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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

#71

Post by nether »

ssl232 wrote: 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…

It's much easier to repackage data from Reddit/Wikipedia in a nicer format than to generate your own.

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

#72

Post by carabiner »

ctrager wrote: post #54
ctrager wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Consider the Camino de Santiago. I've done the last 300 km. The distance between places to stay is manageable, lots of infrastructure, lots of friendly people who could help you if you get stuck. You don't need to carry much because you sleep indoors and there is food available along the way. The next step would be doing a hut/refuge to hut/refuge hike in the Alps. A hut/refuge is a hotel with a restaurant, private r…

I just want to add, for actual American-style backpacking, I think the best place for somebody who wants a managable challenge is the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, maybe a trip that would have you enter the mountains via Bishop or Kearsarge passes. Here are things that can make a backpacking trip easier or harder: * Grizzly Bears - Some great backpacking places - the Winds, Alaska - have grizzly bears which…

The Sierra really has the most challenging terrain of the entire trail, and is hard to get to from most major cities. Better would be to enter the trail near Mt. Baden-Powell / Wrightwood / Big Bear from Los Angeles. It also has a longer viable season than the Sierra.

Other options are Mt. Hood (near Portland), and Stevens Pass (near Seattle).

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

#73

Post by carabiner »

gkfasdfasdf wrote: post #58
kyteland wrote: post #56

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.

Start out car camping. My progression was:

1. Avid day hiker (10-16 mile hikes every weekend, 5-8k ft gain)

2. Car camping in Ojai (near Los Angeles). Drive in, setup your tent, chill, sleep, leave next morning.

3. Backpacking around LA on the trails from step 1

4. Thru-hiked PCT

5. Mountaineering / alpine climbing

Lots of people do the PCT with little hiking experience and are fine though. It's just walking, and there are tons of people to help you.

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

#74

Post by carabiner »

OP, terminology nit: a thru-hike is a way of completing a long-distance hike, not a type of hike in itself. It just means completing the entire trail in one continuous go. You can section hike (do pieces over the years) any of these long-distance trails, and that would not be a thru.

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

#75

Post by jointpdf »

ctrager wrote: post #54
ctrager wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Consider the Camino de Santiago. I've done the last 300 km. The distance between places to stay is manageable, lots of infrastructure, lots of friendly people who could help you if you get stuck. You don't need to carry much because you sleep indoors and there is food available along the way. The next step would be doing a hut/refuge to hut/refuge hike in the Alps. A hut/refuge is a hotel with a restaurant, private r…

I just want to add, for actual American-style backpacking, I think the best place for somebody who wants a managable challenge is the Sierra Nevada mountains in California, maybe a trip that would have you enter the mountains via Bishop or Kearsarge passes. Here are things that can make a backpacking trip easier or harder: * Grizzly Bears - Some great backpacking places - the Winds, Alaska - have grizzly bears which…

+1 on the Sierra recommendation generally, but a couple things:

- Bears: You still need to be disciplined about food/smellables. Bear canisters are required for most of the Sierra—not bringing one is a recipe for a fine or getting escorted out by a ranger. Also, other critters are a problem. I had a raccoon steal my unguarded shorts (they had a bag of weed in the pocket) while I was sleeping, and I had to walk back to town with no pants.

- Logistics: Bishop/Kearsarge passes are quite remote and rugged, and then you’re on the PCT/JMT superhighway which is increasingly over-stressed by people. You can enter via Duck Pass or Red’s Meadow from Mammoth Lakes via public transit. The friendliest place for beginners would probably be further north in the Lake Tahoe region (e.g. Tahoe Rim Trail). Vermillion Valley Resort is a (rugged) ~1 hour drive from Fresno, and is one of the most classic congregation spots for PCT/JMT hikers and would make a great entry point. Angeles National Forest / the PCT would be a good choice for the LA area.

- Lightning/weather: The weather doesn’t care if it intimidates you or not, so you need to be prepared for anything. I didn’t bring rain pants to the desert section of the PCT and got slammed by freezing rain and had to run to avoid hypothermia. Also, please don’t do something batshit insane like go over a pass in inclement weather (I see it all the time). Here’s a document on lightning safety: https://www.nols.edu/media/filer_public/fa/96/fa96d71d-df6b-...

- Leave no trace: The Sierra is heavily impacted, so please tread lightly! In particular, don’t camp https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/leave-no-trace.html

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

#76

Post by mouldysammich »

dschep wrote: post #20
ssl232 wrote: 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…

You are correct about OSM. You can see them easily on https://hiking.waymarkedtrails.org/

ooh cool, I hadn't seen this before, but its enlightened me of several hikes near me! Exciting!

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

#80

Post by ghaff »

rident wrote: post #38

Nice list! Noticed a few decent US hiking trails that aren't on it though. There are tons more of course, especially if you include BDR stuff. Ice age trail - https://www.iceagetrail.org Superior hiking trail - https://superiorhiking.org/ John Muir trail - https://www.johnmuirtrail.org/ Long trail - https://www.greenmountainclub.org/the-long-trail/ Pacific Crest trail - https://www.pcta.org/ Hayduke trail - http://ww…

Among those, the Ice Age trail is only about half-complete. The whole thing can be walked but you'll be doing about 500 miles on roads.
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