Into the Woods Trivia Quiz

Answer: Sodium Hydroxide and water

While Sodium Hydroxide mixed with water will create heat, it is not sufficient to ignite a flame. However, friction from a bow drill can produce an ember that can be coaxed into a flame, and a flint and steel (or its modern equivalent, the ferrocerium rod) will produce an adequate spark.

Note; a cotton ball soaked in petroleum jelly will easily take a spark and burn for several minutes.

Answer: Tinder, kindling, then small fuel.

Excellent forms of tinder include; Birch bark, dryer lint, and dry grass. There are plenty of others. Your woods will provide your best tinder! Heed your surroundings and learn what nature has to offer.

Answer: Boiling the water for at least one minute.

Obviously yellow and brown snow are unsafe, but snow that is tinted red or pink can be just as bad. It is caused by a form of algae that can make any camper an unhappy one.

Answer: Tannins from decaying vegetable matter.

If the the tinted water is clear and properly sanitized, it is safe to drink. However, avoid any water downstream from a cattle ranch. I am not sure you can boil it long enough!

Answer: Hiking boots

A good pair of hiking boots should not only offer comfort, traction and protection from the weather, they should also provide stability for your ankles. One can gain greater protection from ankle sprains and foot injuries with a properly fitting pair of hiking boots.

While several styles/brands of sandals are designed for trail use, they should be avoided if the trail will involve climbing or traversing rough terrain.

Answer: Spelunking

Spelunking, the act of exploring caves or cave systems, can be very dangerous for even the experienced individual. Contact a local caving group to learn about safe cave exploration.

Ornithology (bird watching), is much safer and does not necessarily require special equipment.

Answer: The possibility of an approaching storm.

A pocket barometer is a very useful tool if venturing into the woods for an extended period of time as it can aid you in not only predicting oncoming weather, but also help you determine your altitude.

Answer: Wind on a cold day can dramatically increase your risk of hypothermia.

The wind chill factor is calculated using the velocity of the wind and the air temperature. Exposed skin freezes much faster when exposed to cold wind than still air if the temperature of the air is the same. Wind also increases the amount of body heat that is lost over a given period of time.

Answer: Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.

Ursa Major, the Big Bear and Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, are better known and the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper.

If one draws a line from the bottom, outside star of the cup of the Big Dipper, and then through the upper, outside star of the cup, it will eventually meet the last star in the handle of the Little Dipper. This star is the North Star.

This a useful trick as sometimes the Little Dipper can be difficult to find when compared to the "easy to find" Big Dipper.

Answer: Compass and map.

Ouch! Sort of a trick question as all of the above items can be utilized for navigational purposes. However, for the science of Orienteering, one needs a compass and map. Preferably a topographic map.

Ranger Beads are a nice addition for counting one's paces. Using a pedometer for this purpose can be misleading as uneven terrain can yield false results.

The Stick and String method, as well as using a watch, only work if the sun is out, and as anyone that has spent a considerable amount of time in the woods will tell you, moss can grow on all sides of a tree.