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I walked across Luxembourg

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Re: I walked across Luxembourg

#231

Post by LorenPechtel »

gkfasdfasdf wrote: post #230

Does anyone know if a similar path (scenic, close to towns/cheap hostels along route) exists in the US? Somewhere in Appalachia perhaps?

Scenic, yes. Far more remote, though--you'll be spending a lot of nights in the wilderness and most of what you drink will be natural sources that you filter. Your cell phone will rarely work--assume a SOS will have to go by satellite.

Look up the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. All make his 4 day trip look like a stroll in the park--to do any of them in 4 *months* would be a very good performance. All require a certain amount of permitting, I know the PCT permits are by lottery (capacity restrictions), I'm pretty sure the CDT ones are not except for problems getting campsites in the national parks it passes through. No idea on the AT. To accomplish any of these in a single trip requires maintaining a good pace. There are people who have hopped around (doing hot parts in cool times and cool parts in hot times) and completed all three within a single calendar year--last I knew the number of such people exactly matched the number of moonwalkers.

If that's too big for you there are things like the Arizona trail (IIRC 800 miles) and the Colorado trail (I think it's under 500--but note that an awful lot of it is in the 10,000'+ range.) There is the Vermont Long Trail, no idea of the details. I know there are many others but they do not come to mind.

Re: I walked across Luxembourg

#232

Post by LorenPechtel »

Agingcoder wrote: post #86

Many years ago I was traveling around Asia and came across a Spanish traveler called Samuel who was walking from Barcelona to Kathmandu. I don’t know if he made it, but he made a lasting impression on me.

There are parts of the world on such a trek that these days I would not want to cross by vehicle, let alone on foot.

In the 70s, though, I was with my parents on the Delhi-Tehran portion of the old Kathmandu-London route. I'm only seeing recollections of the old trips, though, no indication that groups are doing it now.

Re: I walked across Luxembourg

#233

Post by LorenPechtel »

maxhille wrote: post #228
jillesvangurp wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That and memory foam / gel pads in your shoes. I walk a lot since the lock down and I've had knee issues in the past. Good gel pads help and using your knees with light exercise actually improves things. I Mostly wear sneakers. Hiking shoes tend to be a bit more rigid and have less shock absorption. The poles might help as well. Nordic walking, is a thing that a lot of cross country skiers do in Scandinavia to stay i…

You should not get kee problems from walking. Maybe your gait is somewhat unnatural? Fortunately I never had problems like that but I am sure using barefoot shoes (Fivefinger in my case) improved how I walk. When I am not using those I use zero drop Trailrunners (Altra Lone Peak) which kind of force you to use your front foot more.

Depends on the terrain.

I can walk all day on reasonably level terrain with no knee issues. I prefer poles when there is appreciable climb and I absolutely must have poles and compression sleeves on my knees for any substantial descents.

I always hike with poles but if the terrain is level enough they'll be simply in one hand or possibly stowed on my pack. If I'm on a mountain I'll be using them frequently.

Re: I walked across Luxembourg

#234

Post by LorenPechtel »

not_alexb wrote: post #32
coldtea wrote: post #21

Sounds more impressive if you don't know Luxembourg is at max 50 miles long...

Wow. As someone who has driven from LA to Seattle without breaks quite a few times (which is around 1,000 miles), that really puts in perspective how small Europe can be at times. I guess that shouldn't be surprising as that's similar to the distance between Berlin and Moscow.

Europe is a little bigger than the US. It's just it's divided into countries while we are divided into states.

Re: I walked across Luxembourg

#235

Post by LorenPechtel »

uwagar wrote: post #99

how are people able to walk 100kms in 4 days with no rest days. i just can walk 8 kms every day :(

It depends on how much you do it.

25 km/day, flat terrain, light pack--I have dietary issues that could prove problematic for a four-day trip (expending 4,000 calories in a day, not an issue. Consuming 4,000 calories in a day would be hard--I would worry about bonking) but I fairly routinely hike 25km in a day and with nearly twice his load (I'm typically in the middle of nowhere, if I have to push the button help would likely be hours away--my safety standard is I should be able to survive the night) and rarely less than 500m of climb over the day.

Re: I walked across Luxembourg

#236

Post by LorenPechtel »

uwagar wrote: post #222
prawn wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

25km isn't too rough unless you're copping a lot of ups and downs, or don't enjoy walking. Helps if you start early to cover ground and give yourself time to rest. Our 4yo daughter did day hikes in the 15-20km range a few times last year, in mountainous terrain. I think attitude and resilience are key. In this case, one advantage was the author having a 7kg pack and using accommodation/food along the way rather than…

4yo hikes 15-20kms? man, sources please.

I've not personally seen a 4yo in the backcountry but a 6yo has climbed our local highest peak. 30km round trip with 1.5km of climb.

And how about this family:

https://thetrek.co/pacific-crest-trail/big-trail-big-family/

Their 4yo is to date the only 4yo to complete the AT. Now they have done the CDT at 6yo. These are both >3000km treks.

Re: I walked across Luxembourg

#237

Post by LorenPechtel »

ryankrage77 wrote: post #168
uwagar wrote: post #99

how are people able to walk 100kms in 4 days with no rest days. i just can walk 8 kms every day :(

I was wondering this too. Last time I did a ~15km walk, my legs and feet were really aching at the end of it. I think I could have done another 15km back if I had no other choice, but it would have been miserable. As it started to rain, I got a lift back instead.

Of course. If you're not used to that kind of thing you will be aching. If you're used to it, though, it's not hard.

Re: I walked across Luxembourg

#238

Post by LorenPechtel »

developer93 wrote: post #96
draven wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Shoes are not strictly necessary either, but they help. Trekking poles help, and I also need them to pitch my tent, so I'll keep them.

They come as part of the tent or what? Tell me more I'm intrigued.

Some tents are designed to use your hiking poles in place of some or all of the poles they would normally use. Get double duty out of the mass you carry. If you're going to carry it hundreds or thousands of miles weight becomes very important.

Re: I walked across Luxembourg

#239

Post by mikhailfranco »

w-m wrote: post #57
famahar wrote: post #19

I walked across Tokyo last weekend. Took me 20 hours. I suck at writing so all I'll say is that everyone should walk across a city. It's a magical experience. Turn off your your phone, bring a disposable camera and a compass and just walk. You'll discover so many personal insights.

I’ve often done that in Paris, absolutely enjoyable. Through the city proper you only walk a little over two hours north-south or east-west. With a few detours to points if interest and breaks for coffee it’s one of my favorite ways to spend a half day.

Walk Paris in August when the weather is good, the days are long, and it's empty, for enhanced experience

I once had a long train 'connection' from Gare du Nord to Gare d'Austerlitz, early in the morning, which I decided to walk. Magical.

I took a photo of the Arc de Triomphe in the sunrise without any cars on the Place d'Etiole. Literally zero. I walked across to the Arc.

I have treasured photo, blown up to a poster, which hung on my wall for many years as a student.

Re: I walked across Luxembourg

#240

Post by gkfasdfasdf »

LorenPechtel wrote: post #231
gkfasdfasdf wrote: post #230

Does anyone know if a similar path (scenic, close to towns/cheap hostels along route) exists in the US? Somewhere in Appalachia perhaps?

Scenic, yes. Far more remote, though--you'll be spending a lot of nights in the wilderness and most of what you drink will be natural sources that you filter. Your cell phone will rarely work--assume a SOS will have to go by satellite. Look up the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. All make his 4 day trip look like a stroll in the park--to do any of them in 4 *months* would b…

Yeah those hikes sound pretty epic. My original question was more about finding a tiny segment of those hikes that would be close to civilization and could be done in a few days.
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