(Part 4) Top products from r/hiking

That's why I hike. I want to see and experience things that I don't normally experience, and part of that is the beauty. Plus there are other benefits as well, like exercise.

The good thing about hiking is that anyone can do it. All you have to do is walk. The bad news is that as you go deeper and further, you need more equipment which can get quite expensive and confusing. I suggest renting gear first and doing some day or weekend trips. It'll save you some money as you figure out whether you enjoy it. Plus it will let you experiment with different gear setups. For learning about equipment, there are a lot of resources, but the problem is personal preference plays a huge role in what you use - for example, I like the enclosure of a tent over the openness of a tarp, but find a bivy too uncomfortably enclosed. Everyone you talk to has their own favorites, and every gear book is slanted toward the author's preferences. I suggest checking out Andrew Skurka's book or The Appalachian Trail Hiker. So far, those are the best books I've found as far as introducing readers to the options available to them.

When you say next August, I presume you mean 2017? The reason I ask is SOBO hikes (ones starting out at a Yosemite TH) are notoriously booked months in advance. In fact, the reservations for August are almost up. So the first and hardest part of hiking the JMT SOBO is just getting a permit that allows you to!

I'd check out this site: http://bearfoottheory.com/john-muir-trail-permit/

Gives you the info you'll need.

As for gear, you don't need too much over the standard. You'll need a decent pack that can hold 35-40lbs. You'll need a bear canister per code. After that, just any tent that you like. Most would recommend something lightweight.

In August, the snow should already have melted in a lot of the Sierras, so you shouldn't need an ice ax or crampons or anything strange. You'll probably want a 40 degree rated sleeping bag or better depending if you sleep hot or cold.

You'll want to plan some basic resupply. Nothing too fancy. Mostly sending a resupply to the Muir Trail Ranch or others depending on how much food you want to carry at once. There's plenty of reliable resupply strategies out there, pick one you're most comfortable with, even if it includes going overboard.

A great guidebook that has a lot of info: http://www.amazon.com/John-Muir-Trail-Essential-Americas/dp/0899977367/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

And yeah, that's about it. Then you just get out and hike it. Depending on your pace you can complete the JMT in 10-14 days if you're trucking through, but if you want to soak in the scenes you can go at a slower pace.

I'm hitting the JMT SOBO out of Happy Island in July. Lemme know if you have any other planning or readiness questions!

You are going to lose the black nail- but it will likely grow back.

From looking at it- you need to trim your toenails and make sure your shoes fit properly (i.e. so that your toe is not hitting the front of the toe box). Tightening your laces for the downhill can help this.

You might want to pick up a copy of John Vonhof's "Fixing Your Feet":

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0899976387?tag=footworkpubli-20&camp=14573&creative=327641&linkCode=as1&creativeASIN=0899976387&adid=0NDTA1DRX5CAAMPJJ5DB&

This is hands down the best reference for information on endurance sport related foot issues.

The Ultimate Navigation Manual is one of the best reference books to any skill that I have ever encountered, very clearly written with tons of clear photographs and illustrations to help depict concepts. I highly recommend it to anyone that might have need of navigation skills.

I haven't been there, but I've been to the two great parks that surround it: Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Joshua Tree NP. If you have a high-clearance vehicle and the road is good, I recommend visiting Font's Point in Anza-Borrego, which is fairly close to the Salton Sea. My sunrise photo from there is here.

The book California's Desert Parks has two short hikes at Salton Sea.

There are too many to count or list, but I'll give you some places to look

This was one of the first books I bought when I moved here:

https://www.amazon.com/Backpacking-California-Mountain-Foothill-Adventures/dp/0899974465/

It's not amazing, but is a great intro to the different areas in CA. I've been on a few of those trips and modified many others to include sections based on that book. At least worth browsing at the library if you don't want to purchase.

If you're going to be in or around the bay area:

http://bahiker.com

and

https://www.amazon.com/One-Night-Wilderness-Convenient-Backpacking/dp/0899976239

Also checkout /r/norcalhiking and /r/socalhiking

Otherwise, get on the Pacific Crest Trail for a section, Tahoe Rim Trail, Lost Coast Trail, Bigfoot Trail, etc.

I've spent years exploring Northern CA, and I've barely scratched the surface. It's way easier to give advice if you have something more specific you're looking for or even more information on what you can do and what you like.

I'm in CT. Definitely hit Bash Bish Falls in MA - that's a special one. It can get crowded in the summer, though.

You might enjoy New England Waterfalls, a good book.

I like to practice reading the forest. Check the book out; it's fantastic. It's fun to try to "read" the woods and think about what formed the forests I'm exploring.

Glad to help. There's a book that might be helpful for you too - 60 Hikes within 60 miles: Chicago. A lot of them are suburban or urban, and therefore probably crowded, but there's some that appear to be less traveled too. You could always borrow it from your library to see if it's worth you purchasing it, though used on Amazon doesn't appear to be all that much.

from the ridge above Black Bear Lake, which Roper describes as the best view on The Sierra High Route.

I've got the best one. This. Mine came in the mail today. It's by far the #1 survival book.

This is a good reference for central PA (the only area I'm familiar with) if you can find a copy at a local library: http://www.amazon.com/50-Hikes-Central-Pennsylvania-Backpacking/dp/0881504750

This is indispensable. Also check out the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness in northwestern New Mexico. Thunder River/Deer Creek Falls loop in the Grand Canyon is a good one. There's all sorts of loop combinations you can do from the south rim as well . . . plenty of info online for those. As I'm sure you know, there's all sorts of amazing areas in southeastern Utah, not just the immediate Moab area. I hike I can't recommend enough is to Angel Arch and back from Cathedral Butte. It's better backpacked but is doable in a long day. Rock art, ruins, swimming holes, arches, solitude . . . it's got it all and is accessible by 2WD. If you are able to get to it, the Maze is not very visited, nor is the Great Gallery in Horseshoe Canyon. Little Wildhorse Canyon, Buckskin Gulch, Coyote Buttes (including The Wave). Endless options really!