The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange
The Great Outdoors Stack Exchange

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7 answers

Can I light a kerosene lamp with flint & steel or a magnifying glass?

I am planning a canoe trip, and will be bringing a kerosene lamp for light. As a backup fire lighting option I am planning on bringing flint & steel and possible a magnifying glass. Can either of these be used to light the wick on a kerosene lamp?
James Jenkins
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Arm compression sleeves for climbing

A lot of runners use calf and leg compression sleeves, as these are supposed to improve blood flow. It would seem a logical extension to use compression sleeves on your forearms during climbing, especially on pumpy routes. Are there anecdotal or…
shimizu
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How to wash a foam helmet?

I have a Foam Helmet, made for climbing. Its kinda old and looks like it needs a wash. The Helmet is old, and so is the foam. Roughly a bit more than 3 years now. With other foam-made things that are a bit old, I have a personal experience that when…
WedaPashi
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When should you use gear to climb a tree?

After a long night of geocaching with some friends, one of them had a car full of climbing gear which he said he used for tree climbing - if the cache is up a tree. A couple of times now myself or my other half (Dynadin) have climbed 3-6ft up a tree…
Aravona
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Statistics on types and survivability of anchor failures?

The most recent (2013) edition of Climbing Anchors, by Long and Gaines, makes some interesting statements in the preface about catastrophic failures of anchors. Long first says that: when belay anchors fail, it's usually in cases where the gear was…
user2169
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4 answers

How to take care of climbing hands?

Being a climber one aim is to toughen up your hands (related: How to toughen up hands?). Building up callused skin is important but how do you keep it? Having dry hands especially from the climbing itself I suffer from skinning. What's the best…
Wills
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Good ways to avoid snakes when hiking?

I'v been told that walking with a heavy foot-fall will deter snakes. Is this really true?
wyocalboy
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Acquiring a Camp Site at the Everest Base Camp

I was just going through the details about processes and dependencies, and associated tough-nuts with planning and executing a trek to Everest Base Camp from Nepal side. In the same context, I had previously asked a question about travelling and…
WedaPashi
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What does it mean to free a climbing route?

Sometimes I read articles about climbers having freed a route. For example: "Lynn Hill freed the Nose". What does this exactly mean in terms of how they climbed it? Specifically: Are they not allowed to fall at all during the climb? Are there ropes…
shimizu
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Using a rope "Alpine Style"/Moving together

I've seen people using a ropes "alpine style" in the past but I'm not sure on the specifics. By alpine style I mean where the rope is coiled around the body and attached to a second of third person. Anchors may or may not be used but typically the…
user2766
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Lowering off from anchors vs. rappelling after a climb?

What is recommended after finishing a sport climb--lowering off from the anchors or rappelling ? Rappelling preserves the hardware better, but is usually thought to be more dangerous since you take yourself off-belay. I'm assuming the answer…
shimizu
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Camping on a uninhabited island in Sweden's skärgård near Gothenburg

The Swedish skärgård located just west of Gothenburg is a beautiful place. I have travelled there a couple of times, taking the bus-ferries around between the islands. There are quite a lot of uninhabited islands, with some grass and rocks, and…
Bjarke Freund-Hansen
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Adjusting the Torso setting for the backpack

I have been using backpacks which did not have setting for Torso adjustment. This time around I have bought myself a backpack with such adjustment. Product Link: Quechua backpack Product I think I still have not managed to adjust it neatly, as I…
WedaPashi
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Dealing with Sap on a Tent

Basically as the title states. I placed my tent under a tree at the weekend to give a bit of respite against the torrential rain while setting it up. Said rain has mixed with sap laden leaves (which I was unaware the tree had) and covered it in a…
Dynadin
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What is the best way to transport a kayak?

I am planning on purchasing a kayak for next year, and am trying to strategize on how to transport my boat. I have a small 4 door car no rack and my wife has a slightly larger 4 door crossover style vehicle no rack. I'd be transporting this maybe 30…
hernan43
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