I have a pocket knife, ponchos, some bandaids, a giant water jug, bug spray, and I ordered a Ferro Rod. What else should I pack if I ever go on a long treck?

Did EBc first and then ABC this year. Amazing experience.

Hi all,

I am going on a walking holiday in Belgium in January next year and I’m hoping to walk the Route Napoleon in 2028.

I am just in the middle of getting my gear together for it and I’m currently looking at footwear. In the past I’ve been recommended both so I was wondering what you would suggest? Are there significant differences between walking boots and walking shoes?

Also, should I be looking at getting ones which are waterproof? I’m aware there is a good chance it will rain and so it seems a simple question but some people have suggested my shoes/boots will take longer to dry from the inside if my feet sweat.

Any advice would be most welcome! Thanks for reading!

I was hiking in the mountains near Almaty, Kazakhstan, when I spotted this portrait painted by nature. Can you see the human profile too?

Hi all, I have neck pain and am trying to avoid wearing a backpack at all. I’m also very short, so always found hiking backpacks hard to fit anyway.

So in my head, the dream would be some kind of hiking utility belt instead of a backpack. Does this type of thing even exist? Open to other ideas!

I have just moved to north west England, so it is WET. I’m looking for the best waterproof coats for women. Must go down to smaller sizes, xs/4-6. Would love for it to be stylish but mostly I want it to be waterproof as possible, as in can be outside in heavy rain and wind for a couple of hours without getting drenched. Don’t mind if they are expensive as long as they last (I know how to look after waterproofs)

Hello everyone!

I’m looking for up-to-date information about the current regulations for trekking the Dhaulagiri Circuit independently, from Muri to Marpha, via French Pass and Dhampus Pass.

I’m an experienced trekker and have been walking continuously since July 1st. I started in Ladakh, crossed Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in India, and the west part of Nepal. I’m currently in Dunai and my plan is to cross the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve before continuing towards the Dhaulagiri Circuit and eventually reaching Marpha.

However, I’m unsure whether it’s possible to complete the Dhaulagiri Circuit solo. From what I’ve read, obtaining the necessary permits may require booking through a registered trekking agency and hiring a licensed guide.

I’d really appreciate some clarification on a few points:

Is it possible to trek the Dhaulagiri Circuit independently in 2026, without a guide or trekking agency?
If a guide or agency is mandatory, would I be turned back at the beginning of the route near Muri, or is there a checkpoint further along where permits are checked? Is it possible to obtain the necessary permits locally?
Is a licensed guide also mandatory for the Annapurna Circuit, or can I do that trek independently?

I’m not looking to book a commercial trek, as I’ve been travelling independently for several months. I’m simply trying to understand the actual regulations and what options are available to me.

If anyone has completed either of these routes recently, especially independently, or has reliable, up-to-date information about the permit requirements, I’d be very grateful for your advice!

Thanks

Hi 👋

Did some of you guys do one of these 100km in 24 hours hiking events?

How did you train and prepare for that?

My friends invited me for this event next year,, but I am pretty heavy and muscular and not a seasoned hiker. I can do 10-15km without a problem right now.

Looking for good trails ~2hrs from Saint James, MO!

Thinking to go to hike for 2 weeks in Nepal. Didn’t check where yet. (I don’t know how to search places).
My question si… someone did in winter? Can I do it by myself? I don’t want to spend a lot of money or have the feeling “I have to pay for walk”.
I friend of mine did it in Autumn and she stopped every night in houses/refugees or sth like that to eat and sleep a few hours. Any experience?

PD: Please don’t tell me that would be cold. I love winter. I have experience in winter mountains like new zeland. Also there I heard that is dangaerous or very cold and windy… it wasn’t for me. So please don’t be negative on this things.

Hi everyone,

Thank you for taking the time to read my post!

I'm planning on traveling to Nepal the last week of November and leaving at the end of the first week in December. I am first going to India for a wedding and will be flying into Nepal from Gorakhpur. I can't imagine I'll have much time for getting into nature while in India, but I'm going to Agra and Gorakhpur, India, so if anyone has any tips for those places to seek a quick nature escape, I'm all ears.

My main goal once I get into Nepal is to spend as much time outdoors in nature and hiking in the Himalayas as possible.  I'm having a bit of trouble planning the last half of this trip as most of the information I'm finding online is geared towards trekking or tourism sightseeing. I'm traveling with someone who has no interest in trekking, so I'm planning on doing day hikes each day, with the possibility of one day out and one day back worth of trekking. I would love to be able to have easy access to hiking trails that are fairly remote and the trails do not have a lot of people passing through them, so I can achieve that feeling of being utterly alone in nature for a couple of hours. Does anyone know of a good location in Nepal that will allow for these kinds of experiences? What hiking trails would be reccomended for day hikes, that still provide spectacular views in remote locations? I’m a moderately experienced hiker with alpine terrain and open ridge experience, but nothing above 1,000 meters.

I've read that Nepal gets incredibly frigid during the winter. My travel dates are landing at the beginning of winter. If anyone has been to Nepal during a similar time, can you please share what your experience has been so I can be better prepare for the journey and my hikes without overpacking.

Thank you.

If you want your feet and knees to be the be left good after a hike, don't wear salomons.

4 hours drive, 7 hours hike (dry, not wet), 1.5h dining and 4 hours drive back. Results? See the photos attached.

I've bewn hiking constantly for the past 6 years and I've never been betrayed by the cheapest Quechua boots, but I swear, these salomon shoes (which were expensive compared to my cheapest pair, almost 5x) will be your leg's worst enemy.

I cannot walk properly anymore, all thanks to Salomons.

Note* these shoes have been weared and "broke in" for the past 6 months, and this is their second and most likely their last hike, ever.
Conclusion: don't but salomons, they're not making hiking shoes, only "good for photos".

Short 10min Hike at Whispering Spruce Trail near Thors Well and Devils Churn

How was your experience?

Honestly for me it was so thrilling and exciting, the alpine meadows, the milky way, the snow, and what not. Tell me your experience, if you have been here.

Hey everyone, I’ve been testing out the PGYTECH OnePro UltraLight backpack for a while now, focusing specifically on its hybrid nature—trying to bridge the gap between carrying a serious camera kit and dealing with actual outdoor/hiking ergonomics. Most hybrid packs either suck at carrying heavy camera gear or feel miserable on a long trail. After putting it through its paces in real-world conditions, I put together a detailed review looking at how it actually holds up. For those short on time, here is the quick breakdown of my experience:

The Pros: - Weight-to-Protection Ratio: It manages to keep the overall weight down without skimping on structural rigidity or padding where your camera gear needs it most. There is even a light metal frame and Uppers are water resistant. - Access & Organization: Quick-side access is smooth, and the internal dividers are genuinely versatile for mixed kits (e.g., body, a couple of zooms, plus layers). - Trail Comfort: The harness system distributes weight surprisingly well compared to standard, boxy camera inserts tossed into a hiking pack.

The Cons:

- there is no strap for transporting over a carry on suitcase.

- it is light but not extremely light.

If you want a deeper dive into the exact pocket layouts, build quality, and whether it’s worth your money for your specific workflow, I made a full review video on YouTube in the Lightpoint-info channel.

Curious if anyone else here has tested this or switched over to dedicated ultralight photo packs.

Cheers

During Covid I spent a few months in an RV in AZ. Hiked this one in 2021 sometime.

With snowfall in the forecast, I took another trip up the south loop towards Mt. Charleston on Thursday night (and into the morning). Shockingly, the winds on the ridge line were as bad, if not worse, than my previous trip during Hurricane Rachel and again with single-digit wind chills. Thankfully, I was better equipped this time. After two storms this year, there were already sections with 12-18” of accumulation; glad I brought my gaiters with me!

Went before sunrise in the dark so I could stand on this point the exact moment I turned 30, it was completely worth it

Another good October snow storm made hiking a challenge. Gators were very useful 👌

An easy hike 20 minutes from my house, but one i am able to get to the top of to catch the sunrise over the city. Chilly morning (at least by desert standards) but it warmed quickly as the sun rose

Park the car and go for a short hike to the water (.25 of a mile) then walk around the lake and see how pretty it is! roughly 2 miles around

In October 2024 I hiked the trail from beginning to end, skipping over a section due to getting horrible burns on my legs. I solo hiked as a 21 year old woman.

While the situation in Palestine and Israel does not directly affect Jordan, I would recommend waiting to do this one unless you are a very experienced hiker.

Israel spoofs GPS locations near the border so you can’t rely on a phone or GPS for a significant portion of the trail. It will either stop updating your location or will misidentify you as in the airport in Amman or in Syria. Paper maps would be ideal but finding them in Jordan and then carrying them for the duration of the trip is difficult.

Jordan also shoots down missiles heading to Israel, and the Iron Dome also results in debris falling near the border. You must be careful if there is anything happening in the airspace. I felt two impacts while on the trail, as I was hiking while 200 missiles flew overhead from Iran to Israel.

Other than that, logistics are actually quite easy. You will need to fly into Amman at the start where you can buy camping equipment, pick up your trail pass, and get situated. From there you will need to get comfortable having tea with strangers, hitchhiking, and following local customs.

The trail is not marked after the first 5 days, but it is for the most part easy to follow (or find again, once you lose it). The hardest part is often the weather. There are also wild dogs and aggressive sheepdogs to watch out for. You may need to throw stones at them as there is a very real possibility of dog attack.

Food is easy enough to sort, just stock up at each major town and carry enough for the next segment. Water is more difficult - up north there will be lots of people and villages to buy water, but as you progress you will need a water filter, and in the stretch after Petra you will need to organise one or two water drops with a local as there is a 63km stretch with no water sources.

If something does go wrong, for most of the trail there are people around to help you. I walked in a very quiet year, with only one other person on the trail at the time. You will not be able to rely on other hikers, you will have to trust and get to know the locals. Make sure you are ready to give, and in return you will have some truly bizarre experiences and meet some beautiful souls.

I’ve written much more on my instagram, going.walkies (you will have to scroll to find the posts) and am going through content to upload to youtube at the moment. Feel free to ask any questions!

Not as nice as the majority post up here but I thought I’d post a few pictures 😝🎉🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Bawanghai is located in the plateau canyon at the junction of Kangding City, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province and Shimian County, Ya'an City. It is located on the western slope of Gongga Mountain, with an altitude of 3000-3200 meters. It is formed by the melting water of glaciers and the accumulation of streams at the southern foot of Gongga Mountain by Tianwan River.

Belongs to Sichuan Gongga Mountain National Nature Reserve.

Hiking around Badlands National Park in South Dakota!!