Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with trail

Proposing an official name for an Oregon Hiking Trail..how exactly?

naplesyellow — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:17:33 -0800

What procedure would one conceivably follow in order to propose a hiking trail be named for a person in the state of Oregon? A couple of years ago a man who was instrumental in mapping the hiking trails throughout the Columbia Gorge passed away. He had worked for the Forest Service. Many of the hiking trails are identified only by number. One trail in particular was his favorite and some of his friends and family want to propose naming the trail for him. Trouble is, no one has one clue how this type of thing is accomplished. Do we approach it as a formal proposal and submit it to the State of Oregon? or the Forest service? Can we consider it as a petition?

I apologize if this seems a simple question--I have tried googling to no avail. He truly was a wonderful guy and most instrumental in the preservation of the trails. I can help put together a packet to promote the idea..I have no idea if there is a procedure in place to follow. I didn't necessarily want to call the US Forest Service, if any of you already know what direction I should start in. Thanks for your ideas.

Trail Running Shoes for the Wider Feet

PaulingL — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 13:57:13 -0800

Looking for a trail running shoe similar to the Brooks GTS 8. The problem? I'm a 9.5 2E and the shoes I have tried are too narrow. Help! What's the deal with the lack of width sizes in trail running shoes?

A little about me:
I run often, at minimum 60 miles/week.
I use orthodics.
I love the Brooks GTS 8 because it really helps my overpronation and has corrected a series of running injuries that used to be commonplace for me.

What trail shoe should I get? It does not have to be Brooks. It should, however, be similar enough to the GTS 8 as to where I am still pain free.

Thanks!

Where to hike in March near Fresno for Snow and Fish

farmersckn — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 02:05:18 -0800

Where should we (Me +1) backpack next weekend (Mar 28/29) near Fresno, CA that has SNOW, WATER and FISH? My and my buddy want to stay at least one night - I suppose we could camp the night on Friday at the trail head if we need the extra time.
He wants to fish.
I want to build a snow shelter.
We want to be home Sunday night so we can work Monday.

We are both in excellent shape. He has backpacked several times and this will be my first experience.

He has gear enough for the both of us including snow shoes.

We have talked a bit about hiking somewhere in the Dinky lakes wilderness (island lake?) but I thought I would tap the hivemind to see if we are biting off too much or if there might be a better place to go for what we are looking for.

Thanks in advance!

easiest path over the hill

ohshenandoah — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:42:57 -0800

Deer trails to super highways... I read long ago that the major routes West were originally deer trails thru the passes and across the mountains. These became footpaths for humans and were later paved. I recall that the major pass thru the Smokies that Daniel Boone used is now a major freeway. Is there any technical or academic research that supports this-- with GIS or satellite images? Thanks

What did you think of your 2-day Inca Trail trek?

kmtiszen — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 21:04:19 -0800

Short on time in Peru - is the two day inca Trail trek worth it? Any alternatives? Hi all,

Planning a trip to Peru and I really want to experience at least part of the Inca Trail. Don't know if I'll have time to take the traditional four day trek, but I could definitely spare the time for the two day hike. Has anyone here done this? Are there any cool alternatives? Any tour provider recommendations?

Thanks in advance!

Best Mac GPS mapping software and hardware?

wavejumper — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:26:36 -0800

What's the best GPS mapping system for making trail maps (software/hardware)? I'm an Apple person. More explanation: I want to map out and publicize a route I've been exploring that links my town to the regional trail system (which is about 50 trail-miles away, probably taking three or four detail maps). I'd like not to spend that much. And I REALLY like the "Terrain" view from Google Maps, any way to use that for my topography graphics?
Who can recommend the best (Mac) software? And cheapest hardware? Don't really need a good display, as I really just need the GPS to record the trail route and the elevation gains, I guarantee I'll never use it for actual Navigation, I think they pretty much suck for that purpose ;-].
Any way to use an iPhone's GPS with mapping software by the way?
Thanks!

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.

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.

Headed out on the trail - help equip our sing-a-long arsenal!

jofuu — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:52:51 -0800

My girlfriend and I are hiking the Appalachian trail for two weeks at the end of the month. We're taking along a Martin Backpacker (guitar) and a small set of bongos. What are some very excellent blues/folk/bluegrass/mountain songs that we should learn before we go? We're also bringing a hand held recorder so we can remember all this.

I'm looking for more traditional rootsy stuff as opposed to anything by contemporary artists. Obviously, I won't reject any ideas though so throw them at me.

Thanks in advance Metafilter!

Trail running shoes on concrete?

devilsbrigade — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:43:50 -0800

Trail running shoes on concrete? I've run in Brooks Adrenaline shoes for > 4 years now, and I probably will never switch off them. When I recently went to buy a new pair, though, I noticed they had a trail running version that was slightly stiffer and felt like a better fit. I run probably 80/20 on concrete/dirt, with most of my longer (> 10 mile) runs on dirt/gravel mixed. I generally run in wetter/muddier areas, so the idea of having better grip, a stiffer toe, & a little bit of waterproofing is appealing.

I'm worried now that the decrease in cushioning could lead to an injury on concrete, though - they still feel fine, but I can definitely notice more of an impact. I don't run high mileage right now (< 25 miles a week, with long runs every few) and I still have a functioning pair of road shoes, though they're getting a bit worn down. Is this something to be concerned enough about to go back & swap the pair for my regular road shoes? Ideally, I'd have a pair of dedicated trail shoes I suppose, but I can't really afford that at the moment.

How to Digital Document a Trip Along the Oregon Trail?

LarryC — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 10:06:58 -0800

Cool, 2.0ish ways to document a trip along the Oregon Trail? I'll have a camera, a handheld GPS, a laptop, and an 8-year-old. In June my son and I will be taking a two week trip along the length of the Oregon Trail from Missouri to Oregon. I am a historian of the American West and I have been wanting to do this for years. I have also been playing around with digital history and I want to make the trip into an experiment in using digital technology and web applications to tell a story. I will have a laptop, various cameras, and a handheld GPS unit. I could also buy additional toys as needed. We will mix hotels with camping and I will probably not have internet access every day.

At a minimum I want to put selected photos, writing, and perhaps video online. It would be nice if this was in some sort of sequential format, maybe laid out on a map of the trail. And yet I don’t want to spend a ton of time processing this—I am hoping for something that I can do quickly, spending no more than an hour a night to document the days adventures. I have a Blogger blog devoted to Northwest History and technology, My preference is to use that, or at least build from it.

What are my options? In addition to blogging I have played around a little with putting photos in my Picassa Albums into Google Maps and that is fun and fairly easy. I bought a program named Robogeo that is supposed to automatically geotag my photos (you sync the clocks on your camera and GPS unit and feed the data into the program) but can’t get it to work, perhaps because it doesn’t seem to play nice with Magellan products. Right now my plan is to put my best photos into a Picassa Web album, map them, and write a blog entry each day. But I am open to suggestions.

(And I promise to either link whatever I do back here or post it in Projects.)

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.)

Personal papers, receipts, and documentation -- should they stay or should they go?

nathaole — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 02:41:40 -0800

Paper trails: Similar to this link, I am looking for a specific list of personal papers, receipts, and essential documents I should keep and for how long. Any and all receipts? Bank statements? I am lost as to which papers one MUST keep and papers that just cause clutter. If I ever needed to prove something by way of having a paper trail, or if I were to be audited, I'd be left scrambling.

I've just graduated from university, have never done my own taxes, rent, and will be living in Toronto, Canada. I try to pay my bills online. Should I be printing out each statement or bill and putting it into a binder or file folder? Grocery receipts? What about those slips I receive from the ATM? Are there documents I should request from the people I am renting from?

Now I'm hearing that one needs to save their monthly transit passes for tax purposes. I know some people save each and every receipt, and I've always wondered why.

I feel confident in my organizational skills, so once I know WHAT to keep, I will be more than happy to file it away in a neat and organized manner. I'm trying to become responsible when it comes to finances, so tracking all of these things may prove useful.

Lists, suggestions, links and resources are all very much appreciated.

How to ride a fun MTB trail as a tourist?

jouke — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 07:38:13 -0800

I'll be visiting SF soon (yay, visiting mefi friends!) and want to go biking on an MTB trail. I've found a few internet resources on biking around SF but I have a few particular constraints that make me require your help. - I need to rent an MTB bike that's big, around 23", since I'm 6'6". If possible fitted with SPD pedals.
- I need to get to the MTB trail without use of a car.
- I need to rent the bike near to the trail or take the bike there by public transport if it's far. I'm not sure yet whether I want to ride a bike through SF since I'm from the Netherlands and as a result accustomed to very safe biking conditions.
- I'll be staying in the Bernal Heights neighbourhood of SF if that matters.
- my ideal trail would be physically demanding but technically easy and with beautiful natural surroundings.
- although we say we do mountainbiking in the Netherlands we are pretty impressed if there's a 300 foot difference in height. So it's more hillbiking that we do. Go easy on me on the technicality of the trail.

Oh, and if somebody wants to come with me: great. I'll probably go on a working day but maybe some people have a flexible working schedule.

What's sliming my carpet?

xz — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 22:25:31 -0800

There are wee slime trails on our carpet every morning. What's making them and how can I get rid of them (preferably without nasty chemicals...) I live in Melbourne, Australia.

We've got a living room with carpet that's not sealed well against the floor against the back wall of the house. There's actually a little space under there that drops down to the foundation. In the morning there are always slime trails as if a bug, or group of bugs, is going exploring every night. They come up from under the carpet, tool about, and then descend again. Their purpose eludes me.

I haven't been able to catch the buggers in the act, but when I look under the edge of the carpet I see some little dark brown millipede-type things, generally curled up and dead. They don't seem to be the types of things that would leave a slime trail, but hey, what do I know?

I tried using a mess of salt, but that didn't work.

Can anyone make a decent guess as to what's going on and suggest a way to make it stop? It's pretty gross and I've got company coming to stay. I'd prefer to use a natural-type solution, but if it's gotta be Super-Power-Insect-Death Spray, I can deal.

Thanks!

Need to get the most out of my short vacation!

crawfishpopsicle — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 12:06:30 -0800

Where should I go backpacking between Bigfork, MT and Portland, OR? I live in Portland and I am going to a family reunion in Bigfork, MT. I have taken off 3 extra days to go backpacking (drive time back to Portland included). I was thinking Glacier, but it seems like it is such a hassle to get a permit and find an available campground/ avoid crowds.

I am looking for something not too difficult, maybe 4-6 miles per day. Want to see some beautiful back country and not a lot of people.

Any ideas? Am I crazy to not just go to Glacier (if so, any tips of good trails without a lot of people)?

Thanks!

Hiking the Inca Trail

subtle-t — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:22:15 -0800

I have some questions about hiking the Inca Trail? We're planning to take a 2 week trip to Peru and Argentina in late July / early August. We're thinking of doing the first week in Peru (2 days in Cusco, 4 day hike, train back then fly to Buenos aires). I was wondering if any other mefites had done the hike lately. I think we'd probably prefer a package tour, is this the best way to go about it? What should I know about the hike generally?

Somewhat related question, we don't want to take all of our luggage on the hike, where in Cusco can we leave it for those four days?

Input on starting a trail shuttle

F Mackenzie — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 10:56:48 -0800

Looking for information on starting a shuttle service for backpacking/biking trails. I'm submitting a grant to start a shuttle service that would ferry backpackers, hikers and mountain bikers between trail heads and optional local lodging. I envision this to be initially operated for two months in both the fall and the spring.

I'm looking for two types of input: 1) actual experiences using trail shuttles (good, bad, best practices); 2) actual experience operating shuttles of any kind (equipment, employee, insurance, liability, logistical issues). Thanks!

Where/what is this unidentified, extremely mountainous "tourist" trail.

loquacious — Thu, 02 Nov 2006 06:09:20 -0800

Where is this "tourists" mountain trail, and where can I see more pics and find out more about it?

Bike me!

unSane — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 20:55:39 -0800

I want to buy a mountain bike. I have a nice, fast, light hybrid but it doesn't cut it on anything but the easy trails. I think I'll buy used but have no idea what to get. I know I don't want rear suspension. I like really light bikes and I am not super hard on them although I have bent a few rims in my time. I like to ride cleats, if that makes any difference, and I like to ride fast. I looked at a few new bikes and the one I liked best was an alluminum frame Cannondale with a locking front suspension. It had disk brakes but I don't know if that really matters. I'm good at doing my own maintenance so I'm not afraid of buying something and fixing it up. Suggestions for good brands/features/models please, and what to look for in case it's been trashed. Also, where's the best place to buy a used bike? I'm in Toronto but can travel a bit to pick it up. Budget is around $700 Canadian or so.

(Bonus question: good trails in the Georgian Bay/Beaver Valley area in addition to Loree and Kolapore? Especially ones my 7 year old son might be able to manage.)

Piece of cake.

Ugh — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 12:58:59 -0800

Have you ever known someone to hike the entire Appalachian Trail, all 2200 miles straight through? A friend and I have 4 to 5 months off next year in late spring / early summer and have actually considered attempting to hike the Appalachian Trail all the way through (northbound). We know it can be expensive, we know only 20% of people actually finish, we know it is the most grueling thing you can do either physically or mentally, but anyone know someone who's actually done it and what their experience was? Any advice welcome, (including don't do it).

Cheap/Good Trail Mix Recipes?

TuxHeDoh — Wed, 25 May 2005 09:55:09 -0800

I'm developed a craving for trail mix lately. One thing I've found out because of this is that trail mix is expensive. Everytime I buy it I think there's got to be a cheaper place to buy or it's got to be cheaper to make it myself..... Does anyone have any suggestions where to get cheap trail mix, recipies for good trail mix, ideas for the cheapest way to make it?

Hiking in the Dolomites

RGD — Tue, 20 Apr 2004 14:34:35 -0800

I was planning on hiking along the Alta Via 1 trail in the Dolomites within the next few weeks and I was wondering if anyone had experience in this region. Is it safe during springtime without proper hiking/snow equipment? Can the higher mountains with snow be avoided? Thanks for any tips or suggestions!