Post: #1

Thinking about heading to North America and getting to know some of the national parkland. I've never done any real organized hiking - just a lot of days spent solo wandering the woods of Northern Cali as a kid. Pretty steep, rough terrain where I come from but I've got a lot of learning to do.

My buddy is currently hiking the PCT with his girl.

I'm planning to make my way around the country visiting friends and building some skill and endurance on shorter trips to begin with, but it would be cool to do some really big treks at some point.

Just curious if any of you guys engage in that type of travel. I don't think I've seen it mentioned much around here.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #2

I did a bit of backpacking when I was younger. Longest hike was two weeks on the trail without stopping into a town or civilization. There are lots of good hiking in the US but just make sure you have safety precautions in place. In my opinion the major dangers are wild animals and dehydration. Its critical you take precautions especially in some west coast areas to avoid bears by putting any type of food or product that smells up in a tree with some rope. The east coast is much safer for dangerous wild animals but there you have to look out for deer ticks which spread Lyme disease. Also be wary of snakes and bring some anti venom with you just in case. In some desert west coast states access to water is not always easy to find so make sure you are prepared in that regard, having been dehydrated with no access to water while hiking I can tell you its a terrible experience you want to avoid. I would recommend if your hiking alone to go on trails that have other hikers passing through frequently just in case you get injured and need someone to help you. I would also recommend bringing along a small wilderness survival book with you that will answer any type of issue you might find yourself in when your out in the back country.

In my opinion the US is one of the best places in the world for hikers with established hiking trails and beautiful scenery.

Post: #3

I've basically lived out at Pt Reyes before, highly recommend hiking as much as possible.

Treks over a week become a bit more difficult logistically

And I have no clue how a male can enjoy backpacking with a woman at any large distance

Post: #4

I went on two trekking trips in Northern Pakistan.
First to the Mount Nanga Parbat base camp and the second one further north close to the Chinese border.

That was not planned at all but it was damn impressive. It was after all the Himalayas with the highest mountain tops in the world surrounding you.

Like I said I wasn't prepared for trekking at all, so I only wore a pair of thin Puma sneakers and jeans. The terrain were full of gravel,mud, stones, snow and ice.
It wasn't really easy, especially when we passed the altitude of 4000m.
I was quite out of shape at the moment and carrying that 20kg backpack meanwhile going steep uphills made my lungs almost explode.
This was all out in the wilderness. Only me, another guy and a guide we hired.
There were no trekking paths or whatever.
However it was cool. Great experience and challenge.

After those treks I got inspired to head over to Nepal to do some of the famous two weeks high altitude treks. I even considered going back to Pakistan in summer time to try getting to the K2 basecamp. (21days trek)

Last summer I also did a bit of jungle trekking in Indonesia but I do prefertrekking in high mountains instead of the jungle.

Anyways, I had almost forgotten about all this trekking.
This thread brought back some memories.

This is at Mount Nangaparbat (8126m) during a crispy November morning.

   

Post: #5

This book is supposed to be a solid primer on getting serious about hiking, doing research, gear, etc: http://www.amazon.com/The-Ultimate-Hiker...1426209207

Andrew Surka.

Quote:Described by National Geographic as "one of the best traveled and fastest hikers on the planet," and named "Adventurer of the Year" by Outside and "Person of the Year" by Backpacker, Skurka recounts what he's learned from more than 30,000 miles of long-distance adventures, most recently a 4,700-mile 6-month loop around Alaska and Canada's Yukon.

Guy has a blog too. http://andrewskurka.com/blog/

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #6

Two buddies and I once hiked the Grand Canyon "rim-to-rim." Awesome experience. What you do is start out on the south rim, hike to the north rim and back, without stopping. Round trip is approximately 44 miles. Many people do this. The challenge is to do it in under 24 hours. We did it in 25.5. There is a trail that runs the entire course, so little danger in getting lost. I had never been to the Grand Canyon before that trip. It definitely is a place where pictures do not do it justice.

I would not attempt this trip in the hotter months. We did it in early April. The temps were 60 and 70's in the day on the south rim (probably 30's or 40's during the night, I really can't remember). It was in the twenty's on the north rim, with lots of snow piled up along the trail, but, you are moving, so I don't recall getting cold. There are plenty of places along the trail to get fresh water, so that is not a concern. All you need is a light pack, a few layers of clothing, plenty of energy bars, and endurance. I would do this again.

Post: #7

I've done a ton of hiking in my day but more geared towards getting to the top of intermediate-level mountains on 1-2 day hikes. Then back to the city.

The Western US is an amazing place full of great areas to hike in for sure. I'd think that the Sierras in Summer would be amazing, and the national parks in Utah are especially awesome (Zion, Arches, Canyonlands, etc.). Southern Utah is underappreciated IMO and you can get over to Colorado fairly fast and check out the San Juans, Collegiates etc. I've never been to Montana or Glacier NP but it's on my list.

You're going to need to bring your water out west I think (and have a great filtration system) + a great backpack. Maybe check online and/or go to an REI store when you are back Stateside and check out what they have on offer to get started. That place (REI) has everything you need to get outfitted and the times I've been there the employees seem to generally know their stuff and are out in the field a lot.

Post: #8

I used to hike a lot out west and did some pretty high altitude hikes in various mountain ranges in California. The toughest was Mt. Gorgonio and took from 8am till 11pm to summit and back to the trailhead.

I would love to do a distance hike that took some days. I just want to feel completely unplugged from the matrix and that's about the only way to do it. Just go off the grid and wonder through nature.

I actually have an old buddy that did the PCT trail. He didn't make it all the way as he started hitting bad weather when he got to Oregon.

Post: #9

I head to Colorado or New Mexico a couple times a year for hiking or mountain biking, usually around 4 or 5 days in the woods. It's easy to find info about preparations online. If you workout regularly you should have to worry about getting in shape for hiking.

In my opinion spending a few days in the mountains is the best way to recharge and let go of all the stupid things that drag you down in daily life; traffic, annoying bosses, bitchy women, etc. I had a good friend who hiked the AT a couple years back so I'm considering following in his footsteps starting next spring.

Post: #10

I have done quite a bit of hiking and it is one of my favorite activities. I have lugged a lot of miles through the Boundary Waters with a canoe to get to the good fishing areas.

A couple things that come to mind:

Have a good pair of boots with ankle support. I have rolled my ankles so many times playing sports but never done it while hiking because my footwear is so much better.

Some guys like to wear shorts. I prefer long pants to keep shit away from my legs.

Get a pack with a frame to make things easier on your back.

Water. Water. Water.

One of the best investments i have made is purchasing a quality headlamp from REI. Way better than a flashlight.

Post: #11

I've been wanting to at least attempt to do the Appalachian trail since hearing about it in Georgia. It's great way to get your mind, body weight down, and beard right. I just start looking into supplies and whatever else needed. I have plans to start the whole trail next year. I will probably start hiking few days or week this year...

Post: #12

There's a cool documentary on Netflix created by a group hiking the John Muir Trail for a month. "Mile...Mile and a Half" is the name. I wouldn't want to go with a group that big - I'm probably more the solo type - but it was still a worthy watch. Unreal scenery on that trail. They ran into a Japanese woman doing the whole thing on her own. Impressive.

The friend I mentioned earlier doing the PCT trip with his girl is on a 5-month plan. That's a helluva mission.

Weird thing is they're still connected and blogging about it via phone - he messages me on Facebook. Crazy that people go all the way out there to get away and then are on their cell phones. haha Could be good to have in case of an emergency but I'd personally make a commitment to keep the thing off. That's not the entire point but it's part of it.

I would urge anyone serious about it to be cautious about just going into a store and asking clerks about hiking gear. Do some research - that book I mentioned should be a damn good start. Most people get the gear wrong and buy way too much, as well as much of the wrong stuff. And let's face it, those store employees probably mean well but they are in business to sell you something, and while some of them know they're stuff there is also a pressure to fit the image and sound like they know what they're talking about even when their experience is mediocre.

From what I read a lot of hikers pack like they're camping and they suffer a lot more for it.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #13

About every 5 years my family rents a cabin in Colorado near Pike's Peak and me and some of my cousins will usually hike for an entire day but nothing long lasting. We had some great views walking on ridges that were pretty dangerous. I would love to have a longer hike.

Thoughts of this always make me want to be a frontiersman and chart/discover some unknown wilderness feeling as if I conquered mother nature herself.

Post: #14

I might bomb up to Nepal for a bit of hiking around before I head back to the states if anyone wants to join.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #15

^ You are planning to hit up Nepal?
When and for how many weeks?

Post: #16

Hiking is for hippies.

That's what I always tell my brother. He hiked the Pacific Coast Trail from top to bottom and regularly hikes into the Grand Canyon alone for 2 weeks at a time. He loves it.

Post: #17

Trip's off, Chaos. Rio doesn't approve.

Just kidding - no one gives a shite what he thinks.

Probably go within a month. If you seriously start considering it, Skype me.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #18

No man, I'm not coming haha.

I was just surprised and captured in the moment.
A year back I would never have believed that I would read a thread about
"Beyond Borders goes Nepal"

Post: #19

Assumptions are a bitch, aren't they? Nepal has been on my list a lot longer than I've been a member of this forum.

Beyond All Seas

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.
To be your own man is a hard business. If you try it, you'll be lonely often, and sometimes
frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Kipling

Post: #20

This is my favorite type of travel. Party on the weekends in someplace exotic and hike in between. I've had good success with these types of trips, both enjoying the great outdoors as well as what we're all on this forum for. I find places that have hut-to-hut hiking are most conducive to this combination:
- any hiking in the dolomites (party in northern Italy or in Munch)
- Peru (numerous opportunities on both fronts)
- Argentina (Bariloche - underrated on both respects)
- Japanese Alps - outstanding hiking out of Kamikochi. Amazing 5-7 day hut-to-hut hikes, zero westerners. Everything is within striking distance of of Tokyo via bullet train or night bust. Tokyo has always treated me well.

Second tier locations for party/hiking with less favorable logistics for one or the other would include Spanish Pyrenees (hiking around Parque Nacional de Ordesa), anything in Switzerland (too expensive fat chicks), Nepal and Ecuador.

I've recently adopted a similar model with cycling between days that I'm not partying. it worked well in Taiwan last year and I have high expectations next month when I plan to bike from Budapest to Vienna.

Post: #21

Thanks for the thread - reminds me it's been over 3 months since my last hike.

Everyone should do something similar in terms of escaping the matrix, whether it's surfing, fishing, rock climbing etc. Without wanting to get all New Age, escaping civilisation even for a few hours is beneficial for the mind and soul. It's not only the fresh air and scenery that I love, but completely switching off the mind once I start a new hike. The muscles might be fatigued but you get back to civilisation feeling like a new person mentally, almost like free therapy. And nothing helps me sleep better than a 4-8 hour hike.

I prefer to fly solo and only do day trips these days, but some of my most unforgettable trips were in small camping groups of 3-6, with my favourite ones being some of the Tasmanian hiking trails including Cradle Mountain and South Coast Track:

http://www.greatwalkstasmania.com

Maybe I'm crazy, but my last hike was solo in January on a 40C day in the arid Flinders Ranges:



Went through a few gallons of water that day.

Post: #22

I'm headed to La Cuidad Perdida (The Lost City), it's supposed to be one of the best hikes in the world right now.

Post: #23

On the east coast, the appalachian trail is good. Its relatively accessible if you run into problems. If you REALLY like hiking and want to get paid for it, move to canada and find a job as a claim staker/surveyor or in logging block layout. $3 to $600 per day, you get paid for how many Kms you mark out and are gone, by yourself with a camping trailer for a good 2 weeks at a time. No trails, no people, no park rangers, no rules and no navigation except a compass, hip chain, gps, air photos and maps.

It is also the kind of job where if your radio, or well any critical equipment, a fall, or a hungry bear get you, you will die and be marked as a missing person until a trapper or logging crew finds your bones 20-30 years later.

I hated it, so thats why I'm a day hiker kind of guy.

Post: #24

(04-22-2015 11:54 AM)Dr. Howard Wrote:  On the east coast, the appalachian trail is good. Its relatively accessible if you run into problems. If you REALLY like hiking and want to get paid for it, move to canada and find a job as a claim staker/surveyor or in logging block layout. $3 to $600 per day, you get paid for how many Kms you mark out and are gone, by yourself with a camping trailer for a good 2 weeks at a time. No trails, no people, no park rangers, no rules and no navigation except a compass, hip chain, gps, air photos and maps.

It is also the kind of job where if your radio, or well any critical equipment, a fall, or a hungry bear get you, you will die and be marked as a missing person until a trapper or logging crew finds your bones 20-30 years later.

I hated it, so thats why I'm a day hiker kind of guy.

That sounds like a fun job. It probably wouldn't sound as fun after doing it for a while though.

I am getting really sick of the city right now and outdoor jobs are looking pretty good.

Post: #25

(04-18-2015 04:26 PM)Fisto Wrote:  I'm headed to La Cuidad Perdida (The Lost City), it's supposed to be one of the best hikes in the world right now.

It's the bomb. You'll have a blast.

------------

I do a lot of hiking, but not a lot of long-distance hiking. I'm not a fan of lugging around a pack for a few days or a week and hiking straight.

I am more of a day-hiker, but these days can be quite long with elevation gains of 1000-2000 metres and distances of 12-20K. Sometimes I'll stay overnight but not much more than that.