Questions tagged [hiking]
Hiking is any outdoor walking activity - along trails or across unmarked wild country.
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"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 ...
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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 ...
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What is the point of hiking boots, versus any comfortable walking shoes?
I've always used any old shoes for hiking. Are there any real benefits to using specially made boots?
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Is there a definitive list of the tallest mountains in the world that require little or no mountaineering experience?
I was wondering if there is a list of the tallest mountains in the world where you can walk or scramble up to the summit? As opposed to using even basic rope skills?
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What do I need to look for in good, quality hiking boots?
My wife and I are going to buy some hiking boots as we've been using regular tennis shoes anytime we go on a hike.
What are the things I need to keep in mind when looking for a good set of quality ...
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What are some good tips and techniques for packing a backpack?
How do I pack a backpack to prevent injury to my back and keep it comfortable while hiking?
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What is this knee pain when going downhill?
I can hike uphill practically all day. However as very soon after I start a descent, pain builds on the outside of my knee. What is causing this and can I do anything to prevent/mitigate it (other ...
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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 ...
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What are the benefits of Vibram FiveFingers?
Looking at the Vibram FiveFingers shoes, I find myself wondering why?
What possible benefits do they bring as opposed to a traditional sole?
Their web site seems to suggest that they are a more ...
user2766
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Hiking popularity in North America vs. Europe
From browsing this site, I have learned that US national parks and wilderness areas have restrictions and that campsites need reservations, sometimes months in advance. I've never seen anything like ...
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Is ankle support a myth?
There seems to be an ongoing holy war with "boots people" vs "shoes people". A comment on this question caught my eye:
...Ankle support is a myth for most folks....
Now I've always worn boots and ...
user2766
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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,...
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How to apply duct tape and mole skin to prevent blisters?
In response to a question that was asked regarding preventing/treating blisters, a reputed and a respectable climber (DavidR) said:
"Having 'duct tape', 'mole skin', or other adhesive products, and
...
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What are the advantages of different locks for collapsible trekking poles?
I've generally seen two kinds of locks for adjustable trekking poles. Twist lock and clamp lock (Clamp lock is also called "lever lock" and "quick lock"). What are the comparative advantages and ...
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How many calories does hiking burn?
My girlfriend and I went for a walk on Sun. We climbed 3 peaks in Snowdonia. My girlfriend had one of them Nike tracking apps running on her phone all the while. In the end it gave us these stats:
...
user2766
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Are statistics about the frequency of crime actually useful in determining how safe a trail is?
We have a question here about how common assaults/crime happen to people hiking the Appalachian Trail which I have answered with basically all of the statistics I could find.
However it doesn't seem ...
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Etiquette of playing musical instruments on popular hikes
I enjoy hiking, but I'm not very well-versed with the general expectations other people have about noise, especially serious hikers. I generally do trails that take between 3-6 hours, usually up hills/...
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Is it better to wear one pair or two pairs of socks while hiking?
From personal experience I tend to wear two pairs of socks, normally some running socks and then my hiking socks on top of that. It helps me avoid blisters. Quite a few of my friends thinks this is ...
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The outdoors, solitude and dealing with loneliness
I have been out camping a few times, once with a group, the other times with my girlfriend. Although I enjoyed those times very much, I often wondered what would it feel like to enjoy the complete ...
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How much water should be carried while hiking in the desert?
I live in the Arizona desert, and during the summer, despite my best intentions, I always seem to end up doing some hiking in the summer heat.
What is a good formula to figure out how much water I ...
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How do I avoid leeches?
The last time I was attacked by leeches I thought I'd taken enough precautions such as pulling my socks over my trousers and avoiding walking through particularly wet areas or long grass but I still ...
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What should I do about large trash left by others on USFS land?
When you find large trash items left by others in less accessible places, what should be done?
The exact scenario:
We were hiking a ten mile trail on US Forestry Service land with river crossings and ...
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First time camping, need advice
Me and my wife have never done camping before and always wanted to do it. This time we are planning to go for a small camping trip but have no idea how to prepare for it. We like to hike and are ...
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How can I recognize a game trail?
I've been out hiking in wilderness areas when I came across an unmarked trail. It wasn't on a map but it appeared to lead in the direction I wanted to go. I decided not to take it in case it was a ...
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When should you carry a firearm when hiking/trekking?
When my friend planned to hike the Appalachian trail, his mother insisted he take her small handgun. I didn't think it would be a great idea in that case, but I'm sure there must be times when such ...
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Synthetic vs Down sleeping bags?
What are the best conditions to use a synthetic sleeping bag vs a down one? Can you always use a down sleeping bag as long as you keep it in a dry waterproof bag?
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Altitude sickness when going from sea level to 14,000 ft (4,200m) in a single day
My sister lives at sea level -- Baltimore and Chicago. She is coming to visit me in Denver (5280 ft or 1600m). She wishes to climb Mt Bierstadt (14,065 ft or 4200m) the same day she arrives.
I have ...
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How to walk as a roped party on a glacier?
If you want to walk on a glacier you usually do this roped together as a team.
How to walk as a roped party on a glacier?
What I have to pay attention to when knotting the rope?
Related question: ...
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Long or short sleeves on a hike in the Desert?
I have heard different things from different people, but here in the South West we do a decent amount of desert hiking.
Protection from bugs is usually little concern because most of the time in the ...
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Black bears and torch lights
I am hiking in black bear country (no other kinds of bears there). It's dark, I have a whistle hanging around my neck to scare away such a potential bear and I'm using my torch light to be able to see ...
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At what point do I need snow goggles or glacier glasses when hiking?
I'll be backpacking Europe in the winter (snow and rain) and parts of my trip will be outdoors, such as hiking in Dolomites, Italy. For purposes of packing light and risk of losing expensive gear, I ...
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How should I traverse fields with horses in?
I am surprised at how many people I see doing this wrongly (my experience being an ex-horse owner and now hiker in the UK).
What is the correct way to traverse a field containing horses?
Let's ...
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How to prepare for and survive wildfire?
In some areas, such as the western US, wildfires are common during the summer dry season. "Fire safety" advice usually centers on not starting a wildfire, e.g. extinguishing or avoiding campfires. ...
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How do I read a topographic map?
When navigating in the backcountry, you'll usually bring a topographic map that shows the terrain so you can tell if there will be steep slopes or cliffs that might make the route difficult.
A ...
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How much experience is needed with llamas to hike with a llama, on one's own?
I've seen people on multi-day hikes with a llama, and the llama seems docile and easily led. It seems too good to be true. I would never go out with a mule or a horse on my own. If my husband and I ...
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How do I treat a blister? How can I prevent getting them in the first place?
When hiking with a new pair of boots or if I haven't been hiking in a while, my feet might get blisters.
How can I treat a blister and keep hiking? Are there things I can do to prevent getting ...
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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 ...
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May hiking in Eastern California
In May this year (6–8 May) I will have a workshop in Mammoth Lakes, California. I would like to do some hiking in addition to this workshop (roughly one week). I have never been to the United States, ...
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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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How do hikers cross fast-flowing rivers without wading staffs?
Outdoor instructions in Lapland often recommend to always use a wading staff for river crossings, and not a trekking pole. Ever since I purchased my Folding Wading Staff in a Swedish outdoor store, I ...
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Combining a Frontpack with a Backpack while hiking
There is a current trend to carry babies in a pack on your front (Wikipedia does not show it but Google images has lots of hits 'front baby carrier')
If you are hiking with a backpack, is including a ...
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Is a compass generally accurate in only one hemisphere, or both? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Navigational gear worldwide
I'm not that well travelled (never been outside of Europe!) but at some point I'd love to head elsewhere to perhaps hike somewhere a bit more ...
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1
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Sliding Insoles: does this need to be resolved?
I put some used Superfeet insoles in my new Danners and they slipped just a little on the downhill part of a hike (1/4in to 1/2in) but they're very prominent insoles. Is this a huge problem as far as ...
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How much does it cost to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail?
It's been a dream of mine to thru-hike the AT ever since I first discovered it. I'm hoping to plan a trip one of these days, but honestly don't even know where to start as far cost. I imagine it could ...
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Rifugio (Mountain Hut) trek in Austria
I'm interested in combining a three to five day "rifugio" based trek in southern Austria with a visit to Vienna.
In other words, I'd like to be able to fly in to somewhere nearby - Vienna, Salzburg, ...
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How to plan a day hike
Is there kind of a checklist what to consider before going on a day hike? Like which preparation should one take, things to pack (not detailed, like "food"), useful information (weather forecast e.g.) ...
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Yosemite in late March a good idea?
My wife and I have never been to Yosemite. We will have some time off in a couple of weeks (end of March) and we're considering planning a trip to Yosemite.
The amount of rain and snow in recent ...
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What affects the acclimatization process? [closed]
We know we need "Climb High and Sleep low" to prevent Altitude Sickness.
Now the question is what can affect the acclimatization process?
Example:
Bring luggage/bag/etc when climbing high. Will ...
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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?
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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 ...
