The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange
The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange

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1500 questions
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Tahoma Creek suspension bridge history

One of my more memorable hiking experiences came on the Wonderland Trail in the summer of 1994. The trail is about 93 miles (150 kilometers) long. It's in the Mount Rainier State Park which is located in the State of Washington in western United…
StrongBad
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Dealing with very cold climate (clothing)

In the near future I will have to prepare myself for a Siberia expedition. During the winter, average temperatures in Siberia range from -10°F (-23°C) to below -50°C (-45°F).1 What should I wear in very low temperature conditions? Is there any…
syntagma
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How can I keep my iPhone going on a multiday hike?

Taking a five day hike, and I want to take a bazillion pictures. It would be nice to have the compass & GPS functionality too, and I want something really small. The obvious choice is my iPhone. As everyone knows, however, an iPhone sucks juice…
Affable Geek
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Falling into an ice cold body of water

I've never been hiking in such extreme situations, but if in the situation in the question, i.e. you're hiking in very cold weather and someone falls in (let's say so pretty much their whole body is under, and it's a lake not a river, so no current)…
berry120
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What are the key features to look for in mobile device apps for hiking/camping?

I've used one of the trail apps and was satisfied, but am looking for something better. What are the features I should focus on for selecting an app? What bells and whistles are really useful on the trail?
David Lozzi
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How to stow backpack and boots whilst in a hammock?

I'm contemplating using a hammock for my next trip, usually I'd keep my backpack and boots with me inside when I sleep to keep them dry. Is there room in a hammock for a backpack and boots? Or is it uncomfortable being pulled into them all night?…
Chris J
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Starting cross-country skiing off trails

I've done a bit of cross-country skiing on trails at local mountains, but I'm more interested in getting off the trails and out into the woods. The terrain around here is pretty steep in general with very heavy powder when it snows, which it does a…
Ryley
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Difference when using twin or half ropes

There are three types of ropes according to the UIAA/EN norm for climbing ropes: Single, half and twin. While the distinction between single ropes and the other two is rather obvious (one strand versus two parallel strands) it is not so clear for…
imsodin
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How do locals (short of drilling) determine that lake ice is safe for skating, ice fishing, snowmobiling, skiing?

This question is not a duplicate of either (1) Ice skating on a frozen lake -- how thick should the ice be?, which only asks how thick the ice should be; or (2) How to determine the thickness of ice?, which only asks how to determine how thick the…
ab2
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What is the best type of shoe to wear for crossing deep rivers?

I'm heading up for some walking to Scotland soon. I will need to cross multiple rivers. I have no interest in crossing wearing my walking boots as so many people like to do as wet feet are the worst of all options. Yes I could remove my socks and…
Undistraction
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Are there any affordable night vision goggles that are good and available to civilians?

I quite often go hiking in the evening after work and I have a good head torch but sometimes I wish I had some night vision goggles because often a headtorch will scare wildlife and cause farm animals to go crazy (not so good if you are on a…
Andrew Welch
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When is it appropriate to make a cairn?

Cairns are small stacks of rocks used to mark trails. These can be especially useful above the tree line where other trail blazes would be inappropriate or unsightly. This answer discourages their use in some circumstances as their use creates paths…
Chris Mendez
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Are there any specific techniques that should be used when starting a fire in the rain?

Starting a fire can sometimes be hard enough when it's dry, let alone when it's tipping it down. But when it is, what steps should you follow to try to ensure the fire gets going successfully? I'm talking about the process of gathering firewood when…
berry120
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What's the purpose of dog boots?

I'm not actually asking about the fashion items, the kind celebrities buy for their dogs... but actual outdoor designed dog boots. What is the purpose of dog boots? Why / when would you use them?
Aravona
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How to sail a packraft

I would like to use the wind to propel my packraft on passages over lakes. Are there any lightweight and/or improvised sail systems? Especially: how do I erect a mast on the packraft without it becoming unstable or damaging it? I guess with a mast…
Oliver Hankeln
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