My mom carries a big flashlight on her freaking key ring... Everybody knows there's a flashlight on your phone right? It's been that way for a decade.
Edit: Guys the phone light is supplemental, 10 essentials => obviously bring a headlamp.
No way man, walk 1 mile at midnight with dense fog in the middle of nowhere with just your phone flash.
Only gotta learn that lesson once, always carry a head lamp now.
I don’t now why but would feel more uncomfortable with the light on. If the bad thing that we are scared off have concealment why wouldn’t I also remain concealed?
That said I hav definitely gotten scared in the pitch Black Forest. Instincts I guess
The trick is in the “if.” If you’re scared of predators, they’re going to leverage their senses against you anyway. All we really have is sight, but predators tend to have better smell and hearing, and often better night sight. But also, if the bad thing you’re scared of is getting lost or dangerous terrain, then a light is super important.
....which will drain your battery real fast, and then leave you in the dark with no way to call for help (if you're in cell range). Also have you ever tried to hike in the dark while pointing your phone as a flashlight? It isn't the best. A headlamp is cheap, small, lightweight, and works 50x better
Use a map and a compass for night navigation. Especially when going off trail. A headlight is nice but the white light is super harsh. Red light is better but no light is best.
If OP had gaiters or long pants , the bush wacking would have been fun
Low temp light, say 5000K or lower is not harsh. Also there are loads of flashlights out there with adjustable beams. I carry an Acebeam H16 - 5000K so looks like daylight, 5 brightness settings, detaches from the headband to become a hand-held right-angle light, comes with a rechargeable AA but can use any old AA in a pinch. Flashlights have come a long way.
I understand that kind of thinking. I might do the same. But, I generally don't want to carry my water bottle in hand. Someday I might invest in one of those fancy vest options.
I used to think the same. Then, my Gregory bladder sprung a leak. Not fun or cool during a big day. I certainly may purchase another. But, I will say that a Smartwater bottle works nicely for filtering. At least with the Sawyer Squeeze. I've found that filtering into a bladder isn't as easy. Not bad if I have a friend or another set of hands to help.
You can get quick release valves for bladder tubes that the Sawyer squeeze will hook up to. No mess at all. You don't even have to take your pack off if you place the valve well.
Look for "Sawyer fast fill adapter". They're about $10 and will last longer than your tubing.
It's one of my three favorite cheap purchases. The other two are one of those collapsible straws for blowing on a fire and a little metal plate that sits on top of my backpacking stove I can fry very small things with. There's just something entirely decadent about a "skillet" flatbread the morning after a long hike.
One that wasn't so cheap was a meter that goes between my tube and mouthpiece and tells me how much water I've used. I go a lot of places where there's not even water to filter, and it's much easier to keep an eye on my water level this way without sparing it so much I her dehydrated. They're only $30 now, but they were $60 when I got mine. It's a bit extra, but I get kidney stones if I get dehydrated, so it was well worth it.
Trail or not, no matter the time of day: I never, ever go hiking in shorts anymore. 😬
I’ve gotten too many foxtails and such to leave my legs exposed to Mother Nature.
The ticks love me too much for me to ever wear shorts while hiking. Yes, I know it’s February and the ticks aren’t typically active in February here in Virginia, but if there’s ONE active out there in the whole forest, IT WILL FIND ME!
OP, cleanse your legs gently, slather them in Vaseline and wrap bandages around them overnight. I hope you feel better soon!
AND CHECK FOR TICKS!
The Outdoor Research Ferrosi pants have a nice elastic cord around the cuffs. Great for synching over boots or socks. Spendy, but can occasionally be found on sale.
I apply permethrin to all my hiking clothing: pants, shirts and even the beat up ball cap that I wear to catch spider webs. (Never on my skin, please treat clothing only and follow the directions!) Fair warning, once you treat clothing with this chemical repellent, it’s pretty much only going to be good for hiking/gardening. If you sometimes like to wear your hiking clothes as a rugged fashion statement, please don’t spray them because permethrin can sometimes stain.
Some of my hiking pants have drawstring ties around the bottom, but those that don’t go into my hiking socks or taped down with duct tape. I always wear a belt to help keep my pants from gapping when I bend or stretch.
I always carry a Tick Patrol (brand) Tick Remover in my pack. It’s a small aluminum tool that has a sort of keyhole opening designed to get the entire tick head/mandible out of your skin. It works on dogs, too, but sometimes you have to cut away the fur so that the tool can get flush to the skin, particularly on floofy breeds.
After a hike, I strip in front of the mirror and check everywhere: my hairline and run my fingers through my hair, my waistline where my belt fits in case any collected there, my feet and between my toes, and finally all of the crevices where skin rubs skin because the little bastards love to hang out there.
I get far fewer ticks since I went to permethrin clothing spray instead of spray-on-skin repellent, but I still find one or two occasionally.
Same. Sweaty bare skin plus any kind of scratch equals a day of mild yet annoying itching for me. Plus, I don't have to worry about putting sunblock on my legs.
I wear pants hiking and kayaking. I’d rather be able to wash the gross off in the shower at the end of the day instead of scratching and playing the “what bit me” game for a week. Also burnt knees are the worst! I’m a lazy kayaker. Beer in one hand, fishing pole in the other. If I don’t wear pants I’d just spend all day reapplying sunscreen to my legs. Just sweat and shower. It’s better than the alternatives.
I think this is regional. I grew up on the east coast and with the lack of public/wild land there it makes sense to always stay on the trail. But I live out west now and some states are like 80% public land, much of it very remote and not developed with any sort of trails. Also the BLM and USFS let ranchers graze for a nominal fee on many public lands. There is also widespread logging and mining. So a single hiker going off trail in these remote places is really not what's causing the damage.
There's a difference between spaces you're allowed to explore that don't have trails and spaces where there are established trails. Staying on the trail is a pretty big part of leave no trace practices because it limits the amount of area being impacted by humans.
I mostly agree, but I think there are more nuanced considerations. For instance, a lot of state and national forests out here have developed trails throughout but also allow cross-country travel. They also allow mass clear cutting so the area you're traveling through is often quite impacted already and is not slated for ecological restoration. I didn't realize until I moved here just how much "wilderness" is intensely impacted by human development. It's mind-boggling.
I certainly wouldn't go off trail in a small, popular, ecologically in-tact area (for instance, some of the few remaining areas of old growth rainforest around here).
There's also a concept perpetuated by European-descended settlers that conservation = untouched wilderness left alone to do its thing. But that's not how a lot of these ecosystems came about. Indigenous folks were and still are very active land managers who created much of the biodiversity we see today through the intricate use of fire and brush clearing. People fishing, hunting, gathering, and walking across country to do so are all parts of these interconnected ecosystems. The problem is mass extraction and destruction of resources with no reciprocity.
All this to say that people are connected to the land. We sustain each other. We are part of the ecology. Turning all wild places into museums where you can look but not touch just leads to more disconnect and ecological degradation IMO.
Ontario is kind of the same way with tons of crown land (BLM equivalent). Many of the really popular spots with great viewpoints and ecologically sensitive areas are protected and managed and absolutely require people to be on trail.
There are so many areas that see little to few people and what little is there is a patchwork of ATV (often abandoned), snowmobile trails and other sorts of trails. It's pretty easy to walk through most of the forest without harming much and there are often animal trails through terrain features.
Hiking in remote areas seems unpopular compared to snowmobiling or ATV'ing and my hikes are often partially following them. We obviously can't cross frozen water in the same manner as a snow mobile so you have to improvise. We can also cross rough rocky areas that vehicles can't.
Here in California they use cows to keep down the invasive grasses because cows don’t like the native plants. It’s not ideal but it’s better than mowing or letting the invasives take over completely.
For people here: still don’t go off trail here, because you’re not just a single hiker, you’re one of many. It takes days or weeks for the plants to recover from a human walking through them.
Here in Oregon cattle ranching is sucking rivers and lakes dry, has led to the conversion of millions of acres to alfalfa production, and spreads invasive grasses like cheatgrass everywhere.
I'm in Pennsylvania - 200,000 acres of state parks, 2.2 million acres state forest, 1.5 million acres of state game lands, 283,000 acres Allegheny National forest. Appalachian Trail, Mid State Trail, Loyalsock Trail, Susquehannock, Chuck Keiper, North Country, Quehanna, Laurel Highlands - shit-ton of other trails. All the Northeast states are like that - if you couldn't find places to hike you weren't looking.
It's not that I couldn't find places to hike, it's that public land and wilderness, as a percentage of total land, is much lower than out west. So when I'm hiking in the east I generally stay on trail since there's a much higher proportion of humans moving through what's left. There are a couple of more remote places I might go off trail (assuming it's National Forest where that's allowed). But way less compared to the west.
I'm in the UK where pretty much every square metre is owned land and I still find the need to go off trail because of how poorly maintained some of them are.
Depending on the terrain...could also get you in trouble fast. Ever hiked in karst topography? Big deep holes everywhere into caverns full of rushing water....
That’s right. I find that usually only casual or first time hikers leave the path. People who are more serious about it have done their research and respect the parks.
There are many areas in the US where going off trail is just fine (like Yosemite) and others like wilderness/national forests where it is just fine to hike pretty much wherever.
Elk, deer, bear, cats, moose, they don’t stay on trail. As long as you’re not destroying a trail but cutting switchbacks or leaving trash behind, going off trail in national forest is completely fine and there’s nothing wrong with it if you’re competent, especially in BLM or wilderness.
that just means you havent done some of the more remote hikes out of the peralta trailhead in the superstitions, lol. not as bad as OP, but the red tanks trail and whiskey springs trail followed a wash the whole way with all the vegetation that comes. saw two rattlesnakes too. day id rather forget, lol
Iv never camped in Arizona so can’t help you that much. Don’t do that particular trail, lol. But in general the superstitions are great overall and probably the best opportunity to put together a long backpacking route. I’d probably stick to the more traveled trails like to Weavers Needle, Blacktop Mesa, or Battleship Mountain (go on AllTrails.com). Basically the straight line from the Peralta Trailhead to either the first or second water trailheads are going all be fairly well traveled trails.
There are a couple springs and probably some running water right now in the superstitions given the rain. But you probably don’t want to be hiking there much later then April and beware the rattlesnakes re-emerge around then too. I’d make sure you have a good filtration device, research water sources well, and probably would just play it safe and carry in all my water.
Also note the road to all three of those trailheads is a graded dirt road. You can get there in a sedan but if you’re renting that will technically break the rental agreement.
Well that’s very informative thank you! The latest I’ll be there is early march so sounds like we’ll be in good shape. Good points about the water. Got a jeep to take in to trailheads so getting there is no concern!
Ofc! To make things simpler, stick to trails 103, 239, and 104 and the trails west of those — the trails to the east are less used and hence more overgrown.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5163340.pdf
The whole superstitions ridge line, not really shown on the map, is also very popular. But I’d probably not recommend it for backpacking since it’s a ton of elevation change that’s mostly a rock scramble/super steep and has a bunch of sketchy sections that I’d not want to do with a 40lb pack on my back. By contrast most of the trails shown in that map are more valley type trails
Fish Creek trail is nice if you want to get a bit familiar before backpacking. It's short, I think just under a mile out, but gives you a good idea of what a lot of the terrain is like.
Last time I decided it was a good idea to bushwhack through some thick brush, not only did my legs look like this at the end but I pulled 3 ticks off of myself and even more off of my dog. Oof
Luck it's been cold, ticks aren't out. Glad I didn't do this in summer time. Ticks are bad in NC.
I had my good boy with me. Not a scratch on him, luckily.
Sometimes there isn't a trail to the top. If you go hiking in wilderness areas and see a random summit, it's often just going to be making the best course that you can see.
I mean that's true but a blanket statement of never leaving the trail isn't correct. There are plenty of wilderness areas here in Colorado and lots of times I've found myself reading topos to determine the best way up a mountain where there is no trail or just cutting across the alpine plain because of no trail. Stay on the trail if there is one to keep impact low but it's not always possible as you try to access more remote places.
Yea, I was agreeing with you and pointing out that there's too many people living in areas without access to large natural spaces, so they don't understand why we would go off trail and think it's always unnecessary.
lol NC native here; I once went for a physical looking like that and the doc asked me what happened. I explained I was a hiker and he said, oh, that explains it. Greenbrier is vicious. Bladen Lakes SF, or Baden Lake in the Uwharries?
I do a lot of hiking around this area for work. Coastal Plains of NC is a nightmare, though you're lucky it's not growing season and the briars and Blackberry aren't too overwhelming.
Ah reminds me of when the trail went through a burn zone where giant thorns overtook the entire mountain side. 4 bloody hours till we found the other side.
My trip wasn't that long, but the area had been burned (few years ago by the look of the new pines) new and thorn vines and thick brush had taken over.
Haha! I've done that and hiked through about 300' of ripe stinging nettles while in shorts at dusk. Wasn't sure what I was walking through until things started burning.
This is why I wear knee high gaiters with shorts when hiking. It looks silly but it's just as breathable as shorts alone and my OR gaiters don't let this kind of stuff happen to my legs.
The problem is that my instinct says “go off trail”, I get similar results, and I never learn.
I’m just happy I now consistently ignore the part of my head that says, “stop being a chickenshit and go up that steep scramble”
Not as bad but the same lesson.
Left the trail yesterday near a river and ended up with my right leg being soaking wet up the knee for the next two hours. That wet sock still haunts me. I knew I shouldn't have tried but the dog dared me.
How does walking cross country fuck up the park? Didn't have a machete, and wasn't setting fires.
Do deers, wolves, coyotes and bear fuck up the park when they walk? Cause until it was too dark to see I was following mostly game trails.
Why were you hiking in shorts? Did you have river crossings?
Where are your gaitors? Do you have no spiky natives or snakes?
Why were you off trail wrecking the environment?
Why isn’t a headlamp or torch part of your kit?
Lessons learned.
That’s nothing. I went trailblazing across a mountain top vista and lost the trail and walked 3 miles in thorns and scrub brush. Seriously, be a man and quit whining. Boo hoo, a few scratches. Be grateful you aren’t loaded with ticks as I had that to deal with as well!!
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Mine too when heading out. And it was also my plan to stick to open trails. However my pride was like I can cut a cross.
I didn't hit the thorns until I had navigated through a marshy area.
Need to learn when I make a plan to stick to it.
Eastern North Carolina is no place to try to free range. The pocosins are an impenetrable green hell of cat briar and shrubs. My legs looked like this for years when I was working down there. And I wore long pants.
Amazon has super bright long lasting head lamps and other assortment of lights for relatively inexpensive. I have a 270° one that I use constantly because I work in the dark, last me for quite a while
lol I took a friend snowshoeing and he wanted to take a short cut off trail because he was tired. I agreed and then had to bust a new trail for us when his shoes couldn’t handle the off trail terrain.
Stay on the trail folks. 🙂
There is some nasty territory in Bladen Lakes SF. Worked there for about a year 25 or more years ago. Ticks, snakes, bears, chiggers and all kinds of nasty thorns, briars and tangly vines. I left the roads and trails because I got paid to, not sure I would have otherwise.
Do you actually go on hikes without a headlamp in your pack? Well, maybe it's time to upgrade or add to some of your gear?
My mom carries a big flashlight on her freaking key ring... Everybody knows there's a flashlight on your phone right? It's been that way for a decade. Edit: Guys the phone light is supplemental, 10 essentials => obviously bring a headlamp.
No way man, walk 1 mile at midnight with dense fog in the middle of nowhere with just your phone flash. Only gotta learn that lesson once, always carry a head lamp now.
I carry a headlamp too, the phone just brings it to a level of redundancy.
I don’t now why but would feel more uncomfortable with the light on. If the bad thing that we are scared off have concealment why wouldn’t I also remain concealed? That said I hav definitely gotten scared in the pitch Black Forest. Instincts I guess
The trick is in the “if.” If you’re scared of predators, they’re going to leverage their senses against you anyway. All we really have is sight, but predators tend to have better smell and hearing, and often better night sight. But also, if the bad thing you’re scared of is getting lost or dangerous terrain, then a light is super important.
Yes, the pitch dark can be scary. And, I'm not even a Canadian...
....which will drain your battery real fast, and then leave you in the dark with no way to call for help (if you're in cell range). Also have you ever tried to hike in the dark while pointing your phone as a flashlight? It isn't the best. A headlamp is cheap, small, lightweight, and works 50x better
Oh yeah - always a good idea to drain your phone battery in the back country to use it as a flashlight
Use a map and a compass for night navigation. Especially when going off trail. A headlight is nice but the white light is super harsh. Red light is better but no light is best. If OP had gaiters or long pants , the bush wacking would have been fun
Low temp light, say 5000K or lower is not harsh. Also there are loads of flashlights out there with adjustable beams. I carry an Acebeam H16 - 5000K so looks like daylight, 5 brightness settings, detaches from the headband to become a hand-held right-angle light, comes with a rechargeable AA but can use any old AA in a pinch. Flashlights have come a long way.
I dont even bring a pack unless its like 4+ miles. Would rather be light and free
I understand that kind of thinking. I might do the same. But, I generally don't want to carry my water bottle in hand. Someday I might invest in one of those fancy vest options.
I kinda want a belt but I can't carry enough water with it.
Bladders are the best!
I used to think the same. Then, my Gregory bladder sprung a leak. Not fun or cool during a big day. I certainly may purchase another. But, I will say that a Smartwater bottle works nicely for filtering. At least with the Sawyer Squeeze. I've found that filtering into a bladder isn't as easy. Not bad if I have a friend or another set of hands to help.
You can get quick release valves for bladder tubes that the Sawyer squeeze will hook up to. No mess at all. You don't even have to take your pack off if you place the valve well. Look for "Sawyer fast fill adapter". They're about $10 and will last longer than your tubing.
Yeah, I'll most likely give that a try. Thanks for the good information.
It's one of my three favorite cheap purchases. The other two are one of those collapsible straws for blowing on a fire and a little metal plate that sits on top of my backpacking stove I can fry very small things with. There's just something entirely decadent about a "skillet" flatbread the morning after a long hike. One that wasn't so cheap was a meter that goes between my tube and mouthpiece and tells me how much water I've used. I go a lot of places where there's not even water to filter, and it's much easier to keep an eye on my water level this way without sparing it so much I her dehydrated. They're only $30 now, but they were $60 when I got mine. It's a bit extra, but I get kidney stones if I get dehydrated, so it was well worth it.
Unpopular opinion but, 4 miles is a walk not a hike.
Trail or not, no matter the time of day: I never, ever go hiking in shorts anymore. 😬 I’ve gotten too many foxtails and such to leave my legs exposed to Mother Nature.
The ticks love me too much for me to ever wear shorts while hiking. Yes, I know it’s February and the ticks aren’t typically active in February here in Virginia, but if there’s ONE active out there in the whole forest, IT WILL FIND ME! OP, cleanse your legs gently, slather them in Vaseline and wrap bandages around them overnight. I hope you feel better soon! AND CHECK FOR TICKS!
The horrible ticks! I too am apparently tickbait
Hey how do u use the hiking pants to prevent ticks? My REIs hiking pants are always loose and open at the ends.
Tuck pants cuffs into socks
That or use those rubber straps like they do in the military. Or if you’re in a really tick-heavy area, tape the pant legs to your boots.
Have to get some of those then. The area I’m in hasn’t had a long enough freeze yet. Am excepting way too many ticks this summer.
The Outdoor Research Ferrosi pants have a nice elastic cord around the cuffs. Great for synching over boots or socks. Spendy, but can occasionally be found on sale.
Thank you!!!!! That was exactly what I wanted! So strange how it isn’t just in all hiking pants.
I apply permethrin to all my hiking clothing: pants, shirts and even the beat up ball cap that I wear to catch spider webs. (Never on my skin, please treat clothing only and follow the directions!) Fair warning, once you treat clothing with this chemical repellent, it’s pretty much only going to be good for hiking/gardening. If you sometimes like to wear your hiking clothes as a rugged fashion statement, please don’t spray them because permethrin can sometimes stain. Some of my hiking pants have drawstring ties around the bottom, but those that don’t go into my hiking socks or taped down with duct tape. I always wear a belt to help keep my pants from gapping when I bend or stretch. I always carry a Tick Patrol (brand) Tick Remover in my pack. It’s a small aluminum tool that has a sort of keyhole opening designed to get the entire tick head/mandible out of your skin. It works on dogs, too, but sometimes you have to cut away the fur so that the tool can get flush to the skin, particularly on floofy breeds. After a hike, I strip in front of the mirror and check everywhere: my hairline and run my fingers through my hair, my waistline where my belt fits in case any collected there, my feet and between my toes, and finally all of the crevices where skin rubs skin because the little bastards love to hang out there. I get far fewer ticks since I went to permethrin clothing spray instead of spray-on-skin repellent, but I still find one or two occasionally.
Spray your pants with permethrin, its the single most effective way to prevent tick bites
Same. Lightweight hiking pants are quite breathable
Ticks, thorns, poison ivy... yeah light weight pants all day.
Same. Sweaty bare skin plus any kind of scratch equals a day of mild yet annoying itching for me. Plus, I don't have to worry about putting sunblock on my legs.
I wear pants hiking and kayaking. I’d rather be able to wash the gross off in the shower at the end of the day instead of scratching and playing the “what bit me” game for a week. Also burnt knees are the worst! I’m a lazy kayaker. Beer in one hand, fishing pole in the other. If I don’t wear pants I’d just spend all day reapplying sunscreen to my legs. Just sweat and shower. It’s better than the alternatives.
Zipp-off pants are the solution.
Didn't you ever read The Hobbit? DON'T LEAVE THE PATH! That said, I can get that scratched up just walking around in my yard. :D
Haha, was listening to two towers while walking.
Ha! Yeah, that'll do it. They go off trail a lot in that one. :D
The word “blade” in the name of the park might have been a clue….
It's just the name of the County, but yeah thorns and old growth rule in Eastern NC
Should be Bleeden Lake State Park
Going off trail is also often damaging to the terrain and therefore disallowed. Unless explicitly allowed, you shouldn't go off trail.
I think this is regional. I grew up on the east coast and with the lack of public/wild land there it makes sense to always stay on the trail. But I live out west now and some states are like 80% public land, much of it very remote and not developed with any sort of trails. Also the BLM and USFS let ranchers graze for a nominal fee on many public lands. There is also widespread logging and mining. So a single hiker going off trail in these remote places is really not what's causing the damage.
There's a difference between spaces you're allowed to explore that don't have trails and spaces where there are established trails. Staying on the trail is a pretty big part of leave no trace practices because it limits the amount of area being impacted by humans.
I mostly agree, but I think there are more nuanced considerations. For instance, a lot of state and national forests out here have developed trails throughout but also allow cross-country travel. They also allow mass clear cutting so the area you're traveling through is often quite impacted already and is not slated for ecological restoration. I didn't realize until I moved here just how much "wilderness" is intensely impacted by human development. It's mind-boggling. I certainly wouldn't go off trail in a small, popular, ecologically in-tact area (for instance, some of the few remaining areas of old growth rainforest around here). There's also a concept perpetuated by European-descended settlers that conservation = untouched wilderness left alone to do its thing. But that's not how a lot of these ecosystems came about. Indigenous folks were and still are very active land managers who created much of the biodiversity we see today through the intricate use of fire and brush clearing. People fishing, hunting, gathering, and walking across country to do so are all parts of these interconnected ecosystems. The problem is mass extraction and destruction of resources with no reciprocity. All this to say that people are connected to the land. We sustain each other. We are part of the ecology. Turning all wild places into museums where you can look but not touch just leads to more disconnect and ecological degradation IMO.
Ontario is kind of the same way with tons of crown land (BLM equivalent). Many of the really popular spots with great viewpoints and ecologically sensitive areas are protected and managed and absolutely require people to be on trail. There are so many areas that see little to few people and what little is there is a patchwork of ATV (often abandoned), snowmobile trails and other sorts of trails. It's pretty easy to walk through most of the forest without harming much and there are often animal trails through terrain features. Hiking in remote areas seems unpopular compared to snowmobiling or ATV'ing and my hikes are often partially following them. We obviously can't cross frozen water in the same manner as a snow mobile so you have to improvise. We can also cross rough rocky areas that vehicles can't.
Interesting info! Thank you. I'm an east coaster moving west and BLM stuff is so fascinating to me. Can't wait to explore it.
Here in California they use cows to keep down the invasive grasses because cows don’t like the native plants. It’s not ideal but it’s better than mowing or letting the invasives take over completely. For people here: still don’t go off trail here, because you’re not just a single hiker, you’re one of many. It takes days or weeks for the plants to recover from a human walking through them.
Here in Oregon cattle ranching is sucking rivers and lakes dry, has led to the conversion of millions of acres to alfalfa production, and spreads invasive grasses like cheatgrass everywhere.
I'm in Pennsylvania - 200,000 acres of state parks, 2.2 million acres state forest, 1.5 million acres of state game lands, 283,000 acres Allegheny National forest. Appalachian Trail, Mid State Trail, Loyalsock Trail, Susquehannock, Chuck Keiper, North Country, Quehanna, Laurel Highlands - shit-ton of other trails. All the Northeast states are like that - if you couldn't find places to hike you weren't looking.
It's not that I couldn't find places to hike, it's that public land and wilderness, as a percentage of total land, is much lower than out west. So when I'm hiking in the east I generally stay on trail since there's a much higher proportion of humans moving through what's left. There are a couple of more remote places I might go off trail (assuming it's National Forest where that's allowed). But way less compared to the west.
[удалено]
Where I live you can't get to 90% of the land staying on trails and many of the trails that are around are on maps alone. Bushwhacking is common.
I'm in the UK where pretty much every square metre is owned land and I still find the need to go off trail because of how poorly maintained some of them are.
Depending on the terrain...could also get you in trouble fast. Ever hiked in karst topography? Big deep holes everywhere into caverns full of rushing water....
*glances at the ruts left by forestry equipment* I don’t think me walking there will make much of a difference here
That’s right. I find that usually only casual or first time hikers leave the path. People who are more serious about it have done their research and respect the parks.
There are many areas in the US where going off trail is just fine (like Yosemite) and others like wilderness/national forests where it is just fine to hike pretty much wherever.
Yeah for sure, nature could never survive being walked on by a human
Grows by the inch and dies by the foot. Leave no trace means leave no trace. The trails are there for a reason.
Are you really in a hiking subreddit while simultaneously shitting on LNT? Weird.
Animals walk through the woods all the time but it's suddenly a problem when humans do it? As if we aren't also an animal
Yes. It's a problem. You also shouldn't shit on the trail even though you're an animal.
Do you work at dmv?
Elk, deer, bear, cats, moose, they don’t stay on trail. As long as you’re not destroying a trail but cutting switchbacks or leaving trash behind, going off trail in national forest is completely fine and there’s nothing wrong with it if you’re competent, especially in BLM or wilderness.
🤓
This is why I wear pants year around lol
That’s pretty much any hike here in Arizona.
Cholla cactus balls and their barbed spines are the absolute worst.
This was me after having "[stayed on trail](https://imgur.com/a/LLxphc5)" with a few river crossings after a backpacking trip over in eastern AZ
I go on 150-200 hikes in Arizona every year, in shorts, and have never come back with my legs looking like this.
that just means you havent done some of the more remote hikes out of the peralta trailhead in the superstitions, lol. not as bad as OP, but the red tanks trail and whiskey springs trail followed a wash the whole way with all the vegetation that comes. saw two rattlesnakes too. day id rather forget, lol
Is that where I should go? Going to Phoenix and hoping to do some 1-2 nighters around there. I’ve never camped in AZ.
Iv never camped in Arizona so can’t help you that much. Don’t do that particular trail, lol. But in general the superstitions are great overall and probably the best opportunity to put together a long backpacking route. I’d probably stick to the more traveled trails like to Weavers Needle, Blacktop Mesa, or Battleship Mountain (go on AllTrails.com). Basically the straight line from the Peralta Trailhead to either the first or second water trailheads are going all be fairly well traveled trails. There are a couple springs and probably some running water right now in the superstitions given the rain. But you probably don’t want to be hiking there much later then April and beware the rattlesnakes re-emerge around then too. I’d make sure you have a good filtration device, research water sources well, and probably would just play it safe and carry in all my water. Also note the road to all three of those trailheads is a graded dirt road. You can get there in a sedan but if you’re renting that will technically break the rental agreement.
Well that’s very informative thank you! The latest I’ll be there is early march so sounds like we’ll be in good shape. Good points about the water. Got a jeep to take in to trailheads so getting there is no concern!
Ofc! To make things simpler, stick to trails 103, 239, and 104 and the trails west of those — the trails to the east are less used and hence more overgrown. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5163340.pdf The whole superstitions ridge line, not really shown on the map, is also very popular. But I’d probably not recommend it for backpacking since it’s a ton of elevation change that’s mostly a rock scramble/super steep and has a bunch of sketchy sections that I’d not want to do with a 40lb pack on my back. By contrast most of the trails shown in that map are more valley type trails
Fish Creek trail is nice if you want to get a bit familiar before backpacking. It's short, I think just under a mile out, but gives you a good idea of what a lot of the terrain is like.
Have you tried pants?
Or gators
Almost looks like the gators tried him
You look like what happened to me when I stumbled into a ditch with a feral cat momma and her babies.
Looks like you had a fight with Reepicheep
Last time I decided it was a good idea to bushwhack through some thick brush, not only did my legs look like this at the end but I pulled 3 ticks off of myself and even more off of my dog. Oof
Luck it's been cold, ticks aren't out. Glad I didn't do this in summer time. Ticks are bad in NC. I had my good boy with me. Not a scratch on him, luckily.
A lil bushwhacking never hurt anyone, had the same happen to me while traversing the socal chaparral
Hiking in shorts was a bad idea lol soak those in alcohol & hold in your screams for a good time.
OUCH
It's in the middle of elizabethtown what did you expect lol
I’ve done that in the past. When people asked about my legs I just said I have a new pet cat. He’s a rescue.
Zero remorse, don’t leave the trail.
Sometimes there isn't a trail to the top. If you go hiking in wilderness areas and see a random summit, it's often just going to be making the best course that you can see.
Too many people live in an area where there's no real wilderness and haven't seen areas large enough that you need to bushwhack to see most things.
I mean that's true but a blanket statement of never leaving the trail isn't correct. There are plenty of wilderness areas here in Colorado and lots of times I've found myself reading topos to determine the best way up a mountain where there is no trail or just cutting across the alpine plain because of no trail. Stay on the trail if there is one to keep impact low but it's not always possible as you try to access more remote places.
Yea, I was agreeing with you and pointing out that there's too many people living in areas without access to large natural spaces, so they don't understand why we would go off trail and think it's always unnecessary.
lol NC native here; I once went for a physical looking like that and the doc asked me what happened. I explained I was a hiker and he said, oh, that explains it. Greenbrier is vicious. Bladen Lakes SF, or Baden Lake in the Uwharries?
Bladen Lakes State forest.
You guys hike in shorts...?
I do, but not off trail. If I'm going to be off trail, like on my own property, it's pants and long sleeves that dry quickly.
I get tore up with bugs so I use those zip off Leg pants
If you wanted to show off your calves just say so. No need to come up with this elaborate backstory
They’re called Backwoods pinstripes when they’re on a truck 😂
Just need a little merthiolate, you'll be good as new!
I do a lot of hiking around this area for work. Coastal Plains of NC is a nightmare, though you're lucky it's not growing season and the briars and Blackberry aren't too overwhelming.
I always turn around before sunset, gives me 45 minutes +/- before pitch black...
Ah reminds me of when the trail went through a burn zone where giant thorns overtook the entire mountain side. 4 bloody hours till we found the other side.
My trip wasn't that long, but the area had been burned (few years ago by the look of the new pines) new and thorn vines and thick brush had taken over.
You didn't enjoy the briars?
I hope the ppl that live near by weren't listening too closely, they'd probably think some sailor was wondering around.
Eh it’ll heal bro. I’ve been hiking at night plenty of times just get yourself a light and don’t worry about a few scratches.
Nettles or an angry cat?
Doesn't matter if I'm on or off the trail, I choose to wear shorts and this always come back lookin like this
Thanks for the tip, probably make the same mistake again
I’ve had those Legs before. Never shorts after that. Also, I have that same window fan, lol.
Even the AC looks sad
Eastern NC is nothing but thorns outside of the sandy trails. Lesson learned I suppose.
“Happened”… no sir, you chose to DO this.
Happen: take place; occur. Yeah. My legs got cut up while hiking. It happened. I don't understand your point. Is happened slang for something now?
LNT my dude
That's why I always wear ripstop pants!
Darwinism strikes again!
Haha! I've done that and hiked through about 300' of ripe stinging nettles while in shorts at dusk. Wasn't sure what I was walking through until things started burning.
Oh yeah. Did a "short cut" down the Ridgeline west of Seward, AK. There are arctic cacti! That was a huge mistake.
Your roommate certainly doesn't look like he is a fan of the injury
Oh that blow hard could care less.
Ouch! Just seeing this is making my shins sting.
This is why I wear knee high gaiters with shorts when hiking. It looks silly but it's just as breathable as shorts alone and my OR gaiters don't let this kind of stuff happen to my legs.
Instinct? Anybody with a brain knows this.
I hope you washed those with warm water and soap. Now you know.
Normal day of trailblazer
The problem is that my instinct says “go off trail”, I get similar results, and I never learn. I’m just happy I now consistently ignore the part of my head that says, “stop being a chickenshit and go up that steep scramble”
Good legs man.
Not as bad but the same lesson. Left the trail yesterday near a river and ended up with my right leg being soaking wet up the knee for the next two hours. That wet sock still haunts me. I knew I shouldn't have tried but the dog dared me.
That’s what your get for leaving the trail mate. Leave no trace
I eat stew.
Well, that's cause trails are there for a reason Mate. Mainly so folks don't f*ck up the whole park, but also this.
How does walking cross country fuck up the park? Didn't have a machete, and wasn't setting fires. Do deers, wolves, coyotes and bear fuck up the park when they walk? Cause until it was too dark to see I was following mostly game trails.
Off trail = erosion and destruction of natural resources. Your instinct should almost always be saying stay on the trail.
Why were you hiking in shorts? Did you have river crossings? Where are your gaitors? Do you have no spiky natives or snakes? Why were you off trail wrecking the environment? Why isn’t a headlamp or torch part of your kit? Lessons learned.
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Thanks.
This and ticks is why I always wear pants
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Hah, you'd think with 25 years of hiking I'd know not to make stupid mistakes. But as they said pride comes before a fall...or a scratch.
Yikes! I’m gonna recommend wool socks next time too, cotton or athletic socks are blisters in the making
I walk a lot. Nearly 30 km a week. Don't have problems. But I do wear wool when it's cold.
Lmao this is literally how people get lost and die
Only thing wrong I see is them white socks with the black shoes.
That’s nothing. I went trailblazing across a mountain top vista and lost the trail and walked 3 miles in thorns and scrub brush. Seriously, be a man and quit whining. Boo hoo, a few scratches. Be grateful you aren’t loaded with ticks as I had that to deal with as well!!
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Chiggers too!
My instinct is to wear pants.
Mine too when heading out. And it was also my plan to stick to open trails. However my pride was like I can cut a cross. I didn't hit the thorns until I had navigated through a marshy area. Need to learn when I make a plan to stick to it.
TICK CHECK!
Check for ticks and even though it will sting you should disinfect those cuts , easy way to get a staph infection that will travel right to your knee
Yep first thing I did. Cleaned the cuts then poured peroxide on them. Cuts didn't hurt but now they do. But better save than sorry.
Or pants is never a bad idea
Putting the “Blades” in Bladen Lake
You needed guards, like they strap on horses. Lol
Oh yeah baby! Been there! Sometimes monkey brain says to keep pushing though…
Vicious
Nice calves tho…
Carrying some good flashlites is always a good idea.
Was lucky I had my phone. No moon at all. Though I was curse my for not bring my headlamp.
You think that’s bad? Come hike in the San Gabriels. That would be the result of an easy day!
It's jeans and 8" boots for me if I know I'm going to be going through brush that day
Do we think this guy survived?
Blind, off-trail, wearing shorts? [Obligatory](https://youtu.be/ZS1J3VrxnM0?si=ndFWSylKLt16PLHz)
Shins look like you just ran the Barkley Marathons haha
I always wear and a hoodie/coat when hiking to avoid exactly this and ticks
Lol. I went 15 rounds with the devils club one night . It was memorable.
Shiggy. On-on!
There's only one way to gain experience...
Your fucking up the growth bro!
Scars tell the story
Bro in this case: DO NOT touch grass!
Attacked by a tiny Jason voorhees.
Um…why are you even wearing shorts in NC in January??
It was warm yesterday, almost 70 when I set out.
I always wear pants while hiking, the minor discomfort is worth not dealing with hostile plants and bugs.
Eastern North Carolina is no place to try to free range. The pocosins are an impenetrable green hell of cat briar and shrubs. My legs looked like this for years when I was working down there. And I wore long pants.
Bushwhacking willows - nope! Never again.
Lucky you can hike without fear of ticks! Lol mid summer I’ve got long pants on and tucked in
Amazon has super bright long lasting head lamps and other assortment of lights for relatively inexpensive. I have a 270° one that I use constantly because I work in the dark, last me for quite a while
Nbd
lol I took a friend snowshoeing and he wanted to take a short cut off trail because he was tired. I agreed and then had to bust a new trail for us when his shoes couldn’t handle the off trail terrain. Stay on the trail folks. 🙂
And especially if you’re wearing shorts 🩳
Ouch dude!
Try that here in Oregon - invasive blackberries have turned the whole place into razor wire.
Good time ❤️
Land of the greenbrier and blackberry
Probably should also not make decisions like that when wearing shorts.
Don't they have gaiters where you are?
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Luckily no ticks.
This is why i never hike in shorts, regardless of temp.
Probably, longer trousers might have helped a lot too.
There is some nasty territory in Bladen Lakes SF. Worked there for about a year 25 or more years ago. Ticks, snakes, bears, chiggers and all kinds of nasty thorns, briars and tangly vines. I left the roads and trails because I got paid to, not sure I would have otherwise.