Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with hiking

Boston area Sunset/moonrise on June 23rd.

bondcliff — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:25:44 -0800

Where would be a good location in Eastern Massachusetts to see and photograph both the sunset and (full) moonrise on Sunday, June 23rd? Sunset is at 8:25 PM, azimuth 303° (NWbW). Moonrise is at 8:33 PM, azimuth 116° (ESE).

I would like to be somewhere where I can see both these things happen with little or no obstruction. Priority is on the moon but if I can get a clear view to both that would be best. I'm thinking up high or on the water. Right now Castle Island is in the lead which would give me the moon rising over the islands and the town of Hull.

The place should be legally accessible after dark, which rules out the Blue Hills and many other reservations. I am a hiker and have no problem with night hiking but I'd prefer to keep it less ambitious. Paved or at least smooth trails would be best.

Dark sky doesn't matter. The moon is bright. In fact if I can find somewhere where the moon is over the Boston skyline, that would be pretty cool.

I'd prefer a natural location but if the best location is on top of an empty parking garage in Cambridge, let me know.

Parking and/or T accessible are a plus. Nothing that requires a boat to get to. I am also kicking around the idea of making this an IRL meetup if there is interest. Somewhere like Castle Island would be good for a pre-sunset picnic.

The moon will be full that night and will be at lunar perigee, also known as the "Super Moon", which if you believe the TV news means the Moon will be located approximately 17 miles from the Earth.

Hiking in Westchester/Rockland County NY w/ stumpy little legs

zara — Fri, 03 May 2013 09:23:34 -0800

Looking for hour to day long hike recommendations in the Westchester/Rockland County NY area. Adorable complication: Corgi. Hi All,

Over the winter we moved up to the Croton on Husdon NY area, and now that we are coming out of the cold, never ending winter, are dying to spend the nice weather hiking/walking out in the wilderness. Complication- its not a true Adventure Walk unless our trusty corgi (obligatory derpy photo here) comes along

Areas we have done:
-Teatown- Fantastic on the real woodsy trails, a bit to busy w/ strollers (!) around the lake
-Kitchawan preserve- perfect, super dog friendly, not busy, just a little small
-Croton Dam- Amazing views, good walk not hike, have to keep him on leash

What we are looking for:
- Obviously, dog friendly/allowed. Bonus points if he can be unleashed without getting yelled at/in the way of bikers or strollers (then he is on leash, obviously)
- Trails that are shorty friendly- scrambles won't work too well, so not super technical
- Walks/Hikes that are from 1- 4 hours

Bear Mountain seems to be practically in our back yard, but we don't even know where to start. Any advice for places/trails we just can't miss would be greatly appreciated- Thanks!

I don't really want dreadlocks.

Scientist — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 12:07:53 -0800

This feels like a silly question, but what do I do about my long, curly, tangle-prone hair when I'm out in the woods for a very long time doing fieldwork? I'm leaving soon on a three-month field expedition to central Africa, where I will be spending long periods of time in the rainforest conducting biological field research (yay!). I've got a pretty decent amount of general hiking and camping experience, but this will be my first significant field expedition and will definitely be the longest time that I've spent out in the bush without having access to modern bathing facilities. I'm mostly OK with that, except for one minor thing: my hair.

I have long, very curly hair that is very tangle prone. (Think Shepherd Book for a reasonable approximation.) I normally keep it tied back during the day which helps, but it's still a significant process to get it detangled in the shower in the morning, which involves lubricating the hair with copious amounts of conditioner (I go through a large bottle of conditioner in about a week and a half) and maybe ten minutes of manual detangling. Over several years of experimentation, this has been my most successful strategy for keeping my hair from getting knotted up without ripping it out or cutting it off.

If I get lax about my detangling regime, things go south very quickly. My hair very easily becomes knotted and matted, and the last time this happened (several years ago) I ended up having to get most of it cut off. I'd like to avoid this in Africa if possible, though of course if things get bad while I'm in the field I can indeed just hack it off short. What I would like though is for some strategy to help keep it from getting all tangled up that doesn't involve lugging dozens of giant bottles of conditioner around with me in my backpack (obviously not a real option).

Does anybody know of some kind of super hair lubricant that packs down very small such that I could feasibly take some with me, or have a great strategy for preventing tangles or for removing them once they begin to crop up? If so, I would be eternally grateful. I've been growing this mane for years now and I'd really like to avoid having to sacrifice it to the god of fieldwork. I feel a little silly asking about this sort of thing, but if anyone has any bright ideas then I'd love to hear about them.

Seattle area hiking in April

palegirl — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:49:47 -0800

What would be a great day hike this weekend near Seattle? We're looking for a hike that is accessible and glorious this time of year for a day date/outing.

Backpack camping gear recommendations

keep it under cover — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 19:05:57 -0800

My husband and I love to hike, and this summer we hope to go on some longer hiking trips that will require camping for one or two nights. What gear should we buy to make our trips enjoyable and safe? We live in the Pacific Northwest, so we’ll be hiking and camping in wooded mountainous terrain. Summer temperatures are mild - the lows are not cold enough to need cold weather gear, and the highs are not hot enough for heat stroke to be a concern. The biggest weather worry would probably be rain. We both have lots of drive-to-a-campsite camping experience, so we know basic things like how to safely start and put out a fire, how to store food safely so as not to draw bears, that kind of thing. But neither of us have experience hiking out to a campsite with everything we'll need on our backs. Husband is tall and muscle-y and can carry a lot of stuff. I’m a shrimp and can carry a lot less stuff.

We have our outdoor clothing needs covered, but for gear all we have is one large backpack (it’s a legit outdoor camping/hiking pack with a metal frame sized to fit my husband), water purification tablets, a couple of basic first aid kits, a pocket-sized multi-tool, and some crappy flashlights. We have no idea what to look for in terms of a tent, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, tools, stuff for cooking, or safety. So our questions are, what should we put on our shopping list of *must have* gear? What should we put on our shopping list of *really nice to have* gear? What features are really important, especially for the big ticket things like tents and sleeping bags? Which pieces of gear would be worth splurging a bit more on to get something lighter/better? Do you have any specific gear recommendations? All advice is much appreciated!

Best day hikes in Middle Tennessee/Kentucky?

elizeh — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 13:31:33 -0800

Friends visiting me in Nashville want to spend a day frolicking in nature while they're here. I'm embarrassed to say that I don't know much about the parks around my own hometown. Where should I take them? I usually just go to Radnor Lake or the greenways around town when I need a bit of pretty, but that's not really an all-day outing (also not new to me).

I have heard good things about Fall Creek Falls. Is that a winner? What other OMGbeautiful natural areas should I consider?

Trying to stay within a 2-hour radius of Nashville, more or less--so no Smokies. We're looking to hike, not bike or raft.

Outdoorsy things to do less than 4 hours from Boise, Idaho?

never.was.and.never.will.be. — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:56:42 -0800

Looking for mountains and lakes for hiking and swimming not far from Boise. I will be visiting my very non-outdoorsy brother in Boise this summer (so I can't get advice from him), and would like to take some time to see nearby nature and mountains after spending time with him in Boise. I can rent a car, so I'm looking for day trips from Boise (< 2 hours), and also potentially a 2-3 night trip that is less than a 4-5 hour drive each way. The things I would be most interested in are hiking with spectacular views (not longer than ~10 miles), swimming (but not one of those roped off lake beaches with hundreds of kids splashing around), and maybe ATV rental (but I'd need either a tour or a very clear map with easy trails).

I see that the Boise National Forest is close, and I am looking through the list of hikes on their website, but none of them have good pictures or descriptions. So do you know of any hikes that have awesome dramatic mountain views that fit the driving distance limitations above? If yes, please let me know which hikes I should do, or what other state/national forests/parks I should go to, since I will have a limited number of days, and I'd like to enjoy the outdoors as much as I can.

Car camping in Algonquin

torisaur — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 05:48:26 -0800

My partner, our dog, and I will be spending 5 nights camping in Algonquin this August. Which of the campgrounds along the Highway 60 corridor has the best hiking trails? As an example of our 'skill level', we really enjoyed the Bruce Trail around Cyprus Lake campground in the Bruce Peninsula. We know that the Algonquin backcountry is vast and gorgeous, but we're not really at the point where we're confident planning a backcountry hiking trip (especially with our 2 year old chocolate lab who lacks any sense of self preservation and whom we'd have to watch like hawks the entire time). So, we're looking for the campground with the best day trips!

I want to go hiking in Cradle Mountain over Easter. Tips?

Xany — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 05:39:28 -0800

I want to go hiking in Cradle Mountain (Tasmania, Australia) over the Easter long weekend. Problem: I do not know anything at all about Cradle Mountain. Help me, hive mind? I have Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday off and I want to do some hiking. I'm thinking Cradle Mountain in Tasmania because I've heard it's pretty - and, well, I've never been and I live in Melbourne so it seems as good an idea as any. It will be me and a friend, we're reasonably fit and have a small amount of hiking stuff (boots, jackets, sleeping bags - but no tents) so hell, why not.

However! I do not know anything about it. I was thinking maybe flying into Launceston and ... that's all I got. How do we get to Cradle Mountain (short of renting a car - unless that's the best option)? Where should we stay? What trails are doable for not-very-experienced hikers in reasonable physical condition? Are there any tours or things that leave Friday (or Saturday) and return Monday? (All the ones Google throws up so far leave Sunday and return Tuesday - which is not doable because work.)

Any tips, info, etc appreciated!

Sources for plus-sized hiking/travel/comfortable pants for cycling?

rhiannonstone — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 23:30:17 -0800

I live in jeans and on my bicycle. I don't mind biking in jeans for short distances, but I'm finding myself doing a lot more bike riding in situations where I need something more presentable and versatile than bike shorts, skorts, or yoga-type pants, but more comfortable than jeans. (And it's not my bottom that's the issue, so wearing padded liner shorts under my jeans is not the solution I'm looking for.) The obvious answer here is pants designed for traveling and hiking, but I'm having a hard time finding any in my size (2X). I found some cargo pants at Old Navy that looked promising, but even though they're in my size they don't fit because they're super low-rise. REI has exactly one pair of plus-sized adventure travel pants and I have them, but I'd like more options. Do you have a recommendation for comfortable hiking/travel pants in plus sizes?

Hiking pants for very cold temps

mnemonic — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:53:57 -0800

What pants do people wear for very cold (0 °F / -18 °C, and colder) weather hiking? Just rain shell pants and wool long underwear? Surely there are insulated pants suitable for hiking? I tried some insulated snowboarding pants (North Face Freedom) but they were too baggy for walking. I would like to know what pants you recommend for hiking in very cold temperatures, insulated or not.

Joining a friend for a week on the AT, what do I need to bring? Tips?

ghostpony — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 07:10:48 -0800

A close friend has decided to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail starting in about 10 days at Springer Mountain in Georgia. It just so happens that I have a week off with nothing to do, and he asked if I wanted to start out with him, and I said yes. Help me make sure I'm not forgetting anything (and/or shed inessentials). Any tips/tricks would also be appreciated for this AT newb! I've backpacked before, but this will be the longest/fastest hiking winter trip I've been on. I should be on the trail for about 7-days, and around 85 miles total. Temps at night will be below 30, and during the day around 40 or 50. He's planning to cover a fairly conservative 8-12 miles a day to begin (before he ramps up in the third and fourth week). I'm 26 and athletic enough that I think I can do that comfortably (I play racquetball three or four times a week, can run a 5K in around 27 minutes (and have run half marathons in the past). I'm also a Wilderness EMT, so I will be carrying a lightweight med kit, and know my way around a sprain, etc.

I know pack weight is the number one issue on the AT, and I've actually been collecting lightweight gear for ages for my many weekend trips. My friend is packing in a two person tarptent from Henry Shires (which I've seen set up and is large enough for the both of us). So far my packing list of things I own is:

A 15F down bag from Feathered Friends (this is probably overkill, but I hate sleeping cold, and am willing to carry an extra 10 ounces of down to stay warm at night)
Thermarest 3/4 length ProLite Pad
GoLite Jam Backpack
Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoody
Patagonia stretch ascent shell (waterproof)
Carbon Fiber hiking poles
Snowpeak Gigapower stove (and butane)
Titanium cookwear
Smartwool base layers (long sleeve shirt and long underwear) and socks
Inov8 Teroc 345 hiking shoes (I can't stand heavy hiking boots, and i've worn these on long hikes before)
Cloudveil Hiking Pants
Windproof convertible gloves, and OR waterproof mittens
Brunton compass
Bic lighter
Aqua Mira water purifying drops
Evernew foldable water bottles
zip locs
a bear bag with 550 rope

What essentials am I forgetting? I know I'm going to need to order stuff, and I'd rather order online to save on costs in the next few days. What about food and trail snacks? On previous trips I've never been the meal planner. I'm thinking about ordering Mountain House Freeze Dried meals as I don't have the time or expertise to make my own in the next 10 days.

Do you have any tips for an AT newbie? I'm pretty sure that the trail is going to packed with thru hikers just starting, so we're planning on avoiding what will likely be over crowded shelters, and just sticking to the tent. Forums also seem to be indicating that it might be a bit wet the first week, and I'm worried about not having waterproof boots. Any ideas? Do I need rain pants?

Hiking with my dog within 1-2 hours of Lodi this weekend?

DakotaPaul — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:21:25 -0800

Where's a great place to take my dog hiking this weekend that's 1-2 hours from Lodi, Calif.? I've taken my dog to Morgan Territory in the East Bay and Kennedy Meadows in the Sierras. I'm looking for a scenic place that allows dogs where I can get a nice, long hike in. Thanks!

Sturdy carrier for 6-month-old

mkultra — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 09:50:19 -0800

We're about to embark on a vacation to Telluride with our 6-month-old son. While we're not harboring any delusions about bringing him skiing, we'd like to take him hiking, possibly snowshoeing. What's a good, structured carrier that can accommodate him comfortably? He's fairly small for his age, just now able to fit in his "6" clothes.

Hiking and trip advice for Argentina

graventy — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 16:48:14 -0800

We will be spending 3 days in El Chalten and 3 days in El Calafate, Argentina in March. What hikes and tours would be most recommended or must sees? Also, we'll be flying in to El Calafate at 5PM, and plan on traveling to El Chalten that same evening. We would love advice on the best way to make the transfer. Thanks!

Where to go in Chile and Argentina between Bariloche and El Chaltén?

saul wright — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:22:51 -0800

I am in Bariloche and I´m going to do the Nahuel Huapi Traverse the day after tomorrow (taking either 3 or 5 days if I have the time.) I want to get to El Chaltén and spend 5 days trekking around Monte Fitz Roy and Laguna Torre. I would also like to spend a day at Parque Nacional Los Glaciares near El Calafate. Then I have to get to Punta Arenas to fly out March 1st. That leaves me with a little less than a week to work with. I was planning on going to Coyhaique from Bariloche and doing the 4 day trek around Cerro Castillo but it sounds so remote, I don´t know if it´ll work. I was thinking about the Navimag ferry but at 480 dollars, I can´t afford it. I promised friends I´d do Torres del Paine with them next year so I think I´ll wait on that.

So what should I do? Hang out more in the Lakes Region? Just go straight to Southern Patagonia and spend any extra days around there? Take shorter buses and make my way south more slowly?

I have a tent, stove, etc and trekking is the main goal along with not spending too much money.

What camera should I take to Patagonia?

Serf — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 22:30:03 -0800

My girlfriend and I are leaving for a vacation in Chile in about a week. We'll be spending most of our time hiking and seeing glaciers and penguins in southern Patagonia, with a few days in Santiago at the end. I'd like to bring a compact, versatile, weatherproof camera with great image quality, 15-20x zoom, and good low-light performance -- but compromises must be made. What kind of camera should I take with me? My budget is $300-750. I'd like to get a new camera to document this vacation. I currently own a Casio EX-Z50 from 2005. I like that it's small and that it allows a lot of manual control. I don't like its mediocre image quality, abysmal low-light performance, fiddly menus, limited zoom, and lengthy buffer clearing period before I can turn the camera off and retract the lens.

I don't normally take a lot of pictures, but I do when I travel. I've heard that Patagonia can be very rainy even in the summer. We'll be spending about 4 days of the trip hiking the W route at Torres del Paine, without access to power for recharging batteries. My main priority is to get a camera that will be good for this trip, but as the price climbs above the bottom of my range, I'd also like to get a camera that I'll use other times. My non-travel pictures tend to be outdoors: hiking, cycling, skiing, walking around cities. I've never really been hiking or doing anything other than Taking Pictures with a camera larger than a point-and-shoot, so I don't know what that's like. I care only a little bit about video, and wouldn't be devastated if it were missing entirely.

I've been reading a lot of camera reviews, and I think I'm at the point where I know which one or two models I would consider in any given category. My problem is that I can't decide which category I want.

Low-end mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (Sony NEX-F3, etc.): more versatile than my other options, but I don't really have the budget for more than the kit lens right now. Maybe also a pancake lens, but that would really be pushing my budget. I would be worried about damaging these, and they don't really fit in a pocket without that pancake lens. I'm also not keen on carrying more weight than I have to while hiking. The upsides are better image quality at a given price than my other options and more versatility if I decide I want to drop more cash on photography in the future.
Point-and-shoots (Canon S100, etc.): basically my current camera, only better in every way (except for zoom, which would be about the same). If only out of familiarity, I wouldn't be as worried about damaging a camera like this as I would an interchangeable lens one, but I would still be nervous about shooting on a rainy day. Better image quality than weatherproof cameras or travel superzooms.
Weatherproof cameras (Olympus TG-1, etc.): I hear Patagonia can be very rainy and windy, even in summer. I really like the idea of not having to be concerned about keeping my camera safe, not knocking my camera pocket on a rock, not getting my camera dusty, keeping my camera in a waterproof case (or plastic bag), etc. On the other hand, I probably won't get top-notch photographic performance in any regard out of one of these cameras: they won't have the best sensors, the best controls, or the best optics. I only go diving about once every other year, and even then I don't know if I'd take a camera.
Travel superzooms (Canon SX260, etc.): I notice that when I'm traveling, I give up on a lot of shots because I can't get close enough with the lens on my Casio. I don't know exactly how many wild animals or other zoom-friendly subjects I should expect to see on this trip, but I'm pretty sure that a lens maxing out at 100mm is not going to get me every shot I'd like. Unfortunately, reviews say these cameras tend to be slow, have poor low-light performance, and often take a hit on image quality in general.

I'm leaning towards either a weatherproof camera or a travel superzoom right now, but even after reading a truckload of camera reviews and looking at a ton of sample images I don't have a good sense for just how much real, non-pixel-squinting image quality I'd be giving up by going with, say, the Olympus TG-1 instead of the Canon S100. I also don't know exactly how rainy I should expect the Patagonian summer to be, or how paranoid I need to be about water damage with cameras.

So help me get my priorities sorted out: what kind of camera do I want? Are there options I'm not considering that I should be? What camera did you really enjoy taking on your last possibly-rainy outdoor vacation? What's going to make me happy?

Map The Trail For A Newish Hiker

EmpressCallipygos — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 06:44:29 -0800

So a week on the trails in Moab has renewed my interest in hiking. Help me keep it up here in New York instead - I need to know where to go and what to bring. This is actually a two-part question here...

1. I need ideas for day hikes in the area. I've tried hiking in the past, but what's always stopped me is that New York doesn't have quite as much of a striking-scenery factor as does Utah and the national parks; so I'd like hikes with really killerawesome views. My skill set is probably easy-to-moderate; I also prefer solo hikes (yes, I would let people know where I'm going). Finally: I need places that I can reach via public transportation. I've checked this previous question out, and it's a good start; would love to hear more.

2. I know I need way better shoes (I got by with sturdy sneakers in Moab, but realize I probably should upgrade) and I really dug the trekking poles my friends in Moab loaned me; I already have a basic first aid kit, water bottle, day pack, flashlight and basic compass. The jacket I was wearing in Moab was ideal for 20 degree weather, and I can zip out the lining to make two whole separate jackets, so I'm set for outerwear. Aside from that - what else do I need? (I'm a bit afraid of showing up at EMS and asking them this and getting wildly upsold; I'm also afraid of my own tendency to get all caught up in how cool a given gadget looks, and I won't know that I don't actually need it.)

2-1/2. Is there anything else I need to know that I'm overlooking in my starry-eyed enthusiasm?

Travel advice needed

melizabeth — Sat, 29 Dec 2012 18:45:33 -0800

travel advice needed: Has anyone visited Vermillion Cliffs National Monument? Planning a trip to visit Vermilion Cliffs National Monument near the AZ-UT border in February. Wondering if anyone has been out there during this time of year-- was there snow? Conditions of the road? How did you getyour permit?

We have a volvo station wagon.. A dog (heard it will need a permit too??).. Camping (recommended areas?)

I,ve read a few blogs mentioning that getting in during jan/feb is do-able because its low season, but would like to confirm this and what your experience was like.

Thanks everyone! Happy holidays!

Help us hike with our dog in Pennsylvania next week!

walla — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 15:08:01 -0800

Help us hike with our dog in Pennsylvania! We'll be driving from NJ to Chicago in the last week of December, and would love to stop somewhere along the way for a few days of hiking. We tend to enjoy what park maps usually call moderate trails that take a couple hours. Dog is mid-sized - 45 pounds and pretty fit and agile.

We know we'll have to go off I-80 and we're fine with that - it doesn't have to be easy-on/easy-off. We were thinking of the Allegheny National Forest or some of the state parks in that area, but are looking for recommendations for specific trails/areas and towns to stay that would make a good base. Bonus points for a nice-ish town, but we can stay in a pet-friendly Super 8 on a strip if necessary. We're also open to Ohio or anywhere else en route to Chicago. Thanks in advance for your wisdom, hive mind!

Hiking in Shasta area

ethel — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:12:46 -0800

What are your favorite hikes in Shasta Trinity National Forest? Some friends and I are camping in a yurt at Lakeshore East campground in Shasta Trinity National Forest in Northern California this weekend, and are looking for some hikes. In particular we're looking for: views/vistas, lots of green, ferns, hot springs, moderate hikes that would take a day or less.

Thanks in advance for sharing your favorites!!

New Zealand hiking?

antiwiggle — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 03:18:14 -0800

Good day hikes in New Zealand? I'm travelling to New Zealand from the UK in November to go to a wedding. I'm taking three weeks off work and I plan on doing some hiking while I'm there. I'm an experienced hiker and reasonably well equipped. I'll be travelling alone and even at the best of times I'm a reluctant camper so I'm really looking at walks that I can do in one day.

The wedding is on North Island and I haven't decided whether to head to South Island yet. South Island is beautiful but last time I was in New Zealand I spent a lot of time driving and not much time walking. I'd like to reduce my driving this time.

I like hills, mountains, lakes, forests, coasts, beautiful views and I feel there haven't been enough volcanoes in my life.

Does anyone have any recommendations for hikes?

Thanks.

Wow really roughing it there, tough guys

MangyCarface — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:23:09 -0800

Weekend backpacking trip near Philly? I've been out of the SCENE so to speak for a number of years now, so I'm at a loss for good camping resources.

I'm looking for a trail/park/whatever with the following qualities:
-Within 3 hours of Philly by car, less is a +
-Trails broken up such that a weekend itinerary would be feasible
-Camping sites along trail, preferably, so backpacking is possible; at the least, sites that are remote from parking/park entrance
-Low foot traffic would be good

A lot to ask, so barring that, a good website that would help me find something along these lines would be nice. Assume competence from the 3/4 people that would be going. As always, thanks

I'd like to do some light hiking in the south of England next week, but I don't have a car and don't want to hire one.

hannahlambda — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 09:19:53 -0800

I'd like to do some light hiking in the south of England next week, but I don't have a car and don't want to hire one. I'd like to leave London next Wednesday or Thursday with my walking shoes and a backpack and spend 3-5 days walking and seeing the countryside. I like walking from place to place, so ideally there would be a trail with a starting point I could get to easily by bus or train, and have several stages, sleeping in a cabin or hostel each night. I don't want to bring a tent and would rather not carry a sleeping bag, but that would be ok. Going near to the sea, passing through nice villages and having some great food would be brilliant bonuses. The south coast is also a preference.

Thanks!

hiking for wimps

wutangclan — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 17:53:10 -0800

I'm afraid of heights, and I have bad knees. What easy hikes can I go on near Vancouver, BC? No cliffs. No overhangs. No steep steeps. Those freak me out -- always have and always will.

No extended steep climbs (e.g. Grouse Grind) that involve deep bending of the knees. Those will aggravate my damaged menisci.

Please, no advice on how to get over my fears or heal my knees. I'm working on it.

Thanks.