Reddit mentions: The best hiking & camping guides

So spent a fair bit of time (4 weeks) wandering the Khumbu (Everest) Area a few years ago. I didn't climb any technical peaks, but I got up to 5800m on Chukkung Tse (it was a fairly easy walk to the top).

If you are a competent hiker/route finder/traveler, I would recommend going alone. There were some people who I met along the trail that had guides, they seemed hit or miss. Some were awesome and would help the clients do whatever they wanted, some were a bit too controlling for my tastes.

For costs I took a ~$5 bus to Jiri and walked into the Khumbu, very nice, cheap, tons of very friendly Nepalis and virtually no other trekkers, but not feasible if you've got limited time and/or a lot of gear. Daily costs were around maybe $10 a day. If you find a group of people you can negotiate prices (if the 6 of us eat here will you give us the room for free). Cost to fly in or out of Lukla ran about $200 one way I think, I flew out instead of walking out.

As for climbing, most of the 6000m+ peaks are called "Trekking" peaks. The most common one to climb is Island peak. From what I've been told it was super cool to climb those, but you NEED a guide. There are a lot more permitting issues than for a simple trekker like myself. You'll have to go through a local company. My suggestion if you are set on climbing one of those peaks is to hang out in Thamel (tourist region of Kathmandu) and find westerners who have dealt with local companies. You'll save a boat load of cash over booking through a western agency and you'll get to meet the people in charge before you put down money. If you get a bad vibe, just walk away. For guide companies, I would first suggest Ang Rita Trekking: http://www.angritatreks.com/. The manager, Mingma, helped organize the trek my parents met in the late 70s and became a family friend and helped me tremendously when I was there. It's also cool because he was born in the Khumbu and his son is now a guide. I never did an actual trek with them, but I can vouch they've been a stand up organization for 35+ years.

For the Everest Area the best guide book by far is Trekking in the Everest Region By Jamie McGuinness. Especially if you are just trekking on your own this guide is invaluable.

PM me if you have any questions

Make sure you get up early (like 7 am) and head to Lamar Valley look for a parked cars and you are sure to see Wolves or a Grizzly. This was the best thing I did while I was there

My 2nd piece of advice is do some off road trails. Yellowstone really awards you for putting in the work. We had to hike about 9 miles to see Fairy Falls and it was totally worth it. There's also one we did that goes behind Mammoth hot Springs and gives you way prettier views with no one around. Theres a loop when doing wthe southern canyon trail that allows you to see some really cool thermals. this booke offers a lot of great options
https://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Guide-Yellowstone-Day-Hikes/dp/1560371579

When doing any major attractions I would just try to get there early. Getting to Biscuit Basin around 8 or 9am allowed for easy parking and less crowded boardwalks.

I would defnitley make a point to get down to Tetons. Its really chill and peacful there. We stayed at Signal Moutain campground and the lodge seemed like a nice place. People wroking there were very cool and helpful. Also if you enjoy craft beer Melvin in Jackson is one of the best brewries in the country.

The best advice I ever received: "Experiment." A lot of people start with price as their initial consideration but then end up overpaying or getting gear pieces that don't suit their needs. Many outfitters do gear rentals, so that's a great way to start. As you experiment, you'll begin to see what your preferences are. For example, I could have a pack that's a half pound lighter if I switched to a frameless pack, but I find them too uncomfortable to be of any use to me.

Here are some things you'll want to consider before making purchases (in the order that I usually look at them):

• Backpack: internal frame vs external frame vs frameless, max carrying weight, max carrying volume, compatible with a hydration system, comfort, price
  
  
• Tent: size, single wall vs double wall, completely enclosed vs open floor, weight, ease of setup, price
  
  
• Footwear: hiking boot vs hiking shoe vs trail runner vs other, comfort and fit, tread, material, price, design (I like a bit of a toe cap when possible)
  
  Everyone has their own favorite items and manufacturers. I've tried enough shoes and packs that there are very few I would ever refuse to buy, so go with whatever seems to fit your needs. With tents, I'm only familiar with my own MSR, and I would recommend them.
  
  Once you've narrowed down your selection to a few items in each category, wait til one of them goes on sale or shows up on a discount website. You can save literally hundreds of dollars if you're patient. You can save even more by buying used.
  
  The best book I ever read regarding choices in gear was Andrew Skurka's and the Appalachian Trail Hiker. They still favor their own preferences and brands, but still give you enough information to make decisions regarding other products.

Hiking the Wasatch has been an indispensable guide for me.

My favorite local hike, step for step, is Mt. Raymond. It's long and meandering rather than straight up, you get to climb on the rocks near the peak, and you don't see a single ski lift. Just nature. In the next couple of weeks, the fall color should be great. I love Mt. Raymond from Butler Fork (Big Cottonwood Canyon) or Bowman Fork (Millcreek Canyon).

Lake Blanch (BCC) and The Pfeifferhorn (Little Cottonwood Canyon) are staggeringly beautiful. Silver Fork up to the ridgeline (BCC) and White Pine Lake (LCC) are pretty impressive, too.

For short hikes, I'd suggest Catherine Pass and Cecret Lake in Albion Basin (LCC); Doughnut Falls in BCC; Silver Lake in American Fork; Stewarts Falls near Sundance; Alexander Basin in Millcreek; and Killyon Canyon in Emigration for a little stroll after class.

For backpacking, I've mostly gone to the Uintas. If I were backpacking here, I'd probably do something in the mountains between American Fork & Little Cottonwood. Someday I'll finally do the beloved Timpanogos. Maybe an easy overnight on the mountains between Millcreek & Big Cottonwood Canyon. The meadow atop Neff's Canyon would be a nice camping spot, I think.

The sunny, town-adjacent hikes you dislike are quite nice in the fall and spring. I did Mt. Olympus one October, and it was a great day. The foothills have a haunting beauty during the "dead" months. They also have little surprises. The old cars, the Living Room, Jack's Mountain Mailboxes, the Pencil Peak fort. Explore the hills that are closest to you, and you will find your own secrets.

Near Eugene? Or in Eugene? We're a pretty small city, so living near work is pretty swell as you can get around by bike and save on gas. 15th and Lincoln is a good area, had a grad student friend who lived there. You're far enough away from campus that it's mostly grad students and less noise, but still pretty close to downtown. Where to live depends on your goals though, proximity to work, proximity to restaraunts/bars, bike friendly, quieter, safer, etc etc.

As a Columbus transplant myself, you'll probably find it a pretty easy transition (at least I did). Some notes:

• No sales tax is awesome
  
• You can't pump your own gas
  
• No one really uses an umbrella
  
• Invest in a good rain jacket
  
• It rarely dips below freezing and snow happens once every 2 or 3 years. I find winters far far preferable to Ohio. The typical winter day here is in the upper 40's with off and on drizzle.
  
• The beach is cold. Even in August. Don't wear shorts and t-shirts like you would on the east coast. Bring a sweater even in summer. Don't plan on swimming.
  
• It does not rain in summer. Like, ever (mostly). It is glorious. But you will miss summer thunderstorms (we don't get those).
  
• We have a lot of bums and homeless people. You'll get used to it.
  
• People here tend to be friendlier, more talkative, and often weirder.
  
• We take our beer much more seriously out here, though from my recent trips back to Columbus the beer scene there has also started to pick up.
  
• You can get Jeni's Ice Cream at Capella Market, and Graeters at Fred Meyer. We don't have Bob Evans, White Castle or Waffle House :(
  
• If you want to explore the outdoors, start here
  
• Get an REI membership. You'll use it.
  
• Don't leave your bike outside if you can avoid it, no matter how good of a lock you get.
  
• If you plan on driving to snowboard/ski/snowshoe, get snow chains. You are legally required to at least have them in the car in the mountains (and they will check and ticket you). They tend to cost about $80 or so and you can buy them at Les Schwab and return them in the spring if you never use them. Practice putting them on before heading to the mountains. Unlike central ohio, we have real mountains and no road salt. No matter how good of a snow driver you think you are in the midwest, the mountains out here can be TERRIFYING.
  
• Visit Crater Lake. Preferably in June, when it's warmish but there is still snow on the ground.

It seems like you have a good grasp on what to expect on your trip which is great. I would suggest going to the hotel and saving the GTNP visit on your way to the airport.

Lamar Valley is a pretty big area and it's best to visit it early in the morning or at dusk as bears and wolves are most active at that time of day. If you see a bunch of people with spotting scopes and large camera lenses standing by the side of the road they are most likely observing one of those big animals.

If you want some books to help you with your trip, Yellowstone Treasures: The Traveler's Companion to the National Park is a very detailed one. For day hikes A Ranger's Guide to Yellowstone Day Hikes book is good and Trail Guides Yellowstone web site is an excellent source for all things Yellowstone.

Lone Star Hiking Trail, just north of Houston. Easy 7 day thru hike, 5 days if you do 20 miles a day (its been done in 3). No extreme terrain, little change in elevation. The biggest changes in elevation come when you get to a creek bed and have to climb down and then back out again.

No campsite restrictions (except during deer season), you can camp anywhere on the trail as long as you're 100 feet away from the trail. That maximizes your potential daily mileage as you can go dawn till dusk. The flat terrain means there are generally few bad places to put a tent, and its extremely freindly to hammock camping.

Water can be dicey in certain sections, but there are enough places where the trail crosses a road that with good planning you can cache water and never run out. Good weather in March with cold to cool nights and cool to warm days. Close to civilization and within an hour to a major airport. Easy navigation on a well marked trail. The maps are on Maprika, an app that will show your position on the maps without using a data connection on your phone.

http://lonestartrail.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/963582880392121/

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/LSHT/info;_ylc=X3oDMTJlYjBmOWRhBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzE4NTEzOTA1BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2NjAwNQRzZWMDaGRyBHNsawNocGgEc3RpbWUDMTQ3OTk3NTk3NQ--

Here's a couple of pages where you can network with locals, perhaps get some support:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/30652247683/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TexasHammockHangers/

http://hammockhangers.net/viewforum.php?f=34&sid=b77d465240f4424da4290ec9d96386d7

Two trail guides are available, although the one on the club website is good as well:

https://www.amazon.com/Lone-Star-Hiking-Trail-Wilderness/dp/0899975046/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480258998&sr=8-1&keywords=lone+star+trail+guide

This is the most recent:

https://www.amazon.com/Plan-Lone-Star-Hiking-Trail/dp/1943126011/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480258998&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=lone+star+trail+guide

This isn't "backpacking for dummies" but its an excellent resources, as is his blog:

http://andrewskurka.com/product/ultimate-hikers-gear-guide/

You're probably going to be disappointed in the responses you get to this question. "Best Gear" is sort of like asking for best ice cream flavor, or best color - you're going to get a lot of opinions based on personal preference, but very few hard-and-fast "best" verdicts.

Best Gear will be whatever works for your needs and hiking style. Take sleeping pads for example: my "best" might be a luxurious thick, heavy pad so I can sleep really well and rest my sore back, but your "best" might be a super thin and light pad to reduce your pack weight. Both are right answers, just for different reasons.

But the good news is you've got time. You can start researching, and doing little test trips to try out different things to see what works for you. If you want to get started learning about gear, and the philosophy behind it, Andrew Skurka's book is a pretty good read.

Honestly March is still ski season for me. If you are going to Eugene Spencer Butte wouldn't be what I would climb. I would go for Mt pisgah instead. That is going to have best views of thew mountains in that area. On a clear day you can see the three sisters.

Another thing you will be contending with is weather. It is very likely it will be cloudy and raining as well. It will be a good idea to have a backup so you can still go see something cool and not end up on a cloudy peak. You would missing quite the opportunity if you are in Salem and you don't go to silver falls state park. For the Salem area I would recommend picking up 100 hikes in the central Oregon Cascade. It has a lot of good trail suggestions plus the seasons that you are most likely able to hike them. Oregon Hikers is another fantastic resource and is pretty searchable with categories.

Another word of caution is you will legally need chains or traction tires (in your case I'm assuming chains since you are in a rental) in your car to go over passes. The snow zone requirement doesn't go away until the end of march. You can purchase a set of chains at Les Schwab and you can return them for a full refund if unused.

Yellowstone NPS - Day Hiking Guide

Trail Guides Yellowstone - Day Hikes

A Ranger's Guide to Yellowstone Day Hikes

Obviously, there is a lot of crossover on those. Last year we hiked:

• Mystic Falls Loop - nice waterfall and lookout over a lot of the Lower Geyser Basin.
  
  
• Mt. Washburn - go early before the parking lot fills up and it gets hot
  
  
• Harlequin Lake Trail - really short hike to a small lake at the end of the day.
  
  
• Trout Lake - the only short hike heading toward the NE Gate on our last day heading to Billings.
  
  
• Fairy Falls and Imperial Geyser - make sure you go all the way to the geysers if you do this one, they aren't big but they are sort of constantly erupting
  
  
• Osprey Falls - the waterfall at the end is awesome, but almost no one does this hike, we only saw 6 other people on the trail
  
  
• Rims of the Grand Canyon - there were 4 of us, 2 of us got dropped of at Obeservation Point and hiked to Artist Point, the other 2 left the car at Artist Point and hiked the other direction
  
  I also highly recommend going to Grand Teton NP as well, and hiking the Cascade Canyon Trail up to Lake Solitude.
  
  Also make sure you look up how big Yellowstone is, and how long it takes to drive from one place to the next, assuming there aren't bison in the road.

For a complete beginner I usually recommend you pick up a book. There's so much information that it's hard to get anything from Reddit replies.
The top 3
The Ultimate Hikers Guide

The Backpackers Field Manual

The Complete Walker IV

The first one is probably the most easily digestible. The 3rd is my favorite but that's just because I enjoy the writing style.
I'd suggest grab one or more of those books and start getting an understanding of all the gear. You could start with some easy overnight trip. A quick overnight on the PCT is easily accomplished from Portland.

Also if you're in Portland, head over to the REI in the Pearl district. The have all the Portland Green Trails maps. They are the greatest maps around IMO.

Get the Lonely Planet like /u/the-invisiblefriend said. Also get this book, you'll be surprised how many walks there are that don't require a whole lot of fitness.

Also:

• Kathmandu gets much nicer once you get out of Thamel. That said, OR2K in Thamel is the shizzle, they do Nepali-Israeli food in a very funky environment.
  
  
• Eat Momos and chicken chili, both yummo!
  
  
• Visit Boudhanath and Swayambhunath.
  
  
• Check out Dwarika's Hotel and have a drink and/or a bite there. That place is incredible, it feels like you're stepping through a gate to another dimension. They actually do a BBQ on Wednesdays that'll cost you about 30 USD each and that's quite lovely.
  
  
• If you have the time/budget, visit Chitwan National Park and go bathe with the elephants. Pretty amazing experience.
  
  
• Always check the cost of flights to get from A to B. We flew to Pokhara and paid about 100 USD each. A bus would've been half that, but taken 8 hours or so.
  
  Now for some unhappier bits:
  
  
• DO NOT TOUCH ANY WILDLIFE WHILE THERE. Rabies isn't something you want to risk in a country as poor as Haiti! Should you get bitten/scratched by an animal (even superficially), go to a hospital immediately.
  
  
• Take your vaccination pass and go talk to your doctor about the journey, he/she will know what needs refreshing. I had refreshers on MMR, HepA/HepB, Tetanus and got something to reduce the incidence of Cholera.
  
  
• Have a water filtration bottle and a head-mounted LED lamp. The water quality ranges from 'ok' to 'factor 10 beyond the limits prescribed by the WHO for feces and bacteria' and power outages are a part of everyday life.
  
  Lastly, do enjoy your time. Nepal, despite being not the most user-friendly of places, is an amazing, amazing place with lovely people and stunning views. You'll be back! :-)

Youtube is loaded with videos on the subject:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Map+and+Compass+Skills


Also: http://www.amazon.com/Staying-Found-Complete-Compass-Handbook/dp/0898867851

http://www.amazon.com/Wilderness-Navigation-Finding-Altimeter-Mountaineers/dp/1594859450/ref

http://www.amazon.com/Expert-Map-Compass-Bjorn-Kjellstrom/dp/0470407654/ref


One great practice to get into is to use your more advanced navigational aids primarily to confirm or correct what you have already determined by more basic methods.


For instance, get used to reflexively observing your surroundings (Especially stopping every 100 paces or so to look at and study your back trail). Practice estimating the distances/direction that you have walked and the times elapsed. Become aware of the position of the sun or the prevailing winds (Observing the effect that these winds have over time on local vegetation).


Even jets flying overhead can provide clues as to general directions. In my area of Upstate NY, the vast majority of jets flying at altitude maintain a roughly east/west flight path. Even on a cloudy night when the stars and the moon are totally hidden, I can often see the lights of jets blinking through the cloud cover, giving me a clue as to whether or not I have begun traveling in a circle in the dark.


A GREAT read: http://www.naturalnavigator.com/tristan-gooley

http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Navigator-Rediscovered-Letting-Nature/dp/1615190465/ref


Several times a day, without looking at your map estimate your location and heading direction/distance to your starting point and your destination. Once you have done this, take out your map and confirm your estimates. If you have a good vantage point, take several bearings with your compass on significant features (Focusing on contour features on your topo map) and then triangulate to determine your location.


The most important practice is to primarily rely on your GPS as a means of confirming and correcting your earlier navigational estimates. As you get more accomplished and as your confidence levels rise, you will find that observational navigation will become second nature to you.

Second the Appalachian Trail tip with an additional shoutout for the ATC paperback book that serves as a MA/CT guide. It points out loads of detail on trail areas as well as identifying trail shelters and primitive campsites.

The tough thing about finding good dispersed camping in CT is basically that it's all there out in the open but there aren't a ton of good resources for organizing that information. I've been trying to figure this out myself a lot more recently because I just moved back from living in PA a long while. Most of what comes up when you look online is what appeals to RV campers and families: KOA campgrounds and the like. That's where business is so that floats to the top of a web search.

I'd suggest starting with this one, and then also you might find some info here, but even though the second book is mostly focused on day hikes it still identifies places to camp, if i remember correctly.

As for specific places, I can recommend Sage's Ravine, which sits on the MA/CT border. There's a nice set of sites there and it's all easy to use. There are bear boxes for protecting your food without having to rig a bag. I'm also fairly sure there's a no campfire policy. I wouldn't suggest messing with that if you plan to go, though I'm also fairly certain I've seen some people with small fires there now and then.

My SO and I stayed at the Norris campground, which was great. It's pretty central so we were able to do things like drive down to grand tetons for the day and not have to move campsites often. We stayed at Gardiner the night before and woke up early to drive to the campsite. We got there 45-30 mins before they started accepting check-ins, and we were like 8th in line.

If you're doing first come first serve plan to get there EARLY to get your site.

As far as hikes, my personal favorite was Elephant's Back, you get an incredible panoramic view of Yellowstone lake, and almost nobody goes up there.

We didn't plan a ton in advance. We had a copy of this book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1560371579/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_axoizbA48SK5T
And just picked a region and picked a couple of hikes to do during the day based on distance, views, etc. Worked really well.

Hehe yes, seeing Everest is something everybody should do once in their lifetime, like going to the Galapagos.

The prices on the Jagged Globe website include flight from the UK, but you can fly on your own from the US and join them in Kathmandu, or maybe ask them to book a connection in London for you. Don't hesitate to get in touch with them with that kind of issues, they will be glad to help.

Except on summit days, we rarely do more than 5 miles a day and gain 1000-1500 feet at most, since going any faster would lead to altitude issues. Most people will be ok (though everybody will suffer to some extent) but some are just unlucky and come down with bigger health problems. One member of the group had to be helicoptered out as he had a very worrying chest infection that required immediate medical attention. It's quite rare, but it does happen.

You will probably like my photo essays from the trip (the Khumbu Diaries), it gives a day by day account of the expedition. I also strongly recommend getting Jamie McGuinness's guidebook, Trekking in the Everest region, as it is very thorough and informative.

There are not really any hidden costs, except maybe for tips (which you are told about at the beginning, and usually doesn't exceed 50-70 USD) but anything out of the regular meals will be very expensive in the mountains, and a soda or a candy bar can become very tempting after a long day. I burned through 300USD in a month without indulging too much, and could easily have spent double that amount.

I like Valley Falls in Vernon. Mansfield Hollow is solid. Backpacking up at Bear Mountain in Salisbury.

In the south, I really love Westwood Reserve in Guilford.

I'd highly recommend you pick up AMC's Best Day Hikes in Connecticut, they have some great recommendations all over the state, including specific loops and what's on them.

The Hiking the Wasatch book has a companion map that is pretty good for the area. I usually go to the State Map Store on N Temple just before Redwood Road. An awesome resource for all the surrounding states. They have a huge selection of 7.5 minute quads if you really want details. Good luck.

Not off the top of my head as I'm fairly new here and plan to get more into hiking the area this summer season. However, I find www.localhikes.com to be a good resource for finding hikes to do subsequent research on. Also, the ADK Trails (Forest Preserve Series) are good guides (e.g., Amazon Link).

A very short hike would be Vroman's Nose a little SE of Albany. A fairly nice (but flat) trail is around Peeble's Island NE of Albany. Otherwise, the Lake George area ADKs would be a good bet for day hikes.

Good luck and hopefully someone more knowledgeable than I comes along.

I was introduced to hiking in one of the most mindblowing hikes of my life - the Obsidian Trail near Sisters, OR. It's best described in this book: 100 Hikes in the Central Oregon Cascades

You cross a lava field, pick up a little of the PCT, check out alpine meadows with streams and ponds, can basecamp and then climb up to a glacier, or just find a nice meadow and spend the night under the stars.

If I could choose a few day trip to do out there, I'd hike up, basecamp at the base of the middle sister, summit the next morning, hang out, and then hike out on the third day.

Here are a couple pics I took on that first ever hike.

There are almost unlimited amazing opportunities out there, this is just one and may not be what you're looking for - either way have a great time and let us know how it goes!

Here are some of my recommendations, taking into account that some of the mountain parks (Rainier, St Helens, and Crater Lake) will still be partially closed due to snow:

Columbia River Gorge - Just east of Portland, full of spectacular waterfalls and trails, some nice small-ish towns, and some hot springs (Bonneville, Carson, Wind River)

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument - and undervisited gem in Central Oregon, home of the beautiful Painted Hills, and you may even time it right to catch the spring wildflower bloom there

Oregon Caves National Monument - it's in far SW Oregon, and one of the few, if not only, limestone caves in the PNW.

Olympic NP - Beautiful coastline, rain forests, alpine scenery (still snow in the higher elevations, though)

A few other cave recommendations are Ape Cave near Mt St Helens, Craters of the Moon NM in Idaho, Lava River Cave near Bend, OR, and Lava Beds NM just over the Oregon Border in California.

For hot springs, I'd highly recommend this guidebook

There's probably no way you could even do all of these in 4 days, so you might want to pick an area and focus in on that. Or fly to Portland or Seattle and rent a car, the extra days might be worth the extra expense.

There are tons and tons of things to do and see in Yellowstone. If you just stick to the backcountry you'll miss a lot. You could spend 3-4 days just doing the more touristy stuff. I bought this book to help figure out what hikes to do. Mt Washbourn was an awesome day hike. There was a place where the Boiling river met with a much colder river and you could swim in it. That was a lot of fun. The hike to the petrified trees in the northeast corner of the park is a great hike to go on and get away from the crowds. The park is basically two giant circles. I'd start at one end and go around until you hit everything.

As for camping I'd recommend making a reservation at one of the camp site now. You can't just pull off the road and camp and will probably need a permit for any backcounty sites. I stayed at the Canyon Campground last time I was there and it was a great camp site. Make reservations at campsite near the stuff you want to do and leave early or you'll sit in bear jams for hours....

For a "Kickass view from the top" it is hard to beat Brasstown Bald. But, I like anything in the Cohutta Wilderness. The book Hiking trails of North Georgia is an excellent guide, and is probably available at a local library, or maybe a hiker you know has a copy.

Jack's River Falls Trail is one of my favorites. But... it's not known for it's long views. There are a couple of approach trails and AT side trails that are very nice, and have great views. Of course, the AT from Springer Mountain....

Where's the trip? I'm curious about the need for that much water, but could see it in a desert. The pack should be fine, if a tad heavy, but if you end up having to carry bulky items it may be too small. (Worry about that later though.)

Aside from /r/Ultralight, Skurka's blog has good content both his book and this other one are good to look through.

One other suggestion I'd make is to adjust the gear list people get, otherwise you could end up with a bunch of inexperienced people with 60lb packs and all the fun that brings. There are a number of threads (on BPL, in /r/ultralight, and elsewhere) that list ultralight setups that try to stay under a given dollar amount. You can use those give people lists that include both common lightweight items and their budget alternatives. Remember, if they pack too much, you might end up having to carry it.

The only other official resort in Idaho is Sun Meadow in Worley, 260 miles from Boise. Oregon has a few, but I don't know if any are in the Eastern half, so it depends on how far you're willing to drive. Utah has none, haven't heard of any in Nevada. Don't know about the other neighboring states.

Idaho's big advantage is the hot springs. It's known for having some of the best hot springs in the country, and many of them are traditionally clothing optional. The trick is that none of them, to my knowledge, are officially clothing optional, so it takes familiarity and experience to know which ones are nude-friendly in practice and which are not. I have two books, Hiking Hot Springs in the Pacific Northwest and Hot Springs and Hot Pools of the Northwest, that have extensive information on the whole region, including notes on the trend of clothed vs nude at each one, but I take that with a grain of salt given that it's been a few years since the most recent editions. I can't advise on any of the Idaho springs, since I've really only gone to one in Oregon. It's closer than any of the Idaho springs, but it's a mixed bag at best when it comes to nudity.

I got this book to plan my trip: Kev Reynolds

And I've spent a lot of time on this site: http://www.autourdumontblanc.com/en/

This site has been pretty helpful as well: https://www.chamonix.net/

There are scores of trip reports, videos, and reviews of this trail. It's very easy to fall down the research rabbit hole. Have a great trip!

I've got a few falcon guides, they're ok but they seem like they were written by someone looking at topo maps and not someone who walked the trails.

This book is much better, it's in fact the best hiking guidebook I've ever used and I've used a lot. http://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Trails-North-Georgia-Homan/dp/1561451274

Tim Homan actually walked every trail in this book, took notes, then went back and hiked every trail in the book again while using one of those roller mile counter thingies to calculate mileage.

Think about crossing into the U.S. and taking in the north Cascades area. The Mt. Baker area, in particular, has some fabulous hiking, but the best hikes might still be snowbound at that time of year. Also in the US, Mt. Rainier is absolutely incredible to see, but will be a bit more a trek from Vancouver, so may not be worth it given a limited schedule.

There are a lot of hikes in the Whistler, Pemberton, Duffey Lake Road corridor. This book has some great options to check out. You can camp at Nairn Falls Provincial Park, just south of Pemberton and that puts you 30 minutes north of Whistler and about 45 minutes south of Joffre Lakes. The drive up the Sea-to-Sky and through to the Duffey is worth a day, even if you didn't get out of the car.

I'd recommend either Andrew Skurka's book or Dan Ladigan's book.

Andrew Skurka's website is also a good resource.

The Backpacking Light forums are excellent.

Ten Pound Backpack is pretty helpful for gear comparisons, once you know roughly what you're you're looking for.

From McCall, you have trail Creek that is 20 miles out of cascade and then keep going out to warm Lake and hit up mile 16 springs.. That loop has about 10 or so springs in varying conditions and popularity. If you keep going further south towards Boise and turn on the banks-lowmen Highway and head towards crouch/garden Valley there are another 25 or so springs from there.. Crouch/garden Valley would be the real place to base out of if your going to do a trip specifically to soak.. From there my favorites are Kirkham, pine flats, pine burl, and skinnerdipper. Once again all varieties of conditions and popularity.


I highly recommend the Falcon Guide "Hot Springs in the Pacific Northwest" it's an awesome guidebook with all the info you need on any springs in BC/Washington/Oregon/Idaho..



EDIT: Here is the Amazon link. Sorry for the ugly formating.. On my phone.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0762783702/ref=pd_aw_sims_7?pi=SY115&simLd=1

So I asked a similar question to the LSHT Facebook group way back in the day, and they suggested the book I'll link below. Basically they said this book was written more recently, where as the one you linked is somewhat dated. The one I have gives really good information about the trail, as well as general tips for backpacking, and how to plan trips. Very beginner friendly stuff. Lol. But still helpful to me when I was starting out. If youd like, you can PM me your address and I'll let you have my copy: )

Plan & Go | Lone Star Hiking Trail: All you need to know to complete Texas’ longest wilderness footpath (Plan & Go Hiking) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1943126011/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1w-QCbEER24BK

Well, for starters, I definitely recommend this guide for the area! The author is from Eugene and is extremely knowledgeable. His books are pretty much the Bible when it comes to Oregon hikes.

I've enjoyed every trip I've taken from that book into the Mckenzie foothills!Separation Creek and Sahalie falls are some highlights my wife and I have done recently. We're headed out to Olallie Mountain this weekend.

I don't have the book on me at the moment (at work) but it has a ton of great hikes in the area.

Others have mentioned William Sullivan's guidebooks, this one is virtually the hiking bible for our area. There is a newer version that I couldn't find on Amazon, but has recently been made available at REI.

If you plan on staying in Eugene for awhile that book is worth every penny. Just make sure to be a respectful hiker if you buy it, many of the trails that he lists used to be fantastically secluded, but have recently become much more popular.

"Open to anything..." is just the spirit we are looking for.

All you really need is a warm sleeping bag and a secure place other than the tent to store the food. No food in the tent. Is frickin' easy.

As for day hikes and the like "A Rangers Guide to Yellowstone Dayhikes" is well worth the investment: https://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Guide-Yellowstone-Day-Hikes/dp/1560371579. No matter where you are in the park, you can find an hour or so hike. Ten minutes off the beaten path, the crowds fade away.

You really only need to see one geyser basin. They aren't "all the same", but you see one and you get the idea. For that matter, you see one, you'll be back to see the rest. Tour.

You need to see Artists Point. That is the only way you will understand the name; Yellowstone.

Have fun, stay safe.

The Sykes Hot Springs in the Ventana Wilderness (Big Sur) you can backpack to. It's about 20 miles out and back or you can drop your car off on the backside and walk from the ocean through China Camp if you're feeling adventurous. My only advice is to go on a weekday if possible. The trail has gotten really popular over the years and gets really crowded. Water is still hot but often too many people to accommodate.

http://www.bigsurcalifornia.org/hotsprings.html[1]

Here's a quick map from the parking lot to the springs if you're interested here

Also, this book is worth picking up if natural hot springs are your thing

Yeah, the snow camping around here is great. I'd suggest picking up a copy of 100 Hikes in Oregon as a start. Once you hit August I recommend pretty much anywhere in the Three Sisters Wilderness for backpacking.

Anywhere in the Columbia River Gorge is always beautiful. Eagle Creek and Hamilton Mountain are two of my favorites. Check out this book for some of the best hikes in the area.

Yep!! Can I suggest this book as well. I just purchased it and it's pretty amazing.

This book is very helpful for a first-timer:

http://www.amazon.com/How-Hike-A-T-Nitty-Gritty-Long-Distance/dp/0811735427

For what it's worth, I hiked a considerable distance with a 17 year old during my hike. An amazing person. He told everyone he was 20 so that he didn't face constant age jokes and he had the maturity and humor to back it up. Jaws dropped when he revealed up in Maine that he was only 17.

• Ultralight: The Ray Jardine Way
  
  
• Ray Jardine's book Beyond Backpacking, now called Trail Life: Ray Jardine's Lightweight Backpacking is considered by some to be a bible of sorts.
  
  
• The Complete Walker is a perrenial favorite (read the 3rd ed. I think, before I did the Trail)
  
  
• I have not read Trail Tested: A Thru-Hiker's Guide To Ultralight Hiking And Backpacking but it looks interesting.
  
  
• This also looks interesting: Appalachian Trials: A Psychological and Emotional Guide To Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail (Volume 1)
  

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Amazon Smile Link: Trekking in the Everest Region


|Country|Link|Charity Links|
|:-----------|:------------|:------------|
|USA|smile.amazon.com|EFF|
|UK|www.amazon.co.uk|Macmillan|
|Spain|www.amazon.es||
|France|www.amazon.fr||
|Germany|www.amazon.de||
|Japan|www.amazon.co.jp||
|Canada|www.amazon.ca||
|Italy|www.amazon.it||
|India|www.amazon.in||




To help add charity links, please have a look at this thread.

This bot is currently in testing so let me know what you think by voting (or commenting). The thread for feature requests can be found here.

• Do water filters on the market make all stream water safe to drink?
  No. No one backcountry water purification method can handle every single situation. No filter is capable of removing ALL chemical contaminants (some remove none), and many filters do not remove viruses. If you are hiking in North America viruses are not generally considered a problem. (See: 1)
  
  
• How do i know if a stream or lake i'm hiking near contains contaminated water?(biological and chemical)
  You don't. But you can minimize the risk by only purifying water that you would feel reasonably comfortable drinking without purification -- eg: running water, no funny smells, some small wildlife living in the water (lack of toxins), no strange colors.
  
  
• How much water do i need to bring on an all day hike for two people?
  Depending on weather and conditions, I'd go with no less than 3 liters per person for an all-day (dusk to dawn) affair. SectionHiker goes into great detail about managing water on a hike.
  
  
• How do i get a hold of maps for the areas i plan on hiking in?
  You can buy maps at a local outfitters, from National Geographic, or download and learn to read the USGS maps. If you are asking this question, you should also learn how to stay found -- I recommend Be Expert with Map and Compass
  
  
• How do i know if i can have a campfire?
  Ask the regulatory agency responsible for the lands you are on.
  
  
• What about going to the bathroom? Do i just make a hole go or..?
  For pooping: Dig a hole with a small trowel about 8 inches deep and 6 inches wide. Do your business. Put your toilet paper in the hole, and using a found stick mix it up with a splash of liquid (pee or water) and some dirt. Cover the hole thoroughly and pack it down. For peeing: Take care to pee on rocks or sturdy trees. Don't pee on fragile plants.
  
  
• What kind of soap or hand cleaners are the best to bring?
  Biodegradable soap or Dr. Bronners if you must use soap. Most people use Purell instead to save water.
  
  
• How do i know if animals are a danger in the area?
  Consult the regulatory agency responsible for the lands you are on or local experts (gear stores).
  
  
• How do i deal with a potentially dangerous animal?(bears, cougars, snakes, or spiders)
  Leave them alone. Make plenty of noise so you don't surprise them. If you are wearing your pack and attacked by a stalking-type animal, curl up into a ball and cover your neck and get on your hands and knees. Cook and store your food about 50 feet downwind of where you make your camp.
  
  (1) Water purification: Keep in mind that none of these will work on chemicals found in the water like arsenic or toxins made by blue-green algae.
  
  
• UV works on: bacteria, protozoa, viruses. (Doesn't work on tapeworm eggs, which are typically only a problem in Isle Royale.)
  
  
• Filters work on: bacteria, protozoa, parasites, maybe viruses. (Works on viruses if it has a 0.1 micron filter or an iodine membrane.)
  
  
• Chlorine dioxide works on: all biological entities.
  

Get these books:
109 Walks and
103 hikes
The directions/explanations aren't the best, but at least it will give you ideas. And lots of the listings are not super well known, so often it's less crowded. I like just flipping through and picking a random spot. The walk book has walks that can take from a couple to many hours, but the hike book has major hikes - many of them are carry-in camp style for more serious hikers. Happy adventuring!

I can't recommend the book "Beyond Mt. Si: The Best Hikes Within 85 Miles of Seattle" enough. It's a great book and has very detailed trail descriptions, with indexes both by difficulty and geographical location. It's definitely worth getting a copy.

Um. no. It's really not. It's a fantastic book, written by arguably one of THE best hikers in the world. Andrew Skurka. The book answers the types of questions many people come here and ask like: 'hey, I'm going X, what type of gear is best for this trip'. Take a look inside at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Hikers-Gear-Guide-Techniques/dp/1426209207#reader_1426209207 Sure, he names some specific product names...but there is far more information on just general gear selection in there.

Do it!

I think most people can physically achieve a thru hike. Its definitely more of a mental challenge. There is a great book called Appalachian Trials which I would highly recommend reading if you are seriously considering an AT thru hike

You're actually better off getting a pack that's 'too small' - It forces you to be a little more disciplined in what you pack. I would suggest nothing larger than 50 Litres. I highly recommend reading 'The Ultimate Hikers Gear Guide by Andrew Skurka' - Your body will be thankful. It's seriously worth the investment. Guaranteed your backpack will be more than 10lbs lighter after reading it.

I found this book interesting

https://www.amazon.com/Appalachian-Trials-Psychological-Emotional-Thru-Hike/dp/0985090103/ref=nodl_

My goal is to be a 2019 NoBo, so I haven’t been out there yet, but the book was decent brain candy while waiting. Good luck!

There are no clean water sources along the way. There are a few brooks but the water is not 100% safe (we didn't risk drinking from them)...its really a nonissue if you just plan it out a little better than we did.

Edit: I should add that we didn't see any clean water sources and there were none indicated on the map I had, but I could still be mistaken.

Edit2: Its an awesome hike and the views are spectacular!

Edit3: If you don't have it already, I think the ADK Mountain Club High Peaks guide is worth the money. Available on Amazon

Book 1 is good.
Try these as well

Book3

Book 4

Book 5 - I have not read this book but I trust the author

Get yourself a copy of this book or this one and just start banging them out. Pro tip: don't just look in Oregon. At least half of the best hikes in your radius are in Washington. Both of those books have solid southern Washington sections.

Speaking of Washington, I wouldn't take the time to drive to Crater Lake until you've been to Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens. Both are closer to Portland and I my opinion more interesting areas to explore.

I'm not spending a single weekend in the city this summer and I couldn't be happier.

Garibaldi Lake is really nice and not too far for a day hike. I did an over nighter and had to dig out a tent pad under a meter and a half of wet snow... that was a bit unnecessary.

103 Hikes is a good book for info. You can also pick one up at MEC I'm sure.

http://www.vancouvertrails.com/trails/

I liked this book too 109 Hikes of the Lower Mainland

Here's one I haven't read but it's the same author: 103 Hikes Southwestern British Columbia

Hundreds of possibilities .. easy ones are Lynn Canyon, Cap, Stanley Park, Lighthouse Park, do all the beaches, Minnekhada, Colony Farm, Seymour Demonstration forest, +1 on Pacific Spirit, Deer Lake

Andrew Skurka's [The Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide] (http://www.amazon.com/The-Ultimate-Hikers-Gear-Guide/dp/1426209207) is a great book about gear related to long distance hiking. Darn Tough socks are always good!

This book is pretty good https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1934028770/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I recommend getting this guide book, it has lots of useful information https://www.amazon.com/Tour-Mont-Blanc-Complete-trekking/dp/1852847794/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1467369262&sr=8-1&keywords=tour+of+mont+blanc+cicerone

All hikes I mentioned are 8+ miles over hilly terrain. The Gahuti is the easiest of the bunch.

I'd recommend picking up a copy of Hiking Trails of North Georgia.

I found Michelle Ray's book, How to Hike the A.T.: The Nitty-Gritty Details of a Long-Distance Trek, invaluable to my preparation. Not knowing anyone who had any long-distance hiking experience, this was the next best thing.

I'd go to Powells (or any other bookstore) and pick up William Sullivan's book on the area. He's got every sort of hike you could imagine in there. Also, check out Mount Jefferson Wilderness area, its really beautiful out there.

I highly recommend Appalachian Trials! to any prospective thru-hiker. I'm reading it for my third time now and I feel that, going into the my hike next year, I already have a major advantage.

http://www.theatguide.com/

http://www.aldha.org/companion.html

You could try this one, but I've never used it:http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/0811735427

Check the sidebar of this subreddit--lots of good info there.

Tim Homan's book, "The Hiking Trails of North Georgia." It's a little dated now, but still a good resource.

https://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Trails-North-Georgia-Homan/dp/1561451274/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1526949642&sr=1-1&keywords=tim+homan&dpID=61HSRFK2R8L&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch

If you haven't read Appalachian Trials: A Psychological and Emotional Guide To Thru-Hike the Appalachian Trail I would highly recommend it

Buy these books before you spend any more money on anything else. They can save you a lot of money over the course of your upcoming months of gear-nerding out.

http://www.amazon.com/Ultralight-Backpackin-Tips-Inexpensive-Lightweight/dp/0762763841

http://www.amazon.com/The-Ultimate-Hikers-Gear-Guide/dp/1426209207

This book by long distance backpacker Andrew Skurka is quite useful. Anybody can pick it up and read it. He's all about taking only what you need via thorough preparation before your trip, but he isn't "stupid light" nor elitist about gear.

It's not too complicated, you could also just pick up a book like this one.

I recommend reading Appalachian Trials by Zach Davis: https://www.amazon.com/Appalachian-Trials-Psychological-Emotional-Thru-Hike/dp/0985090103/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1506807365&sr=8-1&keywords=appalachian+trials

All the data says pepper spray is more effective than guns in bear attacks, so I'd lose that right quick. Second, read Ray Jardine, Justin Lichter, and Andrew Skurka.

http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Backpacking-Jardines-Lightweight-Hiking/dp/0963235931/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1341345684&sr=8-2&keywords=ray+jardine

http://www.amazon.com/Trail-Tested-Thru-Hikers-Insights-Backpacking/dp/0984855009/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341345701&sr=1-1&keywords=trail+tested

http://www.amazon.com/The-Ultimate-Hikers-Gear-Guide/dp/1426209207/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1341345724&sr=1-1&keywords=andrew+skurka

You will find every suggestion we could come up with on here and more. Personally I find ponchos to be a shitty option, and sleeping bags and quilts are very nice. If you're on the Kenai, you will want a bugproof shelter, too.

Andrew covered that. Saves you from rebuying the whole kit until you finally get it right: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Hikers-Gear-Guide-Techniques/dp/1426209207

I'm reading this book now: Expert with Map and Compass and then will be look at this one: Wilderness Navigation

edit: readability

http://www.vancouvertrails.com/

http://www.amazon.ca/103-Hikes-Southwestern-British-Columbia/dp/1553653742

http://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Hot-Springs-Pacific-Northwest/dp/0762783702/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1452037899&sr=8-2&keywords=idaho+hot+springs

So I was drafting a blog post on books this weekend. Copypasta:

Ultimate Hiker's Gear Guide - Andrew Skurka

Ultralight Backpacking Tips - Mike Clelland

Lightweight Backpacking and Camping - Ryan Jordan

Trail Life: Ray Jardine's Lighweight Bapackpacking

Beyond Backpacking: Ray Jardine's Guide to Lightweight Hiking

No problem, for planning 100% buy this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Tour-Mont-Blanc-Complete-trekking/dp/1852847794/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=N26P7HE46ES9PEQF16M5

Also, book way ahead of time to make sure you get the huts/hotels you want. It's possible to find lodging day-of, but you'll never know where and you likely won't get the accommodations you're looking for (unless you're tent camping the whole thing)

Further, try to work it out so you stay the night at Les Mottets, Bonatti, and Lac Blanc (our favorites) and skip Elisabetta if you can help it as it was our least favorite night.

Simple crackers and biscuits, known as hardtack, were the kind of bread that were used by sailors and soldiers for centuries.

Seriously, though, if you are planning a major hike, there are plenty of books on the subject. Or just google "food for a long distance hike"

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0811735427?keywords=preparing%20for%20a%20long-distance%20hike&qid=1457019547&ref_=sr_1_fkmr2_3&sr=8-3-fkmr2

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1484062647?keywords=preparing%20for%20a%20long-distance%20hike&qid=1457019547&ref_=sr_1_fkmr2_1&sr=8-1-fkmr2

http://www.hikingdude.com/hiking-trek-food.php

http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/senior-health-never-too-late-to-be-healthy/long-distance-hiking-and-eating-not-exactly-a-healthy-diet/

All but the absolute cheapest compasses have declination adjustment. A $9 Silva or Suunto has the adjustment and to suggest that someone needs to spend Brunton money to get an accurate compass is ridiculous (and I HAVE a Brunton). Fake edit: I just remembered that Brunton makes normal compasses and not just transits and geology tools, not all their products are $300+ although they’re REALLY nice!

My Brunton transit is the only compass I have with E/W flipped because it’s a direct read compass. None of my others, including my Suunto MC-2G read that way. The majority of compasses that anyone will ever have will read normally, there’s no need to complicate this.

Here is more compass than most people will ever need and includes the clinometer functionality of the higher-end Brunton compasses. Less than $40.

Spend half that on a cheaper compass and buy a book like this and/or this one (I have no preference, I own both) and spend some time with them.

Also, if you print your own maps it doesn’t hurt to invest in waterproofing, it also makes them last longer!

If you REALLY want to hone your nav skills, find a local orienteering club! It’s a lot of fun, and once you’re past the initial investment (a compass) there’s not really any other cost other than time.

Source: Have been wandering around in the woods for 30-odd years and have spent much time teaching other people to not get lost in the woods.