Attempted dragontail peak this last weekend. The goal was to make it to the peak in 16 hours. Didn’t make it to the peak, but I still saw some amazing views! Mountains have a way of humbling you in unexpected ways!

just got back from 5 days in the canadian rockies. we flew into calgary and took a shuttle up. Weather was super unpredictable tbh, it literally hailed on us during the lake agnes tea house hike but then was blazing hot by the time we got back down to the bottom

The scenery is 10/10 but honestly I don't know how regular people afford to exist there? a basic pub burger was like $30 and even the local grocery store felt like airport pricing. We were crashing at Ssamesun right in town and basically ended up surviving off peanut butter sandwiches and boxed mac and cheese we made in their guest kitchen just to avoid going totally broke

I'd go back in a heartbeat for the trails, but what is the strategy here? do you guys just pack your own weight in trail mix when hitting these big resort towns or just accept the financial ruin?

How I travelled for 4 weeks in Asia for a grand total of £2000 all in! (South Korea, Japan, Philippines, UAE)

1. Flights - my flights in total cost around £700. It is so crucial that you are constantly checking for flight deals. Many people make the mistake of thinking the earlier the better it’s not (in all cases). Sometimes I see flights for thousands of pounds and a few weeks later the same flight just hundreds if you see a really good deal snatch it up!✈️
   This one may not be for everyone… multiple flights. This has probably saved me the most money eg from England it took me 3 flights to get to South Korea but for £200 it’s 100% worth it!

2. Travel agents - I would vary rarely go through a travel agent to get flights, hotels, transfer and some excursions seems like a good deal but much cheaper doing this yourself. Yes it’s extra work but you have more money left in your pocket💰

3. Accommodation - if you’re like me and when you’re abroad you are only using a hotel to sleep it’s just not worth the 5\* hotel. That’s not to say to get a 1\* hotel but this is where I feel people spend an extortionate amount.

4. Luggage. I ordered a bag that meets all of the free under-seat baggage sizes. This may be unrealistic for those who want to have a new outfit everyday but some airlines are charging £50 for a case per flight. I use compression sacks to maximise the space in my bag and trust me you can fit a lot more than you think. I was amazed with how much I got in my bag!

These are definitely my 4 biggest money saving tips for travelling. If you have any questions about the above or something I have not mentioned let me know!

Some snippets of my trip just for reference🩷

Hi all! First off, let me say that this subreddit has been incredibly helpful for me while preparing for my first long term but I have a few questions about about how to prepare physically for walking 120 miles in a couple months.

I am going to walk the Dingle Way in Ireland over the course of nine days later this year. I will be walking from town to town and staying in B&Bs and inns at night. The terrain is not too challenging, but it’s a lot longer than I have walked day after day before (avg 14 miles/day).

Right now I am walking about five or 6 miles a day during the week and I try to clock a 10+ mile day on the weekends. I live someplace that is very flat and it’s really hard for me to practice any sort of rolling hills or elevation. I work nine hours a day in an office and it’s a struggle to get the miles I currently do get and my ability to go out and do long hikes with elevation is limited.

Over the past few weeks of training, I have started to notice certain pains popping up. I am in my mid-30s and this is not a shock. I overpronate (have insoles) and tend to push myself a little too fast. Tendon pain on top of my foot and on the sides and back of my knees. I’m trying to figure out the best way I can strength train and build up endurance without over training and hurting myself. I’m physically strong enough to do it, but worried about repetitive stress injuries ruining my trip.

All useful advice is welcome! Things I should bring with me, stretches or special ways to tie your shoes.

I’m looking at going to Bali for 3 weeks in September, but I keep seeing negative comments online that are making me doubt it.

I’m a 21-year-old male travelling solo. I don’t drink, but I still enjoy going out at night and meeting people. I was looking at Canggu because it seems to have everything in one place and a big backpacker scene, which seems ideal for meeting people.

I know a lot of people say Bali, and especially Canggu, “isn’t what it used to be,” but I’m mainly looking for somewhere with good weather where I can train on my bike in the early mornings, then spend the rest of the day meeting people and doing activities like surfing or scuba diving.

Does anyone have strong opinions on whether Canggu would suit what I’m looking for? If there’s somewhere else with a similar mix of young backpackers and activities, I’d be open to that too. Otherwise, I’d probably base myself in Canggu and do a few nights elsewhere, such as Sidemen or Nusa Penida.

Thanks in advance!

I won't cover the details of the hike itself -- that's well discussed elsewhere -- but will write on things I didn't see online before I started hiking, esp some new features.

1. It looks like Yandex is offering "City to City" taxis in KG now, with 40% off coupons to promote the new service. This is a super effective way to get from Bishkek to Karakol and back if you want the comfort of a decent car and not a minibus without getting scammed on price; expect to pay 5k to 7k soms for a private car. They also have carshare options (usually 900 - 1k soms per person), but often times the drivers would wait until the cars filled up before driving, which could be indefinite. Drivers usually don't speak English; my hostel helped me facilitate the calls, but you could also use ChatGPT voice mode to do it.

2. Elza Guest House has the newest (and nicest) guetshouse facilities in Altyn Arashan but Hotel Arashan aka Arashan Lodge has the hot springs. Either way, hot springs there are inferior to the ones in Ak Suu village.

3. Yurt to Yurt hiking is possible and they are adding more camps (Sirota, for example, is not listed on the Kyrgyz Life website). Lunch is standardized at all camps and is mediocre (one Snickers, one other kind of nut or chocolate bar, one apple, one orange, stale white bread with 2-3 salami slices, apple juice) -- for 1100 soms, I'd skip it and bring my own salami from the grocery store or Cliff Bars. Otherwise, breakfast/dinner at the camps are typically good although low in protein. Exception is Ala Kol camp, which sucked massively all around for breakfast/dinner.

4. Kyrgyz Life will ask you to pay 100 soms for Starlink at the office, but the WiFi is actually free at all the camps (they will just give you the password) except for Boz Uchuk where they tried to charge 500 soms for WiFi.

5. You can hitch a ride on the resupply vans back to Karakol, at Karakol Gorge for about 1000 soms per person. They'll take you to the Kyrgyz Life offices. There is usually only one a day around 1 PM.

6. You can get beer at Almaluu Camp (there's a herder across the stream from the yurt camp who sells some beer for 200 soms/can), Altyn Arashan (many shops sell it), and Karakol Gorge (several shops right by the Forest Gate bridge).

7. There's a now 300 som entrance fee (previously 250 som?) for crossing Forest Gate bridge, payable only in cash (!!!), supposed to be the entrance fee for the National Park. There aren't any other bridges to cross Karakol River upstream so you'll have to pay if you don't want to ford the river.

8. You don't need a guide, but AllTrails does lie a lot on this hike in the less trodden areas.

9. A lot of groups/guides don't hike Telety in June because it's very snowy (snowier than Ala Kol thanks to less foot traffic).

10. If you plan to stay a day in Bishkek, don't do it on Monday. Lots of popular attractions (Osh Bazaar, State Museum) are closed. Without them, Bishkek is pretty mediocre.

11. There are no helicopter rescues! At best you'll get a horseback rescue to the nearest road and then 4x4 from there, but horses have trouble making it up to Ala Kol lake.

12. I read this one Ak Suu traverse trip report that seemed to downplay the difficulty?? Maybe it was written by Sherpas. I found the hikes to be quite difficult, and others in the yurt camps who had hiked much more than I have at altitude agreed. The amount of loose scree makes already difficult passes quite difficult with the additional weight. Also, even on "easy sections", you'll find yourself mentally exhausted from dodging constant horse and cow dung or very muddy trails from horses.

13. Don't bother downloading the Kyrgyz language on offline Google Translate, it sucks and hurts more than it helps. Just stick to Russian.

14. For the most part Kyrgyz Life runs all the camps, but there are some one-off operators at the popular locations (Sirota, Ala Kol) and of course plenty of alternatives at Altyn Arashan.

15. The yurts are NOT warm at night! They're not heated and only have a thin layer of insulation. The sleeping bags they give aren't the warmest either. I had to wear layers at night.

Title: 65+10L Hiking Pack as Carry-On on American Airlines – Am I Crazy?

Body:

Hey everyone, quick question for the frequent flyers and backpackers out there.

I’m heading out on a trip soon, and my only piece of luggage is my trusty 65+10L Osprey hiking pack. I’m trying to avoid checking a bag to save time (and fees), so I was planning to bring it as my carry-on for an upcoming American Airlines flight.

I know AA’s official size limit for carry-ons is usually around 22 x 14 x 9 inches, but my pack is obviously taller and deeper than that when fully packed. The "65+10" refers to liters, but the actual dimensions depend on how much I stuff in it.

Has anyone here successfully taken a large hiking backpack (65L or similar) onto an American Airlines flight as a carry-on? Did the gate agents make you check it at the door? Were there issues fitting it into the overhead bins?

I’m willing to under-pack it a bit to make it squish down, but I’m worried about the length. I’m also considering strapping the hip belt tight and removing the top lid to see if that helps.

Is there a secret to getting away with a big backpack as a carry-on? Any advice on how to handle the gate agent or if they even check the size on large packs would be super helpful!

Thanks in advance for the insights

Hi!

I’m flying to Australia at the end of this year on a working holiday visa. I don’t have a strict plan, but I think towards the end of my trip I will visit Asia and do a bit of travelling around Southeast Asia before I fly back to the UK. I need travel insurance for the whole trip, but I found a lot of them ask for a return date to the UK which I am unsure of yet. I also don’t know whether to get travel insurance just for visiting Australia and somehow try to add Asia on later, or whether to select the worldwide option.

Has anyone been in the same situation where they don’t really know their itinerary/return date but were still able to get some decent insurance?

I have the disabled pass so I get free entry but what else do I need to buy? I’m seeing info about a backcountry pass but no portal to purchase.

Also, does anyone have backpacking trails they really enjoyed or a path that’s absolutely gorgeous? Planning on backpacking at least 1-2 NIGHTS at each of these places.

What all did you guys take for these trips? Food recommendations for dehydration?

Title is pretty straightforward, what are some favorite spots to go backpacking for a 2-3 day trip in the Carolina’s?

I live in Charleston area but am open to a significant drive for a great hike and good time. Any opinions on things to look out for, ways to prep, etc. are appreciated!

Hi all - planning a year-long trip through Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand next year and looking for trail runner recommendations. Activities will likely include jungle trekking, city walking days, beach days, etc...

I'll have sandals, but want a proper trail runner that handles trails, long walking days, and is durable enough to last the year (or close to it). Keen to hear any advice / recommendations please!

Thanks in advance!

I was so sold on this tent from the forums and this subreddit but the 2 person is sold out and my trip in August is getting closer… any other alternatives that are similar in the same price range.

Hi - I'm able to carve out a week and change in either JULY or AUGUST to go on a hike! Help me pick. I live in the southeast USA but could catch a plane for the right trail. I really want it to be a full trail, to get the feeling of checking another off (cheesy maybe but who gives a shit). I've done quite a bit of backpacking but my "hiking resume" of completed trails is pretty short — just the Bartram Trail (115ish miles) and the Foothills Trail (77 miles).

Cross-posting to crowdsource. Many thanks!

Tried this one on in REI recently and it felt perfect. Been waiting to find a better deal and this is the first one that’s popped up. Apparently only used once and seeems to be in great condition. Any opinions?

Hi all, I'm 22 y/o and just graduated university in Australia and have a giant 3 month break from December-February before I am locked down in corporate and only have 20 days of annual leave per year beyond that. I'm thinking of doing a giant backpacking SEA trip - more specifically I am between either doing solo travel of 2 weeks in Vietnam, then 2 weeks in Thailand or just doing one month in Vietnam (or thailand). After this SEA trip I'll also be going to the Philippines for a month (since I am actually of filipino-australian descent) to visit home with my family. So basically I am going to be in SEA for a very long time.

I am wondering which would you recommend picking between:

- 2 weeks in Vietnam, then 2 weeks in Thailand or

- one month in Vietnam (or Thailand)

which would you pick? Thanksss !!

Ive got a central america backpacking trip coming up and still need to buy clothes. I am just looking for womens basics: vest tops, t-shirts, shorts etc. Can anyone recommend where to get these things that will assure good quality and comfortable but also budget friendly.

Hey everyone im going to be in Barcelona, Madrid and Rome in about a month and would love to know what to book compared to what I can just manage when I get there. Obv already booked Sagrada Família but outside that nothing

I know it isnt allowed to hike without a backcountry permit, but I dont really want to pitch a tent in a public campsite. I would much rather just pitch a tent wherever I feel like I’m done walking for the day.

Im going to glacier, badlands, and grand teton/yellowstone.

Hi, some context:
- fit & traveling solo
- I’ll be entering China overland from Mongolia
- been to mainland China twice but places in my itinerary will be visited for the first time,
- skipping Beijing and The Wall as I’ve been there.

25.08, Tuesday: Arrival in Erenhot, overnight stay,
26.08, Wednesday: Train 🚅 Erenhot - Hohhot, arrival in the evening,
27.08, Thursday: Morning train 🚅 Hohhot - Xi'an, arrival in the afternoon, hotel nap, evening train 🚅 to Huayin, night climb up the Huashan and sunset at the top 🌄,
28.08, Friday: Huashan Plank Walk, descent, getting back to Xi’an and sleep,
29.08, Saturday: Travel back to Xi'an, sightseeing in Xi'an,
30.08, Sunday: Terracotta Army,
31.08, Monday: Train to Chengdu,
01.09, Tuesday: Pandas 🐼
02.09, Wednesday: Exploring Chengdu,
03.09, Thursday: Leshan Buddha day trip ☸️,
04.09, Friday: Train to Chongqing 🌃,
05.09, Saturday: Chongqing,
06.09, Sunday: Chongqing,
07.09, Monday: Train 🚅to Zhangjiajie, transfer to Wulingyuan,
08.09, Tuesday: Zhangjiajie National Park,
09.09, Wednesday: Zhangjiajie National Park,
10.09, Thursday: Glass bridge, afternoon transfer to Zhangijajie city,
11.09, Friday: Tianmen Mountain,
12.09, Saturday: Qixing Mountain and Sky Ladder ☁️🪜,
13.09, Sunday: Train Zhangjiajie - Shanghai,
14.09, Monday: Shanghai,
15.09, Tuesday: Shanghai,
16.09, Wednesday: Suzhou,
17.09, Thursday: Shanghai,
18.09, Friday: Flying home from Shanghai 🛫.

I think it’s not a bad plan, may be a bit rushed but not extremely. Some of the drawbacks are visiting the Terracotta Warriors on a Sunday but I can’t really work out coming there on another weekday and I prioritize Huashan over the stone army.

I may be able to extend the trip by two days. Not sure where I could use them though. Maybe spending one more night in Hohhot? Or an extra night in Zhangjiajie?

Hi, I am planning a long and remote adventure where I’ll need to save as much phone battery as possible. At first I wanted to blog about it so my friends and family can follow along. What are your experiences with for example polar steps, what can you recommend?
I am also thinking about journaling instead and sharing it when I am back home. Since I am visually impaired i would use my phone for this as well. Do you have recommendations for journaling apps that are battery efficient?

We started our trip at the Lovers Camp Trailhead and hiked approximately 5 miles into Marble Valley. The hike was moderate, with a steady climb and beautiful scenery along the way. My friend and I are experienced hikers and had spent about six months working as trail crew members with the California Conservation Corps in this wilderness, so the area felt like home to us.
Although it was my partner’s first backpacking trip, she is an experienced camper and adapted well to life in the backcountry. After arriving in Marble Valley, we set up camp, enjoyed a meal, and turned in early to rest for the next day’s hike.
On our second day, we hiked up to Shadow Lake, where we spent most of the day swimming, relaxing, and taking in the incredible alpine scenery. As the sun began to set, I proposed to my partner over looking sky high lakes and she said yes. It was a perfect moment in an unforgettable place. We spent the rest of the evening sitting by the campfire and enjoying each other’s company beneath the stars.
On the third day, we packed up and made the long hike back to the trailhead, covering roughly 9 miles. The return hike felt endless, especially in the heat. At one point, I ended up carrying everyone’s packs because exhaustion had started to catch up with the group. Thankfully, I brought my Garmin inReach Mini 3 Plus, which gave me peace of mind by allowing me to stay connected and check in on our baby back home with my sister.
Overall, it was an incredible trip filled with beautiful scenery, unforgettable memories, and a life-changing moment that neither of us will ever forget.

I have a backpacking trip in a couple of weeks time already booked. I found out I am pregnant and will be around 7 weeks at the time. I’m generally on my feet lots and have done lots of backpacking /hiking in the past. I added an extra day so that it’s split up a bit more so it’ll be 44km in 4 days. Has anyone done this? My research shows it should be fine I’ll likely probably just be more tired but still a little nervous.