hiking

[puniraptor]

an important part of hiking is to sling your jumbo honking DSLR around your neck with just enough battery charge to die right before snapping your first shot and then continue to carry it around for the next ___ hours

[Trim]

KK will have the best advice.

[Tobias]

at least we've kept it ok_cat-free so far

[Asteriskhead]

have you ever seen a lion stretch before it chases down a gazelle, rick daris? You don't need to train. Gather up a tent, some water, and some protein bars and start walking wherever your feet take ya.

[mocat]

J-hiking scene is A+++

would recommend

[star seed 7]

J-hiking scene is A+++

would recommend

Not challenging tho

[yoga-like_abana]

You can get a pretty good hiking trip out on kanza

plenty of pokestops too

that's the beauty of fancy creek..

[Emo EMAW]

RD there is hiking, camping, and backpacking (hike then camp away from car).  Don't confuse the three. 

There is only one (public) place in KS to do any backpacking, so that sucks. 

[Dr Rick Daris]

RD there is hiking, camping, and backpacking (hike then camp away from car).  Don't confuse the three. 

There is only one (public) place in KS to do any backpacking, so that sucks.

basically i've hiked a little over the past couple of years, have started to do it more and eventually want to do it to the point that I also start backpacking. that's where I'm at. going to hit up fancy creek/randolph this weekend. 70 degrees! may even do a hike/camp (not backpack) combo. wow!

[Tobias]

i'll hike to tokyo with you

[yoga-like_abana]

don't be alarmed but there is a valley at fancy I call it vulture valley and basically there are a crap ton of turkey vultures there in the trees. you'll know you are coming up on it by the amount of white crap you will see on the foliage around the trail.

[Dr Rick Daris]

white crap you will see on the foliage

 

[Trim]

I looked on wikipedia's "hiking" page to see exactly what it means, as I always thought it was walking but on trails or basically non-paved things.  I see that in the UK, they simply call both types "walking."

I like the hiking/walking (also sometimes known here as mountain-conquer'n), but the camping looks gross.

[sys]

day hiker/car camper here.  i don't like to carry stuff.  maybe if i had a pack, not meat, goat.

[SdK]

I'd like to imagine you had a massive pack snake. Or a bunch of smaller pack snakes.

[sys]

snakes are very slow.

[SdK]

I know. It's still a nice visual.

[Emo EMAW]

So like, what's the longest loop one could do halfway close to MHK?

[yoga-like_abana]

So like, what's the longest loop one could do halfway close to MHK?

I could tell you.... But I'm not going to

[Emo EMAW]

Well that's not very helpful. 

[SdK]

Linear trail!

[Gooch]

have you ever seen a lion stretch before it chases down a gazelle, rick daris? You don't need to train. Gather up a tent, some water, and some protein bars and start walking wherever your feet take ya.

This is really great advice.

[cDubya]

Been looking into getting some hiking boots and a good pack as the gf can't do much trail running due to an IT band injury. So we're planning on lots of day/weekend hikes and camping this Spring. Tons of serious terrain, so I want something quality, but cant be dropping half a grand on boots/pack.

Any tips/links would be great, TIA.

[Emo EMAW]

cDub, boots are really personal preference.  There are dudes trucking animals out on their backs through rough country wearing low tops type trail runners, and then there's dudes doing day hikes in mid length full leather stuff sole type boots. 

Protip:  Goretex liner will fail after one season, no matter the brand.  I've had that be true in boots ranging from 150 bucks to 450 bucks.  So just accept it.  If waterproofness is important I'd recommend a smooth leather upper and you can treat with Nikwax. 

Also no matter which pair you get, be prepared to get an aftermarket insole.  I've tried Superfeet green and they were better than stock Asolo insoles (for me), but then I replaced them with Lathrop & Sons and those were muuuuch better.

Packs, there are lots of good ones and for backpacking I wouldn't spend more than 200 bucks.  Osprey is a good start.  I have a Deuter I like.  Go to REI and try on a bunch with a load.  Make sure they fit it to your torso length. 

Boots and pack are very important, but so is what (how much) you put inside. 

[Emo EMAW]

Also don't be afraid to buy used, esp packs.  People always buy them with big plans and then life happens and they sell them with very little wear.