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How to Hike Steep Terrain

Robert posted another deep dive on how we can best hike safely:

HOW TO HIKE STEEP TERRAIN WITHOUT WRECKING YOUR KNEES

Good advice.

Most critical, for me with bunions, is having oversized shoes with a wide toe box. Especially for the downhill sections. I tighten up at the ankle. But have plenty of space up front so I can’t jam the toes.

Mine look somewhat like a clown shoe.

A.I. image

On my recent Balkan Trails hike, we had about 1000m of vertical every day for a week.

My feet were perfect up and down wearing clown shoes. Many in tighter hiking boots suffered.

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10 Hiking and Backpacking Myths

As explained by the world’s most travelled hiker, Cam Honan:

“A good lie can walk from Baghdad to Constantinople

while the truth is still looking for its sandals.”

~ Arab proverb

  • You Sleep Warmer Naked
  • You Need Boots to Hike
  • Waterproof Gear Is Actually Waterproof (and Breathable)
  • Washing Dishes and Bathing in a Water Source Is Okay if You Use Biodegradable Soap
  • Never Hike Alone
  • Toilet Paper Decomposes Quickly (Same Goes for Fruit)
  • Metal Items Attract Lightning
  • You Can Suck the Venom Out of a Snakebite
  • “I’m Just One Person: The Shortcut Won’t Cause Too Much Damage”
  • Climb a Tree when Confronted by a Bear

Click over to The Hiking Life for details.

10 Hiking and Backpacking Myths You Shouldn’t Believe


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My Helinox Chair One for Camping

After being envious for years, I finally purchased a portable chair for camping in 2024.

I take it car camping and bikepacking.

LOVE IT.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I opted for the smaller, lighter Chair One. But compare that against the High-Back option.

Both look extremely durable. I expect them to last for many years.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

My 2nd choice is the Crazy Creek HEX 2.0 Original Chair. NO legs. You can sit in it inside your tent.

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Hike the Dingle Way, Ireland

The Dingle Way (Irish: Slí Chorca Dhuibhne) is a long-distance trail around the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland.

162-kilometre (101-mile) long circular route that begins and ends in Tralee and is typically completed in eight days.

Looks great. But one downside is 40% to 50% is on paved asphalt lanes.

Click PLAY or watch it on Instagram.

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South West Coast Path ➙ St. Ives to Penzance via Land’s End

I’m booked.

Starting from St. Ives on Sept. 14, 2026.

This section is widely considered the most rugged, wild, and dramatic stretch of England’s entire 630-mile South West Coast Path.

About 41 miles (66 km) across the remote West Penwith Peninsula, this point-to-point hike features steep cliff-top climbs, historical tin mining ruins, and sweeping Atlantic panoramas.

I do love coastal trails.

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186 km Camí de Cavalls, Menorca, Spain

This long-distance walking route is the GR 223 of the Senderos de Gran Recorrido network in Spain that connects some of the most inaccessible beaches of Menorca. …

The path is divided in 20 different stages, each of them between 5 and 14 km. 

Camí de Cavalls - WikipediaCheck it out on AllTrails.

Steve Berger did it wild camping. But setting up your own tent is actually illegal here. You might be fined.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Hiking Matka Canyon, North Macedonia

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles.

Super popular out of Skopje, North Macedonia, are kayak and boat rides on a manmade lake in Matka Canyon. You can paddle into caves.

I skipped those — instead hiking a narrow trail carved out of the rock cliff.

It’s a maximum of 9.2 km out and back. The first 2 km are relatively easy — and that’s all I had time for.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

Here’s the dam that created the lake.

This place is popular. On weekends you might have to park 15 minutes away.

Almost everyone signs up for a boat ride or kayak rental.

Almost everyone enjoys a drink in one of the restaurants.

I took off immediately on the FREE hike. And saw no more than a dozen others on a busy day — and one dog.

It’s an interesting trail. Somebody decided to hang a kayak up on the cliffside.

Feel free to swim.

You can do this hike on your own. But it is included in many day tours out of Skopje. An easy way to get to the trailhead.

My tour included taking the cable car up to the Millennium Cross on Mount Vodno — BUT the cable car had been closed for a number of months.

It also included a fascinating stop at the Church of St. Panteleimon. Highly recommended.

Great views back down to Skopje from up here.

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Carnic Peace Trail, Austria

Also known as the Karnischer Höhenweg, (KHW 403) or Via della Pace, the Carnic Peace Trail is is a historic 150-kilometer (93-mile) long-distance hiking route following the former World War I frontline along the Austrian-Italian border.

It’s one of those European hut-to-hut only hikes, so buy the guidebook and book months in advance.

If you opt to do the entire thing, it 170km (106 miles) along the crest of the Carnic Alps, this dramatic high-level trail combines panoramic summits, wartime history and classic alpine hut-to-hut trekking across a landscape shaped by geology and conflict.

There are some challenging sections.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.



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Day Hike the Fisherman’s Trail, Portugal

For me, Stingy Nomads offer the most expert advice on Europe’s best coastal trail.

They recommend Porto Covo to Vila Nova de Milfontes for those who want to walk just one day on the famed 230 km/143 mile Fishman’s Trail, just one part of the longer Rota Vicentina routes.

  • Distance – 19 km/11.8 mi
  • Time – 5h 10min.
  • Ascent – 278 m
  • Descent – 292 m
  • Difficulty level – 3 out of 5 it was a short walking day but most of the time you walk on dunes sometimes ankle-deep in the sand.

Based on Stingy Nomads advice, I started in Porto Covo and hiked 4 days to Zambujeira do Mar.

If you have the time, take the ferry from Milfontes and keep heading south.

Here’s my TRIP REPORT & PHOTOS from 2021.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Hiking Ladder of Kotor, Montenegro

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles.

The best hike directly from the tourist trap old city is Kotor Fortress.

But it costs 15 Euros (17.30 US) in 2026. They keep raising the price of this short day hike.

An alternative is Ladder of Kotor which goes higher. And is free.

Climb as high as you like. Return the same way — or on other trails down. It’s a maze of trails.

I stopped once I reached the goats. 😀

It’s very hot in the summer. Because I was there end of August, I started as early in the morning as possible.

I had the old city to myself early morning.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

Here’s the view over to the top of Kotor Fortress.

There are some ruins, as well. All open to exploration.

19th-century mountain path featuring roughly 70 hairpin switchbacks that climb from sea level up to the Krstac Pass.

Footing is not bad, but expect uneven, rocky switchbacks, loose gravel, and rugged limestone paths.

It’s a recommended short day hike.

Comparing the two main Kotor hikes.