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Petrov: A man who lived in the woods of Mendocino County (2022)

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Re: Petrov: A man who lived in the woods of Mendocino County (2022)

#61

Post by thimkerbell »

solardev wrote: post #44
xyzwave wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just read a hypothesis from an anthropologist suggesting that the reason California’s indigenous tribes did not practice agriculture like eastern tribes, was due to the abundance of food they could forage year around. Oaks providing a significant part of their diet (which are plentiful in Mendocino) but also other nuts, berries, and tubers found throughout California. So relative to our modern diet, maybe your poin…

I thought a lot of that is acorns (that need a lot of preparation) and fish, not so much random food growing around the redwoods you could just pick and eat? (Lived in the area for a long time, but not an expert at all). Did the anthropologist provide any details? I'd love to read their work

Something would have limited their population though.

Re: Petrov: A man who lived in the woods of Mendocino County (2022)

#62

Post by throwaway2037 »

hodgesrm wrote: post #34
asimpletune wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I met a self-described “mountain man” in Montana once, and I asked how he stayed warm in the winter. He told me the key was to build an insulated nest, below ground, packed with snow, and then you light a single candle and close up the nest. That this was enough to stay warm even in the Montana winter. It’s hard to know if what he was saying was true or not, but I think I believe it. He also saw my VW and immediately…

That’s how snow caves are constructed. Tunnel in and up in a snowbank so that the floor of the cave is higher than the ceiling of the entry tunnel. The air in the cave will equalize to 32F once you enter thanks to body heat. As far as I can tell this works well in any temperate climate because the snowpack tends to be warm(er) at the bottom and warmer air rises. At any rate it worked in all my snow caves, which was a…

> The air in the cave will equalize to 32F once you enter thanks to body heat.

This is an interesting post! Can you explain the science behind why 32F/0C is important here? For example: If I build a snow cave in a place where it is -30C, -20C, -10C, 0C outside, will they all "equalize to 32F/0C"?

Re: Petrov: A man who lived in the woods of Mendocino County (2022)

#63

Post by devilbunny »

throwaway2037 wrote: post #62
hodgesrm wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’s how snow caves are constructed. Tunnel in and up in a snowbank so that the floor of the cave is higher than the ceiling of the entry tunnel. The air in the cave will equalize to 32F once you enter thanks to body heat. As far as I can tell this works well in any temperate climate because the snowpack tends to be warm(er) at the bottom and warmer air rises. At any rate it worked in all my snow caves, which was a…

> The air in the cave will equalize to 32F once you enter thanks to body heat. This is an interesting post! Can you explain the science behind why 32F/0C is important here? For example: If I build a snow cave in a place where it is -30C, -20C, -10C, 0C outside, will they all "equalize to 32F/0C"?

Snow is a very good insulator due to all the trapped air, and it’s fairly easy to make thick walls (the same as straw-and-mud block construction - not the highest R value per cm thickness, but if the walls can be 50 cm thick, it adds up). So yeah, a proper snow cave will converge on freezing point - body heat plus lighting will heat to that point, after which the snow melts.

Re: Petrov: A man who lived in the woods of Mendocino County (2022)

#64

Post by DaftDank »

solardev wrote: post #43
DaftDank wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I learned this the hard way when I was homeless at 17-18 years old in the middle of Wyoming winters. I had at least had my old Grand Cherokee to sleep in the trunk space, but not enough money for gas to run the heater. I'd pile all my clothes on top of me, but there were always patches where the cold got through and I'd spend so many nights just shaking from the cold. Spent the Christmas of 2004 this way. You are als…

Merry Christmas man, hope this one is better for you! I was also homeless with a car for a while, but in a much warmer climate. It's no fun!

Thanks, man. I appreciate that. Merry Christmas to you as well and Happy New Year!
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