travel and rhum

I have been reading up on what I need for long hikes- say 20 miles. Jerky, cheese, and salami for protein show up often. My question is how do you pack cheese and salami to keep it cold or is that necessary?

Trying to build up the endurance to hike more interesting fun trails. So I've been hiking the same one over and over again and it's really boring, need something to listen to what do you listen to?

I'll try to keep this short, but I do feel that this should be heard by people as it'd apply to many in our types of outdoor activities.

World Nomad Insurance is a pretty well regarded insurer for world travel and outdoors activities. I've used them before, but not had to submit a claim for a insured event. I had a trek planned through Intrepid to go to Everest Base Camp. Got there, made it to Namche Bazaar (Day 3 of 12) and rolled my ankle due to a stepping stone coming loose while going up an incline. This resulted in my ankle being rolled, walkable with it wrapped, pain killers and walking polls, but unable to continue on the trek.

Intrepid themselves, along with me, agreed to end my trek and help me back down the mountain path all the way back to Kathmandu. I was treated there by a local guide and as it was walkable, I knew it wasn't broken.

I tried to submit a claim to World Nomad and instantly, red flags started shooting off everywhere. Called in? Always dropped my calls. Emails? It took almost 30, THIRTY days, to get someone to respond. I submitted the paperwork, story, and a certified letter from Intrepid to them, explaining this was ended due to a medical, non life-threatening emergency and injury.

Claim denied because I didn't go to a hospital, at the time of injury on the Everest Base Camp Trail.

Imagine that. World Nomad Insurance denied the claim, because I didn't go to a hospital on the side of the mountain, despite having a written letter from the Tour company themselves, the local medic there looking at it, and literally only being there for 3 days. I was told when I initially talked to World Nomad about the insurance, that as long as there was proof if something happened, it would be covered.

There is zero point to travel insurance, if they don't cover travel interuptions and injury.

3 months later, of screwing around and pleading with them to get someone to talk to, they refused. To this day i've never once been able to get someone on the phone to talk to about this claim. Always email, and ALWAYS copy and pasted responses.

I cursed them out, (not threatening) but colorful language. They said they claim is closed, they won't look at it any longer, and to continue forward i'd HAVE TO ONLY GO THROUGH THEIR IN HOUSE LEGAL COUNCEL.

So not only do they take your money, they deny the proof, lie, and then lawyer up when you call out their thievery.

So, just a heads up. Find better travel insurance, because World Nomad is literally worse then American health insurance companies.

I've just worn hiking boots that I bought a while ago in the snow for the first time while running errands. They have a good profile on the sole and are warm and comfortable. However, I just walked on sidewalks in the city that weren't cleaned from the snow (just 1-2 cm of flattened, wet snow, no solid ice or anything) and I was basically penguin walking to avoid slipping as they didn't seem to have much grip, despite the profile.

They were sold as winter boots, so I am wondering if there are any features that I missed that winter hiking boots should have? Can the sole be too stiff? Are specific materials better suited? Or are you supposed to put on crampons much earlier than with regular shoes for hiking boots?

It was particularly bad as people with sneakers and basically all other shoes seemed to have a much better time so I am wondering if I am missing something here. (Not an experienced winter hiker, so please pardon me if it is an obvious answer)

Hi all – just wanted to share a really inspiring story, having just listened to a podcast. She may be more famous in the US than she is in the UK, but as someone who is obsessed with doing the Appalachian Trail someday, I have LOVED learning about Grandma Gatewood! She was 67 when she hiked it for the first time (she did it twice more) and did it in 1955 which wasn't exactly the most progressive time in our history regarding feminism. I have now read the book 'Grandma Gatewood's Walk' having listened to the podcast, and it seems she initially began her walk to escape an abusive relationship and, having gained fame along her way, her story has led to the inception of women's support groups who use outdoor activities as a method of healing.

Just wanted to share how wonderful I think she was and maybe find some other Grandma Gatewood fans out there too!

Appalachian Trail, USA

{Image taken from Earth to Humans Podcast Facebook page}

https://preview.redd.it/hlwdwa316a3c1.jpg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fd2931ef871bd1f4e8fb90ac323c0fbd5b4210e8