View Full Version : 14 alternatives to the AT
cliffordbarnabus
04-09-2018, 23:20
perhaps interesting. perhaps not.
https://www.fodors.com/news/photos/15-amazing-long-distance-hikes-around-the-world
illabelle
04-10-2018, 05:33
Interesting, inspiring. Makes me dream of traveling...
This sites turned into hiker porn. Bad for my concentration.
My day is shot now. I'll be researching the via Alpina the rest of the day.
Old Hillwalker
04-10-2018, 09:23
I'm not too sure about doing the Via Alpina Red Trail having to deal with all those huge attack dogs (Mastiffs) that live above 4000 meters as stated in the text. :p
Massifs, not mastiffs. ha, ha.
I'm not too sure about doing the Via Alpina Red Trail having to deal with all those huge attack dogs (Mastiffs) that live above 4000 meters as stated in the text. :p
No kidding right... And it's cool to see that Starbucks is involved with the first two listed also... ;)
u.w.
i wonder if anyone has walked all of these... what a life that would be.
gpburdelljr
04-10-2018, 11:25
i wonder if anyone has walked all of these... what a life that would be.
Erin “Wired” Saver has walked a number of these trails. She is currently on the Great Himalaya Trail. She keeps detailed blogs on all her hikes. She is a substitute teacher and nanny part of the year, and hikes part of the year.
https://www.walkingwithwired.com/
devoidapop
04-10-2018, 11:27
Armenia...maybe someday :)
ldsailor
04-10-2018, 11:29
I'm surprised they didn't include the Sentiero Italia (https://www.traildino.com/trace/continents-Europe/countries-Italy/trails-Sentiero_Italia). There was a post (https://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php/128260-The-Grand-Italian-Trail-(Sentiero-Italia)?highlight=Sentiero+Italia)a while back about it that included a short video. Looks like a really neat hike through Italy and some of the northern bordering countries.
devoidapop
04-10-2018, 11:44
Walking the old silk road would be right up there.
A better list would not include any of these trails, nor would it be posted publicly on the internet.
Wayne
Odd Man Out
04-10-2018, 14:45
I've read a lot about the Kungsleden in Sweden. It is high on my list, especially the northern section. Since I'm a Swedish American, I have lots of cousins over there, including a spy and a member of ABBA. I wonder if they want to come along?
Old Hillwalker
04-10-2018, 15:54
Massifs, not mastiffs. ha, ha.
Yeah, I know but I couldn't help it.
Yeah, I know but I couldn't help it.
I know you knew, OH. I couldn't help it either; I was a copy editor for many years and loathed Spell Check, which is undoubtedly responsible for the transformation of big ranges into big dogs.
A better list would not include any of these trails, nor would it be posted publicly on the internet.
Wayne
routes on your secret squirrel list would basically be unmaintained, poorly marked and few services - just join tipi
new (organized) trails and routes around the world is good news to me - should never run out of interesting things to see and do - by the time one could get through half of this list more will be developed
routes on your secret squirrel list would basically be unmaintained, poorly marked and few services - just join tipi
...
Hardly. Signs. Campsites or find your own. Admittedly not all require months to complete. It just takes a bit of self directed research.
Heck, Dogwood has probably hiked a few. Cheers!
Wayne
devoidapop
04-10-2018, 19:40
Make your own way. Pick any mountain range in the world. Research the trails and hike it from end to end.
DuneElliot
04-11-2018, 14:42
There definitely some benefits in moving back to the UK...some of these trails will be a lot closer and thus easier to do
Heliotrope
04-12-2018, 00:34
A better list would not include any of these trails, nor would it be posted publicly on the internet.
Wayne
Any chance you could share this better list?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The good side of those "Must See" lists is, that the masses rush there and the rest of the world is in peace.
The Camino for example is so terribly crowded, that they developed special techniques to take a leak during hiking without offending too much (there seems to be constantly flocks of hikers passing, and no woods to sneak into).
Wherelse the Via Dinarica is very new and at places not higly developed nor marked, to a level where there is plenty room for adventure, as far as fiddlehead's report goes.
capehiker
04-12-2018, 13:33
The Kungsladen has been a bucket list item for years. I'd like to hike it for my 50th birthday.
nsherry61
04-15-2018, 10:00
Looking over this list makes me wonder again why so many people hike the AT when there are so many, so much more spectacular options around the world. . . albeit options without so many people and so much trail culture.
nsherry61
04-15-2018, 10:07
A better list would not include any of these trails, nor would it be posted publicly on the internet.
And it was put together by Elvis, I'm sure. ;-)
The problem with suggesting there is a "better" secret list is that for any established long distance trail to be successfully developed and maintained, there has to be a lot of people working on and maintaining it and thus it would not be both an established long distance trail and a secret. That being said, there are surely many not-so-established routes (i.e. not designated trail systems) that can be put together though stunning and beautiful areas, but then it doesn't make a very clean list if the routes are loosely defined.
gpburdelljr
04-15-2018, 10:13
Looking over this list makes me wonder again why so many people hike the AT when there are so many, so much more spectacular options around the world. . . albeit options without so many people and so much trail culture.
Because it of cost.
MuddyWaters
04-15-2018, 10:41
Because it of cost.
Many other trails in east just as close.
Its because AT is EASY. Theres no unknowns at all. And theres always plenty other people around for those that are actually scared to be alone , which is 90+% of hikers imo.
Shelters, privys, profile maps showing every water source and place to camp, frequent road crossings in densely inhabited region, excellent cell service, no untamed water crossings rhat depend on weather (at least south of maine), no navigation or route finding needed, short distances between towns, huge hiker support business and shuttle structure. Bottom line, the AT is a safe, low-risk, easy trail for the inexperienced avg hiker. And we wont even mention the party crowd.
lonehiker
04-15-2018, 10:56
Theres no unknowns at all. And theres always plenty other people around for those that are actually scared to be alone , which is 90+% of hikers imo.
If the percentage isn't even higher. Then look at all those on here that want to be spoon-fed every detail of their hike.
And it was put together by Elvis, I'm sure. ;-)
The problem with suggesting there is a "better" secret list is that for any established long distance trail to be successfully developed and maintained, there has to be a lot of people working on and maintaining it and thus it would not be both an established long distance trail and a secret. That being said, there are surely many not-so-established routes (i.e. not designated trail systems) that can be put together though stunning and beautiful areas, but then it doesn't make a very clean list if the routes are loosely defined.
If the percentage isn't even higher. Then look at all those on here that want to be spoon-fed every detail of their hike.
When I said that folks needed to do a modicum of self directed personal research before asking to be spoon fed at WhiteBlaze I got flamed.
One of my favorites: "I'm planning a section hike of Georgia. Where should I send mail drops between Neel Gap and Hiawassee, GA?"
No worries. Everyone learns differently.
Wayne
I guess we need a definition of "long trail".
Wayne
Odd Man Out
04-15-2018, 14:37
I guess we need a definition of "long trail".
Wayne
But then we would also need a definition of thru hike ;-)
Some of these trails are mandated, marked and maintained, as the AT. Others are just an arbitrary amalgamation of trails with a name attached to it. The Great Himalayan Trail is just one (or two) specific paths out of thousands of miles of trails that have been used by locals for thousands of years. So there is nothing to stop you from creating your own long trail. It's just marketing.
For those who want spectacular mountains with no shelters, resupply towns, tourists, bridges, cell phone service, decent maps, guide books, marked trails, etc..., check out the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan. It's on my bucket list.