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1500 questions
16
votes
2 answers
What safety equipment should I carry for sea-touring by kayak?
What equipment should I carry in case of emergency on a coastal kayaking trip? I normally do short trips (1 week or less) around the islands of northwest Scotland. I tend to travel solo (sometimes no friends are available; sometimes I just prefer…
Toby Speight
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16
votes
2 answers
What is the best breathing holes strategy for a quinzee?
Since it's the season coming up for many (and snow seems to be in the game this year in eastern NA at least).
What would be the best/optimal strategy with regards to breathing holes for a quinzee (shelter made of snow)? Elements to consider:
Let us…
Francky_V
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16
votes
2 answers
Difference between a "path" and a "footpath"?
I was chacking a map to see access rights on a particular route I know. I was checking if a path was a bridleway or footpath as I know Mountain Bikes should only use bridleways. Studying the key closely though I became a little confused. If you look…
user2766
16
votes
2 answers
How can I build a board to mount climbing holds in my house?
I want to screw a board in my house to mount indoor climbing holds, like an indoor wall. so a piece of board with evenly spaced screw holes in it that accept the standard screw mounts for climbing holds. something like this:
Problem is I don't know…
user2766
16
votes
4 answers
Technique for swimming with fins?
I recently bought some fins... Short, much stiffer than some fins used by divers these are more aimed at surfing.
I can feel they make me faster but am struggling with technique. I feel I'm fighting them and it's very tough on my ankles.
Can anyone…
Mr. Boy
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16
votes
4 answers
When making camp in the mountains, which direction should I face my tent?
Sometimes I hear that, when making camp in the mountains, a tent should be pitched so the door is facing a certain direction, usually downhill. I've repeatedly asked why I should do this, and the answers I've received are always "I don't…
243DRob
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16
votes
4 answers
What are the advantages of different locks for collapsible trekking poles?
I've generally seen two kinds of locks for adjustable trekking poles. Twist lock and clamp lock (Clamp lock is also called "lever lock" and "quick lock"). What are the comparative advantages and disadvantages of clamp vs. twist?
Clamp lock:
Twist…
Russell Steen
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16
votes
1 answer
How do I test my water filter?
How can you verify that a water filter still works? I've had one for several years and I suspect it may not be working. Is there a way to test and make sure that it still filters to the factory specified microns?
My particular filter is a First…
Russell Steen
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16
votes
5 answers
How to stash firewood without it getting wet?
I am planning a party in the wilderness, where there is no firewood. I decided to carry some firewood there, to make it more fun. It's planned for a specific day in the winter (e.g. birthday party), so there are a few months of "preparation", during…
anatolyg
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16
votes
3 answers
How effective are portable electric fences?
I am worried about bears and wolves when camping so I'm looking at portable electric fences.
Are they effective and more importantly just how dangerous are they?
Avogado
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16
votes
3 answers
Optimal timing/routing for a year visiting US national parks?
There are 59 National parks in the US. Of which 49 are in the Continental US (lower 48). There are 52 weeks in a year. I would like to take a year and spend about a week camping and exploring each of the 49 National parks in the lower 48.
I am…
James Jenkins
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16
votes
5 answers
Rapelling an overhang
How do you bypass the overhang, mid-rappel?
--. <-- Start of rappel
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|
__| <-- Overhang
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Do you go to your knees and then step one foot over at a time trying not to squash your hand?
Do you drop quickly, making sure to drop low so…
Adam Terlson
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16
votes
2 answers
Thinking about a road trip out West
My wife and I are thinking of taking a road trip from northwest Ohio to "out west" - Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, etc. I've never been farther west than Indiana, so it's a whole new territory for me (my wife has when she was younger). We…
Damon Bauer
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16
votes
3 answers
What is a "spit anchor"?
In an English climbing guidebook about a French region, I read the term spit anchor in the general description of the equipment of the (multi-pitch) routes of some crags. I never heard that term before; what is a spit anchor?
anderas
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16
votes
1 answer
How do you stabilize a sextant for use on a boat in rough water?
Using a sextant to get accurate angle measurements is tough on moving vessel. It's even harder when the waters are rough. Is there a technique that is most useful in stabilizing the device and/or the body holding it to keep the sextant focused on…
TomSchober
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