May 27, 1999
LIBRARY / HIKING SITES
Seeking Advice of Seasoned Trail Walkers
By VERNE G. KOPYTOFF
rom
Memorial Day weekend
to the end of summer, wilderness trails across the nation
surrender to hikers searching for a
taste of nature, spectacular views
and isolation. Embarking on their
treks, most people (that is, most
courteous people) leave behind conveniences like cellular telephones
and laptop computers.
But the preparations for a walk in
the woods can be enhanced by digital
research. Browsing through some of
the hundreds of Web sites that offer
advice about camping equipment,
trails and backpacking techniques
may be a good idea for experienced
and novice hikers alike.
If only I had heeded the counsel on
these sites, I would have avoided the
humiliation of my most recent trip,
in which I was run off a mountain in
the Sierras by mosquitoes and altitude sickness.
Next time I vow to be
more prepared with ideas gleaned
from the Internet for dealing with
risks like skunks (bury your clothes
to get rid of the smell) and untreated
stream water (put in iodine drops to
prevent giardiasis).
Most Web sites on hiking appear to
be operated by amateurs who simply
want to tell others about a favorite
peak or recipe for granola.
People
who are considering a hike along a
route like the Appalachian Trail,
which stretches from Georgia to
Maine, may want to read the Web
page of someone who has traveled it.
Hiking on the Web can also serve
as a partial substitute for the real
thing. Backpacking enthusiasts who
live in large cities, seemingly thousands of miles from the nearest
mountain, may get some satisfaction
in looking at photographs and maps
of trails they cannot readily get to.
BACKCOUNTRY HOME PAGE: www.flash.net/bhphiker/BHP
A good place
to look for links to sites about outdoor sports like hiking, backpacking
and orienteering.
GREAT OUTDOOR RECREATION PAGES: www.gorp.com
Taking its Web address from a favorite hiking snack, this site has articles about hiking
and a good selection of trail information, much of it sponsored by
equipment sellers.
ESCAPING TO NATURE: www.outdoorphoto.com
This showcase for the
work of a Texas outdoor photographer also offers advice about cameras and photography.
BASECAMP: www.bpbasecamp.com
Articles about hiking gear and backpacking techniques, some of which come from Backpacker, a monthly
hiking magazine.
MOUNTAINZONE.COM: www.mountainzone.com
Well-written articles
about hiking, often from exotic locations like Bhutan and Kyrgystan.
BACKPACKING CHECKLISTS: www.anguswong.com/camping
Useful lists
of what to take on a backpacking trip.
AMERICAN HIKING SOCIETY: www.americanhiking.org
The home page of a
nonprofit volunteer group that builds and maintains trails across the
nation.
COOL WORKS: www.coolworks.com/natprk.htm
An on-line employment
site that has listings for jobs at the nation's national parks, preserves,
monuments and recreation and wilderness areas.
TRAILPLACE: www.trailplace.com
A site dedicated to Appalachian trail
through-hikers, those who try to walk the entire 2,160 miles.