The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange
The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
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2 answers

Correct technique to traverse exposed sandy rock slope

I have hiked quite a lot, and today I challenged myself to an easy 'alpine route'. At one point I came across this exposed slope (Is this considered a scree slope?) Considering that at the base of a slope is a small platform followed by a cliff, I…
Jan Lynn
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Giving honey to a bear?

Recently some brown bears appeared in my region. Should we encounter one, is it a good idea if we opened a jar of honey for the bear so we would have time to leave?
Gergely
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How can I protect myself in case of a human attack like the murders of the hikers Jespersen and Ueland in Morocco?

I read about the murders of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen and Maren Ueland. What safety mistakes these girls did during their camping trip? What could have been done to avoid this situation? How can I protect myself in case of an attack like this?…
Pie
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How can I store milk for long periods of time?

I'm in the process of setting up my overland vehicle so that it has "essentials" in it at all times. I've got a kettle and ways to boil the kettle etc. I am interested in having the basics in my vehicle such as water, tea, coffee as well as…
JackU
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6 answers

How to win against ants

I’m adapting to long-term lifestyle of outdoor living, and getting constantly assaulted by this or that type of bug has been a major issue. Sleeping in a tent has thwarted most my opposition at this point in my transition, such as mosquitoes, gnats,…
Tiana Pyre
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What are reasons why someone might use non-breathable waterproof pants?

For rain pants, there are both breathable pants that let sweat out and non-breathable ones that do not. The problem with the non-breathable pants is that your sweat can build up inside and then you will get wet underneath the pants anyways. As…
Charlie Brumbaugh
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9 answers

How do you stop blood-flow from a leech bite?

Although leeches are relatively harmless, and you are not likely to bleed out from a bite, the blood stain on your clothes can be off-putting to your hiking buddies. Is there any effective way to counteract the anti-coagulant leeches inject into the…
Lost
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Are there any natural materials that can be used as a magnifying lens (or to craft one)?

I am currently stuck in the wilderness, and I have been out here for a while. I want to focus light. There are various reasons for wanting to do this, with the two biggest reasons being for vision and for fire starting. It does not need to be…
Loduwijk
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If you are kayaking on a lake when whitecaps start happening, what is the best direction to get off the lake?

I am stealing Charlie Brumbaugh's question about canoeing on an open lake, because for kayaking you would get different anwers, and it's important to distinguish those. If you are kayaking on a lake and the wind suddenly starts blowing to the point…
user15958
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1 answer

What does "out and back" mean in terms of understanding the length of a trail?

If I am going on a 10 mile hike and the book says the hike is 10 miles out and back, how many miles will it be total?
Annella Prosser
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What style crampon should I use for my hiking boots and how do I adjust them?

I've been using microspikes on my hiking boots and find that they aren't up to the challenge of hiking up snowy peaks. I use snowshoes but find some mountains would be better served by crampons and was wondering what type would be best for my hiking…
Phil Jackson
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Why do upside down tree leaves mean rain

So I have heard this saying a lot and would like to know if and why this is true because the leaves are upside down now and I have always been confused by this because some have told me nay and some yay.
JIMMYPlay
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What is this blob found at the edge of a puddle on a forest logging road?

Exploring the woods of the Adirondack Mountains, this gelatinous blob was found near the edge of standing water on a logging road. The entire length of this thing is probably just under 10 inches and it seems to be about an inch thick (didn't…
cr0
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How fast does a climbing rope recover its dynamic properties after a fall?

The defining feature of a climbing rope (arguably) is its dynamic properties, i.e. it stops your fall gradually to decrease the peak force. Not exceeding a fixed peak force is a/the integral criterion in the norming procedure of climbing ropes. It…
imsodin
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How to estimate distances while at sea?

While kayaking or swimming out in the open waters, it is quite important to be able to judge distances accurately before attempting to get from one point to another, such as from island to island. Without a map, a GPS and a good geographical…
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