Join The Hiking Forum Now for Free!

Join a Community of Hikers and Backpackers from Around the World. Find and post detailed Trail Reports. Find and discuss the Best Hiking Gear for Your Budget. Become a Better Hiker with the help of Hikers and Backpackers all over the World. Join The Hiking Forum Today, it’s Free!

Join Now Log in

Search results

  1. Shawn

    Security cameras in the forest

    There are some criminal acts that occur on public lands. Graffiti is big one. Illegal harvest of trees, plants, wildflowers, wildlife, and artifacts is another. Some people think public land management should put hidden security trail cams up to detect these sorts of acts. Others feel it...
  2. Shawn

    Getting new trail running shoes

    How often do you go through your trail running shoes? How often do you have to get new shoes? Do you try to get the same ones each time or try something different?
  3. Shawn

    Stealth/Illegal Camping

    Don't feel like you need to provide enough detail here to incriminate yourself but... Have you ever stealth camped or illegally camped anywhere you knew you weren't supposed to be camping? Why did you do it? Would you do it again? How do you justify doing it?
  4. Shawn

    Camp Clothing and Footwear

    Do you bring any special clothing meant for changing into when doing an overnight backpacking trip? This could also be clothing for sleeping in. How about footwear? Do you bring anything extra for camp shoes? Do you think these comforts are appropriate or often too much added weight?
  5. Shawn

    Next year = 50K

    Got the racing bug now. Completed my first half marathon Saturday. Already signed up for the 50K for next year. I'm only competing against myself, but I'm thrilled to be doing it. Hopefully we get the weather next year that we got this year. It was amazing. @krJoest I saw you signed up for...
  6. Shawn

    Bear spray or pepper spray

    Do any of your always carry some sort of defense spray such as bear spray or pepper spray? Whether or not there are potentially hazardous wildlife present, hazardous humans are always a possibility. Do you think it's important to arm yourself with defense spray just in case?
  7. Shawn

    Fall

    What's your favorite thing about fall? What do you look forward to the most?
  8. Shawn

    Weekly Photo Theme Share Your Caving Photos

    Share a photo of your adventures inside a cave. It could be a tour-guided cave or even a wild cave. This is a rock formation (person by it for scale) located within the Illinois Caverns State Natural Area near Waterloo, Illinois.
  9. Shawn

    Compression Calve Sleeves

    I've seen many trail runners wear compression sleeves on their calves. I've also seen many hikers and backpackers who do it as well. Are you one of them? If yes, what does it do for you? Also, what brand do you prefer and why?
  10. Shawn

    Weight reduction of your pack/gear

    How often do you try to reduce the weight in your hiking backpack, gear, and even clothing? It is said that a lighter load will help make hiking easier and less painful. Do you try to do this? Do you take stuff out? Wear lighter or even less clothing? Get lighter footwear? Or has weight never...
  11. Shawn

    Completed my first trail running half-marathon.

    Completed the Shawnee Hills Races Half-Marathon. 4 hours and 18 minutes. I predicted 7 to 8 hours. I shocked myself. I'm pretty worn out and sore today (the day after), but I can't wait to do another trail half-marathon. I've got bug now. Next year, I'm going for the 50K.
  12. Shawn

    We need a Professional Hiking League

    Hiking is just a recreational activity. But I think it could be more. I think hiking should be made into a professional activity, a sport, a league. Why not? Cycling is both a recreational activity and a sport. Running, too. Hiking could be, as well. I would watch that on TV. Heck, I might...
  13. Shawn

    Falling

    How often do you fall when trail running?
  14. Shawn

    Do you carry pepper spray?

    While hiking or backpacking, do you carry pepper spray at all? Maybe just regular pepper spray or even bear spray. Have you ever had to use it or almost use it? Against animal or human, that is.
  15. Shawn

    Sick on the trail

    Have you ever been sick on the trail? Was this before you started the hike or during it? What type of sickness was it? Did you have to end the hike or overcome it on trail?
  16. Shawn

    Weekly Photo Theme Turtle Photos

    Okay folks, For this new weekly photo theme, post pictures of turtles you've seen in nature while on a hike, backpacking, or trail running adventure! Saw this Snapping Turtle at Dutchman Lake near Vienna, Illinois a few weeks ago.
  17. Shawn

    Hiking Clubs

    Are any of you involved in local hiking clubs? Where I live, in Southern Illinois, we have a few different hiking clubs. They're free and it's where people get together to hike as a group. Many people don't want to do it alone and they want to meet other hikers, so clubs help out with that...
  18. Shawn

    Name Brand versus Off Brand Gear

    Do you have to have the top-of-the-line name brand gear? Or will you settle with off brand gear that's usually 10 times cheaper? I sometimes wonder if hikers and backpackers are spending more for the name than the functionality of popular brand outdoor gear items. I have cheap insulated cup...
  19. Shawn

    Increase in hiking good or bad?

    Is the increase of people getting into hiking a good thing or a bad thing? More hikers mean: More trail use More human impact More of a chance of litter More of a chance of rescues More people in less crowded places More potential closures because of capacity But there are many good things...
  20. Shawn

    Car camping

    Are any of you into car camping? Do you travel to places for hiking and backpacking only to camp in your car instead of other ways? Do you have to have a traditional campground or can you boondock in the middle of the forest somewhere?
Back
Top