Questions tagged [hiking]
Hiking is any outdoor walking activity - along trails or across unmarked wild country.
656
questions
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What material for long sleeve hiking shirt in hot summer days?
I prefer long sleeve t-shirts, since my skin and too much sun is not good. I wonder what are your experiences using merino wool (or any other material) in hot summer hiking days? I guess 18 - 30 ...
27
votes
14
answers
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What exactly is so wrong with playing music on trails?
It seems, from browsing around on the internet, that playing music while hiking is heavily frowned upon. Just googling "playing music on trails" leads to a slew of articles deriding the ...
9
votes
3
answers
268
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Portable antenna for better phone reception when hiking remote areas?
This year I want to hike some more remote areas. There is an issue of safety. The areas will be 10 - 50 km away from civilization, lots of bears(0,5 bear/km2),.. The cell phone towers will be up till ...
4
votes
4
answers
354
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Why be passive while attacked by a brown bear?
Recently I walked through Dolomites in Italy, and there was a warning sign that this is bear-encounter area. There were tips on what to do in general. But one of tips was "if bear approaches you ...
7
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4
answers
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Some dilemmas concerning use of UV water treatment vs water filter
The trekking season is starting, need some help with few dillemas with more experienced hikers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Last year I got seriously ill for 2-7 days after drinking water from mountain ...
4
votes
1
answer
230
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Is it possible to sleep at an altitude more than 500m above last night?
On a high altitude climb or hike, there is famous safety rule for acclimatization "you should never sleep at an altitude more than 500m above the last night"
One of my hike require to me ...
8
votes
2
answers
2k
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Trekking poles making odd noise
My hiking poles have started making an odd, springy noise with every step. The noise sounds like the poles themselves are vibrating each time I plant them into the ground, and it starts about an mile ...
10
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4
answers
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Lodging while hiking the European E-paths
I am researching the E-paths and trying to figure out what people do for lodging during their hike. It's Europe, so could I just pitch a tent wherever? Are there marked campsites? Do I need to stay ...
5
votes
0
answers
153
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Why avoid the classic peaks of the balkans trail?
From https://bnadventure.com/self-guided-tour-in-the-peaks-of-the-balkans/:
The trail avoids the classic peaks of the Balkans trail as the situation in the mountains has changed since the trail was ...
12
votes
7
answers
4k
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What should I do if I break a shoelace in the wilderness?
If I'm hiking in the wilderness and my shoelace breaks, what's the best way to go about fixing it assuming I have no spare?
120
votes
18
answers
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What is the most efficient food to take a for a 12-15 day hiking trip?
Last summer I spent 15 days hiking with my boyfriend, in Sarek National Park, where there are no places to restock with more food.
The food issue was a major part of the pre-planning, as weight was ...
17
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1
answer
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Can I expect to visit Camp 1 and beyond on an Everest base camp expedition?
I am planning to do a 16 day "standard" Everest base camp trek in Nepal coming September.
Can I expect to visit Camp 1 (or even beyond?) as well or is this completely off limits for casual tourists?
...
18
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3
answers
3k
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What type of fires/stove can I use in Germany?
I am from Iran and in here, we are allowed to put up a tent and make fire almost everywhere, and it's up to us ourselves to take care of the jungle and leave nothing behind.
I just recently moved to ...
6
votes
3
answers
2k
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Can you use pre-owned climbing rope for hiking and/or emergency uses?
If I was to buy pre-owned climbing rope could I use it for hiking and/or keeping in my car for emergency uses? I couple of speculations I had in mind were:
Pulling someone out of a swamp on moorland ...
11
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2
answers
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Would waterproof gaiters (over waterproof trousers and boots) prevent water from seeping through my clothes if submerged?
As stupid as this sounds, if I was to wear Gore-Tex trousers and boots and then place Gore-Tex gaiters over the boots/trousers bridging them together, could I wade into water up to my waist?
What ...
2
votes
2
answers
164
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What are the different types of camping for a beginner?
I am looking into the camping hobby no found few different styles, specifically the shelter used in the outdoor.
So far I have learned that camping with a wood stove means it is hot tent camping, and ...
6
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2
answers
1k
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What jacket should I choose for winter trekking?
I can't stay in house much more this winter I need to go on longer hikes.
I am used to longer hikes up to 14 days, but not during the winter. I want to do 1-5 day hikes in winter in dry weather, ...
2
votes
1
answer
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My Rab jacket is no longer water proof/resistant after wash
The first use of the jacket kept my completely dry in the rain. The water would bead and could be shaken off very easily. This walk lasted 4hrs and it rained for about 3hrs. At the end I took off my ...
6
votes
3
answers
771
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How do you deal with blackberry bushes on the west coast when bushwhacking?
I'm on holiday near Sechelt right now, and have been hiking the trails and powerline right of ways. On several occasions I've come to the end of one trail, and can see the start again on the other ...
16
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2
answers
2k
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Thinking about a road trip out West
My wife and I are thinking of taking a road trip from northwest Ohio to "out west" - Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, etc. I've never been farther west than Indiana, so it's a whole new ...
4
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2
answers
509
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How can I safely walk along the top of a steep scree slope?
I'd like to walk along some bluffs, but there's a bunch of gravel at a 45° angle along the bluffs that's kinda slippery and treacherous.
My question is: what kind of gear would assist me with this? I'...
12
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5
answers
741
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What are the effects of biking on hiking trails?
I am a mountain biker and a hiker, and I love both activities very much. Recently, while biking on a shared single-track trail, I came upon a group of hikers. One hiker began a discussion about how we'...
32
votes
10
answers
9k
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Trumpeting while backpacking?
I am a professional trumpet player getting ready for my first backpacking trip. I'm equipped with a plastic trumpet that I'll clip on my pack. Now I'm starting to wonder about the best way to keep my ...
0
votes
4
answers
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Help with choosing camping gear
So I have recently developed an appetite for camping and thinking about buying some gear. Since I'm not sure how committed I'll be, I want to keep my purchases on the lower side. So I have chosen
Tent:...
6
votes
4
answers
250
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Knee injuries prevention using knee protectors
Knee is basically one of the main joints that provides you the ability to walk. There are several ways to prevent or ease the knee pain (see Knee pain when descending a mountain), but I would like to ...
8
votes
5
answers
435
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Hiking alone: a website that alarms the police if something happens
I go hiking alone quite often, and I don't have many people other than myself in my entire life to whom I can say "I'm going here alone. Call the police if you can't reach me"
Is there an ...
1
vote
1
answer
238
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How to protect GoreTex from bag strap abrasion?
I recently bought an expensive GoreTex jacket and I want to be proactive in maximizing the life I get out of it.
One thing I have noticed on previous jackets is that the shoulder areas can degrade ...
3
votes
0
answers
70
views
What's a good base for hiking in the Italian Alps/Dolomites?
I want to hike in the Italian Alps or Dolomites at the end of October. I'm looking for a nice village or town where I can stay for a few days. I'm not too adventurous so hikes that are a few hours ...
13
votes
11
answers
6k
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Flashlight or headlamp for night hiking?
Which is better to use during a night trek - a flashlight or a headlamp?
Which do you prefer? Would be great if recommend the one you use and tell me what made you buy it.
2
votes
1
answer
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Is there fall foliage in Catskills first weekend in October?
I am trying to find hiking in upstate NY that will have fall foliage this weekend (Oct 1-3). Will the Catskills have good fall foliage this time of year or is there a better place to go to in the area?...
9
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6
answers
6k
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Cookware: Why not Copper instead of Titanium, Aluminium or Stainless Steel?
Currently there are three major materials for hiking/lightweight cookware ruling the market:
Aluminium
Titanium
Stainless Steel
Each of those materials has several advantages and disadvantages:
...
3
votes
3
answers
696
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Is it worth to use LEP flashlights as a tactical or EDC?
LEP (laser excited phosphor) is the new technology of flashlights to use, with extra brightness. I get some cons to use LEP, like its effect on eyes if the light beam is applied directly to them.
I ...
19
votes
0
answers
313
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What are the primary considerations when trekking across the Olympic National Park, Greece including a summit of Mount Olympus?
I am planning to make a solo traverse of the Olympic National Park in Greece, including a summit of Mount Olympus.
I am a former soldier and team medic with considerable experience in the outdoors, ...
22
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3
answers
2k
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What are the first signs that you are headed for heat exhaustion, and what should you do?
Extreme heat by historical standards is in the news, and most likely in our future. So this question is how to know when you are headed for being seriously affected by the heat, and what to do about ...
5
votes
1
answer
203
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When does a snowfield become a glacier?
Based on my understanding, glaciers are formed when massive packs of snow gets compressed under their own weight; essentially snowfields are the early stage of glacial formation. When crossing ...
4
votes
1
answer
204
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Is this a valid method from taking a bearing from a map?
I want to check my understanding here. The goal is to determine your direction of travel by taking a bearing from a map using a compass, given that you know where on the map you are and where you want ...
3
votes
1
answer
161
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Density, weight, and compressibility of synthetic sleeping bags
I am very curious. I have frequently used a very small summer-rated sleeping bag, but have now bought a somewhat warmer bag, which is less compressible and takes more volume. It will be tested soon. ...
14
votes
3
answers
924
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How can I prevent plantar fasciitis?
Every year or so I'll end up with plantar fasciitis after periods of time where I've walked a lot. In general my walking shoes are fine and have arch support but occasionally I'll need to use sturdier ...
25
votes
1
answer
2k
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Reacting to a bee attack
We were attacked by Giant Honey Bees (Apis dorsata).
A friend and I were ensuring the safety of others and got away with 30 odd stings.
We had proper hiking attire, and buffs to cover our faces.
Few ...
6
votes
2
answers
248
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How hot does it have to get for hiking to become unsafe? [closed]
In June, Seattle had a major heatwave with temperatures reaching 41C with 30-40% humidity. It was a bit cooler in the mountains but still quite unpleasant during the day. This made me wonder - at ...
18
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2
answers
2k
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Correct technique to traverse exposed sandy rock slope
I have hiked quite a lot, and today I challenged myself to an easy 'alpine route'. At one point I came across this exposed slope (Is this considered a scree slope?) Considering that at the base of a ...
14
votes
3
answers
500
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Is it safe to drink rain water from a stream after a long drought?
I was hiking in Switzerland yesterday and came across a small river which holds very little water on most days (or even none) and grows a lot after rainfall. The day before yesterday it rained for the ...
2
votes
1
answer
212
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Are new hiking trails and mountain roads still being developed?
I live in Seattle and all the hiking trails and scenic roads that I know of are all decades old. I haven’t heard of any new investments into making the nature more accessible but perhaps I’m just not ...
20
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5
answers
3k
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How do I help people enjoy camping/hiking (like I do!)?
I have finally convinced my brother and our good friend to go hiking with me. I love hiking and being outside as much as possible, but they seem to hate it. How can I make our hiking trip fun and more ...
4
votes
1
answer
162
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Need advice on custom track in Sarek National Park
I'm planning a hiking trip in Sarek this September, which would be my first time in Sarek. The remoteness and solitude is one the major reasons I'd like to go, therefore (and because the common tracks ...
4
votes
4
answers
250
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Size of a daysack for hiking
I'm trying to decide on daysack for light hiking (no mountains, clement weather). There's plenty of guides online, but I can't seem to make sense of them.
This one, for example says
20-30 Liters
...
4
votes
3
answers
458
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UK blanket bog peatland water - safe to drink?
I was recently walking in the North Pennines on a hot day. 10 miles into a 16 mile walk, I stopped to check my 2.5l water bladder and saw that it was almost empty. This naturally caused me some ...
26
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5
answers
6k
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Is it significantly faster to hike along a river bank?
Hiking through old-growth forest with no trail, is a lot slower than hiking on a trail. The actual speed seems to vary greatly depending on the particular forest, with estimates ranging from perhaps 1 ...
5
votes
1
answer
229
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Looking for lightweight backpacking tent suggestions
Some context: I am a very small female (< 5 ft., < 100 lbs.) and I am thus very limited by gear weight. A lot of information is written for large/tall guys, so I'm having trouble researching ...
2
votes
0
answers
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Double stitched leather shoe care
I am hiking in Meindl's double stitched, Nubuk leather hiking shoes, called Badile (https://meindl.de/product/badile-en/?lang=en) I have them for quite some years now and was very happy with them all ...