Questions tagged [hiking]
Hiking is any outdoor walking activity - along trails or across unmarked wild country.
635
questions
20
votes
1answer
1k views
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 ...
25
votes
1answer
2k views
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 ...
7
votes
2answers
203 views
How hot does it have to get for hiking to become unsafe?
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
votes
2answers
2k views
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
3answers
473 views
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 ...
10
votes
3answers
288 views
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'...
30
votes
10answers
7k views
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
190 views
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
votes
5answers
3k views
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
1answer
138 views
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
4answers
233 views
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
3answers
279 views
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
votes
5answers
6k views
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
1answer
186 views
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
0answers
45 views
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
191 views
Similar hikes to Mont Blanc 100 mile loop in the United States?
I've seen the hiking loop around Mont Blanc in France (Tour de Mont Blanc), and was wondering if there is anything similar in the United States? Preferably in the West. The things I'm looking for:
...
0
votes
1answer
133 views
Debris in boots
When I went off the trail on my last hike, I noticed that grass got into my boots very easily because the toe is not gussetted like in other boots. And gaiters don't cover low enough on the boot to ...
7
votes
4answers
303 views
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
1answer
204 views
Multi-day hike without camping?
I am interested in solo hiking the Foothills Trail in South Carolina, US this summer -- maybe not all of it, but ideally multiple days worth.
Unfortunately, I'm not really experienced enough to camp ...
10
votes
3answers
1k views
How does the effort required for a hike or run depend on the amount of elevation gain?
If I do a certain hike or run, it's going to cost a certain amount of effort, which could be measured by how many calories I burn. How does this effort depend on the amount of climbing? Is there a ...
14
votes
2answers
415 views
How do I find a less crowded trail in the southeast United States on the 4th of July?
In addition to "longest walk possible" are there any good guidelines for finding trails/areas in the southeast that are typically less crowded on holidays such as the 4th of July? State parks here in ...
14
votes
4answers
1k views
What should I look for in hiking binoculars
I'd like a pair of binoculars for hiking. I don't have a specific use other than for looking off of overlooks, at animals, etc. What are the important things to look for in a good set of binoculars? ...
3
votes
2answers
339 views
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'...
3
votes
2answers
203 views
Practical advice request - camping with dogs
I have two dogs (Border Collie, working line German Shepherd) and I am heading out for a long hike (about a week) early April. Typical high in April is +7 Celsius/45 Fahrenheit, typical low -1 Celsius/...
10
votes
2answers
5k views
Should I use one or two trekking poles?
I am preparing for a Himalayan Expedition which requires a trekking pole at the altitude of 16000 ft and melting snow condition. I haven't used any aluminium/carbon fibre poles yet.
I usually find a ...
7
votes
3answers
1k views
Can orange safety vest be used when hiking during hunting season?
I'm going to be doing some winter hiking in parks where there are going to be a lot of hunters. Probably only during bow hunting season for deer in NJ. I'll be getting some blaze hats but for the vest ...
23
votes
5answers
2k views
Walking up the slopes. To walk brisk or to walk slow?
This question has been eating my head for quite some time now.
I trek often and most of the treks involve climbing up to a peak or something similar. I usually carry heavy loads of around 13-15kgs on ...
0
votes
4answers
224 views
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:...
18
votes
6answers
11k views
Effective way to carry a sleeping mattress with rucksack?
I am going for four day hike in Western Ghats. The terrain is
rocky humid and It is one of the eight "hottest hotspots" of
biological diversity in the world.
I am trying to pack my rucksack as ...
10
votes
3answers
238 views
Longest “1-mountain” hikes in the world
What are some of the longest "single mountain" hikes in the world? That is, hikes which more or less go up one mountain. Specifically, let's say we're looking at the following criteria:
...
2
votes
1answer
92 views
Can I disassemble my Chinook Anti shock hiking pole
Can I disassemble my Chinook Anti shock hiking pole. so it will fit in my suitcase for traveling?
2
votes
5answers
1k views
How frequent are encounters with bears/mountain lions/etc?
I'm wondering how common it is to see or encounter large carnivores like bears and mountain lions in the lower 48 when hiking in the United States (okay, bears are tehnically omnivores, but you get ...
17
votes
4answers
6k views
When hiking, is it harmful that I wear more layers of clothes and drink more water?
I am a 38-year old that loves hiking as a hobby. I usually do 10-20km hikes with up to 2km altitude change. This year I started tours with a new crew and two people talked to me independently that my ...
36
votes
11answers
40k views
Dealing with rashes between thighs and around the groin
This, I believe, most of outdoor people once in a while do have to deal with: Rashes between thighs, around the groin. This may really screw the entire trip and make it annoyingly miserable to walk ...
21
votes
6answers
12k views
How to empty bowels before a hike?
They say prevention is better than cure, so for beginner hikes, especially dayhikes, how can one try to ensure that their bowels are empty and they won't suddenly need to poo? Are there proven ways? ...
12
votes
6answers
1k views
Protein-intake on extended minimal-weight treks
I enjoy doing quite extended treks in the backcountry that rely on us (mostly 2-4 people) being independent from any kind of civilization for up to two weeks.
For me the foremost problem in these ...
9
votes
4answers
352 views
What are some good hydration solutions for long winter hikes?
I'm planning a hiking and photography trip to the Rockies in January as a follow up to a similar trip last year. The major difference in this case is the length of some hikes, with a handful of out-...
13
votes
3answers
6k views
How quickly do Oxygen Absorbers “spoil”?
I was recently packing my own dehydrated meals for hiking using mylar bags and oxygen absorper packs. The oxygen absorbers come in packs of 10. Generally the process is to prep all your bags and ...
46
votes
12answers
11k views
Given limited space and weight what should I carry to get a fire going with damp wood?
Assuming firewood can be found, but it's likely to be damp, how can I best be prepared for getting a fire going? This is for a light hiking situation, so I'm not going to carry a sack full of kindling,...
29
votes
8answers
12k views
Is it possible to hike over 30km per day?
I am planning to go on a trail (Cleveland Way trail in the UK, moderate level, if this helps). The official guide recommends spending 9 days on this trail, but I only have 7 days. Is it reasonable to ...
9
votes
6answers
2k views
How to prepare on hiking routes?
By watching a Belgian television serie called GR5 on Één I got inspired to start with hiking. But as an inexperienced hiker I don't know what I could expect from it. I've flowing questions:
What's an ...
9
votes
3answers
2k views
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
1answer
201 views
Staying online while hiking
I like to go on multi day hikes, however I need to be able to access the internet on my phone for work related emergencies. Recently I had a very annoying situation. I needed to send a single e-mail ...
7
votes
0answers
72 views
Are any canyons in the Sierra de Grazalema accessible without special canyoneering gear?
The book Sierra de Grazalema: Complete Guidebook to the Natural Park includes a chapter on canyons, describing two routes: one Garganta Verde and one through the Garganta de las Buitreras. Both ...
4
votes
3answers
105 views
How can I identify hiking trails with views of the surrounding areas from online resources?
When on holiday in a region I like to do day hikes to enjoy the outdoors and the scenery.
Sometimes the local tourist office has some information but when that's not the case I try to use on-line ...
18
votes
5answers
16k views
How to properly lace hiking boots?
When I go on hiking trips, I wear proper boots. However, when I lace them tight, my ankles swell terribly after a few hours and start feeling funny (bending the joint feels like touching a balloon). ...
10
votes
2answers
2k views
How to get rid of bad smell in hiking boots after they have been soaked?
My hiking boots got soaked multiple times during our last trip in Scotland. The water got in via my pants, behind my gaiters and on my socks. This happened multiple times on the trip with no ...
13
votes
4answers
3k views
Will the benefit of an axe outweigh the drawbacks and win over a large knife?
I've hiked some in my life, and gotten used to carrying a small axe for chopping wood for the fire. But after I bought my self a large fixed-blade bowie knife, I find myself relying less and less on ...
39
votes
3answers
3k views
“Official” providers of topographic maps per country
If I want to go to some contry, with no specific region in mind yet, I often have trouble to get good topographical information for hiking beforehand. I usually find it rather difficult to discover ...
12
votes
9answers
5k views
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.
