Sirima Svastisalee's Posts - FitClimb2024-03-29T02:29:57ZSirima Svastisaleehttp://www.fitclimb.com/profile/SirimaSvastisaleehttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/65259050?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://www.fitclimb.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=0it7drqyp8j9s&xn_auth=noSurvival School- Top 10 Winter Tips for the Wildernesstag:www.fitclimb.com,2014-10-27:2672050:BlogPost:379122014-10-27T01:24:13.000ZSirima Svastisaleehttp://www.fitclimb.com/profile/SirimaSvastisalee
<p>With winter many climbers, hikers, and backpackers tend to get out of shape and gain weight. The cold doesn’t have to get in the way of fun, as long as you follow some basic winter camping and survival principles the snow can be your friend. Here’s 10 tips for a fun and safe winter trip outdoors.</p>
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<p>1. Clothing – This is your first line of defense against the environment and one of the most important factors. Focus on layering. Start with a good base layer (long underwear…</p>
<p>With winter many climbers, hikers, and backpackers tend to get out of shape and gain weight. The cold doesn’t have to get in the way of fun, as long as you follow some basic winter camping and survival principles the snow can be your friend. Here’s 10 tips for a fun and safe winter trip outdoors.</p>
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<p>1. Clothing – This is your first line of defense against the environment and one of the most important factors. Focus on layering. Start with a good base layer (long underwear top & bottom) that’s breathable. Depending on how cold it is and your activity level you’ll want to bring insulated or fleece tops, insulated or fleece bottom, a shell top & bottom, at least 2 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of gloves (can be base & shell), a warm hat (watch cap), and extra dry t-shirt or long sleeve shirt in event your base layer gets wet. Wear a tough pair of insulated (such as 600 grams of Thinsulate Ultra Insulation) water-proof (100% Gore-Tex) boots we also recommend packing hand and foot warmers. </p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73441957?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73441957?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="448" class="align-center" height="252"/></a></p>
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<p>2. Like clothing, hydration is critical in the code. Being well hydrated will prevent many cold injuries and keep you at peak performance. Plan for 2-4 liters of water per day depending on activity level. Remember to follow proper water storage techniques to keep you water from freezing, such as selecting the right bottles, burying in snow overnight, and storing upside-down. More on water from this post on <a href="http://www.fitclimb.com/profiles/blogs/staying-hydrated-on-climbs-and">staying hydrated</a>.</p>
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<p>3. Managing Battery – Devices such as headlamps, radios, GPS, and smartphones have be indispensable to wilderness activities. The cold can drain batteries much faster, one option to extending your device battery life is to ensure the battery and device are warmed up before using, do this by storing on your body between layers of clothing or holding it for a few minutes. Follow these <a href="http://blog.cairnme.com/post/72527826396/top-5-tips-for-managing-your-smartphone-battery-in-the">battery tips with smartphones</a>.</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442106?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442106?profile=original" width="207" class="align-center" height="219"/></a></p>
<p>4. Nutrition – Pack healthy high energy snacks. When your at camp focus on hot foods that contain moisture like soups, stews, and oatmeal. Consuming a few teaspoons of butter before you go to bed will help you sleep warm. We can talk about food and nutrition for days, with thousands of resources online. Remember to pack foods you enjoy.</p>
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<p>5. Understand and be prepared to treat Cold injuries. This is a decent video. <a href="http://www.fitclimb.com/video/prevention-of-cold-injury" target="_blank"><img width="419" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442216?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="419" class="align-center"/></a></p>
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<p>6. Sleeping Warm – The key here is staying insulated and dry. Dead air space or insulation from the ground is important, pack a good sleeping pad or improvise one. We like sleeping bags rated to -20, but if yours isn’t you can supplement with extra layers of clothing.</p>
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<p>7. Alcohol – Avoid it since it saps your performance and makes you do stupid things, also contrary to what some might think it won’t help you stay or sleep warm. If you must have some do it in moderation, ensure your close to safety, drink when you don’t care much about performance (it’s the last day of the trip), don’t consume alcohol at high altitude, and don’t plan on driving after. A small amount can go a long way in cheering up a group. Here’s some favorite outdoor cocktail recipes:</p>
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<ul>
<li>Lemon-lime flavored powdered Gatorade and tequila. Purify water; mix in in Gatorade, Mix 2 ounces of tequila to 16 ounces of Gatorade. </li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Hot cocoa and Peppermint Schnapps. Bring a 50 mil nip bottle of Peppermint Schnapps and add 10-15 mil to each hot cocoa cup depending on how strong you want it.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Mountain Sangria. Dried fruit (sweet citrus, cherries, cranberries, even raisins) and one 500ml Black Box wine (Merlot or Cab). At home open the box and drink about 50ml then fill the rest of the box with the fruit so it can soak during the hike. In camp, you mix with snow/ice or place box in cold water. After drinking wine eat fruit with chocolate for dessert.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442256?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="300" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442256?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300" class="align-center"/></a></li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Hot toddy – 1 ounce of Bourbon, honey packet (pick up at Starbucks near napkins and cream), 2 teaspoons lemon juice, heat with 6 ounces cup hot water.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Hot spiced wine. Spiced tea bag, 500 ml Black Box wine – Merlot. Pour wine and drop tea bag in pot and heat. Great for cold wet days.</li>
</ul>
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<ul>
<li>Hot buttered Rum, favorite for cold weather to help you sleep warm. At home mix 1 cup of brown sugar, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of ground ginger, and 12 ounces of butter in zip -lock to make 3-4 cups. In camp heat mixture in zip-lock with 18 ounces of spiced rum, preferably Kraken, enjoy.<a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442276?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="300" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442276?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300" class="align-full"/></a></li>
</ul>
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<p>8. Equipment- Pack the proper equipment like snowshoes to help you travel, a shovel, and decent tent that helps you manage condensation. If you plan on sleeping in a snow shelter an ice saw to augment your shovel can save you hours in construction time. Extra cord to tie things down and hang clothing to dry is a good bet. Don’t forget the chains for the car.</p>
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<p>9. Fire – A fire can give you warmth, help dry out clothes, and provide light, but the most important aspect is raising morale. Every outdoor enthusiast should know how to make one in various conditions. Here’s video of how to build a fire in the snow.</p>
<p><br/> <a href="http://www.fitclimb.com/video/how-to-build-a-fire-in-snow"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442287?profile=original" width="426" class="align-center"/></a></p>
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<p>10. Avalanche safety- Check the latest avalanche forecast, in the USA, the <a href="http://www.americanavalancheassociation.org/">American Avalanche Association.</a> Avoid avalanche terrain within 24 hours of a storm that brings a foot (30 centimeters) or more of fresh snow, which is when slides are most common. Avalanche danger starts on the climb up, so stick to low-angle ridges or dense trees when possible. Move from one safe terrain area to another. If you plan on venturing out in avalanche terrain it’s best to take an avalanche safety course and pack the right equipment.</p>Text to 911 Service Goes Live in Some U.S. Statestag:www.fitclimb.com,2014-05-18:2672050:BlogPost:320632014-05-18T15:30:00.000ZSirima Svastisaleehttp://www.fitclimb.com/profile/SirimaSvastisalee
<p>Last Thursday May 15<sup>th</sup> all four major US . carriers, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint have started offering <a href="http://www.fcc.gov/text-to-911">text to 911</a> in some states. Text to 911 is the ability of a mobile phone or device to reach emergency services by texting a message. The main use cases are when a person can’t speak, hear, or need to call for help in a stealthy mode. <strong>The main benefit for outdoor enthusiasts is to get through to 911 in areas of…</strong></p>
<p>Last Thursday May 15<sup>th</sup> all four major US . carriers, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint have started offering <a href="http://www.fcc.gov/text-to-911">text to 911</a> in some states. Text to 911 is the ability of a mobile phone or device to reach emergency services by texting a message. The main use cases are when a person can’t speak, hear, or need to call for help in a stealthy mode. <strong>The main benefit for outdoor enthusiasts is to get through to 911 in areas of spotty cell coverage. </strong> Texts messages require less bandwidth and have a higher chance of getting through where voice calls might not.</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442016?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="300" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442016?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300" class="align-center"/></a></p>
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<p><strong>Here’s what you need to know:</strong></p>
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<p>In the future, text-to-911 will be widely available in the United States. However, for now, the ability to contact 911 using text is <u><a href="http://transition.fcc.gov/cgb/text-to-911-deployments.pdf" title="only available on a limited basis in a few markets">only available on a limited basis in a few markets</a>.</u> For this reason, you should not rely on text to reach 911. The full rollout can take several years.</p>
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<p>With text it’s still important to communicate the same details as a voice call, your location and type of emergency should be first. </p>
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<p>Texting to 911 is different from making a voice call to 911 in this respect. When you make a voice call to 911, the call taker will typically receive your phone number and your approximate location automatically. This is called "Enhanced 911" or "E911." However, in most cases when you text 911 from a wireless phone, the call taker will not receive this automated information. For this reason, if you send a text message to 911, it is important to give the 911 call taker a location or address as quickly as possible.</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442039?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="280" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442039?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="280" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>In the wilderness provide your detailed location information if you have a Lat/Long this is prefered, if you have an iPhone you can quickly view your Lat/Long from the standard compass app.</p>
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<p>In an emergency voice calls should still be the default since 911 operators can ask for more and specific information and communicate faster. </p>
<p>Here's some <a href="http://blog.cairnme.com/post/72977104145/top-tips-for-using-your-iphone-to-call-911-in-the" target="_blank">top tips for dialing 911 (especially with iPhone) in the wilderness.</a></p>Build A DIY Rock Climbing Wall For Under $200tag:www.fitclimb.com,2013-10-16:2672050:BlogPost:287112013-10-16T05:30:00.000ZSirima Svastisaleehttp://www.fitclimb.com/profile/SirimaSvastisalee
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442283?profile=original" target="_self"><br></br></a> A home rock climbing wall is a great way to focus on your strength training and climbing skills. A few years ago we built a new shed and we had the idea of building a climbing wall on 2 sides in lieu of siding. We were on a budget and wanted to keep it under a $200. We also wanted a wall that we could use, find challenging, and our 1 year old would find challenging as he…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442283?profile=original" target="_self"><br/></a> A home rock climbing wall is a great way to focus on your strength training and climbing skills. A few years ago we built a new shed and we had the idea of building a climbing wall on 2 sides in lieu of siding. We were on a budget and wanted to keep it under a $200. We also wanted a wall that we could use, find challenging, and our 1 year old would find challenging as he grew.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442002?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442002?profile=original" width="240" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>1. Plan it out. You’ll want to think about your goals and if you’re building an inside rock wall or outdoor one. Think about the sizes of holds & wall, spacing, and shapes of holds you’d like. We went to REI to view holds, then researched various hold pro/cons on the web, realize brand name holds from climbing stores will be expensive. We found a few mom and pop type operations on EBay that create their own holds, we got some graph paper and plotted out the position of each hold, including plans for moving holds and adding more later. Based on budget and needs we decided on a 14 foot wide and 10 foot wall on one side of our shed with a 3 foot by 10 foot wall around the corner that would allow us to practice different techniques. You don’t have to use an existing structure to build your rock wall, the advantage of using an existing structure is a savings in space and reduced cost on framing material. The disadvantage is extra steps to ensure proper waterproofing. One reason we choose a shed was that if we didn't do a great job at waterproofing, it wouldn't be our house and fairly economical to correct. I've also seen people build rock walls up to tree houses and garages, in bedrooms, or attach to the outside of the siding on houses. </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73441977?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73441977?profile=original" width="346" class="align-center"/></a><br/> 2. Gather materials. The holds are going to be the most expensive items, the second largest material cost are going to be the plywood to connect the holds to. We reduced this cost by using 2 sides of our Shed as the climbing wall, the main consideration of using a building is to make sure it’s water proof since the rock wall would also substitute for siding. </p>
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<ul>
<li>We ordered 90 screw on holds from <a href="http://www.rockymountainclimbinggear.com/">Rocky Mountain Climbing Gear</a> (which seems to be a one man operation where the owner makes his holds from 70% recycled material) at a cost $110 including shipping. Disclaimer: It seems like the holds are actually made after the order is placed, ours got delivered in two batches with the first arriving about 3 weeks after order and the other 9 weeks after.</li>
<li>Box of 2 ½” screws, washers, and nuts from Home Depot. Cost $12.87.</li>
<li>A 1 gallon can <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/p/BEHR-Premium-1-Gal-PFC-63-Slate-Gray-Low-Lustre-Porch-and-Patio-Floor-Paint-669501/100129386#specifications">BEHR Premium</a> of outdoor weatherproof paint. <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442075?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442075?profile=original" width="99" class="align-right" height="115"/></a>We used slate gray to match our holds. Cost $29.96. The gallon was more than enough to cover 3 coats and still have some left over for touch ups.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>1 packet of Everbilt 2 in. Galvanized Corner Braces (4-in a pack), cost $4.89.</li>
<li>1 tube of outdoor caulk. Cost $4.29.</li>
<li>2 cups of sand for a textured surface on the wall (procured for free).</li>
<li>2 x 2 ½ eye bolts for ropes at top. $1.99 each.</li>
<li>6 bags of Re-Play rubber playground mulch, at $7.97 for 0.8 cubic foot bag.</li>
</ul>
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<p>3. Framing. You’ll want to make sure the plywood on your wall will support a decent amount of weight and forces from different directions, minimum of 5/8” thick but recommend 3/4” if possible. Normal building standards in the USA call for attaching plywood to framing with nails. Using wood screws will be much stronger; we also used L brackets on the inside to anchor the plywood to 2X4 frames on the inside. If you are building a free standing wall make sure you have enough anchoring at bottom, sides, and top to prevent it from tipping.</p>
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<p>4. Caulk the seams of the plywood, the goal is to prevent any water from getting into your structure, we also filled in any holes in the plywood including uneven spots for aesthetics.</p>
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<p>5. Paint and Weatherproof. Start with a single coat, on the second coat mix the sand into the paint. Apply a 3<sup>rd</sup> and 4<sup>th</sup> coat as needed.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442202?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442202?profile=original" width="134" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p>6. Install the holds. Drill holes into the plywood, the best way to do this is to refer to your map on paper and position a hold on the plywood where you want it and poke through the holes in the holds with a pencil or maker to make a mark. Once you have your marks on the wall drill a few holes and completely install a hold to make sure it works (your hole is not too small or big) before drilling all your other holes. Be creative, install some holds on angles.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442171?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="300" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442171?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<table border="1" width="509">
<tbody><tr><td><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442180?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="198" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442180?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="198" class="align-center"/></a></td>
<td><br/> <a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442265?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="195" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442265?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="216" class="align-center" height="162"/></a></td>
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<p>After drilling position a hold by lining up the holes and place a screw in each hole. To tighten one person has to hold the screw in place with a screw driver while another slides the washer and nut around it from the inside then tightens the washer. After all was said and done, we still had about 20 holds left over. We use the extras on occasion to swap out with others when we get tired of the same ones.</p>
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<p>7. Added wood screw bolt so we could use a rope, to practice belying and for younger children as our wall is about 10 feet tall.</p>
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<p>8. Lastly we added 6 bags of recycled shredded tires to provide a soft base for climbers jumping off or small falls. I did this cause I once saw a friend fracture an ankle from a 2 foot fall on a rock climb.</p>
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<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442279?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442279?profile=original" width="123" class="align-left" style="padding: 5px;" height="208"/></a>It’s been about 2 years and I use our rock wall at least once a week. We find that it’s great to get some strength training on after a run or when watching our son playing in the yard. Our son is now 3 and still doesn't have the gumption to climb to the top yet (even roped up) but does climb up a few holds. One thing we noticed is he's getting more comfortable and his balance is improving when hanging in a rope.</p>
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<p>Although at the playground he's an expert on the 5 foot rock wall. Quite a few of our guests jump on it while visiting. We've also used it for rope training like prusiking.</p>
<p> </p>New Avalanche Danger Scaletag:www.fitclimb.com,2011-01-22:2672050:BlogPost:78502011-01-22T03:00:00.000ZSirima Svastisaleehttp://www.fitclimb.com/profile/SirimaSvastisalee
<p> </p>
<p>For 2011 there’s a new Avalanche Danger scale put out by the USDA Forest Service National Avalanche Center and Parks Canada. The new scale reduces some of the uncertainty of the preceding scale, provides more authoritative avalanche safety advice for backcountry travelers, skiers, climbers, and snowmobilers. The new scale incorporates risk by referring to typical avalanche sizes expected, and utilizes icons recently adopted by European countries.</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>For 2011 there’s a new Avalanche Danger scale put out by the USDA Forest Service National Avalanche Center and Parks Canada. The new scale reduces some of the uncertainty of the preceding scale, provides more authoritative avalanche safety advice for backcountry travelers, skiers, climbers, and snowmobilers. The new scale incorporates risk by referring to typical avalanche sizes expected, and utilizes icons recently adopted by European countries.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442006?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/73442006?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="750" class="align-left"/></a></p>
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<p>Do you use safety precautions in the backcountry when traveling in avalanche terrain? Have you used a clinometer, Avi Beacon, or received AIARE training? If so we’d be interested in hearing what they are, post comments-reply to this post.</p>
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