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1500 questions
21
votes
3 answers
Synthetic vs Down sleeping bags?
What are the best conditions to use a synthetic sleeping bag vs a down one? Can you always use a down sleeping bag as long as you keep it in a dry waterproof bag?
Ross
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21
votes
1 answer
Plastic or fiberglass for a kayak?
I'm an intermediate level kayaker but have only paddled plastic boats. I'm looking for a kayak to do multi-day trips in on the ocean. What are the differences between plastic and fiberglass?
Ross
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21
votes
6 answers
What are some proven methods of training for week long backpacking trips at high altitude?
I'm going to Colorado to visit a friend and we will be going on a week long trek across a couple of 14'ners. I'm looking for some ways to help prepare my body for trip.
Justin Self
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21
votes
3 answers
Should I be worried about bears when sleeping in a hammock?
I'm going on a multi day backpacking trip and I am planning on taking only a backpacking hammock instead of a tent. When I mentioned this to a friend of mine he jokingly referred to me as a bear taco.
Do I need to worry about bears more since I am…
brh
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21
votes
8 answers
What are the dangers of swimming in natural waters?
What are the dangers of swimming in natural bodies of water? In essence I would like to know about all types of waters, but I am mostly interested in sea because it is most relevant to me. Like many people I enjoy taking a swim when at the sea side,…
Dominykas Mostauskis
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21
votes
5 answers
How to deal with wet feet?
Say for instance I'm walking on boggy ground, I find a small muddy hole or some other minor tragedy that leaves one or both of my feet soaking wet and caked in mud. What is the best way to deal with this on a long hike, so as to avoid getting…
AncientSwordRage
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21
votes
3 answers
How can I rescue someone lost in an avalanche?
If someone from our group is caught in an avalanche, what can I do to rescue them?
Reverend Gonzo
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21
votes
4 answers
How do I inspect a climbing rope?
It is imperative that climbing ropes are in excellent shape so they don't split while someone is climbing.
How do I properly inspect the rope when I'm about to start a climb?
Reverend Gonzo
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21
votes
5 answers
How can I find the safest place to cross a frozen river from a map?
Where is the better chance the ice on the frozen river in winter will be thicker and safer to cross?
I expect the river width oscillates between the following conditions:
on a shallow, wider, slower stream with a surface rippled by rocks below
or a…
HoursFrom.World
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21
votes
8 answers
Are 3 days to recover from a surf lesson too many?
I am 37 and in good shape. I do gym, weights lifting. One month ago, I started learning surfing and, unfortunately, I need 3 full days to recover from a surf lesson, especially if the ocean is a bit wilder.
I am wondering if that’s normal in the…
aneuryzm
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21
votes
2 answers
How fast can you typically hike through untracked forest?
Average hiking speed over level ground is often reckoned around twenty miles per day, assuming hikers in good shape who know what they are doing and where they're going. (As a rough approximation, which is fine, I'm just looking for rough…
rwallace
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21
votes
1 answer
What is this weird mechanical thing I found in the woods?
I hope this is the right community.
I was walking through the woods and found this weird thing, it was in front of a hunting tower, and a wildlife cam was pointed at it.
There where traces of deer(?) around it.
It's basically a big metal crank that…
gries
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21
votes
11 answers
Can I fix my boots by gluing the soles back on?
The sole of my trekking boots got separated from the boot body. Since the boots would be otherwise usable - they are more than ten years old but without too much use - repairing them would be an option. In fact, the sole just needs to be glued again…
Pere
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21
votes
4 answers
What is the Leave No Trace way to dispose of coffee grounds?
If one makes coffee in the backcountry, there will be used grounds. Coffee grounds are biodegradable, but should one instead pack them out completely?
What is the Leave No Trace way to deal with used coffee grounds in the backcountry?
Charlie Brumbaugh
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21
votes
4 answers
How to melt snow without fire or body heat?
I did a backpacking trip once where I was above treeline, there was no running water and I was low on fuel for my stove. While some of the snow was melting it was draining into the ground so fast there was no liquid water.
What I ended up doing for…
Charlie Brumbaugh
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