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Hiking/Backpacking/Camping/Questions Answered by Expert Chris Johnson
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Repair hiking boot | 12/30/2010 |
| Q: Just bought a pair of used Zamberlan Tundra hiking boots for a ridiculous low price. Not badly worn ... A: Jerry Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. We're expecting a child so its been all hands on ... | |
| 4-season vs. 3-season, tents | 7/17/2010 |
| Q: I am in the process of putting some gear together to start hiking/backpacking. I live in middle TN ... A: depends on your tent. Winter tents may have specialist design (eg snow flaps and no fly nets) to ... | |
| French Alps backpacking | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: I am planning on hiking the GR5 trail next month from Geneva to Nice. I was planning to camp the ... A: I've never hung my food when camping in europe Problem animals: 1 Cows and worse than that cows with ... | |
| sunglass/eyeglass lens tint for hiking | 6/14/2010 |
| Q: can you recommend a tint color for hiking glasses? I'm thinking clear, green G15, or natural grey. ... A: You don't say where you're hiking or what the conditions will be. Mid summer on glacier at high ... | |
| Outdoor activities | 5/28/2010 |
| Q: Do you know of any outdoor activities that are kind of uncommon, or that not very many people know ... A: There are 1000s. But of course, not many people know about them. Geocaching is one I've tried but ... | |
| hiking poles with anti-shock | 3/6/2010 |
| Q: Is anti-shock feature really necessary in hiking poles? A: I've never used poles with antishock. I can't see it would do any harm and the logic seems to ... | |
| Camping along the GR's in France | 11/5/2009 |
| Q: I will soon be traveling along the GR 9 in the Aix-En-Provence. I was wondering about camping off ... A: I'd recommend against this because, as far as I remember, its against the rules of the National park ... | |
| "Walking stick" | 8/29/2009 |
| Q: I'm from South Africa. I do have a some kind of "walking stick or "kierie" which i think is suppose ... A: In the Uk this sort of seat is used more to support walking moderate distances by those of "more ... | |
| Hiking-footwear | 7/7/2009 |
| Q: I am writing an article geared toward the beginning day hiker. As a sidebar to my article I would ... A: Sorry its taken so long to get back, I've been away. Choosing a boot is very different in different ... | |
| Camping with a pop-up camper | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: As a "first-time" camper, I'm curious as to what I need to bring for "basic" items when camping in a ... A: Just take the bare minimum you can. You'll then spend more time enjoying your holiday and less time ... | |
| hiking boots | 1/14/2009 |
| Q: I use to hike years ago but have not purchased boots in a long time. I am also recovering from a ... A: Ron Not sure I've ever come across EEE fittings before. You don't say where you are from so I'm ... | |
| Water Filters | 12/31/2008 |
| Q: Im a backpacker looking to buy a water filter for a decent price and was wondering what names you ... A: Joe You don't say where you are from (not all brands are available in all regions) or where you ... | |
| long underwear | 12/15/2008 |
| Q: I'm a skier. There are many choices for long underwear...silk, smartwool, capilene. What is the ... A: Julie What you wear depends on a lot of factors. When I started snowboarding in Europe in February ... | |
| backpacking and hiking | 7/6/2008 |
| Q: My husband and I love hiking, we will be 60 this year. We would like to go backpacking and hiking ... A: Betty Thanks for your question. Its a difficult one to answer as you don't say where you are from, ... | |
| The nitty-gritties of backpacking | 6/16/2008 |
| Q: During the summer I volunteer as a scoutmaster for a Boy Scout camp. Last summer we went on a 3-day ... A: As you've asked so much I'll keep each answer short and to the point 1) Eat food that makes you ... | |
| Backpacking | 5/4/2008 |
| Q: My question for you is to pick your brain abput some of the trails in the French Alps "close to ... A: Scott As you'll probably not have any maps your best bet is to get yourself down to the local ... | |
| Hiking and camping in Bernese alps | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: I'm planning a trip to walk the 'western touring route' of the Bernese Alps in Switzerland, and I've ... A: Re free camping: My experience is that its not tollerated. Re going campsite to campsite your best ... | |
| Hiking in theFrench Alps | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: My wife and I would like to hike in the French Alps in Sept/Oct 2008. We live in the states and ... A: Hugh Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. With spring having sprung here I've been out with ... | |
| Mixed | 3/4/2008 |
| Q: I am looking for a dual advise. 1)my current backpack weighs around 2/3 kg hence I need to know of a ... A: Dimitrz You don't say what you use your back pack for or what activities you are doing when you want ... | |
| pop up camper canvas | 2/16/2008 |
| Q: We have a pop up camper which the inside plastic on the windows is cracked and falling apart. ... A: Best results could be found by asking a camper van converter or repairer in the states. That would ... | |
| sleeping bags | 10/24/2007 |
| Q: Ive been in the market for a winter sleeping bag for a few months and have finally decided on the ... A: If you are planning on carrying it a long way go for the lighter one. I recently answered a simialr ... | |
| sleeping bags | 9/3/2007 |
| Q: Gday mate, just a quickie on sleeping bags. I just got into hiking and camping about a year ago but ... A: The British army had a great idea a few years back. They used to use huge down filled bags but now ... | |
| Training for Beginners | 7/28/2007 |
| Q: I am working to get back into shape to be able to go hiking again for the first time in many years. ... A: You sound like you are more concerned about your health than the hike. It would be irresponsible of ... | |
| rough camping in the alps | 7/15/2007 |
| Q: Just wanting to know how much trouble do you get if caught rough camping by the forest/park guards. A: I suppose a lot of it depends on where and the mood your the ranger is in when you get caught and ... | |
| how to fix a cut in an airbed | 6/7/2007 |
| Q: I got a cut in the airbed. Is there any I can use to fix it A: That depends on your air bed and the size of your cut. If its flock covered (feels a bit furry) ... | |
| Find a Buddy | 4/3/2007 |
| Q: Do you know of any websites where you could find a buddy or so or hook up with groups for ... A: I can't recommend any specific sites as you've not said where you are or where you are looking to go ... | |
| small mountain | 3/29/2007 |
| Q: My sons are 10 and 8 and they want to 'climb a mountain'. We live in Norfolk, and they have never ... A: If I were 8 or 10 and wanted to climb a mountain I'd want my Dad to take me to Wales or the Lakes. ... | |
| Trip to the French Alps | 1/26/2007 |
| Q: Im from a Dutch scouting group (age 15-18) and I was searching for a campsite in the french alps, ... A: Thierry Unfortunately I've not been camping in the Alps for some time now so I don't feel I can ... | |
| camping | 8/9/2006 |
| Q: what should you pack if your going camping for 2-3 nights? A: Only the stuff you really need. Really I need more information to be of any help! Where are you ... | |
| French Alps | 5/14/2006 |
| Q: I will be in France for a couple of weeks in July and I would like to spend 2-4 days backpacking in ... A: Anne There are so many to choose from. When I was last walking in France we didn't have the ... | |
| trail shoes | 1/19/2006 |
| Q: and do a lot of hiking in the Blue Ridge Mtns. Most specifically, I hike Old Rag Mtn quite a bit. ... A: Well if you want to go light and do it four times in one day heavy boots are not the thing to go ... | |
| School project | 10/27/2005 |
| Q: As a school project for science we are required to contact an expert. I was just wondering if you ... A: Kim Thanks for your question. The equipment you will need for New Zealand will depend on the type ... | |
| Torches | 10/14/2005 |
| Q: I am looking to buy a wind up torch and i was wondering if u could advise me on a particular brand ... A: John In my experience wind up torches are not a good convenience for the weight they normally entail ... | |
| Walkie-Talkies | 7/31/2005 |
| Q: Shopping for decent walkie-talkies, and find many are described with "PMR...." but don't know the ... A: Richard I've not investigated PMR since I bought my radios 2 years ago when there only seemed to be ... | |
| Water Issues | 7/26/2005 |
| Q: I just recently went backpacking and had a couple questions concerning clean water. First is related ... A: Kyle Boiling (for 10 minutes at sea level helps kill bugs but doesn't "get rid" of stuff in the ... | |
| Backpacking | 6/22/2005 |
| Q: Sorry to bundle you with question after question, but as I am in the finalization stages for my ... A: Vinod It seems to me that you might be running before you can walk. If you are attempting a high ... | |
| trekking | 6/21/2005 |
| Q: This is gonna be a long one Now this might sound weird , I am into trekking and hiking however ... A: Vinod, I'm not sure what high energy food supplements are available in India. When I was there we ... | |
| 3 Peaks Challenge and Keyhole surgery ? | 5/23/2005 |
| Q: I am planning to take part in a 3 peaks 24hr challenge with my work in mid July, but have just found ... A: Mark All three mountains are rocky at the top, all three have prolonged steep setions both on the ... | |
| GPS | 5/5/2005 |
| Q: How are you? Thanks for taking questions from people. My question is about GPS. Do you have much ... A: Eric I've been toying with getting a gps for a while but I'm glad I didn't. The reason? Bluetooth ... | |
| alps backpacking | 5/2/2005 |
| Q: i am an american, but i am currently studying in the uk. i want to do a week long backpacking trip ... A: Bryan This area of the Alps is beautiful and Lausanne is a good place to start with good road and ... | |
| camping equipments. | 1/26/2005 |
| Q: i would like you to tell me what are neeeded for rock climbing, camping and mountaneering. I would ... A: Charles Thank you for your question although it is a little vague. What you need for mountaineering ... | |
| sleeping bags | 1/2/2005 |
| Q: I am looking at probably a 3 season and want it to be as light weight and small as possible. I have ... A: Lynsey Lets hope you can find a good deal in the post Christmas sales! You really need to decide ... | |
| Heat Damage - Storing tent in boot of car | 11/18/2004 |
| Q: I recently bought a four season tent with siliconised nylon fly. I will be using the tent for hiking ... A: Ben Hope you have a great time. Here are my recommendations: 1) Don't keep the tent in the boot of ... | |
| Any guaranteed anti-leech strategy? | 11/16/2004 |
| Q: I am a wildlife photographer who is terrified of leeches. I need to know if there is any foolproof ... A: When we were in leech country the paths were still faily wide so we didn't have problems with ... | |
| Italbastoni trekking poles | 8/5/2004 |
| Q: Have you ever heard of this brand? Are they any good? A: Although I've not heard of this brand my opinion is (and it is just my opinion) that many unheard of ... | |
| Foot Print | 6/13/2004 |
| Q: i have a new foot print for my North Face Bedrock,and i be darn if i know how to put in on..? i know ... A: Bill I've never been able to afford a North Face tent but have been impressed by their design so ... | |
| tevas | 4/25/2004 |
| Q: um-i have an odd question. i have a pair of tevas and no other shoe has been as comfortable or ... A: Jennifer Mine had the same problem (sandals or feet, I'm not sure which). My newer Tevas have some ... | |
Hiking/Backpacking/Camping
Chris Johnson
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer most questions on equipment for outdoor activities such as walking, mountain biking, rock climbing and paragliding, in the UK. I`ve limited watersports experience so you`d be better off asking someone else these questions. Questions about the above activities themselves as well as about the equipment will also be answered as I`ve got several contacts who can pass on information. I`m a keen walker/mountainbiker/rock climber/paraglider pilot in the UK. I`ve been doing outdoor sports for about 15 years including trips to the French Alps and Trekking in the Nepalese and the Indian Himalayas. I`ve been buying and making outdoor clothing and equipment for about the same amount of time.
Experience
Waking up at the foot of Annapurna South is something I won't forget. I would say that my first paraglider flight was unforgettable but every flight since seems to have been more unforgettable.
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