My partner and I (27F) had planned to do the Bhandak Thatch Hike in the Parvati Valley of Himachal Pradesh. It is a pretty difficult hike with some steep elevation and climbs through a very dense and isolated forest, and can take around 4-5 hours for someone without any prior trekking/hiking experience (aka me). We were 2.5 hours into the hike, pretty high up, and 2-3 folks on the way were concerned that it’d get too dark by the time we decided to hike back down and we didn’t even have the proper gear to walk through such a dense forest at night. Additionally, we were also down to only one bottle of water, limited snacks, no torches apart from our phone torches, and no camping option since it’s too cold to camp at the thatch, so basically, we were really unprepared. Around 2.5 hours into the hike, I panicked because it could see how treacherous the descend would be in the dark and also was getting dehydrated because we couldn’t use up all the water we had (there’s also close to no sources of water up there). I decided to call it quits and walk back down because things stopped making sense and I just didn’t have a good feeling about it anymore. Initially, we were ok about it and thought that it was a rational decision, however, once we got back to our stay the folks told us that we were nearly almost there basis our description and if we had walked an hour more we’d have reached the end. This is when the feeling of being an absolute loser and failing to do my first trek really hit me. Maybe I should’ve powered through? Maybe it wasn’t that bad and I was just scared? A part of my brain says that it was a rational decision because of the lack of proper resources and gear to be confident but another part of me feels like maybe I shouldn’t take up hiking as a thing i want to do and that this just isn’t for me because I’m not brave enough.

Just wanted to hear everyone’s thoughts on this.

Me encanta subir las montañas de mi ciudad, ésta es mi favorita cerro el Ávila

Looking for somewhere in the south east US (Alabama, Georgia, Florida) to do a destination hike. Prefer 2 days but could make 3 happen. Anyone have any ideas or favorite ones to do?

I have a 17-year-old son who has recently decided he likes to hike and he didn’t start off really slow with hills, his first hike was starting at 4600 feet elevation and hiking up to about 6500 feet. His second hike was to 9700 feet and his third hike was to 11,033 feet. That is his only experience and I am terrified of him getting hurt so I want to build him some sort of a safety pack to carry with him, but I don’t know what to put in it. I don’t know what type of shoes he needs. I don’t know if he needs trekking poles. I don’t know what to do to give him the best leg up, but I do know that hiking in tennis shoes and basketball shorts with a couple peanut butter and jelly sandwiches probably isn’t the safest route. I don’t want to discourage him. I think it’s a really healthy habit and I love that he’s adventurous and being in Utah, we have amazing places to hike, but I definitely want him to be safe and I want him to come home from every single trip.
I’d appreciate some insight on basics so that can send him shopping with someone who will sell him proper gear and not oversell for a fat commission.

Hello everyone,

I’m brand new to this page and have taken a huge interest in mountaineering. I fell in love with hiking not too long ago and have become absolutely obsessed with it. I do understand that hiking and mountaineering are totally different. The reason I’ve taken such an interest in it is the fact that there’s such a tiny percentage of the world that does it and achieves some of the hardest things ever.

I’m originally from the Midwest and still live here so I don’t really have access to mountains or any way of practicing with crampons, ice picks, or any type of equipment. I’m really curious on the easiest way to get into it and where to start or what summit I should attempt as a start. I’m open to any suggestions or help! Thank you!

Jeep track of 2.5 hours and 30 minutes hike to the andrab lake...first snowfall of the season... witnessed the most beautiful snowfall ever

I’ve been looking at a few clothing brands for water proofs, fleeces etc

Now ofcourse the main one that comes to mind is arcteryx but the price is quite bigh but are they worth it?..

There must be some brands that are just as great… I feel as though people pay just for the name with arcteryx

And also boots or shoes! I’ve heard a lot of people talk about solomon xt-6’s but apparently they’re not for extreme hiking so any recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

We r group of 4 people going to Annapurna base camp trek in November and will leave for Kathmandu at 8th November If anyone wants to join us kindly dm me with your information!

(I'm a beginner, but I'm definitely physically fit for this)

I'm trying to climb Mt St Helens on November 8th with my dad. I'm stuck because I don't know these things:

Whether I should take the Climber's Biovauc Route (Moniter Ridge) or the Worm Flows Route

What gear I need: crampons, spikes, or nothing at all (i hear it depends on the route)

And will it be snowy? It seems like the mountains (especially mt hood) are getting a lot less snow so far. I hear it's a good first climb, and I want to do it. If someone could give me this info I would really appreciate it

Hey, I’m looking to do EBC with Gokyo lake in March/April 2027.

Need some advice. I’m confused on if I should do it including Cho La Pass or without. Also those who have done it, did you go to gokyo lake first, then EBC or did you follow the standard EBC route then Gokyo afterwards?

How hard is the additional Gokyo part? I’ve hiked at altitude before doing the Salkantay trek and Acatenango if that’s anything to compare it to?

I’m planning on going with a guide so any company reccs will be helpful too! Thanks 🙂

I went on a trip a few weeks ago and my filter wasn’t sealing well on a smart water bottle. It dripped stream water into my clean bottle a few times which I assumed
(Hoped) wouldn’t be a problem. Few days after I got home my stomach started hurting and I got the squirts for 3 days. I went 32 hours without food as a result.

Be careful about even a small amount of unfiltered water getting in your drinking supply. You may get the squirts like me. Happy trails.

Went backpacking on Mount Wutai in China with a full pack, and somehow still found myself logging what I ate throughout the day.

Apparently I can take a break from my usual routine without taking a break from this particular habit: Eat something, open the log, carry on walking. Even out on the trail, there’s something satisfying about having it all written down.

This is what a day of food ended up looking like. Looking back at it afterward, it feels like a different kind of hiking diary. The photos show where I went; the food log shows what kept me going.

Anyone else still log their food on hiking trips, or do you completely switch off?

I just got this email. What a bummer! My mom loves the map link :(

Hi! I’m fairly new to hiking/backpacking, one concern I have is how I will store/filter water. Sorry if this is dumb but any recommendations you guys have? In a week I’m going to loyalsock trail in pa, which is pretty rich in water sources. Not sure how I wanna pack water for an overnight backpacking trip, also have never filtered natural water before but very open to doing so, any tip? Thank you!

Heads up, hikers: today, Tuesday, October 27, 2026, is a fee-free day at every U.S. national park that charges entrance — it's Theodore Roosevelt's Birthday. A few things worth knowing before you head out:

• Entrance fees are waived, so the per-vehicle fee at the gate is $0 today. In 2026 the waiver applies to U.S. citizens and residents, so bring a photo ID — rangers may check.
• Camping, tours, separately-charged parking, and reservation fees still apply — only the entrance fee is waived.
• This is the second-to-last free day of 2026; Veterans Day (November 11) is the last one.

If you're in the Mid-Atlantic and want to get on trail at peak fall color today, three solid options:

1. Great Falls Park ($20 saved) — Walk the short, flat boardwalk trail to Olmsted Island for the best views of the falls, about a quarter mile. Arrive before 9 a.m. if you can; lots fill fast on free days.

2. Harpers Ferry ($20 saved) — Climb to Jefferson Rock for the classic view over the river confluence, or do Maryland Heights (about 4.5 miles round trip) for the postcard view of Lower Town. Park at the visitor center and ride the free NPS shuttle into Lower Town.

3. Shenandoah — Skyline Drive ($30 saved, the biggest discount) — Enter at Front Royal and drive south. Stretch your legs on Stony Man, a short, gentle walk to a rocky summit at 4,011 feet, or Bearfence, a 1.2-mile circuit with a fun scramble and a true 360-degree summit view. The speed limit is 35 mph, so plan a full day for the Drive.

General free-day tips: arrive early, pack food and water (in-park dining is limited in late October), and check each park's alerts on nps.gov for trail or hunting-season closures before you go.

Enjoy the free day out there!

this is a short hike to Morteratsch glacier. to get close to the glacier it‘s better to bring micro spikes during this time of the year.

It was an icy hike up. I didn’t bring crampons cause I didn’t think I’d need them but it would have been a million times more enjoyable with some. I would have turned around if I didn’t bring my trekking poles though. The wind at the summit was intense so I only stayed about 15 minutes but it was incredibly beautiful 💜

South West Coast Path from Heddon's Mouth to Lynton (12 miles/19km)

Went for a solo hike today in Saxon Switzerland (Germany) to the Bastei Bridge: Started in Wehlen, there’s a small ferry to the other side of the Elbe, and then it’s about 290m ascension over the Mahlerweg until you reach Bastei Bridge. Beautiful scenery, perfect weather for it today 👌🏻

The Maryland Heights trail climbs through Civil War earthworks to the classic overlook above Lower Town and the Potomac-Shenandoah confluence. It's about 4.5 miles round trip to the overlook and back, moderate to strenuous with a rocky upper stretch. Park at the Visitor Center and take the free shuttle or walk in from town; start early on weekends and bring layers, since the overlook runs colder and windier than town.

These photos are all from the same hike across three seasons: winter (Jan 2023), summer (Jun 2026), and fall (Oct 2026).

I did EBC + Gokyo in the last week of September 2026 with a group of 3 people.

We did EBC first and had Cho La Pass in our original plan. But after finishing EBC, we were already exhausted, so we ended up taking a helicopter to Gokyo instead of crossing the pass.

There was snow around Gokyo, and hiking up to Gokyo Ri was really hard. But the views from the top were incredible, and seeing Everest from that side was one of the best parts of the trip. We eventually took a helicopter back to Kathmandu from Gokyo.

Personally, I'd recommend doing EBC first and seeing how you feel. Cho La Pass is challenging, especially when there's snow, so don't underestimate it. If you skip the pass, you'll need to retrace your route to reach Gokyo, which takes extra time.

Overall, Gokyo was absolutely worth it, even though things didn't go exactly as planned! 🏔️

Deep in the heart of southeastern Tibet, the Gangrig Garbo mountain range stands in silent majesty. A forest of snow-capped peaks rises above a complex network of deep ravines—a hidden realm that feels as though it has remained untouched since the dawn of creation. It is a place rarely trodden by human feet, where only the whispers of the wind and the shifting shadows of snow reside. It is within this pristine, forgotten wilderness that "Qiancuo Qianxun" (A Thousand Lakes, A Thousand Quests) finds its origin. The name itself is poetry; the atmosphere, a dream—a vast expanse where countless lakes lie scattered like stars, and myriad waters beckon one to follow. It is a geographical labyrinth, and, more profoundly, a pilgrimage for the soul.

Hi

I am currently looking into doing a HuayHuash trek (10-12 days) next year and planning to do it with a guided group. I am hoping to have a bit of flexibility/ spare days in my itinerary and therefore probably book when in Huarez to save some money but not adverse to organising beforehand if more practical Reading previous threads it seems a realistic option to organise in town , if you have a few days - is that correct?

I would be travelling solo and ideally do not want to be sharing a tent with a stranger for nearly 2 weeks as I am a light sleeper. Do any of the agencies offer the option of single occupancy for their tents? Would I need to bring my own?

Any recommendations on agencies etc from those that trekked this season would be much appreciated.

Thanks

I've been hiking in summer and late spring for years but I'm dreaming of another hiking trip, but in winter.

I understand it's less populair and requires more knowledge and gear.

Does anyone have suggestions of how to get into winter hiking?

And potentially some multi-day hikes that are fairly doable with basic snow shoes and safety gear?