Voilà, je dois planter ma tante chaque soir pour être tranquille la nuit. J'ai une masse en caoutchouc et des sardines d'une vingtaine de centimètres. Comme je vais être dans des endroits froids genre permafrost, parfois jonchés de gros cailloux, je crains une blessure à la main gauche quand je vais utiliser la masse (je suis droitier). C'est assez désert là où je vais et encore moins d'hôpital ou de médecin de campagne. Merci de vos conseils !
"Celui qui a atteint son but a manqué tout le reste"
" Voilà, je dois planter ma tante (tu es sûr ?) chaque soir pour être tranquille la nuit. " (sinon elle réclame ?)
" je crains une blessure à la main gauche quand je vais utiliser la masse (je suis droitier). "
si tu tiens absolument à protéger ta main gauche, tu peux toujours essayer d'inverser les deux mains, mais rien ne dit que ta main gauche n'est pas plus maladroite !
une autre solution consiste à tenir la sardine entre tes doigts de pied !
personnellement, je me la fais toujours tenir par quelqu'un d'autre !
Tu te fais tenir la sardine comment ? Entre les orteils, avec le bout des doigts, ... ?
Chnoupi, comment te dire...
Si tu veux que cette discussion garde une certaine tenue, pourrais-tu préciser ce qu'est une sardine... et comment elle pourrait se retrouver dans une telle situation ? 🤪
J'ai répondu avec humour à la première réponse (tenir la sardine avec...). Mais c'est de la sardine qui tient la tente dont je parle. Tu as une solution ?
"Celui qui a atteint son but a manqué tout le reste"
Ce que je fais, moi qui ne suis pas très costaud... (et qui ai des p'tits doigts de fée), je n'utilise pas la force.
Je tiens la sardine à la base (les doigts le plus près possible du sol), et avec le caillou je donne soit des petis coups rapides et "légers", en ne prenant pas trop d'élan... soit un ou deux coups plus fermes mais plus lents. (il faut "sentir" le terrain...)
Le but est d'enfoncer à peine la sardine afin qu'elle se tienne toute seule et que tu puisses enlever tes doigts... le plus vite possible !
Ensuite, donner des coups en soulevant le caillou ou le maillet (quel luxe ! 😛) de plus haut afin de lui imprimer plus de force pour continuer d'enfoncer la sardine... lentement... pour ne pas qu'elle se torde ou ressorte.
Merci Kola ! Mais une question : pourquoi faut-il sentir le terrain ? L'odeur du sol aurait-une influence sur l'art d'enfoncer des sardines sans se blesser ?
Pour maillet, ce n'est pas un luxe mais une précaution : il arrive de ne pas avoir un caillou à porté de main ! Je préfère frapper avec le maillet que d'utiliser ma gourde, mon GPS ou ma cartouche de gaz !
"Celui qui a atteint son but a manqué tout le reste"
salut le maillet c'est l'idéal mais ça rajoute du poids dans le sac-à-dos
Et puis avec le maillet tu risques d'enfoncer la sardine trop profondément ce qui fait que tu auras des difficultés à l'arracher de la terre.
Avec une pierre ce n'est pas toujours la bonne solution parce que ça abîme la tête de la sardine généralement en alu ou acier léger.
Ce que je fais c'est que j'essaie de l'enfoncer avec le pied en appuyant de tout mon poids dessus mais il faut que le sol soit un minimum meuble
Ou alors le piquet vissant comme suggéré précedemment
Ce ne sera pas que du sol gelé : je peux avoir du sable, de la glaise, de l'herbe, des rochers, de la poudreuse... Il me faut des sardines polyvalentes (ou deux ou trois modèle mais ça ajoute en poids). Pour les sols récalcitrants, j'avais opté pour un bourin électrique (à batterie rechargeable avec capteur solaire mais c'est très long à recherger et assez lourd), une mèche de 14 ou 15 et des chevilles chimiques ?
Quelle longueur de sardine et quelle forme vous me conseillez ?
"Celui qui a atteint son but a manqué tout le reste"
Pour les sols récalcitrants, j'avais opté pour un bourin électrique (à batterie rechargeable avec capteur solaire mais c'est très long à recherger et assez lourd), une mèche de 14 ou 15 et des chevilles chimiques ?
Ceroxon (j'te laisse chercher)... sors de ce corps !
Bonjour Chnoupi, j'ai le souvenir d'une question semblable qui cherchait à résoudre le problème du portage avant.
Comme le 1er avril est passé depuis longtemps je donne volontier une réponse à cet épineux problème :
utiliser la sardine ou quoi que ce soit d'autre à l'horizontale en positionnant le câble de tension au milieu, puis caler avec des pierres et rajouter encore des pierres, plus il y a de pierres mieux ça marche. Avec de la neige ça fonctionne aussi à condition qu'elle se compacte. Si le terrain est meuble remplir des sacs et procéder de la même manière, attention à la friction du câble sur le sac. On peut également utiliser des fagots que l'on coince avec des pierres, des troncs, des sacs...
Ceci étant si tu n'as pas peur de te charger les sardines vissables ce n'est pas mal.
Si tu ne peux pas enfoncer les sardines complètement il faut positionner le câble au ras du sol, si tu veux protéger des mains il faut mettre un chiffon en garde au dessus de ta main.
Voilà, amitiés à ta tante.
Merci D.J. Louis ! D'après tes conseils, tu sembles avoir bien crapahuté !
Si je ne peux pas enfoncer les sardines complètement il faut positionner le câble au ras du sol, tu écris. D'abord je n'ai pas de câble, ma tante est petite (mais accueille deux personnes par devant seulement) et ce sont des ficelles. Ensuite, je ne pige pas : si je mets mes ficelles au ras du sol, ma tante va être toute plate et elle ne pourra rien recevoir. C'est pas rentable ce truc ?
"Celui qui a atteint son but a manqué tout le reste"
Je ne voudrais pas être à l'origine de mauvais traitements envers ta tante.
Câble ou ficelle, positionner la boucle d'accrochage sur la sardine au ras du sol, si la boucle remonte le long de la sardine il va y avoir un bras de levier et la sardine s'arrache. Pour l'en empêcher caler avec des pierres, les cailloux et les pierres c'est la base du bivouac.
Si ta tante a d'autres objections n'hésite pas, bonne préparation.
Mince, je fais des fautes ! Ma tante (la femme de mon oncle) n'y est pour rien. Je parle de ma tente, le truc qui sert à se protéger, un genre de maison portable ! 🤪
"Celui qui a atteint son but a manqué tout le reste"
Bonjour Pat,
J'ai rencontré le même pb voilà bien des années, alors depuis longtemps j'ai trouvé la solution: plus de sardines, plus de maillet, plus de tubes de tente, plus de trousse de secours pharmaceutique avec pansements, ma tante ne viens plus avec moi en treck car le duvet/tente n'est pas assez large , j'ai acheté le duvet /tente sans sardines/sans armature:
JULIE
Pas mal le sac-tente. Mais s'il pleut ? Et si c'est étanche, ça doit être une "sudisette" ! Je préfère la tente pour y mettre mes affaires avec moi aussi - bien sûr - cvar ça craint la nuit avec les cochons sauvages, les fourmis et qq fois les conditions météo. Et si pas une tente, un tarp est sympa aussi (ou un hamac à condition de pouvoir l'acrocher !).
"Celui qui a atteint son but a manqué tout le reste"
Voilà, je dois planter ma tante chaque soir pour être tranquille la nuit.
Salut chnoupi!
J'sais pas trop comment comment faut comprendre ta question!!...
Mais blague à part, dans certains endroits ou le sol a la dureté du béton il est pratiquement impossible de planter tes sardines même avec une masse; tu les plieras mais elles ne s'enfonceront pas d'un pouce! Une des solutions c'est d'attacher une pièce de tissu ou de cuir souple aux caoutchoucs de ta tente et de maintenir le tout au sol en y reposant de lourdes pierres ça prend parfois un peu de temps car faut trouver les pierres.. Avoir avec soi une mini pelle pour creuser quelques trous et/ou déterrer certaine pierres est parfois très utile...
Il y a aussi la solution alpiniste ( comme pour équiper une voie) qui consiste à emporter une petite perceuse et des piquets à vis.. bien des fois ( pour arrimer sa tente) seuls les piquets à vis suffisent...et c'est la solution la moins pénalisante point de vue poids du matos à transporter!
Hi,
Since I can't take on long treks, I'd love to know if there are any nice hikes around Pokhara—or maybe in another region of Nepal. Day hikes or two-day trips would be perfect.
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hi everyone,
I’m leaving on Monday, August 3rd for my very first long-distance trek: the GR223 from Coutances to Mont Saint-Michel, over 6-7 days (~11-14 miles/day), solo.
I’m looking for tips from people who know this section well (Coutances → Regnéville-sur-Mer → Hauteville-sur-Mer → Bréhal → Granville → Genêts → bay crossing):
Budget-friendly accommodations: I’m struggling to find affordable stopover lodgings (a lot of what I find online are expensive vacation rentals, not really suited for a solo hiker). If you have any great spots (hostels, hiker-friendly B&Bs, nice campgrounds), I’d love to hear them!
Bay crossing: Any feedback on guides/providers leaving from Genêts for the final crossing?
General tips for a first long-distance trek: What you wish you’d known before your first time, pitfalls to avoid, etc.
Hi,
We’re planning to do the 4-day trek from Mestia to Ushguli without an agency. The descriptions mention that there are accommodations at each stop, but we can’t find any details about them. Has anyone got info or feedback on this route?
I'm developing a free and open-source web app for planning walking and cycling trips (and even car trips). You can create a route by clicking directly on the map to add waypoints, and it can consist of multiple stages. The app provides tools to edit the stages and the overall route, and to display useful information (distances, altitudes, and elevation changes). A relief profile can be shown as a graph for a specific stage or the entire route.
Once the route is ready, it can be exported as a GPX file, which can then be used with a GPS or a mobile navigation app.
The app is built in JavaScript and runs entirely in the web browser. It uses the Leaflet library and several OpenStreetMap-based services. Initially developed for my personal needs (I enjoy hiking and cycle touring), I’d be happy to share it with anyone who might find it useful. It’s free to use, doesn’t require an account, and the source code is available.
New to this forum, I’m planning a pretty big project for 2028.
I’m heading to Nepal to do a trek from Kathmandu all the way to Everest Base Camp (a cool 5,300 m 😄).
This trek is a bit special because even though I’ll be part of a group, I’m going solo (so far, no problem—I’m used to it). But it’s my first real trek, and it’s also a humanitarian one: once I reach base camp, I’ll stay an extra week to help clean up the waste left by tens of thousands of climbers! Since I’m originally from South America, from two countries that share the Andes, I have a deep respect for mountains—they fascinate me. So Everest… it’s kind of the trip of a lifetime!
So, a little question for those who’ve done treks to Everest before… any tips for good mental preparation (I’m already working on the physical side)?
We're planning to trek in Peru and Bolivia and would love to find some local agencies.
If you know any, could you share details on prices and, of course, the names of the agencies?
Which trek would you recommend?
Elocine
I'm heading out on a fully self-sufficient trek in Morocco (10 days) from Imilchil to Aghbalou.
Can I find screw-on gas canisters (Coleman, Primus) in Marrakech (any addresses?) or in villages between Imilchil and Aghbalou?
If not, are Butagaz canisters for camping gas (small 230g size) available?
Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hello, I’d like to embark on a little trip in my home country, Switzerland. I’ll start walking from La Cure, heading toward Le Noirmont first, then I’ll improvise my route—but it’ll probably follow the French border... at least as far as Lac de Joux.
I’ll decide day by day how much farther to go after that. My goal is to stay in nature as much as possible, wander around for as long as I can, and restock food in villages or towns along the way.
I’m thinking of mostly camping, but we’ll see if I end up in a hotel or another campsite depending on my route.
I’d love to reach La Chaux-de-Fonds on foot... maybe even Delémont.
The whole thing should take about a week, give or take.
I’ll be bringing my dog, and I’m preparing for this as soon as I’m ready.
Any tips to make sure everything goes smoothly for us? Things I should know—or avoid? What about shepherds with their flocks of sheep? And isn’t hunting season open right now?
I’m not sure if what I’m planning is even doable, which is why I’m asking around.
This’ll be my first time doing something like this—wandering in nature *and* with a dog. I’m really excited for this adventure... and I need it. Thanks!
We’re really keen on ecosystems and want to hike in "natural" ancient forests—not planted woods or areas heavily degraded by human activity. Travel guides (like Lonely Planet) don’t provide much info on this. Could you point us to the most interesting spots?
Thanks in advance for your tips.
We wish you happy holidays and a fantastic 2026, full of discoveries!
Claire and Albert
Hi, this might not be the right section, but I’d like to know if it’s possible to start mountaineering with another person without necessarily hiring a guide. We’ve done quite a bit of hiking but not mountaineering—we’ll just do a half-day glacier course. After that, we were thinking of starting with La Grande Motte and the Pointe de la Traversière, which were recommended to us. Honestly, for things like roping up and knots, I’ll learn at home with lots of videos and a book.
I’d love to know if anyone has done treks in the Rwenzori Mountains and how much it costs on average, what the infrastructure is like, the landscapes, and safety in the area. Thanks so much! I’m really looking forward to your replies.
We’re leaving in 9 days for a two-week trip to Madeira, mainly to hike.
From my research, I’ve found that since last year, access to most trails—and systematically for the most popular ones—is now paid. You have to pay an access fee of 4.50 € per person per classified hike in 2026, and even 10.50 € for the most iconic hike: Pico Arieiro to Pico Ruivo. When paying, you also have to choose a day and a 30-minute time slot for your start time. Of course, this reservation is neither changeable nor refundable, even if the weather that day is terrible.
Personally, given the massive influx of tourists to the island in recent years, I don’t mind paying a fee to help maintain the trails. Similarly, setting a limit on the number of people who can hike them per day is certainly preferable to preserve this priceless heritage.
However, what’s much less fair is that in reality, most of the available spots are reserved: 1/ for Madeira residents (which is normal); 2/ for "economic operators" (meaning local tour operators). For example, if you’re a non-resident (independent tourist), no booking is possible for the Pico Arieiro hike for an early morning start before September! So, unfortunately, we’ll have to skip this hike.
It’s the same issue for Ponta de São Lourenço, the 25 Fontes, Pico Ruivo... in short, all the most popular hikes. Oh well, we’ll skip those too!
So my question is: which hikes do you recommend where we won’t face the huge crowds that the others get? And where we can book the day before for the next day, taking the weather into account?
Finally, a quick accommodation question: we’ve booked the first week in Funchal, but I haven’t decided yet for the second week. Do you have any advice on where to stay in the south or north, preferably avoiding overly concrete-heavy and touristy spots?
I’m reposting about the logistics for Samaria Gorge.
I’d love to get recent info, especially about whether it’s possible to park my car in Omalos, do the hike, and then catch a bus back to my vehicle.
In theory, it’s doable, but when you check the KTEL website, there aren’t any feasible schedules listed. If anyone has recently organized this with reliable, verified details, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
We’re flying from Montreal to Lyon this August to go hiking in the French Alps. We’ve rented a car and will be staying at campgrounds. We’re planning to do day hikes and want to stay a few days in one spot, do a few hikes, then move on to our next camping spot. Could you share your favorite spots or any recommendations for places to spend a few days with great hikes?
A few details:
We arrive in early August and leave in early September.
We’re looking for day hikes (or shorter), moderate difficulty, with a cumulative elevation gain of no more than 1000m, and of course, beautiful scenery!
We’d prefer not to drive too much—maybe it’s best not to head too far south and deal with unnecessary heat?
Along the same lines, if you know of any great campgrounds where we can start our hike directly without needing the car, we’d love to hear your suggestions!
Hi there,
I’m planning to go hiking on this island and would like to know the best time to do it. I visited for a few days in November 2018—not for hiking but just to explore—and the weather wasn’t great, especially in the mountains. So, is a star-shaped itinerary doable if I rent a car and maybe use two different accommodations?
I’m not planning to join an organized group—just traveling with one other person and organizing things ourselves—unless you’d recommend a local agency or guide. Finally, even though I’ll be getting maps, a topo guide, and a GPS, I’d really appreciate your top hiking recommendations.
Thanks so much for your tips!
I’m planning to do the Mercantour crossing following the Randoxygène route in mid-July.
I’m used to hiking in the mountains, but I sometimes get vertigo, for example on ridges with drops on both sides. I wanted to check if there are any T4 or T3-T4 sections and find out if there are any very exposed passages—and if so, where—so I can plan an alternative route.
Can anyone give me some info on this?
Thanks!
I’m planning a trip around Cap Corse and the AGRIATES in 2026, from May 8th to 15th (there are still 2 spots left, by the way! Just DM me if you're interested).
I’d love to know which hikes are worth prioritizing in the AGRIATES. We’ll be staying in SALECCIA for two days as our base—what should we focus on from there?
A round trip to IGNHU beach? Any other suggestions?
For Ostricano, I think it’s too far for a round trip...
Thanks for your tips!
Have a great day,
Anie, Toulouse
I’d like to get some info about the GR10 Pyrenees traverse. I need help planning the daily stages and accommodations—my wife isn’t an experienced hiker but walks a lot, so I’d like to schedule shorter walking days and thus a longer overall trip in terms of number of days.
Could anyone give me some help and advice?
Best regards,
Hi there, I’m planning the Annapurna Circuit for March 2027 and I’m looking for a local agency with a local guide—preferably French-speaking—to arrange this trek for us. Any suggestions? Thanks
Hello!
We’re spending a few days in Toraja country at the end of May. We’d love to do a day trek—taking our time—on a route that’s stunning in terms of scenery, but not a level 5 in difficulty!
Any suggestions you can share, please?
Thanks in advance
I’d like to do the Mare a Mare Sud in May over 4 days. I’ve found quite a few places to stay along the route, but I’m stuck on the start and finish.
I’ll be arriving by plane on Sunday evening and would like to start pretty early on Monday morning. Ideally, accommodation right at the trailhead (Alzu di Gallina) would be amazing, but I can’t find anything. Any tips?
Also, for the transfer from Figari Airport to Porto Vecchio or Alzu di Gallina?
At the end, I’d like to pick up a rental car—any advice on that too?
I’m traveling solo by plane to Catania in May and plan to hike the northern side of Etna, starting from Linguaglossa where I’ll arrive by bus. After that, I’d love some info on how to get up to Piano Provenzana (shuttles or hitchhiking), since it seems there’s no public transport except in the summer. Can you sleep there in a free or cheap refuge, or camp? And how far up can you go without having to hire a guide? Thanks in advance. Bernard.
Hi everyone,
I’m heading to Morocco in August and we’ll start with a stop in Chefchaouen (we’re driving).
My question: can anyone suggest a 5-to-7-day loop hiking route from Chefchaouen in Talassemtane Park, ideally passing by the God’s Bridge? Or a paper guidebook that covers a few options?
We prefer wild camping and guesthouses.
Thanks in advance
Hi there, for those who’ve been recently—is it possible to find other solo travelers in March on the island to share transport or room costs? It doesn’t seem easy to travel on a budget.
If you have any recommendations for simple lodgings or places with dorms, I’d love to hear them.
For those who’ve done multi-day treks while moving around: do you need to bring your own sleeping bag? I’d love to hear about itineraries you’ve done without a guide, just with a map and GPS.
Thanks, and have a great day!
Hi everyone!
We’re planning a 15-day road trip to Scotland this summer, specifically to explore and hike on Lewis and Harris—places we’ve never been before. We’ve visited other islands on previous road trips in Scotland (we usually go in April for a week). This would be our first time in Scotland in the summer and for 15 days. We’re looking at late August to early September.
I’m currently drafting the itinerary. We’d be crossing from Ullapool and were thinking of spending 3 nights on Harris and 4 nights on Lewis.
Does that sound balanced to you? Is it better to keep the same accommodation on Harris and the same on Lewis to explore the area? I’d love to hear about any past experiences you’ve had on these islands.
Thanks!
Hi there, I’m trying to leave for 15 days very soon to São Vicente. I’m either looking to join an agency or figure things out on my own to go hiking on one of these islands or both. From what I’ve seen, it’s not easy to organize with local transport, so it gets expensive. Can I use the services of a small local agency? I’m looking for the simplest way to hike for several days. Also, how do you get from São Vicente to São Nicolau? Thanks in advance and have a great day!
Aichatou
I’ve been wanting to do this for several years, and this year’s the one. Next September, I’ll be trekking in Tusheti (Georgia), from Omalo to Shatili.
Of course, I won’t be renting a vehicle that’d just sit unused. No problem getting to Pshaveli, but from there to Omalo, it’s a dirt road (still the case?)
There must be some form of public transport since there are so many guesthouses, and not all travelers come in a 4x4.
If any of you have been to Omalo, could you confirm that these shared transports exist and how often they run?
JULIE
