Questions tagged [hiking]
Hiking is any outdoor walking activity - along trails or across unmarked wild country.
619
questions
10
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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
405 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
296 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
181 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
210 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
228 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
91 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?
1
vote
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
336 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
11k 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
189 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
71 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
99 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.
28
votes
2answers
9k views
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 ...
12
votes
7answers
7k views
How can a barbed wire fence be crossed safely?
How can one cross a barbed wire fence safely?
Assumptions: Height of the person: 5.8 (172cm) Distance between barb wires is roughly 9 inches (20-22 cm), Fence is 4 to 4.5 (120-140cm) feet tall, not ...
4
votes
1answer
299 views
Why exactly does hiking in hot, humid weather seem so much more exhausting?
Assuming one is well hydrated, wears light clothes and hikes in the shade, why exactly does hiking in hot, humid weather seem so much more exhausting than the same hike in cooler weather?
Background ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Is the Battery Life of the Garmin InReach Mini enough for a 2 week trip?
I am going hiking for 2-3 weeks with no possibility of charging the battery again. Assuming I only turn the InReach on only once a day to send a "I'm ok"-message and then turn it off again, would the ...
15
votes
4answers
21k views
Can you wash ticks out with shampoo?
I was out caving yesterday and apparently picked up a passenger on the trail either on the way up or back down the mountain.
I discovered it in my hair on the back of my head while showering. It ...
29
votes
6answers
7k views
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
198 views
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 ...
7
votes
2answers
249 views
Hiking during winter in Alps
I've been hiking the the Alps for 20years and normally I go skiing every winter. But I see more and more pictures of people hiking in the snow.
Is it possible to go hiking in February in the alps? If ...
0
votes
1answer
90 views
tips for wading in knee deep water where water moccasins could roam
Lately I've taken up a new hobby: taking pictures of train trestle bridges. There's one that goes over the San Gabriel river in Texas that I can get within half a mile of but any further than that ...
17
votes
2answers
4k views
How fast can you typically hike through untracked forest?
Average hiking speed over level ground is often reckoned around twenty miles per day, assuming hikers in good shape who know what they are doing and where they're going. (As a rough approximation, ...
1
vote
2answers
97 views
Information about an Japanese Trail (Keyakidaira to Kurobe dam)
I hope I am not too far off from the sense of this forum. But I am desperately looking for some information about the trail that leads from Keyakidaira to Kurobe Dam. Because of Google Images and ...
11
votes
3answers
584 views
How can I be sure that I'm ready to do the Three Peaks Challenge?
I'm going to be participating in the UK National Three Peaks Challenge at the end of next month. For those who are unaware; the Three Peaks consists of hiking the highest peak in England, Scotland and ...
15
votes
2answers
4k views
What precautions should I take when hiking among herds of elk?
During certain times of the year, some of the hiking trails near where I live wind through herds of elk standing on or near the trails. What precautions should you take when hiking among elk?
7
votes
2answers
189 views
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 ...
5
votes
2answers
182 views
Places for a “socially distant” walk
Where might I look for places on which to go for a medium length (3-5 miles) or longer walk -- and where I'd minimize my chances of encountering other people?
The Covid-19 pandemic is ongoing, and I'...
10
votes
2answers
788 views
Fitness for hiking to Everest base camp
I'm wondering what general fitness would suffice to hike to the base camp of Everest? Does it requires special fitness regime and focus on main body parts like legs and core strength?
13
votes
0answers
389 views
Tahoma Creek suspension bridge history
One of my more memorable hiking experiences came on the Wonderland Trail in the summer of 1994. The trail is about 93 miles (150 kilometers) long. It's in the Mount Rainier State Park which is located ...
3
votes
1answer
88 views
New Hampshire A.T. Section Hike in May? Logistics and Trail Conditions
I am new to this particular StackExchange site, so if this question is off-topic please let me know. The question involves weather conditions along the A.T. through the White Mountains NH in May, as ...
4
votes
2answers
317 views
How can I obtain drinking water in a saline area such as the Northern Great Plains?
If the topographic map is to be believed, there are plenty of streams in Grasslands National Park, but apparently they are saline. Last and Ginn report that there is no other area in the world that ...
