Questions tagged [hiking]
Hiking is any outdoor walking activity - along trails or across unmarked wild country.
628
questions
12
votes
1answer
443 views
Sign in/Sign out sheets for dangerous passages while hiking!
Many years ago, while hiking with a friend, we came across a particular point in the trail which was rather dangerous. If one slipped, the fall would surely be fatal. What struck me most is the fact ...
6
votes
2answers
7k views
How dangerous are wild horses?
In some parts of the western United States there are herds of wild horses. How dangerous could a herd be to a human on foot while hiking or backpacking?
If they are dangerous how should a human ...
9
votes
4answers
5k views
Hiking with kids - what are the right distances?
We're currently planning a tour in the alps. Nothing too big. Just going uphill with the cable-way and then doing 15 km on top. This is because we've a 2 year and a 5 year old girl with us. We can ...
5
votes
0answers
84 views
Telescopic trekking poles: clamp vs. screw system [duplicate]
I'm looking to get a new pair of trekking poles for my next trek as I find them an invaluable tool on longer hikes with higher pack load. It seems others and science agree to some degree at least, so ...
15
votes
4answers
870 views
Dealing with anxiety and confidence issues
I did some hikes in the past but I'm way from calling myself experienced. Now, since I live in an awesome region surrounded by Alps, I decided to take a "one hike a week challenge", hiking mostly ...
7
votes
1answer
351 views
Good Hiking Route Planner
I'm planning on hiking from John O'Groats in Scotland to Land's End in Cornwall via the Three Peaks. I'm wondering if there are any good online hiking planners that let you set waypoints and minimise ...
10
votes
4answers
437 views
How can I acquire practical outdoor skills?
In a world where we are surrounded by technology and information on our screens it's actually becoming more difficult/uncommon to acquire practical skills in the outdoors.
What would be a good ...
4
votes
2answers
11k views
Why do my socks roll down towards the toes of my shoes while mountaineeering?
After nearly a decade of regular mountaineering, I am having this issue for the first time. And, I am almost sure to claim that it may not be because of the shoes that I use since I have been using ...
7
votes
2answers
1k views
Multi-day hiking trip [California, early April]
I just learned that I am going to end up in San Francisco for 2 weeks in early April. I will be meeting a couple of relatives there who will travel from tropical places, so they won't have a lot of "...
7
votes
4answers
446 views
How do you pace yourself while doing strenuous hikes above 3,000 meters (10,000 feet)?
How do you know how fast or slow to go while hiking at elevation (say above 3000 meters) on an instant per instant basis? Elevation, weight carried, steepness, surface underfoot (e.g., trails, cross-...
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? ...
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 ...
11
votes
3answers
348 views
How to cross rivers or streams at night or in darkness?
I am preparing a dayhike with some buddies of mine but to get to the trailhead, we have to cross more than ten river crossings which are passable by huge vehicles. The water there is quite fast and ...
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 ...
12
votes
5answers
2k views
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 ...
8
votes
1answer
218 views
Hiking map for Hokkaido and/or other resources
I plan to go hiking in Hokkaido next spring. I'd like to hike two weeks and to keep away from the cities during this time.
I'd like to visit Daisetsuzan Park and Shiretoko Park. I've read about ...
19
votes
4answers
2k views
How to deal with dogs on public hiking trails?
I occasionally try hiking or cycling, and I notoriously have to deal with the silly issue of dogs roaming freely through villages, even on public trails. Until now, never have I been threatened by a ...
13
votes
1answer
2k views
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. ...
11
votes
3answers
3k views
How to clean soaked-in winter salt off boots?
Hiking in winter near urban areas, it’s difficult to avoid getting salty snow/slush on one’s boots. Of course, the first rule is to rinse it off immediately, and not to let it soak in. But sometimes ...
9
votes
3answers
258 views
What are differences between higher and lower shoes other than ankle support?
In this question with good answers, we can read that while being significantly effective for some cases, ankle support from boots/higher shoes does not have an important effect when hiking.
I was ...
4
votes
2answers
240 views
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 ...
23
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.
...
9
votes
2answers
4k views
Is there a mobile app to easily send a SMS message with coordinates?
A couple years ago I have traveled to rather remote areas alone on multi-day hikes and the cell phone coverage was poor. During my hike I wanted to let someone know about my progress (the tracking was ...
8
votes
5answers
969 views
How to select a good sleeping bag liner?
So I am going on a 6 days wildness hike. I have a down sleep bag that can comfortably cover up to 3 degrees if I have thermos on. I am considering getting a sleeping bag liner. Main concerns are:
...
68
votes
11answers
15k 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?
8
votes
1answer
184 views
What to look for in a good natural hiking stick?
Usually I don't have any hiking poles with me when walking. From time to time I think it would be great to wander one or two kilometers with some support while on the track. I then often end up with a ...
10
votes
4answers
1k views
Are there human powered generators that draw power from body movement?
I enjoy hiking but I don't give away some gadgets like flashlight (if hiking at night) and a smartphone for the GPS. I recently took a long hike that went well into the night (about 18 hours hiking ...
-1
votes
1answer
92 views
Trailrunners for hiking [duplicate]
I've read a couple of sites that say that trailrunners are great for hiking, as they have good traction and are lighter than boots. Would they also work well if you're clambering down or up steep ...
13
votes
3answers
402 views
Is it bad to rely on trekking poles?
I haven't used trekking poles but I've used wooden poles and they make a huge difference while hiking. Ascents are somewhat easier, and descents are much more so thanks to the poles as another thing ...
7
votes
1answer
89 views
A technical question on spikes
I possess the spikes "Snowline Chainsen Trail" of two sizes: a small one and a large one. The small one (EU sizes ≤40) sits extremely tight on my hiking shoes "Nevada MFS 6½" (size 40 EU), the large ...
5
votes
2answers
731 views
When should I carry both a wind jacket and hard shell?
I warm up very quick and sweat a lot, that's why I am usually looking for the most breathable equipment. My chose is regular fleece plus a breathable wind breaker on top if there is wind. (Please ...
13
votes
5answers
2k views
Dangers of solo hiking (in Ontario)
I have the next week off and I was thinking about exploring some parks in Ontario (e.g: Algonquin). I am prepared for the colder weather and am thinking of doing some trails. Some people I've talked ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
What are the pros and cons of using a red colored light source for hiking at night?
I have heard the argument that red light is better because it helps preserve your night vision, however it is less bright than white light.
Are there other pros and cons that I am missing or ...
11
votes
2answers
11k views
What is the difference between a cascade and a waterfall?
I thought about asking this question on English Language and Usage, but decided not to because I want answers from people who are familiar with cascades and waterfalls in reality, not just in the ...
9
votes
4answers
313 views
Sleeping outdoors without a tent in a high altitude Mt. Tapulao?
We're planning to do a dayhike on a mountain almost two thousand meters above sea level (Mt. Tapulao).
The trail is almost 20 kilometers to the summit, and me and my fellow hikers are pretty slow, ...
37
votes
10answers
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 ...
10
votes
3answers
1k views
What precautions should we take in situations when hiking or walking through tall grass?
In Western Ghats, India where I hike, the grass grows tall in the monsoon season. It very well exceeds human height (taller than 7 feet). Last month on a hike the trail suddenly went into such grass.
...
5
votes
2answers
171 views
Where to camp for almost free on the surroundings of Los Angeles?
Here's what I want to do, I want to camp (pitch a tent and go hiking) but I don't want to stay too far away from Los Angeles, and I want to camp in a place with a toilet and maybe a shower, I might ...
18
votes
5answers
3k views
How to take care of an acrophobic person while hiking?
There is some trouble. One of my close friends has acrophobia (fear of heights). But he wants to go for a trek for what it offers than just the mesmerizing view from the top. How can I take care of ...
7
votes
2answers
183 views
Headlamp and flies
Post-monsoon we have lots of flies and insects in the forests. I was hiking up an easy trail last weekend. It got dark and I still had a couple of hours of walking distance to cover.
With no light ...
2
votes
1answer
447 views
Appropriate terms for activities like camping, hiking, trekking, mountaineering, wilderness survival? [closed]
Outdoor adventure activities seems like a mouthful, so I was wondering if there was a more appropriate term for such activities?
Wikipedia suggests 'Outdoor Recreation' but that implies these to be ...
13
votes
4answers
3k views
Is using ultralight gear possible without sacrificing safety, comfort, or skills?
I recently came back from a 17-day backcountry hike. At the start of the hike, my backpack was 28 kg. At the end of the hike it was around half of that or a little bit more. I'm fine hiking with 20 ...
10
votes
3answers
3k views
When considering GPS battery life where are the best options?
I believe the 3 main options for portable GPS currently are:
Dedicated GPS unit
Smart Phone
GPS Watch
They all have somethings in common, and each have other considerations also. For this question,...
4
votes
2answers
233 views
What devices would help me track my outdoor activities and fitness? [closed]
I recently moved to CO and I want to buy a device to help me track various activities such as hiking, trail running, snowboarding, etc. Along with the general "outdoor activities", I also want to use ...
5
votes
3answers
464 views
Designing a sustainable and portable high-energy diet
I need some help designing a diet for extended multi-day treks which is sustainable, provides high-energy but still remains somehow portable. For some reason my efforts so far were not very successful....
54
votes
5answers
16k 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 ...
10
votes
1answer
503 views
Should I give up on my new hiking boots?
I bought them a few days ago and took them for a long walk and then a short hike to try them out. They were fine with the walk, they felt great, but with the hike, problems problems problems. A seam ...
11
votes
3answers
394 views
Hiking uphill, two choices of trails: how to deal with each one?
There are two trails leading to a beautiful spot in a nearby park. One of them has a steady climb all the way (trail A) while the other has some sharp climbs followed by relative level segments (trail ...
9
votes
3answers
4k views
Why would fatigue cause fever?
I've already experienced this twice.
The first time was a year ago, on a hiking camp: on the first day I recklessly went out with one of the best groups there, and while I didn't lag behind, this was ...
5
votes
3answers
299 views
Is Off Trail Travel Between Lakes in the Humphreys Basin, CA Feasible
I'm looking to explore the a number of High Sierra lakes in California's John Muir Wilderness; specifically in Humphreys Basin. Geology (from photographs) appears severe with rock, scree, and debris, ...
