Questions tagged [hiking]
Hiking is any outdoor walking activity - along trails or across unmarked wild country.
687
questions
123
votes
18
answers
65k
views
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 ...
- 2,341
71
votes
9
answers
19k
views
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/...
- 821
70
votes
11
answers
17k
views
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?
- 1,521
64
votes
13
answers
328k
views
How do you determine how long a hike will take?
Is there a general rule of thumb for converting miles to hours when looking at a potential hike? For example, how long does it take an average person walking at an average speed to walk a mile on the ...
- 3,735
55
votes
5
answers
19k
views
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
52
votes
8
answers
11k
views
How can I get a GPS location for this tree on a distant hillside?
I want to hike to the base of this tree (circled in red in the photo). That's a hillside full of full grown trees beneath it, and it looks like over a full tree's height sticking up above the other ...
- 623
49
votes
7
answers
42k
views
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 ...
- 2,897
48
votes
12
answers
16k
views
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 ...
47
votes
5
answers
9k
views
Will drinking lots of water in the day(s) prior to a long trek mean I will need less water on the trek?
I am not sure if 'pre-hydrating' is a valid term to use for this, please correct me if you know the term.
While walking down a tiring route, I was so tired and low on water. All I could think of was, ...
- 31.7k
45
votes
12
answers
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,...
- 26.7k
45
votes
7
answers
8k
views
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?
- 8,218
45
votes
1
answer
4k
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 ...
- 1,589
42
votes
12
answers
33k
views
FiveFingers or hiking boots?
I have been wearing Vibram FiveFingers exclusively for three years now. I day hike in them, I exercise in them, I go to to work with them, I hit the beach and swim in them. I have tried wearing "...
- 523
42
votes
4
answers
7k
views
How to treat a severe allergic reaction while hiking?
Suppose you are out hiking, many hours from the trail head and someone has a severe allergic reaction (ie, anaphylactic shock or Anaphylaxis). In this case, what is the best course of treatment to ...
- 32.2k
40
votes
12
answers
39k
views
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?
- 1,932
40
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Backpacking or hiking in areas open to hunting
A lot of areas that are good for hiking or backpacking are also popular hunting grounds. I am an avid backpacker and hiker, but I do not know much about hunting. How do I find out what is the ...
- 2,678
39
votes
9
answers
4k
views
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 ...
- 1,157
39
votes
12
answers
166k
views
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 ...
- 32.2k
39
votes
6
answers
10k
views
If I'm caught in lightning above tree-line, what should I do?
We all know the general lightning guidelines, but what if I am above tree-line and caught in a freak lightning storm. Is it better to:
Run like mad to toward the trees
Lie flat, and find religion
...
- 19k
38
votes
6
answers
14k
views
Do I still need to hang my food if I have two large dogs?
I have two large dogs - a German Shepherd and a Presa Canario. I hike alone with my dogs in black (not grizzly) bear country.
Do I still need to hang my food? Or will the three of us be able to ...
38
votes
16
answers
7k
views
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 ...
- 2,270
37
votes
10
answers
10k
views
Mountaineering with a 6-year-old kid in winter
I'm planning to go to the Austrian Alps with my 6-year-old daughter in one week. We would like to go on Großer Priel, 2515 m. The plan is to go for three days (sleeping two nights in a tent on a ...
- 1,387
37
votes
7
answers
50k
views
What is the fastest method to 'break in' full leather boots?
After purchasing full leather boots (similar to these boots) I had many blisters for the first few hikes until I broke in my boots.
What are the fastest ways to age the boot so that when my foot won'...
- 722
36
votes
11
answers
42k
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 ...
- 31.7k
35
votes
10
answers
9k
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 ...
- 522
35
votes
9
answers
29k
views
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 ...
- 2,194
34
votes
8
answers
58k
views
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 ...
- 989
34
votes
4
answers
3k
views
Handling feminine hygiene on multiple-month treks?
How can I handle multiple months of menstrual cycles on a long trek like the Appalachian Trail? I am asking about how to handle the mess. Here are my personal considerations:
Using hormonal birth ...
- 1,404
32
votes
7
answers
13k
views
How can I clear spiderwebs in my path while hiking?
I went hiking this weekend in a national forest on trails that see little use. In parts there were many spiderwebs crossing the trail - sometimes full webs (which I could usually, but not always, ...
- 1,146
32
votes
5
answers
52k
views
Does hiking with a dog in bear country increase or decrease your risk of a bear encounter?
I've heard various rumors that dogs might help keep bears away, or might be a bear attractant. Is there anything more concrete than anecdotal evidence to go on?
From the companionship end, they are a ...
- 19k
31
votes
14
answers
13k
views
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 ...
- 636
31
votes
12
answers
6k
views
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 ...
- 1,562
30
votes
6
answers
8k
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 ...
- 23.5k
30
votes
8
answers
4k
views
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 ...
- 32.2k
30
votes
4
answers
2k
views
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 ...
- 473
29
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Is it offensive to "just hike" on a pilgrim's path?
I am considering taking a pilgrim's path - Olaf's Trail - in Norway (about 3 weeks). However, I don't want to do it for any religious reasons. I just saw this trail in pictures and thought: "What a ...
- 23.5k
29
votes
2
answers
12k
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 ...
- 23.5k
28
votes
15
answers
6k
views
Hiking: How to start?
I would like to get into hiking, and would like some ideas on gear.training to start. I have always enjoyed nature walks and even did some hiking when I was a kid in boy scouts, but that was years ago ...
- 393
28
votes
8
answers
20k
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 ...
- 391
28
votes
8
answers
31k
views
How to keep water cold in hot weather?
When doing outdoor sports like hiking or biking I'll always take a lot of cold water with me. I love to drink cold water and I feel more refreshed compared to drinking warm or not-so-cold water. But ...
- 3,239
28
votes
5
answers
1k
views
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?
- 2,897
28
votes
2
answers
7k
views
How to Shoo away a stubborn Stray Dog/Dogs who decides to tag along with you on a hike?
This happened on one of my hikes.
It was a hike with two villages en route. Somehow a dog from the first village decided to stick with us. We were OK with it. Then he was followed by a small Puppy. ...
- 1,059
28
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Why do shin splints happen?
I've gotten shin splints on long hikes - once 2 weeks into a hike, and another time 2 months. I wasn't able to determine how I got them though, which has really annoyed me! I get that I could ...
- 6,244
27
votes
5
answers
11k
views
Modern equivalent of a flare gun?
This summer I will be taking a rather inherently dangerous multi-day hike by myself. I was considering buying a flare gun since I will be out of cellular range unless there is something more modern ...
- 603
27
votes
7
answers
6k
views
Meeting an unknown snake on the trail; what is the best thing to do?
The newsletter from the Virginia Wildlife Rescue League reported the following incident.
A man, his partner and her 4 year old daughter were walking in Farquier County (a rural county), when they saw ...
- 24k
27
votes
3
answers
2k
views
What do you do if you see a cougar?
Hiking on the west coast of British Columbia, there are likely to be cougars around the trails. What do you do if you see one?
- 1,827
27
votes
7
answers
3k
views
What clothing would be appropriate for hiking in -18°C with up to 30 km/hr wind?
I recently moved to Germany and am planning to do a hike in the Harz mountains. The weather is expected to be around -18°C. Most of the trail will be sheltered by forest, but the mountaintop is ...
- 731
27
votes
3
answers
3k
views
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 ...
- 3,265
27
votes
1
answer
594
views
Pressing the knee while ascending
Usually I have a walking stick with me. But this time around I didn't have one along. With the hot and humid weather adding to the woes, we were going up a seemingly unending ascent.
The constant ...
- 31.7k
26
votes
5
answers
34k
views
What do you risk when you ignore blisters and carry on walking?
The blisters can be very painful. If you walk further, you should expect it won't be easy and pleasant. And the blisters may get worse.
But what do you risk, except from pain and getting more ...
- 9,507