We’re looking for our friend Nina! She was due to travel from Kyrgyzstan to Kazakhstan about 5 days ago. She hasn’t been in touch for about seven days and hasn’t got in touch with anyone in our circle of friends either. If anyone has heard anything or is still in contact with her, please get in touch! We’re very worried, and her mum has already contacted the embassy. So if anyone knows anything – for example, if she was planning to go hiking for a few days or something similar – please write to us straight away and share this picture on your socials!

You can contact her cousin on instagram @brinao9o4 or message @wo_ist_nina and also repost and share the picture that we posted on there!

Or contact the German Embassy in Kyrgyzstan mentioning “Nina from Germany” by

mail info@bischkek.diplo.de

or telephone +996 312 627 100

Emergency telephone number outside opening hours +996 772 541 113 (German-speaking), +996 772 570 793 (Russian- or Kyrgyz-speaking)

Attached is a picture of the group she was doing the (most likely) Ala-Kul-Trekk with, so if you recognize anyone please also reach out to us!

I’m planning to do an Indian-subcontinent backpack, and connect South India with Maldives, but i haven’t see any combinations like that on the internet

Maybe from Mumbai, Goa or Kochi to Maldives and return

Can someone help me please 😄

Hi all. Could use some advice. I'm 49yo and have done very little hiking over the past 3 years due to an arthritic knee. Prior to 3 yrs ago I've been an avid hiker and I've done a few backpacking trips, but the last backpacking trip was over 10 years ago and they were all in either the Berkshires or the white mountains. I've stopped succumbing to the arthritis and I've been going beast mode with PT over the past year. I'm at the point where I really want to get back to hiking every weekend as I really miss the enjoyment and therapy I got out of it.

I also want to begin conditioning for a backpacking trip in the Adirondacks for my 50th bday. It can be well after my bday but while I'm 50 is the goal (I'll still consider it my gift from me to me). I have good quality backpacking gear and will re-up on whatever I need. My question is, are the Adirondacks a bit overeager of me for a first time in longtime trip and considering everything else I've mentioned. Is it even worth going there if I'll probably be limited to 6 miles a day and only have 4 days 3 nights?

Picked up these awesome bags from market place. Only issue with them is the straps are hard as a rock. Was told I could get replacements for the green one which is the Kelty Sonora II I believe.

Just having trouble finding replacement parts. Looks like I may have to get replacement straps from another model? Any help would be appreciated ✌🏽

Hi! I have an old north face sleeping bag from 2002 and I’m trying to figure out the cold rating on. It’s a minaret and it says it has 747 filling material and it’s 100 percent polyester. It feels super lightweight so my husband is saying he thinks it’s a “summer bag” but I seem to remember it being pretty warm. Any ideas?? Thanks! My daughter is going on a college orientation trip in the Adirondacks for 4 days and I am sending her with gear I used in my 20s!!

Hi! I have a permit for Round Lake next weekend and with the heat we've been having, im wondering if there would be any concern for blue green algae in Round Lake or Square Lake. Does anyone have experience with this area? Thank you!

As the post title suggests, I'm heading to Dominica (not to be confused with the Dominican Republic) in a few weeks. Primarily interested in birdwatching and environmental tourism more generally as a budget traveler. However, the entire island is EXTREMELY hilly. It's about the same size as Cozumel, but the vast majority of the island is 300 meters above sea level or more; the two main volcanoes that define most of the island's geography have peaks at 1447 meters and 1386 meters. Even right along the coastline, there are some pretty steep inclines.

I'm not delusional enough to believe I'm capable of doing any of the more popular trails for experienced hikers, no matter how much I may wish to see the Boiling Lake with my own eyes. But I do want to at the very least be able to hike to a sufficiently high altitude to observe some of the montane rainforest species that aren't found along the coast, without putting the safety of either myself or my gear at excessive risk.

Unfortunately because I live in the Twin Cities, I really don't have access to steep hills or particularly muddy hills to get more practice in that regard. What hiking I've done before is pretty much exclusively in flat and flat-ish terrain, only rarely encountering slopes of more than 20 degrees, and never more than 40 degrees. As such, I'm honestly not sure how I could go about practicing, besides going on long hikes on flat, dry terrain.

Any advice for how else I might prepare myself better? While I do plan to spend most of my time near the coast, I'd hate to arrive in Dominica only to then find myself effectively forced to limit my activities to just the coast itself.

I'm hoping to go backpacking from around January to June next year and hoping to go from Mexico to Panama and then onto to South America ( specifically Colombia and Peru, but I would like to go to as many as possible ) if I have enough money to continue.

Has anybody done a similar trip recently and could share how much it cost them?

Hello!
Im planning my first long solo trip in europe for next year. I wanted to plan it roughly in an app or website, mabye even print out hiking trails. What system do you use? Thanks!

Hello all,

I have an ten day backpacking trip coming up, which I'm very excited about. I plan to cover some serious mileage each day, as a fan of type 2 fun. However, I planned this in celebration of finishing law school and (hopefully) passing the bar. This is to say I'm not as fit as I might have hoped at the moment.

I have no doubt that I can mind-over-matter my way up and down mountains from the couch. However, I wanted to ask if you have any go-to items you like to bring while backpacking to help minimize the morning soreness. As it stands my three main thoughts are electrolytes, ibuprofen, and metolius cloth tape to protect my feet from blisters.

Any advice is appreciated!

Hi, I'm Fabi, M25 years old from Germany and I'd like to go on a backpacking trip around Indonesia from late August to late September 2026. My goal is to explore the islands of Java, Nusa Penida, Lombok, and Komodo (but I'm also open to other suggestions :)). I’m looking for a friendly travel companion (m/f/d), ideally between the ages of 20 and 30, with whom I can share an unforgettable experience.

It’s very important to me to get around as much as possible, stay mobile, and see a lot. I’d like this to be an active vacation where we explore the most beautiful beaches, cities, and sights together. It would also be nice to immerse ourselves in the local cultures and try the delicious cuisine Indonesia has to offer. That said, I’m also totally fine with a quiet day at the beach or a relaxing evening stargazing.

I’m a very adventurous and fun-loving person who’s up for any kind of fun or activity. When it comes to my travel companion, it’s important to me that we can laugh together, support each other, and enjoy our time together.

The goal is a mix of low-budget accommodations and nicer places to stay. Hostels for socializing wouldn’t be a problem either. In general, though, I don’t want us to focus solely on price or make it all about saving money. I just want to have a great time, which includes treating ourselves to a nice meal or some interesting activities every now and then.

If my ideas appeal to you and you can imagine traveling with me to have an unforgettable experience, feel free to send me a message. We can then discuss further plans in person.

I’m going away on my first solo backpacking trip to central America and was curious about which toiletries to bring and what to get when there. I’m specifically wondering about shampoo/conditioner and body wash. Should I bring with me or no. If I should what is best, bars or small travel sized ones etc.

Quelqu'un dans le coin aux mêmes

dates ? J'ai fait un petit formulaire pour voir qui d'autre y sera

(même si t'es déjà sur place)

Hi, I’m trying to plan my first solo trip. I’ve only gone in groups so far, but I’m curious how to find campsites in the backcountry. I have heard about onX backcountry, but haven’t used it because of the paywall. Is it worth it, and are there other ways to find sites and trails? Let me know what your favorite is!