Airbnb host in in Morioka, Iwate, Quinlan explains that it’s better to section hike parts of the NEW 1,000km Michinoku Coastal Trail as much of it is placed alongside roadways.
Thirteen pairs of hiking boots, 17 pairs of socks, and five headlamps. Nine U.S. states, six national parks, and 25 backpacker hostels. Approximately 15 million steps and 6,875.5 total miles.
These dizzying metrics come from hiker Nick Gagnon’s recent completion of the Great Western Loop, a massive thru-hike that links together sections of the Pacific Crest, Pacific Northwest, Continental Divide, Grand Enchantment, and Arizona trails in a nearly 7,000-mile circle.
Jupiter of JupiterHikes has used a series of Pa’lante packs on his thousands of miles of thru hikes. I found his personal review of the Pa’lante evolution both interesting and entertaining.
… a wide variety of landscapes, and different types of paths such as landmarked touristic roads, mountain trails, paved roads, old medieval roads …
… managed by a network of local governments, private groups, and volunteers. This network is headed by Michinoku Trail Club, a nonprofit corporation. …
… only portions of it are officially recognized by Parks Canada and therefore is often not signed and occasionally not even an actual trail – merely a wilderness route.
At present, the Great Divide Trail is about 80% singletrack, 10% wilderness route and 10% old roads and ATV trails.
It’s more of a ROUTE, not a continuous trail. More than 150 miles (240 km) of the route is on pavement.
Walked in its entirety, linking each trail/beach section, the distance is approximately 425 miles. …
The northern trailhead is at the base of the south jetty of the Columbia River, approximately 4 miles (6 km) north of the campground of Fort Stevens State Park and about 13 miles (21 km) from the city of Astoria.
The trail runs north-south along the entire Oregon Coast, following the shore as closely as practical.
For many portions of the route, it is beach walking, mostly on sand. In populated areas it often follows the nearest street to the shore.
Many parts of the trail leave the beach and take an inland path, usually where land formations make the shoreline impassable, such as at Cape Kiwanda. …
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