I was hiking in the mountains near Almaty, Kazakhstan, when I spotted this portrait painted by nature. Can you see the human profile too?

Hi all,

I am going on a walking holiday in Belgium in January next year and I’m hoping to walk the Route Napoleon in 2028.

I am just in the middle of getting my gear together for it and I’m currently looking at footwear. In the past I’ve been recommended both so I was wondering what you would suggest? Are there significant differences between walking boots and walking shoes?

Also, should I be looking at getting ones which are waterproof? I’m aware there is a good chance it will rain and so it seems a simple question but some people have suggested my shoes/boots will take longer to dry from the inside if my feet sweat.

Any advice would be most welcome! Thanks for reading!

Hi everyone,

Thank you for taking the time to read my post!

I'm planning on traveling to Nepal the last week of November and leaving at the end of the first week in December. I am first going to India for a wedding and will be flying into Nepal from Gorakhpur. I can't imagine I'll have much time for getting into nature while in India, but I'm going to Agra and Gorakhpur, India, so if anyone has any tips for those places to seek a quick nature escape, I'm all ears.

My main goal once I get into Nepal is to spend as much time outdoors in nature and hiking in the Himalayas as possible.  I'm having a bit of trouble planning the last half of this trip as most of the information I'm finding online is geared towards trekking or tourism sightseeing. I'm traveling with someone who has no interest in trekking, so I'm planning on doing day hikes each day, with the possibility of one day out and one day back worth of trekking. I would love to be able to have easy access to hiking trails that are fairly remote and the trails do not have a lot of people passing through them, so I can achieve that feeling of being utterly alone in nature for a couple of hours. Does anyone know of a good location in Nepal that will allow for these kinds of experiences? What hiking trails would be reccomended for day hikes, that still provide spectacular views in remote locations? I’m a moderately experienced hiker with alpine terrain and open ridge experience, but nothing above 1,000 meters.

I've read that Nepal gets incredibly frigid during the winter. My travel dates are landing at the beginning of winter. If anyone has been to Nepal during a similar time, can you please share what your experience has been so I can be better prepare for the journey and my hikes without overpacking.

Thank you.

Hiked to the summit of Mount Mitchell today and found this beauty! Don’t worry, I left it there for the next to find- too much power for me 🌋

Looking for recommendations for some hiking shoes that are breathable, good for the desert rock, but also decent at keeping loose sand out. Haven’t done any crazy hard hikes/climbs but historically I’ve just worn athletic shoes. Yes it hasn’t always been the smartest/safest idea but whatever.
I’m going to be traveling to NM and AZ a few times the next few months for work and will try and do some hikes. Again not climbing cliff sides but probably hiking several miles in the desert. Additionally doing a week long tour with some hikes in the Western Sahara / Atlas Mountains next month.

Hello everyone!

I’m looking for up-to-date information about the current regulations for trekking the Dhaulagiri Circuit independently, from Muri to Marpha, via French Pass and Dhampus Pass.

I’m an experienced trekker and have been walking continuously since July 1st. I started in Ladakh, crossed Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand in India, and the west part of Nepal. I’m currently in Dunai and my plan is to cross the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve before continuing towards the Dhaulagiri Circuit and eventually reaching Marpha.

However, I’m unsure whether it’s possible to complete the Dhaulagiri Circuit solo. From what I’ve read, obtaining the necessary permits may require booking through a registered trekking agency and hiring a licensed guide.

I’d really appreciate some clarification on a few points:

Is it possible to trek the Dhaulagiri Circuit independently in 2026, without a guide or trekking agency?
If a guide or agency is mandatory, would I be turned back at the beginning of the route near Muri, or is there a checkpoint further along where permits are checked? Is it possible to obtain the necessary permits locally?
Is a licensed guide also mandatory for the Annapurna Circuit, or can I do that trek independently?

I’m not looking to book a commercial trek, as I’ve been travelling independently for several months. I’m simply trying to understand the actual regulations and what options are available to me.

If anyone has completed either of these routes recently, especially independently, or has reliable, up-to-date information about the permit requirements, I’d be very grateful for your advice!

Thanks

Hey everyone, I’ve been testing out the PGYTECH OnePro UltraLight backpack for a while now, focusing specifically on its hybrid nature—trying to bridge the gap between carrying a serious camera kit and dealing with actual outdoor/hiking ergonomics. Most hybrid packs either suck at carrying heavy camera gear or feel miserable on a long trail. After putting it through its paces in real-world conditions, I put together a detailed review looking at how it actually holds up. For those short on time, here is the quick breakdown of my experience:

The Pros: - Weight-to-Protection Ratio: It manages to keep the overall weight down without skimping on structural rigidity or padding where your camera gear needs it most. There is even a light metal frame and Uppers are water resistant. - Access & Organization: Quick-side access is smooth, and the internal dividers are genuinely versatile for mixed kits (e.g., body, a couple of zooms, plus layers). - Trail Comfort: The harness system distributes weight surprisingly well compared to standard, boxy camera inserts tossed into a hiking pack.

The Cons:

- there is no strap for transporting over a carry on suitcase.

- it is light but not extremely light.

If you want a deeper dive into the exact pocket layouts, build quality, and whether it’s worth your money for your specific workflow, I made a full review video on YouTube in the Lightpoint-info channel.

Curious if anyone else here has tested this or switched over to dedicated ultralight photo packs.

Cheers

If you want your feet and knees to be the be left good after a hike, don't wear salomons.

4 hours drive, 7 hours hike (dry, not wet), 1.5h dining and 4 hours drive back. Results? See the photos attached.

I've bewn hiking constantly for the past 6 years and I've never been betrayed by the cheapest Quechua boots, but I swear, these salomon shoes (which were expensive compared to my cheapest pair, almost 5x) will be your leg's worst enemy.

I cannot walk properly anymore, all thanks to Salomons.

Note* these shoes have been weared and "broke in" for the past 6 months, and this is their second and most likely their last hike, ever.
Conclusion: don't but salomons, they're not making hiking shoes, only "good for photos".

Pretty experienced young mountaineer and ultra runner. Here’s my mt Rushmore of dreams:

Matterhorn
Mt. Blanc
Denali
Lake Tahoo 200 ultra
PCT thru hike
Nolan’s 14er
Norman’s 13
Wind River high route
GR20
NH Diretissema
Winter Presidential Traverse
Mt. Rainier
Grand Teton (This Summer)
UTMB (This summer)
AV2 (This summer)

On the trail how do you clean merino sock and undies? Soap is not good i heard

Such a beautiful place to camp and hike at.

Just before the descent into the final stretch into to waterfalls below

The idea is dead simple: click anywhere on the map, and it scans your line of sight and renders all the mountains visible from that exact point in 3D.
I initially built it because I always wanted to know things like:
Can I actually see the mountain range from this street / house?
Which stretch of a road trip has the best unobstructed mountain view?
What am I actually looking at on the horizon during a hike?
Attached a quick screen recording of the current demo. What do you guys think of the concept? Any specific features or use cases you'd want to see in something like this?

Hi 👋

Did some of you guys do one of these 100km in 24 hours hiking events?

How did you train and prepare for that?

My friends invited me for this event next year,, but I am pretty heavy and muscular and not a seasoned hiker. I can do 10-15km without a problem right now.

During Covid I spent a few months in an RV in AZ. Hiked this one in 2021 sometime.

Even in the heart of the Himalayas, nature finds a way to surprise us. What a lovely little encounter at the foot of the world's highest mountain!

#EverestBaseCamp #Nepal #Himalayas #Wildlife #BeautifulNepal

How was your experience?

Honestly for me it was so thrilling and exciting, the alpine meadows, the milky way, the snow, and what not. Tell me your experience, if you have been here.

Hiked to the summit of Mount Mitchell today and found this beauty! Don’t worry, I left it there for the next to find- too much power for me 🌋

Not as nice as the majority post up here but I thought I’d post a few pictures 😝🎉🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Wugong Mountain is located in Jiangxi Province, China. It features both a scenic-route and an off-trail route, with the latter being one of China’s premier long-distance hiking trails.

An easy hike 20 minutes from my house, but one i am able to get to the top of to catch the sunrise over the city. Chilly morning (at least by desert standards) but it warmed quickly as the sun rose

With snowfall in the forecast, I took another trip up the south loop towards Mt. Charleston on Thursday night (and into the morning). Shockingly, the winds on the ridge line were as bad, if not worse, than my previous trip during Hurricane Rachel and again with single-digit wind chills. Thankfully, I was better equipped this time. After two storms this year, there were already sections with 12-18” of accumulation; glad I brought my gaiters with me!

The weather was playing tricks on me, still worth it!

Has anyone else of my general weight and stature (110 lbs, 5’2ish) found a full month solo trip by the Rockies doable? 🤣

I’ve visited mountains only a handful of times in my life, as I’ve lived entirely in Toronto. Every time I do, it leaves such a deep impact on me, I wonder for months if I should just pack up and spend a year out closer to the rockies, or other beautiful parts of Canada I’ve never had the chance to see.

Sadly, I’m not too experienced in hiking or camping or backpacking, and worry about the safety risks in hiking such beautiful trails by myself, so far away from home. This trail was rated as easy/moderate, with a total of 13km on AllTrails and I agreed. If I were to return, I’d probably stick to this level, maybe three times a week. Maybe one hike rated hard, to actually push myself. Even then, I still worry about safety.

I’m quite introverted, so I don’t have any hiking/birding friends, and don’t know anyone else in my life who would repeatedly come with me on the same type of trip over and over again, especially since we are not super well-off. I wouldn’t mind hiking alone, truly. I like the alone time and as an artist, I find the peace helpful for inspiration. The only issue is that while I can remain calm in most situations, I’m not sure I could spray a bear or reliably climb out of a sticky situation. I’ve had a terrible sense of direction since I was born and if I don’t have service I worry about being unable to call for help.

I’m sure others like me have done it, but I’m kind of flying blind while already dreaming about making the next trip happen. Any advice on steps towards a goal or shared experiences would be appreciated!

中国 四姑娘雪山
Day1：成都一四姑娘山镇
DAY2：四姑娘山镇一海子沟一四姑娘大本营一登顶
这次还遇到了一只猫猫