stupid idea: long distance hike?
yirara
Posts: 9,934 Member
I've been toying with the idea of doing a long distance hike, a 93 miles path that ends not too far from my home. The suggested itinerary is 7 days, but I'd love to try it in 4 days. Is that crazy?
Fitness background: I can walk 5miles in 70 minutes without feeling exhausted, I was always able to walk 12 miles without any training at all when I still was slightly overweight at southern European summer temperatures. Currently I'm fairly fit, and I can run 10 miles without much problems, training for my first half marathon. I don't have time to do a test walk but while running I've never had any joint and other skeletal problems.
The path is fairly flat and goes through a couple of towns and villages which all have train links should things go wrong. British summerly weather, not hot, but most likely not really warm either. Consider traveling very light: same hiking clothes every day (might use my running thighs as they are very comfy), and one set of lightweight clothes for evening, minimal bathroom kit, get water and lunch in the morning or buy along the way, asthma meds (though if my episodic asthma hits I need to stop anyway), sun hat, light weight backpack, GPS, mobile phone and extra battery power.
I'd love to do this starting in two weeks. We currently have a fitness challenge at the office and the bonus sport that gives double points in that week is hiking. I've wanted to do a long distance hike for quite a while now, and now I have a reason, namely to try and win this challenge (or at least make sure we stay on second position).
Opinions?
Fitness background: I can walk 5miles in 70 minutes without feeling exhausted, I was always able to walk 12 miles without any training at all when I still was slightly overweight at southern European summer temperatures. Currently I'm fairly fit, and I can run 10 miles without much problems, training for my first half marathon. I don't have time to do a test walk but while running I've never had any joint and other skeletal problems.
The path is fairly flat and goes through a couple of towns and villages which all have train links should things go wrong. British summerly weather, not hot, but most likely not really warm either. Consider traveling very light: same hiking clothes every day (might use my running thighs as they are very comfy), and one set of lightweight clothes for evening, minimal bathroom kit, get water and lunch in the morning or buy along the way, asthma meds (though if my episodic asthma hits I need to stop anyway), sun hat, light weight backpack, GPS, mobile phone and extra battery power.
I'd love to do this starting in two weeks. We currently have a fitness challenge at the office and the bonus sport that gives double points in that week is hiking. I've wanted to do a long distance hike for quite a while now, and now I have a reason, namely to try and win this challenge (or at least make sure we stay on second position).
Opinions?
4
Replies
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Have you ever done anything like this before? You would be attempting to walk on average 24 miles each day of the hike, in the vagaries of the British weather carrying a small but not insubstantial pack (presumably with B&B booked along the way, which is great, but you have to ensure you can make it to the stop).
Most people aim for around 10-14 miles a day on a long-distance hike, for good reason. Whilst you might think you can walk an average of 3 miles an hour, the reality on a long hike will be more like 2/2.5 if that. If you have never walked back-to-back 25mile walks then I would think again if I were you.
Could you do it in two stints? Many people do long-distance walks in stints over several weekends. I'd aim for that if I were you.
sounds nice though, I'm toying with a similar idea (is this the Peddars Way route? not a neck of the woods I know)0 -
Sounds like an awesome adventure. But I don't know if anyone but you is qualified to say if you are ready. It sounds like you are pretty fit and certainly one day of 20 plus mile hiking is doable, but 4 in a row? That's almost walking a complete marathon every day if you finish in 4 days. I like that you have a backup plan with the train though and as long as you don't have the attitude of all or nothing and will use good judgement when and if you need to ride the train. Good luck!
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That sounds fun! I would just suggest you plan out in advance where you plan on setting down each night. Two reasons- One, it will keep you on pace, and Two, someone else knows you are due in at particular location. That way if you don't show up for whatever reason someone else knows about it. Phones and GPS don't always work off the beaten path. If you plan on camping outdoors, I suggest to do the hike with a buddy.0
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Where will you sleep? I think what you're describing is pretty ambitious and the full week option would be a lot more comfortable. But the long distance hikes I've done have all been carrying my tent and sleeping bag and a great deal else on my back, you'll be unencumbered and that will make a huge difference in your favor.0
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This is awesome! Go for it. I like to do this kind of stuff on my bike.0
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No, never. I'm sure I will be much slower. I also think about finding a couple of geocaches along the way. And yes, I plan to prebook B&Bs. If I don't make the distance then the backup plan is to take public transport or a taxi to the next accommodation. I mean, I absolutely acknowledge the possibility that I will fail.
Peddars Way: oh, looks lovely! No, the one I'm thinking of is Two Saints.0 -
slimzandra wrote: »That sounds fun! I would just suggest you plan out in advance where you plan on setting down each night. Two reasons- One, it will keep you on pace, and Two, someone else knows you are due in at particular location. That way if you don't show up for whatever reason someone else knows about it. Phones and GPS don't always work off the beaten path. If you plan on camping outdoors, I suggest to do the hike with a buddy.
Well, it's not a remote path and there are towns and villages all along the way. Roads are also never far away. I certainly don't plan to camp. My pack will probably be below 5kg.1 -
NorthCascades wrote: »Where will you sleep? I think what you're describing is pretty ambitious and the full week option would be a lot more comfortable. But the long distance hikes I've done have all been carrying my tent and sleeping bag and a great deal else on my back, you'll be unencumbered and that will make a huge difference in your favor.
B&Bs or hotels. I would never out of free will sleep in a tent
as I like a comfy bed and dinner in a local specialist restaurant in the evening. 1 -
I say... do it... pack weather appropriate clothes... stay hydrated and keep plenty of snacks...0
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Sounds like an awesome adventure. But I don't know if anyone but you is qualified to say if you are ready. It sounds like you are pretty fit and certainly one day of 20 plus mile hiking is doable, but 4 in a row? That's almost walking a complete marathon every day if you finish in 4 days. I like that you have a backup plan with the train though and as long as you don't have the attitude of all or nothing and will use good judgement when and if you need to ride the train. Good luck!
Exactly, that's the idea. If things go wrong then it's not a problem either. Basically I just want to find out how far I can actually go. If it's just 12 miles a day, or only one day then I take the train to the next place, do a bit of sightseeing and enjoy the trip.0 -
You've walked 12 miles and run 10 miles in the past but have you ever done that four days in a row? While the experience sounds fun and interesting, you need to consider whether you can physically handle walking 2x the longest distance you've ever walked in one day, for four days in a row. Can you physically handle it? I have no idea. Could you try it but have somebody who you can call in case you need to stop?0
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Have fun. Extra socks and foot care stuff. BodyGlide or something similar.
Won't know until you try.
Report back and enjoy it!
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You've walked 12 miles and run 10 miles in the past but have you ever done that four days in a row? While the experience sounds fun and interesting, you need to consider whether you can physically handle walking 2x the longest distance you've ever walked in one day, for four days in a row. Can you physically handle it? I have no idea.
I don't know either to be honest. When I was on vacation in the past I'd sometimes do 12 miles walks on two following days with more terrain than this and never had any problems with that. At that time I was overweight and hadn't done any sport at all for years. I just did it. Must admit though that my husband was faster with getting up the mountains
Now it's the other way around but there no real terrain along this path, and husband stays at home. -1 -
NorthCascades wrote: »Where will you sleep? I think what you're describing is pretty ambitious and the full week option would be a lot more comfortable. But the long distance hikes I've done have all been carrying my tent and sleeping bag and a great deal else on my back, you'll be unencumbered and that will make a huge difference in your favor.
B&Bs or hotels. I would never out of free will sleep in a tent as I like a comfy bed and dinner in a local specialist restaurant in the evening.
Even for a really nice view?0 -
NorthCascades wrote: »NorthCascades wrote: »Where will you sleep? I think what you're describing is pretty ambitious and the full week option would be a lot more comfortable. But the long distance hikes I've done have all been carrying my tent and sleeping bag and a great deal else on my back, you'll be unencumbered and that will make a huge difference in your favor.
B&Bs or hotels. I would never out of free will sleep in a tent as I like a comfy bed and dinner in a local specialist restaurant in the evening.
Even for a really nice view?
The only exception I would probably make is for the Door to Hell in Turkmenistan. Honestly, I have wide pelvis and shoulders/shoulder blade bones all around and fairly little padding, and anything that is not a bed with a good and soft mattress just hurts.0 -
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girlinahat wrote: »
That's probably the beginning for me. Thus it might bite me very early on
I've been regularly running more terrain though and I might do a few more shorter and steeper hill walks if I find the time. But the track for that profile is also fairly poorly done and in reality some of the peaks in that profile do exist but the path curves around them. It's a bit flatter than what it looks like on that website. 0 -
Except for the no camping part, not crazy. Easily doable.
I've done 3 days covering 65 miles, above 7000'. Long day was 27 miles.
My worry would be getting to the B&B in time to eat and getting out of bed early enough to get a good day on the trail 1 -
Good one scorpio. Maybe I should book business hotels as they might offer breakfast a bit earlier in the morning than the average B&B. Last one I stayed at started serving breakfast at 9
. Getting something to eat in the evening should not be a problem. The stages would be all end in towns with sufficient eating possibilities. 0 -
Have you done long days back to back before?0
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Doable. Go for it! I did a 6 day in Yosemite. Was epic!1
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You can do it no problem. Even in bad shape and no real prior training for those distances. There is a caveat though: you won't be comfortable, and probably wont be walking straight for a week.
As a full on hike with tens of pounds of gear in your back, not feasible outside x-games or military, but with just safety gear, light lunch, half a dozen good socks and _well worn_ shoes it's only a question of how far you want to push the discomfort. Three worsening days in a row.
Background: Finnish commando ages ago, (basically just walking ridiculous distances with a house on your back), extensive hiking trips -mostly starting cold- around the world, and currently Rogaine, which is orienteering usually for 24 hours straight. I do that once or twice a year, with no preparation. It hurts like hell, and the last 8 hours are basically a mental game, but usually I clock about 60 miles on hilly terrain. Straight asphalt is worse. Much worse.
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I forgot to say that you should do it. Just be mentally prepared to back off. 25 miles four days in a row is no joke.0
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And that you need to run occasionally, walk backwards, on your hands, anything to break the monotony for your legs.0
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Thanks a lot @jonthemusse Should be fun, such undertaking
Fortunately I don't plan to carry 10s of pounds of stuff around. I'm very much into traveling light and don't mind wearing the same pants and shirt for four days in a row. Hey, if husband and me go on summer vacation we're usually find with sharing one 20-25kg bag, and that's including hiking boots and snorkeling stuff. 0 -
I got mildly exited for you. The game changes a bit with distances that long, especially when it is something new to your body. There's a plethora of small things you can do to help ease the grueliness of it all.
Off the topic my head:
Wear nothing new. Everything should be worn and tested to the hilt.
Drink like there's no tomorrow. Salts too. The game is over if you start cramping.
Prefer gravel and grass to asphalt, and take stairs and hills whenever you can.
Even with that much ground to cover, it's really only about ten hours a day at a good clip, but you can't stop for too long on the way, especially on the later days, because sanity will creep on you when you cool down while eating that nice pub lunch.
Eat light and often. Light means light. Carbs mostly. Avoid protein, too hard to digest while moving. Worry about lost muscle mass later.
The list goes on...1 -
One more, probably the most important one. If you get your feet wet, it becomes a grind. Even a little moist will kill your soft supple feet in four days. Don't do it in the monsoon season.
With that in mind, make sure you can change your socks at least once every day. Lightest possible shoes, so that you get them dry overnight.0 -
Thanks a lot! I thought about using my running shoes. They are comfy and I know them. Weather... Well this is the UK but the weather has been marvellous the last few months. I can still decide to cancel a few days ahead if the forecast is not good though. Water: yeah... I'm very much a hot weather girl and don't mind being active at close to 50C (that's over 120F?) or go on a day long hike at way over 30 C. But water is a given. And I'll check out those towns for thai massage salons for a relaxing oil massage.0
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You're welcome. You can PM for more pointers if you feel like, I enjoy being knowledgeable. It's UK, but as long as it doesn't pour down from day one, you should be ok.
Edit: I'm metric by birth, but how come you are?0
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