Questions tagged [hiking]
Hiking is any outdoor walking activity - along trails or across unmarked wild country.
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How can I improve gaiter adhesive area on hiking shoe?
These are currently my go-to hiking shoes for basically everything now: Danner Trail 2650. I love them. Also, I recently got a pair of Dirty Girl gaiters. They are loud, fun, and functional. ...
4
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1
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Where can I find the currently closed off area on Strómboli?
On the Aeolian island of Strómboli, my maps and hiking books indicate and describe trails from both Strómboli town and Ginostra to Pizzo o Sopra la Fossa, similar to the indications on this sketch. ...
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Southern Half of Corsica's GR20 hike in late October
The GR20 between Calenzana and Conca is considered one of Europe's best but also most difficult hikes. The recommended time of year to do this hike safely is usually given as June to mid-October.
Our ...
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Visibility in mountains and hills [closed]
Is the visibility better to west than east? I was on one mountain in the west and could not see the one far in the east, not even close. The guy who was in one mountain the east, said he saw the ...
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How do you remove leeches from your eyeball?
Leeches have been known to fall and attach on the eyeballs of hapless hikers. Where I'm from, if a leech attaches itself to you, you just spray it with alcohol and it will shrink and fall off. ...
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Is it easier for shorter people to walk the slopes of a mountain due to a lower center of gravity?
Apart from the obvious advantages of longer strides and reach, does a higher center of gravity make it more difficult for taller people to walk the slopes of a mountain? Or in other terms, do shorter ...
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Open, fjell-like landscapes in Germany
Current travel possibilities are limited, so I am more or less stuck in Germany at the moment. For recreation, I usually go to areas with landscapes similar to the Highlands in Scotland or ...
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Are there any durable hiking boots left on the market?
I just had the outer sole of one of my expensive, 22 month old, Hanwag hiking boots completely delaminate from the boot in the middle of a four day backpacking trip on the Olympic coastline. I managed ...
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How do I correct for magnetic declination?
I have a question about magnetic declination as it pertains to its use with compass navigation.
I currently live in Albuquerque New Mexico which currently has a magnetic declination of 8°E.
Let's say ...
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1
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alternative routes for reaching north rim of grand canyon
Currently, as far as I can tell, if one starts at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and tries to reach the North Side, it cannot be done based on the latest NPS info (although the regular route will ...
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Where can I find reliable information on long-distance hiking trails?
I have never planned a hiking holiday myself but have always walked along. This year we are planning to walk a long-distance trail like the Fischermenstrail (ROTA VICENTINA) in Portugal. Where can I ...
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How can I make sure there are no more ticks around?
I'm back from outdoors and while lying down in bed I noticed a tiny tiny insect walking around on my clothes. While trying to take a picture of it to see if it is a tick, it just disappeared and I ...
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LOWA renegade insole is sliding
I used my Lowa renegade for 10 years and I bought a new pair. On the first 7km the insoles are sliding back. I tried again, same problem... I just realised even with hands I can slide the insoles up ...
4
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Do I (single hiker) need to reserve Austrian and Italian mountain huts in advance(more than 3 days)?
This year I want to spend a lot of time in Austrian and Italian mountains. I think I will do 2-4 day tours when there is weather window and then drive back to rest a bit and repeat.
I don't know how ...
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How far can a pair of shoes last?
The expert consensus seems to be that shoes should be replaced every 300-500 miles or thereabouts, as they will by that point no longer have their original characteristics. Fair enough.
But the rated ...
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What are some challenges to starting a small business that runs backpacking trips?
I have more than a decade of experience in outdoor recreation, environmental education, and backpacking. I am now thinking about starting a small business offering backpacking guide service to people ...
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What makes tree structures with 1000 pound tree trunks and leaves what looks like huge human-like tracks in the forest?
These are photos of some of the things I have found in the forests of Idaho....Oregon....California....Utah....and Washington over the past few years and I have no idea who made them or even HOW THEY ...
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Pack for carrying a puppy
I have planned a smaller lake trip for me, my girlfriend and our two dogs(10 year Labrador, 5 month Eurasier). What I didn't think of is the fact that the puppy might need to be carried for a part of ...
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6 day trek in Nepal Himalaya
What are some easy/moderate hikes in the Nepal Himalayas that do not span more than 6 days of walking? I looked at Jomsom trek but it is 8 days. I am looking for a trek that offers nice scenic beauty ...
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Is it reasonable to expect a 500 g (1.1 lbs) inflatable sleeping mat to last?
I recently changed from a foam to inflatable sleeping mat.
I try to keep weight at minimum. I prefer a light hiking setup, so the inflatable mat weights 400 - 500 grams (1 lbs).
The problem is that I ...
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Do any of the routes up Scafell Pike start easy to a good "halfway point" where people can stop and return?
My family & I are planning a holiday in the UK Lake District this year and I'm hoping to fulfil a longtime desire to climb Scafell Pike, England's highest mountain. I'm moderately fit and enjoy ...
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Latex-free first aid kit
I plan to go on a hike with someone allergic to latex.
Usually I would pack small plasters and leukotape, but this is not an option in this case.
How can I replace these items with latex-free ...
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Italy: recommended paper maps for hiking in Trentino and Alto Adige
For a spring time holiday in Trentino and Alto Adige / Südtirol in Italy, I am planning to do a number of day hikes in the areas around Riva del Garda, Trento, and further up north, Brixen / ...
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Any reason to carry a mug outside of the backpack?
We all know this typical Hollywood hiking backpack with an attached sleeping bag and a dangling camping mug.
As I currently build a custom backpack, I wondered if there is any good reason to leave ...
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How can I re-fit a hiking pole that came apart?
My Coleman anti-shock hiking pole came apart in two pieces, and I can't get the two pieces back together so they don't slide apart again. Any suggestions how they can be stabilized so it can be used?
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How to avoid land mines?
Some areas here have old mines from 50 years ago. Dangerous areas are often surrounded by barbed wire and have warning signs. However, because of soil erosion we can't be sure where the dangerous ...
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Is using an electric fly swatter outdoors frowned upon?
When hiking, occassionally there are areas with a ton of mosquitoes (near bodies of still water) or flies (near outhouses, or in the "toilet"). With bug repellent, I still get bitten a lot.
...
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What constitutes mountain exposure when hiking or scrambling?
In this question, I focus on the fall exposure component. While I understand the perception of danger will vary from person to person, I'm having trouble characterizing mountain exposure. I can see ...
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How far is a reasonable distance for someone to hike on their first trip?
How far is a reasonable distance for someone to hike on their first trip?
I understand this depends on a lot of variables, such as the person's fitness, the route they are planning to do, etc, but ...
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What gear should I carry along for winter emergencies?
This question is prompted by a real accident, in which a young, healthy and experienced hiker I knew was found dead from hypothermia ridiculously close to civilization.
The assumptions behind it: a ...
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Will the Trailhead Registry burn in a forest fire?
I posted an answer for a recent question about a forest fire that started after your hike began, that said:
Presumably you registered at the trailhead, and you have a friend who knows where you are....
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What do you need for mudflat hiking?
Mudflat hiking, also known as Wadlopen in Dutch and Wattwandern in German (maybe among other names) is walking on the sand banks which fall dry in undeep sea areas, like between the Dutch and German ...
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Motivation to hike complete PCT
I've been invited to hike the complete Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) with a friend. It seems like an impossible trail length of 4200km or 2600 mile that I'm doomed to fail on. But I know it could be done. ...
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Should one buy a higher shoe size while buying hiking shoes?
I've heard this multiple times from different people that while buying a hiking shoe, always go for one size larger than what fits you perfectly. The most recent one being a local store where I went ...
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Other than good shoes and a stick, what are some ways to preserve your knees on long hikes?
My knees aren’t in the best shape, one in particular. I had a rather devastating 13 hour up-and-down hike on day two of a three day hike, and the last day my knees were hurting every step. What are ...
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Vibram FiveFingers or Non-Hiking Boots as a Beginner in Hiking?
I'm very new to/inexperienced at hiking, and I got invited to an impromptu, 7-mile hike tomorrow at Alamere Falls (places online say it's "intermediate difficulty"). I've only gone on what I think are ...
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Clarifying hiking lingo "return"
I am researching hikes in New Zealand. What does it mean if it says "this hike is 5-6 hours return"? Does it mean it will take 5-6 hours total or 5-6 hours each way?
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Looking for Technical Information on a Gadget with Fall Detection and Reporting Capability
I am old enough to plan ahead on fall detection, but vigorous and stable enough not to need it in everyday life now. However, I no longer feel comfortable hiking alone, and would like a gadget that ...
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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 ...
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1
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Route planner for hiking in Slovenia (Triglav)
I'm looking for a route planner website for plannig hikes in Triglav National Park / Slovenia. I have used this site before, but cannot find it again.
I have used different search engines, looked in ...
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What could possibly go wrong in Sarek?
I want to go hiking in Sweden this summer with a few friends (forming a group of about 5-7 people) for one or two weeks. The goals we targeted were mainly Kungsleden and Sarek. While a hike on ...
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What is the highest "hikeable" mountain in the world? [duplicate]
What is the highest mountain in the world that can be hiked all the way up?
That you can go up to the top without any sort of experience climbing.
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What is bog shoeing?
This question asks about bog-crossing grades of difficulty, and special equipment like bog shoes. What are bog shoes?
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Possible diet to avoid/delay defecation
We plan to go on a three day hike (two nights). The amount of food is no problem of course, but we want to avoid defecation while on the trail. Which kind of food comes into question?
Edit: It's ...
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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? ...
2
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Using running shoes to hike Mt St Helens
I am hiking/climbing Mt St Helens in 8 days, and I haven't found a pair of hiking boots that I like. My feet are very particular, and I am very concerned that even should I find a pair of boots that ...
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Preventing "heat rash" around ankles and shins?
I'm currently hitchhiking in South East Asia where it's of course always hot. I'm getting a rash around my ankles that I've had in the past but never looked into.
(The same rash, but on a different ...
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4
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What map app would work well for via ferrata in the Dolomites?
I'm looking for suggestions for an app I could use in the Dolomites that would be good for tracking my position on both via ferrata and normal hiking routes.
I would hope that the app has good quality ...
4
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1
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How to obtain up to date information on hiking trails in Slovenia (Triglav National Park)?
I am planning on a multi-day hike in Triglav National Park, staying at a different hut every night.
While researching a route I found that some trail sections can be closed, e.g.:
I found another ...
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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,...