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1500 questions
24
votes
5 answers
Which stove fuel has best weight to bulk to heat ratio?
Pack stoves come in a variety of flavors, consuming white gas, denatured alcohol, propane, wood, gels, unleaded, kerosene... etc.
Given the assumption that I will be carrying all the fuel I need (no wood collecting), and that all stoves weigh the…
Lost
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24
votes
13 answers
What are the advantages and disadvantages of water bottles versus bladders?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of water bottles versus bladders? Is there any reason to prefer one over the other, in terms of health, safety, cost, convenience, or maintenance?
user2169
24
votes
5 answers
Is color blindness a significant obstacle to bird watching?
I have recently developed an interest in bird watching as a hobby. This would be more than just watching the feeders in my yard; I’d like to record my sightings and try to spot as many of the birds in my region (and during travel) as I can,…
ruffdove
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24
votes
4 answers
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.
studiohack
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24
votes
3 answers
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 that I should be packing? I am talking more about…
pkaeding
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24
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5 answers
Caught in the rain without rainwear or raingear
If you are caught out in the rain without any rainwear, raingear and nowhere to hide out, how can you minimalize the damage?
I've seen things like:
holding a bag over the head
wearing a plastic bag on the head
keeping the head down
Obviously…
Mou某
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24
votes
4 answers
How to inspect climbing bolts?
I am most interested in setting up a top rope anchor on 2 bolts side by side. I feel like in this case you almost have to be more careful using bolts for a top rope than sport climbing because in sport climbing you are clipping a bunch of bolts all…
DJBunk
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24
votes
5 answers
Is this image of a skier skinning up a very steep slope rotated?
In another question someone posted a photo of a skier going up an apparently extremely steep slope on skins.
This slope looks so steep that skinning would be really difficult (especially on an icy slope without ski crampons), and the mountains in…
Felix
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24
votes
5 answers
How does one steer a two-person kayak?
My wife and I recently bought an inflatable, tandem kayak. I grew up canoeing and we've had many enjoyable outings on the water together, so I thought two-person kayaking would be relatively easy. When I take the craft out solo, I find it very…
Jon Ericson
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24
votes
4 answers
How do forest fires affect rock climbing?
The Kenow fire ripped through the Rockies near where I live. Flames were reported to be hundreds of meters high coming off the tops of some trees. Some of those flames licked the crags I most frequently climb. Parks Canada is assessing the danger of…
ShemSeger
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24
votes
7 answers
How to empty bowels before a hike?
They say prevention is better than cure, so for beginner hikes, especially dayhikes, how can one try to ensure that their bowels are empty and they won't suddenly need to poo? Are there proven ways? Is taking medication and relying on it bad?
user19652
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24
votes
5 answers
Is there a kayak / paddleboard for large people?
I am a very large man - I am 6'4" and weigh 450 pounds (I've lost a 100 pounds in the last year). I bike or walk everyday, (and swim laps occasionally) but want to add another sport to my exercise routine. I live in a gated community with 5 lakes…
MDV2000
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24
votes
7 answers
Is it unsafe to ride the chair lift with a backpack?
I like the convenience of having a backpack when I ski.
Last winter one of the lifties at the local ski hill gave me guff about my backpack, claiming that it was unsafe. I wore the same backpack to different slopes around the Northeast US all…
Lumberjack
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24
votes
3 answers
Why do most tents have black floors?
From all the tents I saw, including the two I have, most of them had black floors. Sometimes, the older tents have differently colored floors, but all the new ones are all one color (usually bright orange/red/green), except the floor - it's black.…
user11240
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24
votes
3 answers
A little bit of acclimatisation or no acclimatisation at all?
This summer I'm planning to mount my first 4000 m mountain in Switzerland. So far I only got around 3300 meters while hiking and had no problems. However 4000 meter an above is definitively a different category.
Since my goal requires a little bit…
RoflcoptrException
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