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Woodchucks often have fleas or other insect parasites on them. Woodchucks can have rabies. Other animals will colonize a vacant woodchuck burrow. I would eliminate a woodchuck living under or close to my house, and do my best to destroy the burrow. Virtually all animals are territorial...

Is there a lake off of the West Branch of the Penobscot River called Lobster Lake? Is there enough water in the river for a motor boat with a 1.5-2.0 foot draft to go from the boat launch off Poulin Road to get to Lobster Lake? Navigable for a motor boat?

Ankle injuries and boots I wonder if there is any relationship between the number of ankle injuries reported and whether or not hikers were wearing boots or trail shoes. I heard former Ranger Peter Fish talk at the 2007 Adirondack Forty-Sixers Outdoor Leadership Workshop about what to wear...

Any abdominal surgery is a big deal. Laparoscopic is better, but they still cut holes in your abdominal wall. Apple sauce is your friend. It has water, sugar and fiber. Easy to swallow, palatable even if your appetite is shot, and good for keeping your large intestine operating even if you...

Assuming there is global warming going on and that at least some of it can be attributed to too many human beings putting too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, what are the solutions? Should we act to reduce the human population by non-coercive means? Should all humans be required to...

How about using skins on skis to go up the Wilmington Trail? If the trail could be bare booted, would carrying skis be difficult due to brush and having to duck under downed trees?

Is is feasible to ski up the toll road, and then cross over to the ski area and ski down?

I think Little Rickie nailed it. Boy Scouts is not intended to make someone an expert in hiking, camping, etc. The outdoor program is a tool to teach self-reliance, teamwork, preparation, etc. Quality of scout troops is highly dependent on the quality of the adult leadership. I have been...

I ask myself how many things have to go wrong for real trouble to happen. If the answer is one or two, then I prepare for the worst. If a lot of things have to go wrong for life or limbs to be at risk, then taking a chance of going light might be acceptable. However, just like with deciding...

Two good questions. When I hike with a group, actually, before I actually hike, I review with everyone that the most important purpose of the trip is to be safe and return together. I will not hike with anyone who is not committed to that up front. I also review with everyone that anyone can...

Any trekking poles are better than no trekking poles, at least that is what I think my knees have told me. I have a pair of Leki Super Makalus that I have put a lot of miles on, and they have never failed me (at least so far, knock on wood). I periodically take them apart, wipe out the...

I am not sure how much money we spend a year. My wife and I tend to buy medium to good quality stuff that is multipurpose. I found that she is more willing to get stuff after watching Hurricane Katrina and when I suggest something is a good idea cause we could use it after a natural...

I have a 2003 Toyota Tundra access cab with a cap on the bed. Room for 4 or 5 adults, and all the gear they might need. Room to put kayaks on the top. A v8 engine, so it will move along the highway and up/down hills. Four wheel drive for snow and off road, and pulling little cars out of snow...

Another excellent thoughtful thread. After going with relatively little and going with too much, I tailor what I take in light of the time of the year, weather forecast, and the answer to this question: what is the minimum I would want to have with me if I had to spend tonight on the trail...

Interesting thread with many thoughtful comments. A different thought: The water bottle used to mix the drink in is almost certainly now a "smellable," that is something that a High Peaks area black bear will investigate. Don't take it into your tent for the night or leave it in a closed up pack.

I have a top and pants bug suit sold by Coughlans. Total price was more than what you asked about. The top and pants are effective at keeping the bugs away, but do not ventilate well. One would think that a mesh net kind of thing would move more air through than it does. However, I react...

SAM splint is a bendable, foldable, foam lined rectangular piece of (I think) lightweight aluminum that comes in several sizes. When shaped to person's arm or leg can be quite rigid. They are very adaptable. I used one this winter to splint broken radius and ulna by running from back of arm...

Excellent thread. My first aid kit is fairly large, after taking a WMA Wilderness First Aid course, and includes a SAM splint. I also carry note cards for taking and keeping a history of someone who is ill or injured. ER docs appreciate accurate and complete written information. I have...

All smellables should canistered or hung. What is a smellable? It is anything with an odor that a bear might investigate, even if after investigation the bear would move on. That included water bottles that had Gatorade or equivalent in them, clothes worn while cooking or on which food or...

I would not wedge or otherwise secure my canister in a location. I would not want to give a bear the opportunity to push on the hatch (door) as I do not think the hatch locking mechanism is strong enough to resist the power of a bear. The key is to leave the canister loose so the bear does not...