I will be hiking the appalachian trail in Virginia near Shenandoah National Park.

Classic clip from Series One. Please check out my other clips, message me if there is one you would like, i have series 1/2/3 DVD’s and World shut your mouth DVD.

I am going hiking for the first time and was wonder what kind of stuff should i take? Please help! Oh and if it helps any way i am hiking in MO.

I consider myself very lucky. I live in a city that is surrounded on all sides by hills and moor land and some of the best rambling to be had in the country. And so, regardless of weather, most weekends will find me packing up the family and the dog and heading out into the Peak District to exercise the legs, lose a few calories and free the mind from the stresses and strains of the rest of the week.

No matter how old or physically fit you are, whether you’re a walker, a rambler or a fully fledged hiker, the must have piece of equipment these days is a good hiking stick. Whenever you are out walking you’ll see all manner of people carrying all manner of sticks. This is because the hiking stick is very useful in all manner of situations. The stick can be a godsend when hiking hills or climbing as it provides that extra point of contact with the ground and offers a further degree of leverage as you work your way upwards. And once at the summit or the end of a good walk your stick provides a welcome rest and support for tired limbs and sore backs.

So you can see that the advantages to owning a hiking stick are clear, but just what stick to by? It seems the popular trend at the moment is towards the cheap, mass manufactured skiing poles, simple aluminium pipes with plastic handles. As a cheap and easy option this is certainly the way to go, and there is no doubt that they do an adequate job, but if I may state a personal opinion, in this arena (as in many others) I think traditional is best.

A simple carved or patterned wooden hiking stick can be not only functional but extremely attractive. Praise unlikely to be heaped upon your skiing pole. Opportunities abound to personalise your stick in all manner of ways while at the same maintaining a closer relationship to the land and environment your stick is aiding you to enjoy. Wooden sticks can provide just as much support as their man made counterparts and with the addition of an alpine spike to the end can be just as useful to the hill climber and adventurer. A wooden hiking stick, handmade by a craftsman, is a unique item that with a little care and attention will last a lifetime, and what’s more will provide a talking point for your friends and fellow walkers.

I’ve had my wooden hiking stick with me for a lot of years and as the seasons and terrains have changed my stick has changed with me. It may be looking a little weathered and beaten now, but then so am I.

Backpacking is probably the best way to really experience a place of interest. You interact directly with the local people, take part in a cultural celebration, visit interesting religious sites and become a part of the community.

The experience will be very much different from domestic hiking trips.

Guided Hiking Tour

A guided hiking tour can range from a simple trip to a huge expedition. Some will provide porters that show the way and carry your camping gear.

The number of porters is depends on availability and the size of the group.

These organized treks can be arranged when you’re at home or when you arrive.

Deciding to use the porters may cost a little bit extra but it will help a lot in supporting the local economy and encourage locals to preserve the surrounding natural beauty.

Unguided Hiking

The best thing about the guided tour is that if you have a porter you have to carry your own backpack. The most you’ll carry will probably be no more than what your fanny pack can hold.

Still a lot of hikers prefer to hike independently in developing countries. You have to carry your own pack but the experience is so much better at least for most people, me included.

Many guidebooks are available for who prefer the unguided trek. It will include details on backpacking hostels, landmarks, places to visit, lodges, shops for camping supplies and some will include a little bit of history.

Hiking with Pack Animals

Donkeys, mules, horses, goats and dogs can be used to carry supplies. Hiking with pack animals require more planning and scheduling than normal group hiking but you can carry more camping equipment and food.

You might also want to hire a guide and animal handlers just to be safe.

Safety and Security

Camping gear is expensive. In some countries the cost of your hiking gear alone can feed a family for a year.

This huge difference in wealth makes hikers targets for thieves. Be safe and never show any expensive electronic equipment or large sums of cash.

You can take further precautions with hiking accessories such as cable-reinforced money belts, padlocks, secret compartments and steel nets to encase your backpack.

Remember that these are just secondary precautions, when it comes to keeping yourself safe it involves a little bit of common sense.

Take special care when traveling in a politically unstable area. A guide is a must if you want to avoid trouble spots.

Local Customs

An uniformed visitor may frequently give offense for not respecting the array of cultural and religious taboos.

Many of these customs may be difficult to understand. That’s why investing in a good guidebook can make for a pleasant stay.

Food

When hiking in a developing country, you get the chance to try authentic local food much better than restaurants for tourists.

One should be careful than one man’s food may also be another’s poison. People with food allergies or restricted diets may find that their choices are limited.

It’s always a good idea to pack along your camping food.

Sanitation

Poor standards of sanitation doesn’t stop hikers from staying in lodgings rather than hotels.

However, there are many places where the water supply is not clean and the food not safe to eat.

If you are concerned about hygiene and sanitation, travel with a tour company that will help you find the best available local amenities.

Update (Mar 2009) Old Goat is hiking the AT again. He is joined by Check 6 (his wife). They started in GA Mar 12th and plan to hike to Maine together. To follow their journey, check their trailjournal at: www.trailjournals.com and subscribe to their videos at: www.youtube.com. Thru Hike of the Appalachian Trail 2006. Georgia to Maine! Old Goat Summer 2006. This video was made by Old Goat to be used in a presentation he made about Thru Hiking the AT. It’s a great summary of whats involved in …

I have a pair of Hi-Tec brand winter hiking boots that are very comfortable, and pricey as well. http://www.hi-tec.com/us/46238-product-blackcomb_400_quik_zip-all.html
I moved out to the desert (Las Vegas) and found that it gets pretty hot during the summer. Can I still use my winter boots or should I buy some desert boots? In other words, will my feet heat up too much in the summer from all the insulation and whatnot?

Say it will only be for a couple hours, during the day, chilly weather but not freezing and neither of the people are very physically active. (not fat, just lazy haha) what should we bring with us? my boyfriend wants to go but i wouldn’t know the first thing to bring. i know the area that we will be hiking.
i said hiking for a couple hours. not camping over night. dont answer if youre not going to pay attention.

If you’re an outdoors kind of person, and a dog owner, you may have considered bringing your dog along with you on a hike this summer. Humans have been hiking and trailing the various landscapes of the Earth with dogs as companions and guides for thousands and thousands of years. This symbiotic relationship between man and canine can be observed in a very popular children’s movie that came out a few years ago known as Ice Age. In the movie, the early humans carried supplies with them to keep their dogs well-fed and occupied on the long journeys.

The first of the dog supplies that you need to have in your hiking inventory are the essentials to preserving the life of your dog. You need to pack plenty of food and water for him or her, and make sure that you pack enough in case of an emergency (such as getting lost in the woods and not being able to find your way back to civilization for several days or weeks). I wouldn’t buy the dog food that comes in bags that you find at the grocery store. Instead, I would get the canned dog food that almost looks like liquid beef when you pour it out of the can. This will save you a lot of time and energy, as you won’t need to lug around several bags of dog food. It’s also a lot less expensive to get a couple boxes of Alpo instead of seven or eight bags of Kibbles &Bits.

Next, you need to make sure your dog has a powerful leash that you can easily get your hand around and hold onto tightly. I’ve heard countless stories of people hiking in the woods with their dogs (without a leash mind you), and the dog will see a rabbit or a squirrel and run off to chase it. A lot of people have lost their dogs this way, so make sure you get a sturdy leash from a store that specializes in pet-related merchandise such as PetSmart. While you’re there, don’t forget to grab a chew toy or two for your dog in case he or she gets bored while on the hike. I would also recommend picking up some treats.

Lastly, you need to have some type of first-aid kit specifically designed for your dog. Dogs may believe they’re invincible, but you and I know that they can get hurt just like us while experiencing the great outdoors. Snake bites, bug bites, broken limbs, and overheating are all very real and dangerous things that could happen to your dog. Your dog’s first-aid kit should be made to handle any situation, whether it’s a scrape or an entire limb being severed.

Going on hikes with your dog can be a very rewarding and beneficial experience for not only you, but for your dog as well. If you’re mindful of where you’re going, and you take every precaution necessary to ensure your dog’s safety and overall well-being, your hikes should be very wonderful memories that you and your dog will never forget. Hiking with your dog is truly an amazing bonding experience that no dog owner should pass up.

My mom might take us hiking tomorrow. Problem is, tomorrow is a Sunday. So I’m asking if it’s a sin to do this if it tries me out?

She is doing this because I need sleep at night.
UPDATE: the hike was yesterday. I never went. I did some work instead.