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1500 questions
13
votes
5 answers
Why should I take a pocket knife for wild camping / hiking?
I've got the advice to take a pocket knife with me for 2 weeks of wild camping / hiking in Scotland (West Highland Way). However, I don't understand when I would need it.
I will take the following with me:
a knife, fork and spoon for…
Martin Thoma
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13
votes
3 answers
How can I know if a rope is certified? I found a hidden tag
We (a uni student club, mostly hiking) own a rope that is practically unknown. We know that it's a year since it was bought (presumably new) and that it has hardly ever been used (no dead hangs, etc). It contains no rating tags/tape outside. We…
user56833
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13
votes
5 answers
How to encourage birds into the garden of a rented house?
I live in a relatively rural area of North Wales in a new build house. I've been trying to encourage birds into our garden with limited success. There are plenty of birds in the area just not many in our garden! The problem is I can't make any…
user2766
13
votes
1 answer
How far away should I hang my food with dry bag?
I intend to use a dry bag as a bear-bag to store my food while camping and I was going to hang it. I had read in another post that a dry bag would not limit the bear's sense of smell as a bear bag would.
So my question is, how far away from my…
Paradox
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13
votes
8 answers
Is a smartphone or dedicated gps receiver better for navigation in the desert?
For most backcountry navigation I use a topo map and compass when necessary. Generally I'm following known trails and combined with some basic awareness of cardinal direction and land features I don't really need electronics.
This fall, I'm going to…
Eric
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13
votes
5 answers
Belaying two seconds?
I'm planning on doing some Grade III scrambling/low grade multi-pitch climbing this weekend. Normally just me and my girlfriend would do this kind of thing, I'll lead she'd second. But I'm thinking of taking another friend along this time. I'll…
user2766
13
votes
2 answers
Adjustable mid-line knot?
I'm looking for a knot similar to a sheepshank but adjustable and stable under load on both ends.
Think of two poles that have the two ends of a rope permanently attached to them but you want to shorten the rope in-between like you would do with a…
smossum
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13
votes
3 answers
Solar Power While Backpacking
I am planning a multi-week backpacking trip (the JMT in California), and want to bring a real camera.
What are some good solar power options for charging my camera batteries on a long backpacking trip?
(Just to be clear, my camera is a Sony a7 and…
john_science
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13
votes
2 answers
When should a belay device be replaced?
I'm about to purchase my first belay device, and am wondering how long I might expect it to last. What signs should I be looking at to determine when a belay device eventually needs to be replaced?
nhinkle
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13
votes
1 answer
The re-hydration time for deydrated foods
I've got a lot of backpacking trips lined up this summer, including one multi-week one. I'm considering picking up a dehydrator because:
It probably would be more cost effective than buying freeze dried food.
I get more (total, in fact) control…
Eric
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13
votes
6 answers
Leave no Trace: Are campfires unethical?
According to the Centre for Outdoor Ethics:
"The use of campfires, once a necessity for cooking and warmth, is
steeped in history and tradition [...] the natural appearance of many areas has been degraded by the overuse of fires and an increasing…
ShemSeger
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13
votes
2 answers
Is there a tool that can calculate the time of sunrise?
From time to time I enjoy taking hikes in the mountains to see a beautiful sunrise and sunset. When doing this, I always guess when the sun will rise that day and then I plan my tour accordingly. But this is not always that easy, especially in the…
RoflcoptrException
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13
votes
1 answer
How to tandem rappel/abseil with a child?
So my toddler just barely fits the smallest child's harness on the market, which of course means she's big enough to go climbing and rappelling with daddy ;)
I've been playing around with different techniques of tandem rappelling with her (both…
ShemSeger
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13
votes
2 answers
Reliability of snow bollards
I just discovered there is a way to rapell (e.g. for crevasse rescue) without any equipment building a snow bollard:
How is this done in the best possible manner?
What do I have to look for in terms of (snow) conditions?
How can I check the…
Wills
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13
votes
2 answers
Headlamp with open flame
I just saw a documentary where they investigated lakes inside of glaciers. They rapelled in big crevasses and even dived in those sometimes huge water reservoirs.
The scientist had a regular looking headlamp but on top of it there seemed to be an…
Wills
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