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Show HN: Thruhikes – A list of long distance hikes around the world

thruhikes.net

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Re: Show HN: Thruhikes – A list of long distance hikes around the world

#63
post #43

Is there a good resource or tutorial on how one would prepare and execute one of these hikes? I would love to try a multi-day hike, but I have zero experience camping / backpacking. Where to get started? Are there hikes for complete novices that e.g. go from town to town with places to stay overnight?

When I was preparing to hike the Appalachian Trail this year (cancelled due to covid), this was by far the best single resource that I found: https://youtu.be/VC0MIV8OTtM

Thanks, added to watch list!

Re: Show HN: Thruhikes – A list of long distance hikes around the world

#64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For not having any experience this is a lot like a non-runner asking how to run a marathon. You should probably start smaller with a couch-to-5k approach and work your way up to it. Going too hard too fast is an easy way to have a terrible experience. I've watched far too many people abandon the hobby because their first attempt was too ambitious and they got in over their heads. If you're really starting from zero m…

Thanks, I appreciate the advice. I am comfortable hiking long distances, it is just the multi-day aspect that I find daunting.

I guess at that point you just need to start doing it. I have a lot of outdoorsy types in my family and we've been doing long, multi-day backpacking trips most summers since 1998. On my first trip I bought a cheap sleeping bag, pad, and backpack and relied on the more experienced people in the group for everything else. The shoes I wore were terrible and by the time we got back to the car on the end of the 4th day I could barely walk my feet were so blistered. For the next summer I saved up and bought a really nice pair of boots which I still have. They're the most expensive footwear I've purchased in my life and worth every penny.

I can't recommend enough finding a group of experienced people to start with. You'll make plenty of mistakes and they'll help keep it from turning into a catastrophe. You'll pick up a lot from them while also figuring out what does/doesn't work for you. Probably five years after starting backpacking with my family I was the 'experienced one' leading a group of friends on a hike through the Smokey Mountains on the Appalachian Trail.

Re: Show HN: Thruhikes – A list of long distance hikes around the world

#65

Is there a good resource or tutorial on how one would prepare and execute one of these hikes? I would love to try a multi-day hike, but I have zero experience camping / backpacking. Where to get started? Are there hikes for complete novices that e.g. go from town to town with places to stay overnight?

I would start with simpler day hikes and find good shoes and clothes that work for you, practise carrying a little food and water for the day. Best to get used to it gradually and build up your gear, the sleeping and shelter stuff can get really overwhelming really quickly and it's a bit of a money pit of a hobby if you're starting from scratch. There are some good deals to be had second hand and trading gear too.

Edit: typo

Re: Show HN: Thruhikes – A list of long distance hikes around the world

#66
post #41

Is there a good resource or tutorial on how one would prepare and execute one of these hikes? I would love to try a multi-day hike, but I have zero experience camping / backpacking. Where to get started? Are there hikes for complete novices that e.g. go from town to town with places to stay overnight?

Here's my backpacking list: https://www.notion.so/backpacking-aaf9b1959c57448ca86b9b481a... Note: backpacking is ALL about preparation. Make a good list and you'll be good.

Using notion for this is a cool idea, I built a tool[0] last year to scratch my own itch but I haven't had so much time to put into it lately.

[0] https://www.packrat.app

Re: Show HN: Thruhikes – A list of long distance hikes around the world

#67
post #40
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This sounds like a nice area of Europe to see. If it is possible to bike this path it could be reasonably done as a vacation. Have you got any good resources which paths are recommmended, and points of interest along the way? Google doesn't seem to report much apart from a few shorter passages along the way.

Well, it is actually bike path. I can't talk about whole road, but at the leg through the Czech republic is actually well marked on each intersection. Here is a map I found: https://en.eurovelo.com/ev9 This route actually didn't end at Venice as it suppose to end (and didn't pass through the Baltic states), but it is nice overview.

Thank you! That turned out to be a great resource.

I have previously looked at something called the Trans Dinarica, a 2000km mountain bike trail through beautiful terrain in the Dinarica alps. Maybe this is a bit easier alternative, while no less epic.

Re: Show HN: Thruhikes – A list of long distance hikes around the world

#68

Is there a good resource or tutorial on how one would prepare and execute one of these hikes? I would love to try a multi-day hike, but I have zero experience camping / backpacking. Where to get started? Are there hikes for complete novices that e.g. go from town to town with places to stay overnight?

Suggest checking out Homemade Wanderlust on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/c/HomemadeWanderlust) She's done the triple crown (PCT, AT, CDT), Camino De Santiago and about a million other hikes. She provides great reviews / advice on tons of experience.

Re: Show HN: Thruhikes – A list of long distance hikes around the world

#69

Is there a good resource or tutorial on how one would prepare and execute one of these hikes? I would love to try a multi-day hike, but I have zero experience camping / backpacking. Where to get started? Are there hikes for complete novices that e.g. go from town to town with places to stay overnight?

If you have not camped overnight yet, do that first a bunch of times ... without the hiking and backpacking. Some people call it car camping because you are not far from your car. This will teach you what you need and what you’ve forgotten to bring without much risk. You will also learn what kind of meals you want to prepare and carry, which is really important.

Along with car camping is walk in camping where you have to go a few hundred yards from the car. Enough to make it inconvient to haul a keg or large cooler. Can get some nice spots that way. And you can practice w the backpack and have backup of the car if needed

Re: Show HN: Thruhikes – A list of long distance hikes around the world

#70
post #11

Looks nice, but why the separate database? This seems like the sort of thing that should be using OpenStreetMap's database as a backend. Most long distance walks will be in there already, so the site could just pipe that data and add some more photos. This could be another "special interest" map backed by OSM, like OpenInfraMap [1], OpenRailwayMap [2], OpenTopoMap [3], etc. (Edit to add, because otherwise this commen…

how else would the author make money out of freely available data, once this gains traction?

I think you can still make money from the freely available data by making it easier to access.
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