Questions tagged [hiking]

Hiking is any outdoor walking activity - along trails or across unmarked wild country.

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11 votes
9 answers
5k views

Climbing Mount Teide from sea-level

Is it possible to climb Mount Teide from sea-level in 2 days for a reasonably fit person? Essentially, I was thinking of walking up to the Altavista mountain refuge on the first day (can that be done ...
12 votes
4 answers
5k views

Trail marking material that will last a few years

I'm currently trying to remark a trail that seems to be forgotten or had very little use in the past few years. The markers that remain (different types of ribbon) are fraying or crumbling depending ...
6 votes
2 answers
357 views

Can putting nails in trees cause longterm health problems for the tree?

I asked a question about marking trails and one of the answers suggested nailing markers to the trees. Does this damage the trees? I'm mostly concerned about long-term infection or rot that will ...
12 votes
2 answers
458 views

Do animal trails have switchbacks?

When hiking in a rarely frequented area, trails may be very faint to the level of being essentially invisible. In such situations, it has happened more than once that I accidentally followed an ...
28 votes
2 answers
7k views

How to Shoo away a stubborn Stray Dog/Dogs who decides to tag along with you on a hike?

This happened on one of my hikes. It was a hike with two villages en route. Somehow a dog from the first village decided to stick with us. We were OK with it. Then he was followed by a small Puppy. ...
3 votes
3 answers
362 views

How do you overcome a preventative fear of dangerous wildlife

I live in Colorado and love hiking alone, it's quiet and peaceful. I want to be more 'free' to hike in early morning or late evening when it's dark or backpack in remote places, but at this point I ...
7 votes
5 answers
3k views

Are square or rectangular tarp shapes more versatile?

I'd like to try tarp camping. 3m x 3m (9ft x 9ft) and 3m x 4m (9ft x 12ft) tarps of differing material are plentiful and many are even affordable. Which tarp shape is more versatile in the number of ...
9 votes
1 answer
2k views

How does Frogg Toggs Polypropylene measure up?

I saw a new product for rain protection the other day. Frogg Toggs makes a line of rain gear out of a polypropylene material that I have not previously seen used for rain gear. Does anyone know how ...
48 votes
12 answers
16k views

How do I make people not be afraid of me and my dogs?

I like to hike, and I have two large dogs (German Shepherd, Presa Canario). After a long hike I look reasonably homeless (long hair, unshaven, muddy). Combined with two large, potentially dangerous ...
37 votes
7 answers
50k views

What is the fastest method to 'break in' full leather boots?

After purchasing full leather boots (similar to these boots) I had many blisters for the first few hikes until I broke in my boots. What are the fastest ways to age the boot so that when my foot won'...
7 votes
1 answer
457 views

How to teach situational awareness for the outdoors?

By situational awareness I mean (but certainly don't limit it to): Looking behind to familiarize yourself with the return journey. Looking ahead to see what the best route will be. Knowing the ...
6 votes
2 answers
237 views

Accessibility of hiking trails in Nepal during December

I'm planning on Annapurna base camp or Manaslu circuit trek in December (mostly the end of December). I know December is the winter season in Nepal and is expected to be quite cold at that time. Has ...
3 votes
5 answers
2k views

Where are some good places for a day-hike within an hour or two of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA?

Some friends and I were thinking of doing a one day hike somewhere in Minnesota. I have looked online for places but nothing I have found really gives me a sense of the place. My requirements are ...
18 votes
6 answers
7k views

How do I get a stuck gas canister (for hiking/camping) out of a stainless steel mug?

I nested my 110g gas canister inside my stainless steel mug for a hike. I used it about halfway through for lunch, and when I was done put it back in the way I had packed it (upside down). Now it is ...
10 votes
4 answers
1k views

Long distance hikes with small children

In recent years, my wife and I completed a few long distances hikes together, for instance: Kungsleden from Nikkaluokta to Abisko, 105 km (Sweden) Landmannalaugar to Skogar via Laugavegur and ...
70 votes
11 answers
17k views

When hiking, why is the right of way given to people going up?

When you're in a path and you encounter another group going the other way, it is said that whoever is going down should stand aside to let those going up pass through. Why?
8 votes
6 answers
1k views

Clothing for cold weather hiking

I will go for two day hiking on a mountain (intermediate level). The weather will be chilling (3 °C to 5 °C, no snowing,but it may rain). I would like to know what kind of clothing would be better? ...
7 votes
8 answers
4k views

How stiff of a sole should I look for in hiking boots?

There is a spectrum of sole stiffness in boots, from full shank on mountaineering boots to the easily bendable ones on really cheap boots. The way to test is to push in on the shoe lengthwise and see ...
34 votes
4 answers
3k views

Handling feminine hygiene on multiple-month treks?

How can I handle multiple months of menstrual cycles on a long trek like the Appalachian Trail? I am asking about how to handle the mess. Here are my personal considerations: Using hormonal birth ...
17 votes
6 answers
5k views

Hiking with a mule or two?

For an older guy (say 65+) who likes to hike alone - are a mule or two a help or a hindrance? Maybe a mule for the pack, and a second mule to ride when I get really old? Historically people preferred ...
6 votes
1 answer
267 views

Hiking with goats?

I asked around (including on this site: Hiking with a mule or two?) about hiking with a mule or a horse. Some people on other sites actually suggested hiking with pack goats. (for weights on the ...
1 vote
1 answer
117 views

Looking for a 20 to 40mi out and back or loop trail in Maryland

My daughter and I were going to hike the AT through Maryland. She goes to school there and really wanted to do a muli-day hike. We recently gave up on the idea b/c the logistics of the end to end ...
23 votes
5 answers
654 views

What are some good games to play with children on hikes?

Sometimes children find long hikes boring and tiring, but if you can turn it around to play some games along the way they can find things a lot more interesting. What are some good games to play in ...
4 votes
3 answers
184 views

Backpacking in southern NY or PA

All- I'm looking for a good 25-30 mile backpacking trail in southern NY or PA. I've looked into Allegany State Park and National Forest, but couldn't find a loop that would keep us out of campgrounds....
5 votes
1 answer
175 views

Overnight hiking in Italian Alps in late autumn?

I am planning to spend about a week in Italian/Swiss border Alps in late October. The base plan is to hire a 4WD and drive along the border slowly, stopping a lot for less-than-a-day hikes (staying ...
9 votes
3 answers
3k views

How to carry a traditional bow while hiking?

We're planning a 4 day hike in a few months. I would like to take my bow with me to do a little roving. How can I attach my bow to my backpack (back)? We are talking about an unstrung one-piece ...
10 votes
6 answers
2k views

Boots or trail runners with reference to blisters?

I know that I can significantly improve my hiking efficiency by reducing the weight of my footwear. However, I have historically had trouble with blisters while hiking. I also often do long distance ...
18 votes
5 answers
3k views

How to take care of an acrophobic person while hiking?

There is some trouble. One of my close friends has acrophobia (fear of heights). But he wants to go for a trek for what it offers than just the mesmerizing view from the top. How can I take care of ...
15 votes
3 answers
4k views

What are some good foods for recovering from calorie debt?

Calorie debt is when you are using more calories than you are eating and making up the difference from stored reserves of body fat. Sometimes people will do this to save on the amount of weight ...
10 votes
5 answers
900 views

Restoring water repellency in leather hiking boots

I have a pair of leather boots that are a couple of years old. They were fairly expensive and I'm not a big fan of discarding and replacing things so I'm hoping they can still be of use to me. The ...
4 votes
1 answer
273 views

What is the estimated cost for through hiking the Pacific Crest Trail?

We have a question about the cost of through-hiking the AT and another about the cost of through hiking the CDT but not one about the PCT which is the other big trail in the United States. What is ...
7 votes
3 answers
3k views

What are the pros and cons of using a red colored light source for hiking at night?

I have heard the argument that red light is better because it helps preserve your night vision, however it is less bright than white light. Are there other pros and cons that I am missing or ...
12 votes
4 answers
3k views

Hiking in the Pyrenees late July/early August, what track should I do?

I'm looking for a 5-7 days hike. Or something around that, more or less, I'm flexible. The idea would be to stay away from hordes of tourists. We don't mind people, but we don't like queuing up on a ...
23 votes
4 answers
12k views

Are bears attracted by Lotions and Perfumes?

Bears are mostly attracted by smell of food. That is why we are supposed to keep the food items in airtight and sealed packs or preferably finish up all the food (cooking and consuming) far away from ...
3 votes
1 answer
137 views

Post-hike Care and Pain Relief for Blisters and Hot Spots

There are many, many articles and web sites that will tell you what to do if you develop a hot spot or blister while on the trail, and need to perform some field treatment to allow you to get back in ...
6 votes
1 answer
318 views

How do I tell if a glacier is safe for crossing?

Sure you have to look out for crevasses which is nicely explained here: How to detect a crevasse on a glacier. But what else does one have to consider when trying to cross a glacier? Some glaciers ...
2 votes
2 answers
190 views

What are effective trekking-groceries in terms of energy/mass ratio while maintaining a healthy balance of carbs, fats, proteins and vitamins?

Sure it is nice to carry around huge packs of fresh vegetables and some beef in order to prepare a proper dish. However, it takes up space and moreover lots of mass in your backpack. Also, a pound of ...
7 votes
6 answers
770 views

Is hiking alone always faster?

Suppose you need to cover a fairly long distance (e.g. 30 km) in a moderately difficult hiking terrain (no climbing), in 1 day. You can either go alone or with someone, or with a group. I think (from ...
2 votes
3 answers
747 views

How much time/distance on average does it take take to break in hiking boots?

If you are buying new hiking boots before a trip there is a break in period before the boots get comfortable and you don't want to go on a long backpacking trip with brand new boots. Time will depend ...
8 votes
2 answers
123 views

Tioga Pass (Yosemite) Day Use Opening Timeline

NPS has opened Tioga Pass for through traffic but not for day use recreation. I can't find any historical information about how long after the initial opening it typically opens for day use. Anyone ...
6 votes
3 answers
1k views

What are the simplest 5000 m mountains to hike?

My friends and I are 4 years experienced hikers, and next year we want to go for a 5000 m (16,400 ft) mountain. What are the best options regarding the complexity of the trail and how beautiful the ...
5 votes
2 answers
122 views

Hiking trails in Pennsylvania

My friends and I are looking for a solid hiking trail in Pennsylvania. This will be our second trip, but we are in reasonable shape and had little issue our first time around. We are from Michigan, ...
11 votes
3 answers
19k views

Week long trek, how far each day? pace?

Background info: For environment, it is southwestern British Columbia and the weather is fair and there is plenty of water around. Pace wise, on level terrain, with or without water I have sometimes ...
3 votes
4 answers
1k views

How many miles should one expect to get out of a good pair of hiking boots?

They say that on average 400-500 miles is a good bet for running shoes, but for myself it's only about 300-350 miles before the aches of worn out shoes start to occur. It seems that shoes are one of ...
6 votes
2 answers
7k views

How dangerous are wild horses?

In some parts of the western United States there are herds of wild horses. How dangerous could a herd be to a human on foot while hiking or backpacking? If they are dangerous how should a human ...
7 votes
2 answers
895 views

How do people deal with sweating and 'feeling hot' at high altitude climbs (above 5500m)?

How do people deal with sweating and 'feeling hot' at high altitude climbs (above 5500m)?? Just a background on myself: I've done hikes/climbs up to 3000m where temps hit at the lowest of around -1 ...
6 votes
1 answer
170 views

What overnight backpacking trails are clear of deep snow now (or likely to be in the next two weeks) in northwest Washington?

I am looking for an overnight backpacking trip to do in the next few weeks somewhere in western Washington. But I am worried about deep snow remaining on the trails. Based on last winter's snowpack, ...
15 votes
1 answer
1k views

Boots: Does light damage affect waterproofing?

I am looking at a new pair of suede leather walking boots. Price is low due to one boot being in a shop window and so is faded and doesn't match the other boot. My question is: would the light damage ...
17 votes
1 answer
2k views

Staying safe from hunters while hiking in France

This question is specific to France, as different countries have different hunting cultures and regulations. There have been a number of highly publicized accidents in France this year (1, 2, 3). ...
19 votes
9 answers
13k views

What's the best way to store/carry olive oil for hiking?

Bottles of olive oil often have special caps that help prevent drips/etc. when pouring the oil, but an entire bottle of olive oil is far to heavy to carry for a hike. What's the best method for ...

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