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52 votes

Transportation for one-way day hikes in the US

I can't recommend any specific hikes (and do not even live near your location). But my preferred method is to take transportation to the trail head, and then walk back to my car (or to other reliable ...
Weather Vane's user avatar
  • 11.5k
49 votes
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Mosquito season in Swedish Lapland

🦟 🦟 🦟 I've hiked a lot in Swedish Lapland, and I used to live there for nearly six years. The mosquitoes can indeed be very bad in summer, in particular in the forest. Mosquitoes wake up between ...
gerrit's user avatar
  • 54.7k
36 votes
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Public huts to stay overnight around UK

The UK isn't a very wild place, at least compared with New Zealand, so there isn't a lot of call for 'public huts', by which I'm assuming you mean shelters which are free for anyone to use in remote ...
DJClayworth's user avatar
  • 63.8k
33 votes

Why are Chinese mountains scaled by steps? (instead of winding paths)

To add to the other answers, some paths my be susceptible to soil erosion - from foot traffic and rainfall. This eventually makes some sections almost impassable for some people, as well as damaging ...
Robert Long's user avatar
33 votes
Accepted

Does the Black Forest (Germany) have French style refuges (free, no-reservation)?

What's called a refuge in French is a Hütte in German. In both cases, it can be staffed (gardé, bewirtschaftet) and possibly offer some basic catering or be unstaffed (refuge non gardé, ...
Relaxed's user avatar
  • 104k
32 votes

Public huts to stay overnight around UK

These are known as bothies. A bothy is a basic shelter, usually in a remote location. They are unlocked, and available for anyone to use, free of charge. There are many different styles and sizes of ...
vclaw's user avatar
  • 2,205
29 votes

Weather on the Scottish West Highland Way in March?

Be prepared for any kind of weather in March. The weather in Scotland can change very quickly, and being caught on the hills with inadequate clothing can be a recipe for disaster, especially if ...
Weather Vane's user avatar
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27 votes
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Is it reasonable to go to Longyearbyen by myself without a car?

Longyearbyen is a very small town with a population of not much more than 2,000. Within the town centre, you can reach everything easily by foot and even the outskirts of the town are only 2-3km from ...
Tor-Einar Jarnbjo's user avatar
26 votes

Proper clothing for rather pale person in very hot and sunny climate

I was surprised to discover that a long sleeved "technical" shirt with a high Sun Protection Factor (SPF) kept me much cooler (and reduced the amount of water I needed to drink while cycling) than a ...
Kate Gregory's user avatar
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26 votes
Accepted

Where to find hikes accessible in November and reachable by public transport from Denver?

I don't have a specific resource to point to, but I do have a personal recommendation: the foothills adjacent to Boulder, CO. As far as public transport, Boulder is a bright spot in a region whose ...
Nate Eldredge's user avatar
24 votes

Transportation for one-way day hikes in the US

I have spent time on several sections (or "passages") of the Palmetto Trail. (Nice trail! not a lot of "stunning views" or anything, but very pleasant). In my experience relying on ...
Bunji's user avatar
  • 1,844
21 votes

Is it reasonable to go to Longyearbyen by myself without a car?

As others have said, a car is not needed and not that useful. But there are in fact a few roads and a taxi service beside the airport shuttle. Nybyen, where the only hostel is located, is a bit ...
Relaxed's user avatar
  • 104k
21 votes
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Is it possible to cross Luxembourg north to south hiking?

The GR5 crosses Luxembourg North to South, mostly along the Eastern border with Germany and the Mosel valley. Vianden is on this route, Luxembourg is not. From Echternach or Beaufort, you could ...
Relaxed's user avatar
  • 104k
20 votes
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Is there a charge for mountain rescue in Spain (Canary Islands)?

In many regions of Spain and depending on the circumstances, the costs associated with search and rescue are passed on to those who need it. It has been the subject of intense media coverage in recent ...
Giorgio's user avatar
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19 votes
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Is there public access to the Meteor Crater in Arizona?

The company that owns the crater notes that there are guided rim walks and a few separate lookout points from which you can see the crater. However, it doesn't appear to be possible to walk around on ...
Michael Seifert's user avatar
17 votes

Hiking across Iceland

Your planned itinerary is too ambitious for a hiker not experienced with Iceland. It might be fine, but might is not enough. Considering the uncertainty of hiking off-trail in unknown terrain, you ...
gerrit's user avatar
  • 54.7k
17 votes
Accepted

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from San Francisco to Canada in 3 months?

This will most depend on your own pace, so this is hard to predict. However, on Wikipedia we can find that the PCT association recommends 6 to 8 months for the entire trail. Starting near San ...
Vince's user avatar
  • 20.9k
15 votes

Why are Chinese mountains scaled by steps? (instead of winding paths)

When many people climb the same path every day, natural rocks become smooth, slippery and dangerous. An example in Europe is the path to Château de Montségur in the french Pyrenees. Stairs are less ...
mouviciel's user avatar
  • 15.6k
14 votes

Cross US-Canada border at Glacier NP

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/do-rb/offices-bureaux/658-eng.html This is the customs and immigration office, if you cross inside the park. (There is a highway border crossing along the east margin of ...
Jim MacKenzie's user avatar
14 votes

Is there public access to the Meteor Crater in Arizona?

It's not public in the sense that you can just walk there wherever you want. The crater is owned by a private company, which operates a visitor center and guided tours for a fee. It looks on Google ...
dunni's user avatar
  • 9,029
14 votes

Weather on the Scottish West Highland Way in March?

https://www.hillwalktours.com/walking-hiking-blog/the-weather-on-the-west-highland-way/: Spring on the West Highland Way: The average temperature in spring depends strongly on your exact location on ...
Franck Dernoncourt's user avatar
14 votes

Long distance hiking in Russia. Is it possible with a visa?

Hiking in general is legal in Russia, even on a tourist visa. However, the biggest obstacle is the requirement to register yourself at a place of accomodation. If you're staying in the wilderness, ...
Johnnyjanko's user avatar
  • 3,394
13 votes

Does the Black Forest (Germany) have French style refuges (free, no-reservation)?

Probably not This is a rather vague half-answer, but it's more than a comment. Through the commercial tourism association http://www.schwarzwald-tourismus.info/ I found the different organisations ...
simbabque's user avatar
  • 4,785
13 votes

Is there a charge for mountain rescue in Spain (Canary Islands)?

After a rescue operation, there will be an enquiry to determine the circumstances that led to it. They will check everything you did, what kind of equipment you had with you, clothing, shoes... If ...
Diego Sánchez's user avatar
13 votes
Accepted

How can I hike the Etna on my own and then reach the summit with a guide?

I have asked the Gruppo Guide Etna Sud, which is an official guide group which is responsible for organizing excursions to Etna and supervision over the tourists. Although it took some time to explain ...
Edmund Dantes's user avatar
12 votes

How are Scottish hiking trails marked?

The short answer is that paths are rarely marked well, and it is generally necessary to have a map and to know how to read it. Scotland has a long-established right to roam, meaning you can walk ...
Richard Smith's user avatar
12 votes
Accepted

What does this sign on a hiking trail communicate?

This is a sign used in Spain which means that the land is a private hunting reserve. That doesn't mean you can't walk on it, but it means you need authorisation to hunt (and that perhaps you should be ...
MJeffryes's user avatar
  • 14.7k
11 votes
Accepted

Where can I hike in the UK?

Looking only at the legal aspects of this - and not at the suitability or recommendation of any particular walk. In England and Wales, you can walk on any public right of way, or on any open access ...
EdC's user avatar
  • 2,118

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