American Trails Bio: Locate trails and related resources in all 50 states.
Every Trail Bio: Is a global web2.0 platform for geo-tagged user-generated travel content that's changing the way millions of people share travel experiences and plan trips.
- Every trail makes it easy to share travel experiences, through interactive maps that include photos plotted along your trip route.
- Every Trail is free and useful for a wide variety of trips - including road trips, sight seeing tours, sailing trips, hiking, cycling, flying, hang gliding, geocaching, skiing, kayaking trips and more!
Top 100 Trails In North America Bio: This list represents the most popular trails and outdoor destinations in North America.
Hike JMT- John Muir Trail Bio: This website is devoted to the spirit of John Muir enjoyment and preservation of nature. It covers the central/south portion of the Sierra Nevada range, on both the west and east side. The west side offers access from California's Central Valley and has many small towns and camper facilities.
7 Hiking Trails Of MT. Diablo Bio: This site provides brief descriptions of the seven popular hiking trails in Mt. Diablo. Such trails are:
Peakery Bio: Explore The World's Mountain Peaks! This website features over a 100,000 mountain peaks located all over the world.
Peak to Peak Bio: Hiking, Backpacking, Trail and Wilderness Directory. Choose From Thousands of Trails and Hikes from National to International.
Pick A Trail Bio: Find hiking trails and places to camp with this unique trail finder. Locate trails in forests, beaches and parks. Plan your trip using free topo maps.
Slackpacker Bio: Hiking Trail Finder. This site is designed to provide convenient access to websites with hiking and backpacking trail maps, trip reports, and photographs. Both nationally and Internationally.
Trail Dino Bio: Europe Trail Database. From Albania to Vatican City
2.)
BroadbandTVTravel- Offers incredible short documentaries for you from countries all over the world. From the beautiful Caribbean to adventurous Australia, historical Russia to breath taking South Africa.
5.) Hike Along Pete- Associated with TrailVista.com. These great hiking videos have very soothing background music to capture the moments in hiking. Highly recommended channel!
7.)
k2nicol - Videos on travel and self propelled activities like hiking, cross or x-country skiing.
8.)
MEC Videos- Mountain Equipment Co-op. Explore Outdoors in Canada
9.)
NewAgeBlipper's Relaxing Music Playlist- This music channel consists of a collection of new age, ambient, classical, dark ambient, deep sleep (for help with insomnia), electronica, healing, lounge, meditation, piano, relaxation and relaxing chill, techno and trance music choices.
10.)
Travelandtransitions- Travel Channel, featuring video clips from
- Sicily (Taormina, Milazzo, Eolian Islands, Cefalu, Siracusa, the Nebrodi Mountains)
- Tenerife (Puerto de la Cruz, Garachico, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Candelaria)
- Mexico (Mexico City, Taxco, Cuernavaca, Tepoztlan)
- Havana, Cuba
- London, UK
- New York City
- San Francisco
- San Diego
- Detroit
- Orlando, Florida
- Puerto Rico (San Juan, Ponce, Arecibo, Dorado)
- Niagara Falls, Ontario
- Richmond, Virginia
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Toronto, Ontario
- Ottawa, Ontario
- Montreal, Quebec
- Quebec City
and more!
Byways - This site is primarily a National Scenic Byways Program which is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. They also have little hiking story scenarios about certain locations.
Hiking Humor & Jokes - You'll find hiking humor and old jokes here. Over 500 topics submitted!
Hiking Tales Walking Stories & Tall Tales - This site provides Hiking tales, walking stories and tall tales. Dedicated mainly to walkers over 50! Here, you can also submit your stories.
Hiking With Chuck - This site provides Hiking Stories to tell while hiking and camping, and stories about hiking and camping. Such categories features recommended stories, funny stories, stories about animals and stories about kids!
Backpack Hitch-hiking Stories- This is a forum thread where members tell some of their backpack and hitch-hiking experiences.
USA Hiking Trips (2008) - This blog site: Hiking Trailer, provides a few adventure stories from the year 2008. It also has other hiking resources.
Backpacking and Hiking With Children - A source which provide guidelines and suggestions as what has worked successfully for other parents who have ventured into the woods with their kids.
ASPCA: Hiking Safety Tips For dogs - Dogs love to explore our country's vast natural resources as much their two-legged counterparts—not to mention, hiking is great exercise for all.
4alloutdoors - A Place for All Outdoor Enthusiasts. They also have a small directory for other outdoor sites
Alphatrilogy - An outdoor Hunting, Fishing, & Outdoor Blogs
Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine - Blue Ridge Outdoors is a large authority site all about the outdoor sports world and adventure travel in the Southeastern US.
Free Outdoors - A nice blog which offers hiking, backpacking, birding, wilderness survival tips and ideas.
Get Outdoors Blog- A great blog dedicated to spreading the word outdoors
Great Outdoors - This site specializes in captivating articles and news on the world's top outdoor athletes
Joy of Camping - A family blog that offers camping tips, camp cooking recipes, camping video clips and more.
Lou Dawson's Backcountry Blog - Lou Dawson is a Mountaineer, writer and photographer who provides a blog dedicated to ski resources.
New York Outdoors Blog - This a great, detailed blog for those who live in the New York area. Sue Freeman and husband Rich have written and published 14 outdoor recreation guidebooks for Central and Western New York State. They specialize in hiking trails, biking trails, trails to waterfalls, cross-country ski trails, snowshoeing trails, and backpacking trails.
Outdoor Bloggers Summit- Offer incentive and support for new bloggers who might wish to blog about the outdoors
Outdoor Vancouver - A great blog that brings the latest news, events, trail guides, company profiles, product info, tips and more to Vancouver’s outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
The Outpost - An Outdoor Sports Blog featuring news and outdoor gear reviews on outdoor sports activities like camping, hiking, climbing, etc
Google Outdoor Directory- Google's directory has hundreds of outdoor, recreational listings for you to explore! Find hundreds of outdoor related websites here!
Outdoor Hits - The North West's Premier Outdoor Community- Browse over 35,000 listings of outdoor-related Web sites, categories from Archery to Winter Sports, manufacturers, retailers, conservation agencies, guides, outfitters, lodges, and more!
Outdoor Resources- A good directory that features everything from adventure travel to surfing.
Outdoorzy- Is a social network where we can share information so we can all improve our experiences and get the most out of our outdoor play time. They offer resources such as Mountain biking, rock climbing, disc golf, paddling, concerts.
Yahoo Outdoor Directory - Here you can explore sites dedicated to the great outdoors. Find information on boating, fishing, camping, hiking, climbing, and other outdoor activities. Find over 11,000 listings!
American Forests- American Forests is a world leader in planting trees for environmental restoration, a pioneer in the science and practice of urban forestry, and a primary communicator of the benefits of trees and forests.
Forests Protection- This site provides Vast Forest Protection News, Information Retrieval Tools and Original Analysis.
Gorp - United States National Forests Guide- Gorp provides a great listing of national forests in the US. You can browse and search national forests by activity or parks and land type.
Liza's Reef - Hope For The Rain Forests- Hope For The Rain Forests is a science based, general introduction to the rain forests of the world and the environmental threats facing them.
MONGABAY- Is a great rainforest directory dedicated to bring viewers information and resources on rainforests in Central and South America.
National Forests & Campground Guide- Part of this site is a portal to all of the National Forests that were visited and personally researched by Fred and Suzi Dow. No other Web site offers you the depth and breadth of information about National Forest campgrounds that you will find here. They offer a forest and campground search feature.
Terra Galleria- View on-line photo galleries of travel, adventure, landscape, nature and forests by photographer, Quang-Tuan Luong. This site contains over 22,000 beautiful images!
US Forest Services - Established in 1905, the Forest Service is an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Forest Service manages public lands in national forests and grasslands, which encompass 193 million acres. US Forest Services provides forest listings in every state.
California State Parks Directory- Manages more than 270 park units, which contain the finest and most diverse collection of natural, cultural, and recreational resources to be found within California!
- It contains the largest and most diverse natural and cultural heritage holdings of any state agency in the nation.
- State park units include underwater preserves, reserves, and parks; redwood, rhododendron, and wildlife reserves; state beaches, recreation areas, wilderness areas, and reservoirs; state historic parks, historic homes, Spanish era adobe buildings, including museums, visitor centers, cultural reserves, and preserves; as well as lighthouses, ghost towns, waterslides, conference centers, and off-highway vehicle parks.
East Bay Regional Park District- East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) is a system of beautiful public parks and trails in Alameda and Contra Costa counties in California. The system encompasses 1,745 square miles on the eastern side of San Francisco Bay Area.
Mountain Zone Park Directory- This site offers featured park listings as well as other trails and resources. In your search, you can choose by state or park.
National Park Service- The service site lists all National Parks. They also provide links to campground reservation sites.
National Parks Traveler- This site became the Internet’s very first site dedicated to covering America’s National Park System and the National Park Service on a daily basis. It's an excellent website dedicated to everything and anything that has to do with America’s national parks!
US-National Parks - This site is dedicated to providing information on all US national parks from Acadia to Zion. They also have a park search by state.
L.L.Bean - Park Search - This site provides brief information on parks both in the US and International. This site puts the world's parks at your fingertips!
Zion National Park Hiking - Utah- Zion National Park hiking guide. The most complete Zion hiking guide anywhere. Trail descriptions, maps, photos, gps coordinates, trail history and more.
We are a known hiking source who's dedicated to provide you with lot's of hiking related information, advice, tips and direct you to numerous hiking related resources. If you're looking for hiking, camping, outdoor gear and accessories, simply visit our store page and shop with our trusted sources! Also, feel free to take part in our live auctions, displayed on the left side of most pages throughout our website.
2010-11 random amateur hikes and scenic video clip collection
just press the arrow button, sit back, relax & watch.
Clips will automatically play untill the last clip or - you can "click" on the "clip title or arrows" to view clips or - simply use the scroll (right-hand side) and find a particular clip you want to watch.
New clips will be added periodically & will show up at the "Top" of video list. Enjoy!
Hiking search, gear shops, health & travel RESOURCE PANEL
There is no conclusive evidence about the exact year, which witnessed the beginning of hiking. Otzi, the Iceman is believed to have climbed up the Alps about 5000 years ago. However the first recorded trek was that of the Roman Emperor Hadrian to Etna, which is today, an active stratovolcano near Sicily.
The thirteenth century witnessed a few expeditions to various mountains around the world. Between 1400s and 1500s, many people of the Inca Empire treaded to the Andes for religious reasons. They are believed to have climbed the Llullaillaco peak, which is at a height of 6,379 meters. Perhaps they also accomplished the feat of climbing Aconcagua, the highest peak of the Andes. Leonardo da Vinci is said to have ascended a snowfield in the vicinity of Mount Rosa.
One of the major events in the history of hiking was the ascent of Darby Field to Mount Washington located in New Hampshire. No major expeditions took place in the seventeenth century. An ascent to the snow mountain Titus was recorded in 1744. The later years saw a number of important mountain expeditions, which found a place in the timeline of hiking. A team of mountaineers reached Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe in 1874. W.S. Green climbed the Southern Alps of New Zealand in 1882. The highest peak of the Andes is recorded to have been climbed in 1897 and 1898 was the year when the Grand Teton of the Rocky Mountains of North America was ascended. Mount McKinley was climbed in 1913.
The nineteenth century was a witness to a couple of expeditions to the Himalayas. Gurkha sepoys trained in mountaineering activities were of great help in the exploration of the Asiatic mountains. The year 1953 marks one of the most important events in the history of mountaineering. It was on May 29 of this year that Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the summit of Mount Everest.
These were some of the important events in the glorious history of hiking.
Hiking, a part of mountaineering is about walking in the company of nature. It is known by different names in different parts of the world. In the United Kingdom it is known as ‘hill walking’. In Australia it is called ‘bush walking’ while it is known as ‘tramping’ in New Zealand. In the Indian and African continents, this sport is known by the name, ‘trekking’.
Hiking offers many health benefits like controlled obesity and reduced risk of heart diseases. Hiking helps the trekkers maintain good health. Threats to personal safety, property, attack by animals and physical injuries are some of the risks involved in hiking. They can be overcome by taking proper safety measures.
Hiking can be enjoyable only if proper safety precautions are taken. It is important for the hikers to wear comfortable and sturdy shoes. Wearing layered clothing can help the trekkers fight the changing weathers. Carrying a sufficient amount of water is advisable. Remember to start slowly and gradually pick up speed. Hiking can prove an endurance test! Watch out for dangerous animals and insects. Carry sleeping bags for a safe sleep. You might like to go through some more tips on hiking and camping.
The hikers should make sure their enjoyment does not destroy nature. Large numbers of hikers gathering on popular hiking destinations cause severe destruction of nature. It is the responsibility of the hikers to safeguard the nature that makes a good company. Hiking to less-visited places can give the trekkers an opportunity to observe some rare species of animals and plants. It is the prime duty of the hikers to safeguard these species by not disturbing their lives or their natural environment. For no reason can we afford to put nature at stake.
According to the American Hiking Society, Hiking is one of the most well rounded forms of exercise. Walking as little as three days per week for 30 minutes helps prevent heart disease, decrease cholesterol levels, and even improve arthritis and osteoporosis. So start hiking!
Have you ever heard of a hiking club before? While hiking clubs do have different meanings, a hiking club is often used to describe a group of individuals who regularly enjoy hiking, often together in groups. If you are an avid hiker or if you just enjoy going hiking, you may want to think about joining a hiking club(hb).
As it was previously mentioned, hiking clubs(m) are often used to describe groups of individuals who have a love for hiking. The majority of the time, you will find that hiking club members hike together. This is ideal for a number of different reasons. For one, hiking with someone that loves hiking just as much as you do can be fun and exciting. It is also important to mention safety. When you hike with multiple individuals, especially experienced hikers, you are less likely to have an accident or find yourself in a dangerous situation. (continued below)
America's Top 10 Dangerous Hikes Sources provided by us & Backpacker Magazine
In addition to going on traditional hikes with each other, there are many hiking club(a1) members who travel to hiking trails or hiking parks that are not considered local. Many times, these types of trips require camping or staying at a hotel. One of the many reasons why these types of long distance hiking trips are done by hiking clubs is because the group members can split the cost of doing so. What does this mean for you? It means that if you would like to take long distance hiking adventures, but you don’t have any friends or family members who would like to go with you, you may want to think about joining a hiking club.
When examining all of the benefits of joining a hiking club(gs), it is important to remember that not all hiking clubs are the same. There are some hiking clubs where members only meet up for hiking adventures, but then there are hiking clubs that do much more. For instance, there are hiking clubs that have monthly or even weekly meetings. These meetings are often used to plan hiking trips, discuss the latest in hiking gear trends, and so forth. There are also hiking clubs that use fundraisers, like car washes or chicken barbeques, to pay for their hiking adventures. In all honesty, you will find that the benefits you are presented with will all depend on the hiking club(h) that you choose to join.
Speaking of choosing a hiking club, when it comes to choosing a hiking club, there are a number of important factors that you should take into consideration. For example, you will find that many hiking clubs charge their members small monthly or yearly fees. You will want to find a hiking club that is easy to afford. You may also want to take your schedule into consideration as well. Do you have time to attend all monthly or even the weekly meetings? If your hiking club has scheduled meetings, you will want to attend them, not just attend the scheduled hiking adventures. This will help you grow comfortable with those that you will hike with and visa versa.
If you would like to join a hiking club, you may want to first try and see if there are any local hiking clubs in your area. Depending on where you live or if there is a hiking trail or a hiking park nearby, there is a good chance that you may have a local hiking club or even a number of them to choose from. You can usually find information on local hiking clubs by using the internet or by asking those that you know for recommendations. If you are still coming up empty handed, you may want to think about asking the staff at a local hiking park if they know of any local hiking clubs.
As you can see, hiking clubs are fun ways to share your love for hiking with others who feel the same way about it as you do. Although there is a good chance that you will be able to find a hiking club to join, you can also always start your own, if you wish to do so.
Essentially Prepared for Trail Hiking - Prepare before you go on a hike. Occasionally in the news you hear about hikers lost, trapped or worse who had ventured out unprepared. We all like to believe bad things won't happen to us. However, it just takes one unfortunate event to change lives forever. Always carry the right equipment when you go trail hiking. Start with what avid hikers call the 10 Essentials: extra food, extra clothing, map(s), compass, knife, matches, fire starter, first aid kit, sunglasses and flashlight or headlamp. Keep some of these items in a plastic bag, especially matches. Also, bring a small tube of sunscreen. Most importantly, wear good hiking boots when you go trail hiking.
Humor bio of trekking: When venturing on a voyage, many backpackers and hikers will often refer to the term "trek" or "trekking". Yeah, I know, some of you are like, "What the hell does that mean?" or you may think it's misspelled or just sound plain weird. Some often think of "trekking" or "trek" as in the movie or older series of "StarTREK" with captain Kirk. Sorry people, not the case! let's break down the meaning and history of that word.
Trek bio: It means a journey on foot, especially long journeys into the mountains or distant trails. Though now most familiar to English-speakers and others in the title of the Star Trek television shows and movies, the word trek originally referred to a journey by a much slower mode of transportation than a starship. Trek was borrowed into English in South Africa, where the word was used by the Boers for a journey by ox wagon. A seminal event in the history of South Africa was the "Groot Trek" from 1835-1843, in which more than 10,000 Boers, the Voortrekkers, left the Cape Colony and traveled north and northeast because of economic problems, conflict with the Xhosa, and discontent with British colonial authorities, who had forbidden the slave trade and postulated the equality of whites and non-whites. The British, who seized control of South Africa from the Boers at the turn of the 20th century, seized the word trek during the 19th. Trek is recorded earliest in 1822 in the compound trektow, "a rope joining the wagon pole and the yoke to which oxen were fastened." Trek in this compound is either the noun or the stem of the corresponding verb in Afrikaans, trekken. The earliest recorded use of the noun by itself is found in 1849, where it means "a stage in a journey by ox wagon."
Backpacking is a term that has historically been used to denote a form of low-cost, independent international travel. Terms such as independent travel and/or budget travel are often used interchangeably with backpacking. The factors that traditionally differentiate backpacking from other forms of tourism include but are not limited to the following: use of public transport as a means of travel, preference of youth hostels to traditional hotels, length of the trip vs. conventional vacations, use of a backpack, an interest in meeting the locals as well as seeing the sights.
The definition of a backpacker has evolved as travelers from different cultures and regions participate and will continue to do so, preventing an air-tight definition. Recent research has found that, "...backpackers constituted a heterogeneous group with respect to the diversity of rationales and meanings attached to their travel experiences. ...They also displayed a common commitment to a non-institutionalised form of travel, which was central to their self-identification as backpackers." Backpacking as a lifestyle and as a business has grown considerably in the 2000s as the commonplace of low-cost airlines, hostels or budget accommodation in many parts of the world, and digital communication and resources make planning, executing, and continuing a long-term backpacking trip easier than ever before.
For more info. on backpacking and how to get started, visit these guides & sources below:
A Trail is any variety of path, typically primitive, used for travel. They are track(s) marked or established path or route especially through a forest or mountainous region. There are many different trail types. You have:
Walking trails
Stairway trails
Bicycle trails
Equestrian trails
Motorized trails
Urban and suburban trails
Walking trails - Trail use has become very popular for a wide variety of users. Some trails are designated as nature trails, and are used by people learning about the natural world. Many trails are designated day trails, meaning that they are generally used by people out for a short hike, less than a day. Some trails are designated backpacking trails, or long-distance trails, and are used by both day hikers and by backpackers. Some of the trails are over a thousand miles (1,500 km) long and may be hiked in sections by backpackers, or completed in one trip by dedicated hikers. Some trails are specifically used by other outdoor enthusiasts to gain access to another feature, such as good climbing sites. Many runners also favor running on trails rather than pavement, as giving a more vigorous work-out and better developing agility skills, as well as providing a more pleasant exercise environment.
Stairway trails - Stairway trails are another way to ascend higher slopes. The stairs are constructed by making cuts in the dirt, rocks, or concrete. Stairway trails are usually for walking only. Popular stairway trails include the Stairway Trails in Bernal Heights, East - San Francisco, and the stairs at many hilltop Hindu temples such as the Palani Murugan Temple located in Tirumala, used during pilgrimage & Machu Picchu.
Bicycle trails - A common term used to refer to a "bicycle trail" is simply a "bike trail". These trails may be built to a different set of standards than foot trails, requiring more stable and harder surfaces, less strenuous grades, longer sight visibility, and fewer sharp changes in direction. On the other hand, the cross-slope of a bike trail may be significantly greater than a foot trail, and the path may be narrower in some cases. A particular offshoot of trail biking is downhilling, which can be environmentally destructive if not well-managed. Downhilling is particularly popular at ski resorts such as Mammoth Mountain in California or Whistler in British Columbia, where ski lifts are used to get bikes and riders to the top of the mountain.
A well designed bike trail will have an average grade of less than 10%, and will generally follow a contour line, rather than straight downhill. The trail should slope out or across the trail 3-5% downhill to encourage water to run off the side, rather than down the trail bed. In addition, frequent grade reversals also prevent water from running down the trail, make the trail more fun and interesting to ride, and generally help keep bike speeds down, providing a more safe trail experience for all users. Find out and learn about different bicycle types for certain road types or trails.
Equestrian trails - Horse riding and other equestrian uses of trails continue to be a popular activity for many trail users. Horses can negotiate much steeper terrain on a dirt trail, for instance, than on a gravel trail. Horses can usually negotiate much the same grades as hikers, but not always, although they can more easily clear obstacles in the path such as logs. Within the United States National Trail Classification System, equestrian trails include simple day-use bridle paths and others built to accommodate long strings of pack animals on journeys lasting many days. Trail design parameters for these uses include trail base width and material, trail clear width, trail clear height, access to water suitable for stock (not human) use, and trail routing.
Motorized trails - Motorized trail use also remains very popular with some people. Such terms as ORV, four-wheeling, all-terrain vehicle, and others actually have highly specific meanings. In the United States, this group of people have a very strong political lobby. The Recreational Trails Program defined as part of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA, pronounced "ice tea") of 1991 mandates that states must use a minimum of 30 percent of these funds for motorized trail uses.
Urban and Suburban trails - Though the term trail conjures up images of a well-beaten path in a woodland setting, more and more frequently, the term is coming to refer to any sort transportation route designed for non-automobile traffic. For example, a trend sweeping Northern America, especially in the rural Northeast, is the conversion of abandoned railways into rail trails. Examples include the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Berkshire County and the Northern RailTrail of New Hampshire. Though these wide, often paved pathways could have easily been used as roads, their focus on recreational use for pedestrians and cyclists is what sets them apart as trails.
In Northern America, where urban sprawl has begun to strike even the most rural communities, developers and local leaders are currently striving to make their communities more conducive to non-motorized transportation through the use of less traditional "trails." The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has established the Active Living by Design program to improve the livability of communities in part through the trails, both in a more traditional sense, as is being done by the Upper Valley Trails Alliance or in the broader, as is being done by Groundwork Somerville.
Another type of trail that was quite popular in the 1970s and 1980s but is less popular today is the exercise trail (also known as trim trail), which combines running with exercise stations.
The term trail has also been used by developers and urban planners for a variety of modern paved roads, highways, and boulevards. A particularly unusual use of the term is in the province of Alberta, Canada, which has multi-lane freeways called "trails".
Though uncommon in the United States, public footpaths in the UK are often through developed areas, securing legal rights for pedestrians to take shortcuts between streets, avoid the noise and danger of streets with vehicles, and reduce the appeal and use of vehicles.
Take well-known or popular trails -- Solo hiking isn't the greatest time to be trying to find the great lost trail or discover a whole new way to a favorite lake. Stick to the beaten path. There's plenty of solitude even on the popular trails and help is never far away.
Be aware of the surroundings -- This isn't solely restricted to solo hiking, but it's that much more important when a hiker doesn't have a partner and an extra set of eyes and ears. True, the lack of companion chatter allows the chance to see and hear more, but don't get complacent. Keep an eye out for signs of bears, cougars and other predators. Look for fresh tracks, droppings or scratches in the trees. Listen for noises in the forest close to the path. If anything doesn't seem right in any area of the forest, turn back.
Make noise -- Sing, talk, yell, clap hands, or do anything that will let any wildlife in the area know there is a hiker there. It might feel a little goofy at first, but after a while it becomes fun to loosen up in the forest -- within reason of course.
Follow groups -- Bears will often wait many minutes after a large group has passed before venturing close to a trail. Many solo hikers use this tactic to lessen their chances of a bear encounter. There's still a chance of surprising a bear, of course, and unless following at the exact pace of the group, this could decrease the enjoyment of the hike, but it's something to consider.
No headphones or music players -- This one is a no-brainer. Don't bring anything that's going to hamper the ability to hear what is going on around the trail. Besides, hiking is for coming out to nature to experience the wild, not to listen to the latest top 40 hits.
Check weather and trail advisories ahead of time -- Before even considering hiking alone, check the local national, state/provincial, or municipal web site for predator warnings, trail closures, trail conditions and weather forecasts.
Bring a whistle -- If injured or lost, a whistle will carry further than yelling and can be heard over wind and rain conditions.
Before you even consider travelling and hiking in certain places, do some research and find out if the destination desired has any conflict. For instance: wars, recent natural disasters among other things. You don't want to travel to a place of known danger! Research the news often.
One of the best ways to travel and see what the globe has to offer, though, is to go hiking and camping. Travelers will also find some of the best hikes while traveling. There are some safe hiking tips to consider, as language differences and unfamiliarity with the area can lead to dangerous situations.
First, find out if there are groups that lead hiking trips. Many times these groups will allow hikers to go by themselves and explore alone, but there is some built in security as well. The hiking groups often can take hikers to trails that are less known, and will have supplies like food and maps to bring along too. These trips can be more expensive, but also might be cheaper since sometimes there are group rates. Look on Facebook or meetup.com and search the city to be traveled to to find out if there is a group in existence.
While hiking abroad, there is a good chance that many of the locals who hike won't know English. This can be a problem when lost, trying to find a certain path, or simply needing a bathroom. On way to help avoid frustration because of a communication barrier is to buy a translation book. This book may not make everything completely clear, but will help. Even just pointing to random words in the book that address the issue should be enough to allow the person being asked to connect the dots. Clearly, asking a local will lead them to realize that help is needed, and at the very least, the local will point to the entrance or exit of the trail.
This is true for any first time hike, but get a trail map. Most established trails will have an entrance that will at least have a map printed on a sign. If someone in the hiking group brought a digital camera, take a picture of the sign. Sometimes there will be maps for the taking. There are also normally trail maps online, so a little research before the trip would be wise. Even with a translation book, a lot can be lost in translation, and there is a chance there will be sections of trail with no other people around.
If there are no maps available, and there isn't anyone else around to help, getting lost on a trail, or accidentally going off trail, can be unnerving and scary. Always know which general direction the final destination is. Always keep in mind the last point on the trail that looked like it was set up to be a rest area. Getting back to these types of areas will increase the likelihood that someone will stumble upon the group and will help.
Finally, while hiking abroad, prepare for the worst. Bring extra food, warm clothing, and if possible, a tent. Know what could be dangerous in the surroundings. Try to have a cellular phone or a GPS until, just in case. Finding hiking trips while traveling might end up being the best part of the vacation, if it is done right. Be careful, but enjoy the beautiful scenery as well!
Hiking Blog Database - Keeping Track of Fellow Hikers, Trekkers, Backpackers, and Trail Runners
Hiking In Finland - A European writing about environmentalism, ultra light backpacking and other stuff.
The Hike Guy: Kolby Kirk's Blog -This site’s purpose will be to promote the hiking lifestyle through example (both my own and others), to provide tips on how to hike, from the very basic level all the way up, and to help others learn the importance of respectfully exploring our natural areas.
Hiker Hell- Learn from other hikers mistakes and triumphs!
Hiking Lady- A female adventurer who's blog shares a passion for the outdoors!
Hiking Taiwan - A guide to hiking and all things outdoors in Taiwan
Hiking Trip Reports - It's a hiking blog where you can get daily tips, gear reviews, and outdoor adventure news
Modern Hiker- For hiking in Los Angeles and the rest of Southern California
Mountain Mama Marathoner- An adventurer, mother of two who loves camping, skiing, hiking and photographing great mountains.
Northern California Hiking Trails Blog- An adventurer, John Soares examines various facets of being outdoors, from maximizing trail-time enjoyment to details of hike updates to political, economic, social, and environmental aspects of north state trails. He also examines various stories and issues of interest to hikers.
Northern California Hiking Trails Blog - Exploring and discussing Northern California hiking trails, including dayhikes and backpacking, and outdoors news in general.
Arizona Hiking Trails- This site contains a listing of over 100 hiking trails located within this great state of Arizona.
Backpacking Lightweight - has grown to include a vast repository of resources useful for year-round backcountry safety & enjoyment. They promote ultralight backpacking & hiking
BaHiker - A very descriptive site providing information on hiking trails around the San Francisco Bay Area
Colorado Trails - Get Colorado trail information, a list of Colorado trails, free hiking maps and free
TracksandTrails.ca - Whether you surf through Canada’s National Parks and Rocky Mountains or plan a spectacular backcountry or trekking adventure, our hope is that TracksAndTrails.ca will help you discover The Way by getting you closer to creation and aiding you in finding and enjoying your next adventure.
Trailsource - Your guide to epic trails around the planet
Utah Hike- Utah offers diverse locations and scenery for serious backpacking or beginner day hikes
Washington Trail Association - (WTA) is the voice for hikers in Washington state. WTA protects hiking trails and wildlands, takes volunteers out to maintain our trails, and promotes hiking as a fun and healthy way for people to explore the outdoors.
A-List: International Hiking Trails- From Wikipedia: This source provides detailed information on various hiking trails throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania (Australia/New Zealand/Papua New Guinea), South America as well as a list of long-distance footpaths in these countries.
Africa, peak to peak- Is a directory which provides websites with hiking, tour, trekking information for many parts of Africa.
Australia Hiking- A descriptive site that provides hiking and accommodation information for New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.
Hike Australia - Hike Australia is a website dedicated to just that. Hiking Australia. It's a hiking website dedicated to backpacking and camping, gear reviews as well as hiking trail advice and enjoying the outdoors in Australia.
China Trekking- Eco-tourism Guide, Route, Travel Map, Photos. Offers brief descriptions on Ancient Towns, Sacred Mountains, Holy Lakes, Majestic Monasteries, Tibetan Towns, Minority Towns/Villages, Stunning Gorges, Nature Reserves and Rice Terraces.
Destination360 - Hiking in Europe- Provides great hiking and destination information through out places in Europe and other countries. This site really breaks it down! Be sure to click the keyword links that are in "bold" to learn more about things to do in that particular country.
Hiking In Greece- A small index which describes hiking journeys around Greece. Such places includes Athens, Delphi, Hydra, Kea, Vikos Gorge, Peloponnesus, Pilion and Vikos Gorge.
Hiking The Swiss Alps- Associated content: Old, small article directory list that provides effective tips and reasons to hike the Swiss Alps.
Hidden Trails- Operated by nature enthusiasts who provides hiking - walking tours/services around Argentina, Belize, Chile, Europe, Mongolia, North America, Peru and Tanzania.
Japan Hike- A blog that provides links, photos, brief information on hiking around Japan
Japan Sight Seeing Guide- A descriptive site, sight guide that introduces all of the japanese cities and islands to explore.
Hiking In Slovenia- A descriptive site guide to hiking/activites in Slovenia.
Hiking In Switzerland- A descriptive site guide to hiking/activites in Switzerland. Find 143 local hiking routes as well as other hikes on this site.
Nepal Trekking Info.- Resource for Nepal Trekking, Nepal Travel & Nepal Tour Information.
New Zealand Tramper- Great Information for hiking in the New Zealand back country.
Walking World- A fantastic online resource for mostly European walkers. Here you can find gentle stroll, easy walk to mountain challenges. You'll be able to find walks in England, France, Scotland, Spain, Wales, Norway, etc. Membership fee required for unlimited access to all walks.
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