Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with hiking

Good hiking trails in Carmel, NY?

KateHasQuestions — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:46:51 -0800

Good hiking trails around Carmel, NY, preferably at Ninham Mountain? Either google has failed me or I'm doing something wrong. Are there good hiking trails in Carmel, NY? I know Ninham Mountain should be the tallest one in the area, does anyone know where any of the trails start? I'd need directions for how to drive up to the trail and everything. Trail should be at least a couple miles long, but not 15 miles long (I've seen some mountain bike trails for the area, but would like to see if there are shorter hikes). If the trail ended in a nice scenic view from the top of the mountain that'd be great.

I'd prefer something within 5 miles of Carmel.

Hiking in upstate New York

Coventry — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:33:21 -0800

A friend of mine (in Rochester, NY) and I (in Ithaca) are thinking of going hiking together. Any suggestions for good sites for an easygoing day hike roughly halfway between us, as the car drives?

Where in Vermont should we go camping?

Andrea2880 — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 21:34:42 -0800

Where in New England should we go camping? We have a pop-up camper and are looking for decent hiking trails and maybe some area attractions. An alpine slide would be a big plus! I have a few Vermont ideas, (Killington, Gifford Woods, Bromley Mountain) and would like some feedback or new ideas. We are planning a three day midweek camping trip July 28th-31st and have been looking in Vermont.

We would like
-Drive in campsite
-Secluded area (woodsy prefered, not open fields with parking spaces!)
-Hiking trails (we're semi-experienced but up for a challenge)
-Water&Electric Hook ups - although it seems that most state parks only have water or no hook ups at all. Is this a good reason to go to a campground instead, or is a state park a better choice? (cheaper? more secluded?)
-Some area attractions. I have seen a few alpine slides, something I'd love to get to do, and also a couple places have gondolas and rent mountain bikes for a ride down the mountain.

Right now my idea is going to Killington Mountain and camping at Gifford Woods State Park.
I have also looked at White River Valley Campground. It's 15 miles from Killington, but would be nice to have hook ups. Is it worth it? Or is it better to stay in the state park, skip the hook ups and be more in the woods and have more trails to hike?
We have checked out Bromley Mountain also, but don't know where to camp around there.

Any suggestions, or any other areas that I haven't found yet?
I'm open to Central and Southern Vermont, and also Western Mass or New Hampshire.

Where to find "interactive" hikes in the bay area?

synapse — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:21:52 -0800

Where can I find "scramble" or not-just-walking type hikes in SF/ the bay area? My significant other isn't against hiking, he's just not fond of walking placidly along a smooth trail. So I'm looking for routes that involve more scrambling or clambering up rocks, maybe dealing with (small) obstacles, and generally interacting more with the environment. A great example would be Eagle Falls/Lake in Tahoe, where you can see lovely views by climbing up some of the rocks off-trail and wade into the lake by scrambling down its bank. But I need something closer to home...

I've found potentially good parks in the area, but I'd love recommendations for specific trails if possible please!

Dayhikes in the White Mountains

Miko — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 18:25:40 -0800

White Mountains Hiking. Need a great dayhike for two middle-aged women and two teens, all fit and adventurous. What would you recommend? Friends are coming to visit, and it's a great chance to start getting to know the White Mountains with a fun hike. This will be in August, and we'll have about a 1.5 hour drive before arriving at any trailhead in the Whites. I've always dreamed of hiking Mt. Washington, but I don't think this is the day - the teens might not want to spend the 8+ hours on the trail. I was thinking about Franconia Notch, which seems to have nifty things like waterfalls and maybe some swimming opportunities. What would you recommend?

Where should I take my mom hiking near Olympia, WA?

scose — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:45:00 -0800

What's a good place to take my Mom hiking in the Olympia, WA area? She's got endurance for a decently long, steep walk, but she's afraid of heights and won't walk on loose or slippery surfaces. That means a packed-down or paved trail, and no vertigo-inducing views. No river crossings or anything that requires feats of balance, strength, or flexibility. However, strenuous hills are fine. I'm hoping to find something within an hour or two of Olympia.

lord and lady of the flies

kidsleepy — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 06:14:39 -0800

Going backpacking in northern Vermont soon - any suggestions? We're going to be near exit 14 on I-91, and would like to head north from there. We're not opposed to crossing over into Canada a little.

Our goal is to backpack for three days and camp for two nights. A 20-mile loop near a river or lake would be perfect. I'm a novice hiker, so nothing too rigorous, but something challenging enough so that he doesn't get bored. Any trail suggestions?

(And yes, we are prepared for black fly season.)

Treks in the City?

puckish — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 19:43:15 -0800

What are some moderately intense / refreshing hikes within easy reach of New York City? Some things I'm looking for: moderate elevation change, preferably in the 7-8 mile range (give or take, depending on elevation), maybe exploring upper level fir forests around Harriman Park? Recommendations for overnight trips a plus - I've been doing day hikes for WAY too long, am eager to get back into full immersion.

Added points if people can recommend hiking meet-ups in the NYC area that head out to the Catskills / Bear Mountain area. I'm a bit out of the loop on this, any advice would be appreciated. As far as the hikes go, I've checked out trails.com and 60 hikes and have a good sense of what's out there, but I'd love personal recommendations. What are some good routes to check out?

Caveat: Must be accessible by train / subway, or close enough to get to either one by cab.

Thanks in advance!

Which part of the Bruce Trail is not to be missed?

laroodles — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:28:59 -0800

Which part of the Bruce Trail is not to be missed? My boyfriend and I are looking to celebrate our anniversary by hiking a segment of the Bruce Trail for an afternoon and relaxing at a B & B afterwards for the night.

We are in Toronto and looking to drive a maximum of 2 hours out of the city.

I have searched here and they give detailed ideas about hikes along with a few B & B suggestions.

My question to you AskMefites is which trail you would recommend?

Option #1 : I'm leaning towards the Blue Mountain trail from Lavender to Craigleith...Is this a good trail? Can you recommend any B & B's?

Option #2: The trail from Milton to Beamsville (the Iroquoia trail) also looks good.

If you have any better ideas, please let me know!

Are there lightweight solar stills that work?

Dr. Send — Mon, 26 May 2008 21:47:14 -0800

Does anyone know of a super lightweight (i.e. backpackable) solar still that could be used to purify sea water on a long trip? I'm thinking something that could be set up using trekking poles or sticks maybe...

I'm toying with the idea of a there-and-back desert trip to the ocean, and it would be nice if I could carry half of the water I need for the whole trip, and purify enough seawater for the return trip while I'm near the ocean. But it seems like a long shot to end up with surplus water out of this thing without waiting around for days.

I've googled some stills that can produce about a gallon a day, so the question is whether I could get comparable production with something really lightweight.

Looking for hiking trails in western MD and northeastern WV

greenie2600 — Sun, 25 May 2008 16:31:46 -0800

Can anyone recommend some good hiking trails in western Maryland or the northeastern panhandle of West Virginia? I work in the former (and have family there) and live in the latter, so I have convenient access to both. I've spent a lot of time hiking on the Appalachian Trail through Washington County, and at Maryland Heights, but those no longer hold any surprises. I'd like to find some new trails to explore.

There are a lot of trails in state parks and the like, but most of them are short and/or too easy. I'm not necessarily trying to climb sheer cliffs, but I'd like something that will get the sweat and the endorphins pumping. Interesting ecologies and places off the beaten track (i.e., not full of picnicking families) are especially good.

Go west young man...

sanka — Wed, 21 May 2008 06:24:43 -0800

Off to Big Bend, would like some advice from those who have been there before. My wife and I are off to Big Bend National Park for the long weekend. I reviewed the previous two AskMe questions about Big Bend that I could find, but they seemed more focused on camping and especially activities in the winter. Obviously summer hiking is going to be a little different.

We are fairly experienced backcountry hikers, logging 8-10 miles a week, and also avid photographers. We will definitely be prepared for hot summer hiking, as we do it regularly. We're looking for recommendations on your favorite activities, trails and sites. Obviously we can't see all of it, but we'd like to get a great sample. Five 2 mile hikes a day would be better than one or two 6 mile hikes.

We are more interested in photography than anything, but hiking out there is also part of the fun. Where are the best places to photograph sunrises and sunsets? Best trails for seeing wildlife, insects and flowers? Any other can't miss summertime sites that might be found nearby?

I'm going camping!!

itsamonkeytree — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:38:04 -0800

5-day spring backpacking recommendations in the western US. I live in Southern Utah and while the backpacking here is awesome, it's time for a change. Will the hive mind please recommend trips within one long days drive (12-18hrs) from home (Cedar City, UT)? The trip will be taking place in late May. Bonus points for loops. I really prefer loops. Doesn't need to be five days exactly, I could turn a three day into a five day no problem. Google isn't helping and though I've picked up some suggestions from Mefi I need more. Thanks in advance.

This all looks very familiar...

dondiego87 — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:50:57 -0800

US backpacker bored with the Southern Deciduous Forest ecosystem. Any suggestions in the Southeast? Some friends and I will be going on a hike this summer. It's become sort of a tradition; in summer 2006 we backpacked the Appalachian Trail around Blood Mountain (Georgia) for a few days, and last summer we hiked the Foothills Trail (South and North Carolina). We're becoming somewhat bored with the same old same old in Appalachia, especially after our 7 days on the Foothills Trail, and are looking to change things up a little bit.

I'd like some suggestions on where we could look for a 4+ day adventure somewhere in the US Southeast that would take us somewhere other than these deciduous forests we've become so familiar with. (I'm based in Florida, so I know that the pine flatwoods [e.g., Ocala NF] are an option, but they could be even worse what with the flatness and the heat.) We could consider traveling a little ways if necessary. Oh, and we're all pretty experienced and capable, so don't hold back.

Thanks for your help!

Wanted: Coastal Redwoods hike with camping. Bigfoot a plus.

FBXRD — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 18:13:09 -0800

Looking for a coastal Redwoods hike with camping. Bigfoot a plus. We would prefer primitive/backcountry camping and hiking for a two nights at the most. I'm from Ohio and I don't make it out to California too much. Hoping for recommendations from those more familiar with the area.

I've been visiting the websites for various National Parks, but I was curious to see what the mass mind could deliver.

Ten years ago I hiked a trail that led through the Redwoods to the coast, and we camped there for the night. I will never forget it...

I'm fairly certain this trail was within National Forest proper, and I remember needing a backcountry pass. It would be nice to find this trail again, but I am open to any recommendations.

I love the combination Redwoods and Ocean. Being able to see a Pacific sunset after a long hike would be ideal. Bigfoot a plus.

Where can I commune with nature near Baltimore?

killdevil — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 13:59:18 -0800

Where can I commune with nature in Maryland? Tell me about the beautiful places I can go hiking within an easy drive of Baltimore, MD.

Manchester, NH Novice hiking now that the weather is getting better?

prodevel — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 02:03:23 -0800

Manchester, NH Novice hiking trails nearby a couple of miles or more long, now that the weather is getting better? Many thanks...

Where in the NE US can a new backpacker get his backpacking wings?

John Kenneth Fisher — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 10:05:31 -0800

I have decided to spend my (non-hypothetical) vacation backpacking alone for the week, in the mid-atlantic or northeastern US. However, I am not sure where is best for me to do this, as I have a number of minor concerns and have not done extended backpack travel on a schedule like this -- at least not as a civilian. Specific concerns follow, and overlap somewhat, so apologies for that. 1) Legitimately in nature where I can avoid civilization as much as possible.

2) Not TOO hidden though. I'm an experienced day hiker, but not a backpacker, and if I injure myself, I'd like to be able to get to safety or somewhere I'm likely to be passed by someone.

3) I'm in NJ, and though I'd prefer to be "away", as my first real backpacking trip, I see no reason to go further away than a few states.

3b) I hate heat, by the way, and this would be Juneish most likely, so north of NJ is better than south.

4) I don't mind exceptions, but on the whole, this should be walking, not climbing. I want to enjoy solitude while getting some exercise, not beat the hell out of my body.

5) Traveling alone, I need to be able to get to the start point.

The big one that's throwing me:

6) I'm nowhere near the shape I was in, so I do not know how far I will walk per day, for 5-6 days. This is definitely a backpacking trip, not a camping trip, but I do not know what is realistic for me for a day. 5 miles? 15? No idea. And I'd like to not have to care TOO much. Which leads me to the problem - I don't know how far I will have gone by the time I'm out of time, so I'd need something with multiple points of departure - places I can just wander off the trail with nothing but some money and a bag, and be able to get a ride/flight/train/whatever home.

Obviously this is vague, but any thoughts or "take a look at"'s would be helpful. I may want to do the Appalachian Trail one day, so this is sort of my first "let's see how I do over 5 days" trial. Thanks!

(I've looked at a few previouses - 1,2, etc.)

LED Assistance

madmamasmith — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:55:24 -0800

I am trying to buy a LED headlamp on ebay...they range in brightness from 8 to 30+ and the one I want is 8. Is that goint to be bright enough for pitching a tent in the dark? I tried to look up LED levels on the inter-web but all I found was scientific mumbo jumbo, can someone just tell me which one to buy please!? Thanks

Eastern Europe: Hiking

mateuslee — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:40:26 -0800

Cool places to take day-trip hikes in Eastern Europe: suggestions? My brother is coming to visit me in Amsterdam for a couple weeks and, aside from the usual visit to the Netherlands, he wants to take a trip to Eastern Europe. He's pretty into the great outdoors and probably wants to do some hiking. Giving time constraints, I don't think we'll be camping - but aside from that I'm open to new ideas. I hear there's a very nice, old forest in Poland.... he seems interested in this. Any other ideas / indie travel-agencies / suggestions? Thanks!

Help me make this hiking trip a trip to remember!

redhotchips — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 09:14:29 -0800

Girlfriend stealing account: I am planning a hiking trip for about 10 people this Saturday to Hudson Highlands Park. Some of us have medium hiking experience, some of us have none. Is the Breakneck Ridge hike too difficult for us? Some of us are in shape; some of us are not - but we're all young and have decent energy. I have been reading about the Breakneck Ridge trail being the most famous and most popular. However, I have also read that it can be quite challenging to the amateur hiker. Does anyone have any experience with this trail? Does anyone have any other suggestions that would provide amazing views and isn't boring? Also, any other advice for the beginning hiker? We have a time constraint of about 3-4 hours (my friend suggested around 5 miles). Thank you in advance!

Big packs for big guys.

iamabot — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:45:59 -0800

Recommend a backpack for a big guy... I am 6'5", about 250lbs, long torso, 38-40 inch waist. I have pretty broad shoulders and chest, I haven't done the measurements just yet. I'll be doing the usual fittings at REI, but I'd like a recommendation from folks who are a bit larger than most as I am.

Needs/wants - pack will be used for multi day backpacking at multiple altitudes, eventually leading up to a week+ trip in a year or so. Internal frame, adjustable suspension, hydration compatible. Water resistant not required, I can handle that with a rain fly for it.

As I am pretty big, weight initially isn't too big of a concern, figure maximum loads of about 60lbs. I haven't settled on a volume yet, as I am most interested in finding a series or a number of packs with varied volumes that fit me best. My searching thus far has eliminated a number of manufacturers who seem to cater to the folks who are smaller than I am overall.

Budget is pretty open, I'm willing to pay for a pack that is worth it, I will likely not go in for a 400 dollar pack unless it really shows it's worth in some test hikes.

Help me find some awesome hiking in central CA.

kdar — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 19:54:17 -0800

Where are some good day-hike areas along the CA central coast? My girlfriend and I are going to be hiking for a few days in a couple weeks in California. We'll be leaving from Santa Barbara, and originally the plan was to go to Monterey and hike around Big Sur, but doing research I'm wondering whether or not we should consider other areas. We're interested in areas between Santa Barbara (but not actually in Santa Barbara; Morro Bay has come up as a good possibility) and the Big Sur area. Also, we'd like to stay in a hotel/motel -- cheap is fine, but if the only accommodations are camping sites, that's unfortunately out.

So, what are people's favorite day-hike areas? Specific examples would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I like elevation changes.

Bonus: with the UC spring break coming up, will that affect things at all?

Hiking outside London

Mave_80 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 07:31:03 -0800

Where are your favourite places for going for a day hike out of London? If you lived in central London and wanted to go hiking for a day where would you go? (recommendations for websites that cover this sort of thing also appreciated)
Here are some thoughts on what I'm looking for:
- hike hopefully between 8-15 miles
- can be relatively strenuous, I'm an experienced hiker and in good shape
- ideally able to get there using train and with buses, not opposed to renting a car though if necessary
- good scenery if possible (preferably out of London - somebody did suggest Hampstead Heath, but was looking for somewhere a bit more out of London if possible)
- could travel up the night before but ideally would literally be leaving early morning and returning late at night same day
In terms of going further field for weekend hikes, have already thought about Dartmoor, Lakes, Peaks etc etc, again though, for this am more interested in places accessible for the day.

Thanks!!

First there is a mountain then there is no mountain, then there is

youthenrage — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 20:52:15 -0800

I'm going to japan from march 9 until april 6, and I want to climb Mt Fuji, from the bottom to the top. How much snow should I expect? How cold is it going to be? Do I need to bring boots and 3 layers of technical outdoor clothing or a warm jacket and sneakers? My lonely planet says its doable, but thats pretty much it. If you feel like throwing in some other "Can't Miss in Japan" places to visit, feel free.