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1500 questions
47
votes
5 answers
Will drinking lots of water in the day(s) prior to a long trek mean I will need less water on the trek?
I am not sure if 'pre-hydrating' is a valid term to use for this, please correct me if you know the term.
While walking down a tiring route, I was so tired and low on water. All I could think of was, "ahh, I wish I had more water with me". I was…
WedaPashi
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46
votes
8 answers
How to react to cattle charging towards you?
Cattle may get aggressive when threatened, or they might just imitate to be aggressive. I have seen cattle charging towards a person when irritated.
How should one react if a cow or bull comes charging towards him/her?
EDIT: I think the word…
WedaPashi
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46
votes
8 answers
Jumping off of a cliff into water - survival tips
Another scary scenario:
Let's say you're in a situation where you have to jump off of a cliff into the water to survive.
The cliff is at least 100 feet high.
What would be the best way to survive the fall and ensure that you don't break a thousand…
mph85
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46
votes
6 answers
Why go without socks with climbing shoes?
I've been going climbing (indoor bouldering) for about six months, using shoes I rented at the gym, and wearing socks (and everything was fine). I've recently got a pair of climbing shoes, and want to know why some people wear them without socks.…
Eyal
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46
votes
18 answers
Why do I always wake up freezing?
I like to go camping in the forest, mostly in summer, sometimes also when temperatures drop to about 0°C/32°F during the night.
I have a three-season sleeping bag (T-comf: -2°C, T-lim: -8°C, T-ext: -26°C), an inflatable sleeping mat (9cm thick,…
Vidar S. Ramdal
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45
votes
12 answers
Given limited space and weight what should I carry to get a fire going with damp wood?
Assuming firewood can be found, but it's likely to be damp, how can I best be prepared for getting a fire going? This is for a light hiking situation, so I'm not going to carry a sack full of kindling, but am prepared to carry a fairly generous…
Chris H
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45
votes
6 answers
How do I evade or pacify a bee?
I've been feeding the local birds at the exact same spot at the local park for quite some time now. Unfortunately for me, today as I was minding my business as usual, a bee decided to sting me. It stung me and flew away, but not for long. It brought…
Peter Johnmeyer
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45
votes
7 answers
What are some good tips and techniques for packing a backpack?
How do I pack a backpack to prevent injury to my back and keep it comfortable while hiking?
Reverend Gonzo
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45
votes
15 answers
Why do so many people hike with such light footwear?
More and more, I see people hiking with very light-weight shoes. To me, they look like regular sport shoes and they look to be lacking thick soles, waterproofness, or ankle support. I thought this was a US phenomenon, but I saw that in two UK…
gerrit
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44
votes
13 answers
How to carry water in freezing temperatures?
When backpacking in freezing weather, water in a canteen often turns to ice. I am looking for a canteen that
Will not burst when the volume of water increases due to freezing
Will make it possible, and not too difficult, to extract the frozen…
Jan Hlavacek
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44
votes
10 answers
Can removing dead wood harm the ecosystem?
My inlaws have about 40 wooded acres in the Mid Atlantic region. They are nice woods but the amount of dead wood on the ground is astounding. For the most part it makes walking through similar to a jungle. You're just trampling on dead branches and…
amphibient
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44
votes
12 answers
Should overweight people ever climb?
I used to be a regular climber, and unfortunately I have put on some serious weight over the last 4 years, and I have not been able to climb as much as would have loved to.
While, I am still working on my schedule to get back to climbing gym, many…
WedaPashi
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44
votes
6 answers
Is it warmer to sleep with an empty bladder?
One of the recommendations for sleeping warm is to empty your bladder before bed,
When your bladder is full, your body is expending energy keeping that liquid warm. If you empty it out, your body needs to expend a little less energy to stay…
Charlie Brumbaugh
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43
votes
7 answers
How do people drown while wearing a life jacket?
Recently, I heard of three tourists from Germany drowning in a lake in Alaska. Their boat overturned and they ended up in the water. All three of them were wearing life jackets. This is what I don't understand, how can people still drown if they are…
Peter U
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43
votes
8 answers
As a tall female should I be looking at male or female backpacks?
When buying stuff I have never cared whether a specific thing is a female or a male model. All I care about is the fit. Since I am tall, a lot of female oriented equipment, e.g. skis, wouldn't even come in my size. The clothes, on the other hand, I…
april rain
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