear popping is due to the difference in the pressure between the outer and the middle ear. Popping of ear occurs at high altitude to allow for the two pressures to equalize.
Now, there's no ...
- 7,815
16
votes
First aid: alternatives to hydrogen peroxide
When someone is so badly injured that they need immediate professional medical treatment, and you are able to get them that treatment within a day, then wound disinfection isn't a priority. Infections ...
- 983
15
votes
Is it possible to 'live off the sea'
... can someone gather/hunt/farm all of the nutrients required to be healthy whilst never having to land again?
Nutrients yes, healthy not likely.
A 1000 days is a grueling journey.
Reid Stowe, whom ...
- 366
15
votes
How can I cover the upper part of my nose to avoid UV radiations?
As skin cancer is such a major issue in Australia, there is a huge range of products that shield the nose.
From the Australian Cancer Council, see this one which clips onto your sunglasses as an ...
- 24.9k
14
votes
Accepted
Using Camphor (Icy Hot) in the winter for warmth
While a shot of liquor or an applications of camphor may make you feel warmer, neither is actually providing heat. They are chemically stimulating nerve endings and "tricking" your body into dilating ...
- 3,034
14
votes
Other than good shoes and a stick, what are some ways to preserve your knees on long hikes?
Assuming you are not opposed to it, preemptively taking an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen before your knees start hurting and then re-dosing later if it is a long hike can help to keep swelling / ...
- 1,668
14
votes
Other than good shoes and a stick, what are some ways to preserve your knees on long hikes?
Make sure you are using your knees correctly.
Body mechanics is a big deal. My doctor was on the road to a knee replacement 25 years ago, and decided he really did not want that. So he learned Tai ...
14
votes
How can I cover the upper part of my nose to avoid UV radiations?
Zinc Oxide Paste
Surfers use zinc oxide for the most burnable areas of the face, and it might work for you too.
It's an opaque white paste that totally blocks harmful UV. It's not greasy like ...
- 243
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible