Part 1: Outdoor Fundamentals Flashcards
Define belaying
The technique of securing your rope partner in case of a fall
What is the Climbing Code?
A set of guidelines to help people conduct themselves safely in the mountains.
List the Climbing Code guidelines
- Leave the trip itinerary with a responsible person.
- Carry the necessary clothing, food, and equipment.
- A climbing party of three is the minimum unless adequate support is available.
- On glaciers, a minimum of two rope teams is recommended.
- Rope up on all exposed places and for all glacier travel. Anchor all belays.
- Keep the party together, and obey the leader or majority rule.
- Never climb beyond your ability and knowledge.
- Never let judgment be overruled by desire when choosing the route or deciding whether to turn back.
- Follow the precepts of sound mountaineering as set forth in books of recognized merit.
- Behave at all times in a manner that reflects favorably upon mountaineering, including adherence to Leave No Trace principles.
What are the enemies of comfort?
Precipitation, wind, heat and cold
Why does cotton kill?
Comfortable to wear when dry cotton loses insulating qualities when wet, absorbs many times it’s weight in water and generally takes a long time to dry. Can contribute to hypothermia. It also chafes skin when wet.
What is a base layer?
The layer of clothing next to your skin, allows perspiration to evaporate, keeping your skin warm and dry.
What is a mid layer and what should it do?
Mid layer strap warm air close to your body. The thicker the layer of trapped air the warmer you will be.
What is a shell layer and what does it do?
Shells protect mid layers from wind and precipitation. These could be waterproof breathable hard shells, soft shells or wind shells a depending on the conditions.
What is a belay jacket?
A jacket you can get in and out of quickly when you stop moving in cold conditions. An insulated jacket sized to fit over all other layers and preserve warmth at lower exertion.
How can being dehydrated make you cold?
Dehydration results in low blood volume
Why do your extremities get cold first?
Your body, when cold, reduces blood flow to the arms and legs to warm other more vital areas.
What are the steps for properly fitting and adjusting a backpack?
- *loosen all straps then shoulder the pack
1) position the middle of the hip belt over the top of the hip bones. Raise your shoulders and firmly tighten the waist belt. Virtually ALL OF THE WEIGHT should be on your hips as the shoulder straps are slack.
2) tighten the shoulder straps so they form a smooth arc over your shoulders. Minimum weight should be carried by the shoulders.
3) gently tension the shoulder stabilizer straps to bring the pack close to the body.
Tension any hip belt tensioners or sternum straps.
When putting on your pack where should you feel you are carrying most of the weight?
Your hips.
When you put on your backpack you should adjust the straps from _____ to ______.
Bottom to top (hips to head)
When packing your backpack heavier items should be packed where?
As close to your back as possible
List The Mountaineers 10 essentials
1) Navigation
2) Headlamp
3) Sun Protection
4) First Aid
5) Knife
6) Fire
7) Shelter
8) Extra Food
9) Extra Water
10) Extra Clothes
What are the 5 essential tools for navigating the backcountry as defined by the mountaineers 10 essentials?
1) map
2) altimeter
3) compass
4) Global Positioning System
5) personal locator beacon
Why might an altimeter be more useful than a compass in helping you determine where you are?
Fog, dark and heavy rain can obscure your vision. With an altimeter and topographic map you only need one more piece of information (trail, a stream, a ridge or bearing to a known location) to accurately self locate.
Which item of clothing provides more warmth to weight then any other?
A hat
What are the four components of the sleep system?
Sleeping clothes, a sleeping bag, ground insulation and shelter
What are the three cardinal rules for leave no trace camping?
1) camp gently -camp in established campsites or durable surfaces whenever possible
2) do not disturb - take only photos, leave only footprints
3) dispose of waste - dispose of human waste 200 feet (75 paces) away from water, trails and campsites. Bury in Forrest’s and blue bag in alpine areas.
What is the “campsite triangle”?
The campsite triangle is a principal that your tent, your food preparation and eating area and your food storage should be 100’ apart in a triangular configuration
Why should you face tent doors to the wind in good conditions and away from the wind in inclimate weather.
Facing the door into the wind in good conditions will distend the tent and minimize flapping. Facing the door away from the wind in bad weather will keep rain and snow from blowing inside.
Describe the ideal campsite
Great views, nearby water source and protection from the elements.
Why should you avoid camping in creek beds or gullies?
There is a risk of flooding if conditions change. Always consider the site with an eye for worsening conditions.
What are some of the drawbacks of building a snow shelter?
Time, energy expense and you will get wet.
What are the benefits of a good snow shelter?
A snow cave or igloo is more secure then a tent.
Which method of water filtration kills parasites, bacteria, viruses and purifies?
Boiling
Does filtering or boiling remove chemicals?
No. If you are concerned about industrial, agricultural or other chemical contamination move on.
What is a carbohydrate?
“Fuel foods”, the easiest food for the body to convert into energy. Found in whole grains, rice, potatoes, cereals, pasta, bread, crackers and granola bars. Also in sugary natural foods like fruit.
What does the body do with proteins beyond your bodies requirements?
The body cannot store protein, the excess is either converted to energy or stored as fat.
Why do fats make you you feel more satisfied?
They take longer to digest then carbohydrates or protein
When chemically treating water in cold climates you need to ______ time before drinking.
Add time. Chemical methods take longer in cold climates, other methods are not effected.
List ways to avoid fecal-oral contamination in the backcountry.
- only clean and cook with purified water
- make sure to clean all bottles and hydration devices with treated water, bleach or disinfecting agents
- wash your hands thoroughly
When planning a meal for a climbing trip how many calories should you allocate per climber, per day?
4,000 to 5,000 per climber a day due to the high level of exertion.
Define SMART in relation to training goals
1) Specific
2) Measurable
3) Action oriented
4) Realistic
5) Time Stamped
Define FITT parameters
Frequency
Intensity
Time
Type
Define Orientation
Determining your exact position on earth
Define Navigation
Guiding yourself to a destination
Define Routefinding
Selecting and following the best path to a predetermined destination
What are the three principal coordinate systems used to describe location on earth?
- Latitude and longitude
- Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM)
- Military Grid Reference System (MGRS)
Define Scale in relation to maps
The scale of the map is a ratio between measurements on the map and measurements in the real world. (I.e. 1” = 1 mile, 1:63,360 1 map inch is equal to 63,360 actual inches or 1 mile)
A scale of 1:24,000 means 1 inch on the map represent ______ mile(s)
.38 miles
The 7.5 - minute map is the standard for every US state except ________
Alaska
The most common type of USGS topographic map in the us is the _____ series
7.5 minutes series
Why would a mountaineer prefer a 7.5 minute map over the older 15 minute map?
7.5 minute maps represent 1/8 degree of latitude and longitude, where a 15 minute map represent 1/4 degree of latitude and longitude. Thus 7.5 offers more detail.
Define route plan
A well thought out description of how the party plans on navigating to its objective and back
Any linear feature on a map that parallels the direction of travel is called _______
Handrails
Define handrails
Any linear feature on a map that parallels the direction of travel that helps a party to stay on route.
Give an example of a handrail
Roads, trails, power lines, railroad tracks, fences, borders or meadows, valleys, streams, cliff bands, ridges, and lakeshores
A long unmistakable line that always lies in the same direction from the party is described as _______
Baseline
Define intentional offset
Intentionally following a bearing that is offset by a defined amount to to the left or right of your true bearing to allow for error and make reaching your final bearing easier
Define bearing
The direction from one place to another measured in degrees of angle from true north
What is the term describing the difference between true north and the direction of magnetic north?
Magnetic declination
What is the current magnetic declination in Southern California?
12 degrees east declination
As California is west of the declination line you must add or subtract to to the magnetic bearing?
Add, east of the declination line you would subtract
Is Nylon waterproof?
No, it derives the waterproof characteristic from fabrication methods or chemical treatments.