If you were hitting the trail today, where would you start? And where would you be headed?
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*** Official Backpacking Thread ***
- Thread starter afoaf
- Start date
this time of year people start the AT...maybe do Florida Trail up to the base of the AT
I think The Hayduke or the CDT could be good right now if you had the right cold weather gear
You could do the desert section of the PCT now...I bet the Sierra season starts early this year
given the low rate of snowfall...if we get a strong end of season it could be a push
I have been looking at international treks a lot....there is a cross country trek in NZ (very wet),
the Tour du Mont Blanc, the british isles have some coastal treks where you stay in lodges,
kind of like what you'd do for the Compostela trek in spain
I'm keen to try some routemaking in Chile/Argentina....it's pretty bonkers out there
Hey, no scaring Kento of typical spring winds.
There was something on Netflix (or was it some other service?) about hiking the Hayduke.
I was kinda bummed to see how much of it was on dirt roads.
I have a long term goal of doing this trail or this one....both?
Edit:
The movie, Figure it Out, was on Amazon Prime. I give it 5 on a scale of 1 to 10.
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Whoa. How did I not know about this? Seriously. Mind blown.
If anybody needs me for the next few days I'll be either skiing or reading these https://www.trailjournals.com/journals/hayduke_trail
I'm doing South Sierra High Route this summerHey, no scaring Kento of typical spring winds.
There was something on Netflix (or was it some other service?) about hiking the Hayduke.
I was kinda bummed to see how much of it was on dirt roads.
I have a long term goal of doing this trail or this one....both?
Edit:
The movie, Figure it Out, was on Amazon Prime. I give it 5 on a scale of 1 to 10.
I have permits for two....
Bishop Pass to Whitney, out Cottonwood/Horseshoe, largely off-trail and all above 10,000ft
I've done the part from Red's Meadow to Blue Lake Pass and then bailed out down the Merced to Yosemite Valley.
I guess it was OK if you're into spectacular scenery, pristine wilderness, and complete serenity.
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A couple weeks ago, right after state park campgrounds re-opened, I did a mid-week overnight at the Upper Moro primitive campground at Crystal Cove. Left the SGV mid-afternoon, did a remote work conference on the way down, picked up some food at the Newport Coast Trader Joe's on coast highway, checked in and hiked 4 miles up to the campsite before the sunset. Sunset and sunrise were killer, as were the fingers of morning fog creeping in below the campsite. I really like the trails and topography there. The super clean vault toilet was nice too lol. Lots of condensation, my single wall tarptent was drenched by morning. Anyway it was a good mental health getaway during the workweek.
Attachments
What kind of shelter is that? It sort of reminds me of the DIY Bilgy Tarp Tent - but much nicer.
At 2 lbs mine was a bit on the heavy side, but I liked the option of having a bug bivy I could climb into with no setup when rain wasn't an issue.
I'm into desert peakbagging so often I'm usually just doing what it takes to keep my feet from sliding out from under me on steep, loose descents that are often off-trail.
Never tried poles but I like to have my hands free for falls.
Also I'm generally alone, so being extra careful...small steps on the steep descents.
Does cycling keep your legs in shape for the trail?
I feel like cycling has helped a ton with stamina and powering up/down
you'll gain stability with poles...with good technique, you are practically a
quadraped.
the most recognizable benefit is reduced strain on knees on descents
you should look at trail runners and/or vibram soled shoes with deeper lugs
to help with purchase on slippery trails/surfaces....like decomposed granite
on top of granite slabs...I hate that sh!t.
moving to a minimal shoe with sticky sole paid dividends for me...reducing
the weight on your feet makes a big difference for long hikes trails with big
step-ups....the general adage is a pound off your feet is like taking five off your
back.
you'll gain stability with poles...with good technique, you are practically a
quadraped.
the most recognizable benefit is reduced strain on knees on descents
you should look at trail runners and/or vibram soled shoes with deeper lugs
to help with purchase on slippery trails/surfaces....like decomposed granite
on top of granite slabs...I hate that sh!t.
moving to a minimal shoe with sticky sole paid dividends for me...reducing
the weight on your feet makes a big difference for long hikes trails with big
step-ups....the general adage is a pound off your feet is like taking five off your
back.
Currently in these, probably the best boot I've ever owned. Epic traction, have used in deep snow too.
The North Face Men's Day Hiking Boots | REI Co-op
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TBH I need the ankle support. I'm clumsy as hell.
Curious about the poles. What to buy?
As far as boots go I have found Meindl to be the best. I just got the vakkum’s for hiking and survey work which have pretty awesome ankle support and not too heavy. I’ve been using their work boots called airstreams for awhile now. Awesome grippy vibram soles. They are pricey though
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