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1500 questions
33
votes
5 answers
Is sleeping on the ground in cold weather better than on an air mattress?
My friend and I had an argument about this topic. He says that the cold air in the mattress will stay at the ambient temperature, so if it's -20 outside the air in the mattress will stay at -20 so I'll keep freezing as opposed to sleeping on the…
Conrad
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33
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4 answers
In the US is it legal to travel on any river/creek my canoe will navigate?
I have always assumed that if my Canoe will float, and the waterway ultimately reaches an ocean it is legal to travel on.
I looked around for documents that said it clearly one way or the other. Surprisingly I did not find anything helpful in this…
James Jenkins
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33
votes
7 answers
Where in the Alps is it safe to drink the water without filtering?
In some places, the Swedish Lappland for example, it's perfectly fine and even recommended to drink water directly from streams.
Is it also recommended whilst hiking in the Alps, and if so is it only in certain areas?
victoriah
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33
votes
2 answers
Why don't climbers use electrically heated suits?
Why do climbers not use electrically heated suits to climb peaks like Mt. Everest? Or am I just mistaken and they already do it?
Schultz Hartmut
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33
votes
4 answers
Why do horses need to wear shoes?
Lately I chatted with my neighbor while the farrier was there, to provide her horses with new shoes. Later it made me wonder why they even need them. They don't have any in the wild, so why would they suddenly need some metal bars to walk properly?
OddDeer
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33
votes
1 answer
How are sleeping bag temperature ratings determined?
One things that has always troubled me when buying a sleeping bag is the temperature rating. When looking at a bag that claims to be a +15°F bag (for example) how do I know that it is really good down to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (preferably without…
Russell Steen
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33
votes
3 answers
How can I hike across the Grand Canyon if I don't have a backcountry permit?
I am going to try to hike across the Grand Canyon in May, from the South Rim to the North Rim, and back. Unfortunately, I have discovered that I am probably too late to secure a back-country permit for the week I plan to be there.
My original plan…
Affable Geek
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33
votes
7 answers
Which knot for climbing: figure eight, yosemite bowline, bowline on a bight?
This is a topic often discussed online, but all I could find so far was people sharing their opinions (including numbers) on what tie-in knot is the best. Here's what I've found out from different sources:
Figure eight: Fool proof to check, very…
David
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33
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11 answers
Do tent colors have functional purposes?
I'm shopping for a new tent and considering a model that comes in two different colors-- bright orange and dark green.
Purely-aesthetic preferences aside (ie, like orange more than green), are there any functional or practical differences between a…
Chris Mendez
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33
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5 answers
Why aren't there any electric stoves that can be used for cooking where you can't build a fire?
There are quite a few countries where you aren't allowed to make open fires in the great outdoors (I'm sure for at least Austria and Germany). I wondered why nobody has yet thought about electric stoves?
As you can't use common gas stoves (cause…
OddDeer
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32
votes
7 answers
When will a rattlesnake strike?
There are a few questions about how to avoid rattlers, and what to do if you're bit, but at what point does a rattler actually strike?
I had my first rattler encounter ever yesterday, just out in the coulees down by the river, right on the walking…
ShemSeger
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32
votes
5 answers
What advantage does the what3words coordinate system have over other, traditional systems?
I recently came across the what3words coordinate system in an outdoor magazine. The system divides the world into squares of 3 m x 3 m. Each square is then named with a combination of three (as far as I understand) arbitrary words, but each three…
Snijderfrey
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32
votes
6 answers
What precautions should I take to protect myself and my camp from bears?
Most of my prior hiking experience has been in areas that are not home to bears, so what precautions should I take to protect my camp (and myself as I am hiking) from bears.
I am aware of a couple of things, like having a bell or noisemaker on my…
pkaeding
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32
votes
7 answers
How do I keep my group together?
Although I'm primarily asking about caving, this is a problem that exists in any activity that moves through the landscape: walking, cycling, kayak touring, etc.
A natural tendency when on the move is for the fastest members of the group to end up…
Toby Speight
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32
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5 answers
Does hiking with a dog in bear country increase or decrease your risk of a bear encounter?
I've heard various rumors that dogs might help keep bears away, or might be a bear attractant. Is there anything more concrete than anecdotal evidence to go on?
From the companionship end, they are a net positive, helping to calm your nerves when…
Lost
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