Of course hitchhiking success depends on different factors. Position is just one. And an experienced Hitchhiker won´t do much mistakes. He/She knows, what works for him/her and what not. There might be places, that certain people like and others don´t. Like standing on the end of a service station area rather than asking at the gas station, or taking position in front of the traffic lights. There is one person who loves to do that and another on who hates it. And if you take a position you don’t like, it definitely will decrease your chances. Keep that in mind. All about attitude. I for myself try to like every position. Even if it feels wrong, I take it as a challenge and work eagerly towards my next ride.

If you work in a team of two experienced hitchhikers, better let one person choose the position. This would be also the person who is responsible for the thumbing. There is no need to start a fight and create a bad atmosphere in your team. Sometimes it is better to let the hitchhiking person just do it the way he/she is used to it. Most positions are equally good, if the attitude is positive.

What is a position?

In general a hitchhiking position has three main characteristics.

1. Speed of the passing cars

They can be slow, damn fast or not moving at all. In general we want positions where the traffic is slow, just because of the fact, that the communication time between you and the driver increases and you can make him pull over with a sunshine smile and your gentle waving thumb. Also drivers are more tempted to stop, if they move slow already.

2. Visibility

Second quality of a position is the visibility. You would think that you should take a position, where the driver might see you from far ahead. I am actually not sure about this. Sometimes, when the cars see you 1-2 km before they arrive, it is very hard to have a significant and connecting sign language. People might decide about taking you or not, even before you gotta chance to interact, which is not always optimal. Sometimes it is good, to be the flashing object, that occurs behind the corner with a sunshine smile and a gentle waving thumb, surprises the driver and makes him pull over.

3. Keeping area

Although with the visibility, keeping area is something, we don´t have to discuss. There must be enough keeping area for the car, to pull over, get safe from the road and make you also being safe when getting into the car. A lot of people won´t stop, if there is not enough keeping area.

I write that with being conscious about the fact, that some people just stop on the street and others would stop everywhere, whenever they see a hitchhiker. Even if they have 3 km rush hour behind them, they are moving on a one laned road out of the city and a mass hysteria of hatred behind them, because “hey, there is a hitchhiker!”. This all happens. Fair enough. But you should not support this behaviour with your positioning. Always choose a place, where it is safe for all to stop and interact.

In general I think there is a difference in the importance of those criterias. In my eyes the speed of the traffic is most important for positioning. Always try to find a spot where cars go slow. Fast traffic is the worst. Keeping are is important but under certain circumstances it can be less important. Visibility is the last criteria. You should be visible, for sure! But the question is either, at what point you should get into the drivers attention and it is definitely not always an advantage in positioning if you are seen from far away (like say on a 1-2 km long straight road). Especially if this is combined with fast traffic. The principle should be to give enough time to react for the driver, but more time means not always better chances to catch this ride.

Beside this, we have some basic and reoccurring structures and can identify an ideal position. If there are not traffic jams, everyone is moving in the same speed, the traffic has 24/7 the same frequency, our hitchhiking partner does nothing but standing beside us and looking good (which imho are the best settings) and there is always a good keeping area and no weather changes. We got three major structures:

1. Curve

As you might see, I already marked the ideal position. When we get a curve, we most likely stand behind it, at the position where the cars start speeding up, when getting out of the curve in direction downstream. If there is another curve behind, stand between the two of them. They won´t go to fast.

2. Crossing

Place yourself behind the crossing in downstream direction. Not before, so you might miss the people from the crossing road. Makes sense, doesn´t it?

3. Branch off

Same with the crossing. Usually you don´t want to stand in the main road and wave down the traffic which takes of in your direction, but stand on the beginning of the road, directed towards your destination.

Good positions and bad positions

Bad positions are in general bridges or tunnels, because there is no keeping are, overpasses, inside of towns or villages or in places where it is forbidden to stop, like prison areas or under „No stop“ signs. Hitchhiking in those places will decrease the amount of cars that are going to stop. Also it is wrong to hitchhike in bus stop, as you will be seen as a passenger not as a hitchhiker. But if there is no other keeping area, it is acceptable to use bus stops. Hitchhiking in narrow roads can cause car accidents and you should avoid those places.

Good positions are police checkpoints/controls, frontiers, railway crossings, defects of the road carpet, traffic lights, traffic jams, roundabouts and so on. It is important to position behind those places and not in front, as the drivers attention will be concentrated on the percularity of the road and not on you. It is all about the minimizing disturbance and putting yourself into the focus.

How to find a position?

You can have a look into our great Hitchwiki to find hop out spots for almost all bigger citties. Feels invited to add information and help the database growing. But you don´t have internet or hitchwiki all the time. Usually i never look up spots and use my Hitchhiker Instincts. I move into direction highway/my road and then i have a look in place, while singing all the time: „These boots are made for walking.“ Walk walk walk, if you don´t like the place. There will be another one within the next 5 km. Promise!

Also a good reason, not to carry your fully stuffed 25kg expedition-backpack and a brand new Walmart tent in your hand and maybe a guitar or some cooking pots hanging somewhere around you. Hitchhiking is more important, than being your own house. Travel light, be more flexible and enjoy the road.

How do I know if the position is good?

If you try to hitchhike an nobody stops for a long time, you might stand in a wrong position. It might be usefull to have a rest or walk to another position then. For me personally a position is good, if it makes me feel good and does not hurt any of the major qualities above. And I feel good while hitchhiking, when I get reactions from my by passing traffic. 5 minutes waiting, while everybody is ignoring you, can be much more difficult than 30 minutes road-side-show, while cheering, laughing and having fun with your traffic. I prefer having fun, staying in good mood and think then hitchhiking is working better automatically. The faster the traffic, the more they tend to ignore you. Find a spot, where they have to slow down („Stop“-Signs are great) and have to deal with you, your sunshine attitude and the gentle waving thumb!

General advices about positioning and hitchhiking

But there is a major principle about positions and taking rides: Only get into the car if you know that it can get you to a good position. This sounds simple but is one of the major problems, that can occur, when you hitchhike. Even I make this mistake from time to time. If you are on the highway and it is just going to the next village, you might end up in a very bad spot. It is a tactical mistake to get from a good position into a bad position. Sometimes it makes sense to wait for a better ride, instead of taking everything that stops. Also sometimes it make sense to get out of a car earlier, than going the full distance, if you can not make sure to end up in a good position.

I (almost) never take positions, if it is going downhill. Faster traffic, cars have longer braking way and it is harder for them to overcome their natural skepsis and pull over for you. Best is, to be on top of a hill.

Stay in the traffic current, don’t let yourself fall out of it. Especially in countries that have a dense highway network, it is the worst tactical mistake, if you get driven out of your main track. This usually takes a lot of time to fight your way back and pick up speed again.

Also, if you go a long distance, your chances to catch a good ride are increasing while progressing on your route. There is a certain point where finding a ride to your final destination is not anymore about luck, but about simple probabilities.

An example: When I was hitchhiking 3700 km through Kazakhstan (Almaty-Aktau) it was very unlikely, that I would catch a direct ride when I left Almaty city. Especially if the final destination is about a one day drive away you will likely find traffic that is going there during day and night time. If there are no major cities on the route, it also can mean, that you will likely catch a good ride.

In this case I had a direct ride around 2300 km before Aktau. That was luck. I did not take it all the way, because they stopped for sleeping. Around 1000 km before Aktau I catched a Truck that was going directly to my destination. It was in a place, where they where no major cities in between and I knew, that there would be relatively much direct traffic. This truck also stopped for sleeping in the night around 500 km before my final place. I could have waited 5 hours and arrive the next day, but the position was just too promising.

I kept on going and hitchhiked in the night. 20 minutes later I had my final ride. Especially the last ride,was very likely. I was confident to make this move, because I knew this position was in the current, on a good section of my overall route, with no major cities in front of me and enough traffic in my direction. Simple analytics for a successful hitchhiking.

This idea of wrong traffic (not your direction) turning into right traffic (to your direction or destination) also is crucial for my strategie to pass big cities. While from the entrance to the center of the city it is very unlikely, that you will find a ride that really helps you and walking might be the better option, your chances to find traffic (at least) to the other end of the city are constantly increasing, when you pass the city center and move outwards of the town and not inwards anymore. The city center defines the tipping position, where catching a good ride is not luck anymore but possible.

Some people hesitate to drop me in rural areas, because they think, nobody ever will pick me up there. The hopeless position. In Argentina I was going from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia and in my first night I had a position at a gas station, which was not very successfull. 50 km in front of me was a major intersection, though in the middle of nowhere, without any lights and other structures. My driver told me, that there was nothing and I thought: „Very good!“ No disturbance. And people tend more to help you, if they perceive the place as hopeless. In this case it took me 2 minutes and the first car to catch a 800 km night ride from there.

This does not mean, that you should bring yourself in danger and try to get into rural areas in the night. Only take those positions, if you can handle to survive there, when nobody picks you up! In this case I knew there is an major intersection with traffic in my direction and that drivers would stop either than on the gas station, i was positioned before.

Wintertime and i mean real winter with snow and stuff (i know not everyone of you might have that), is hitchhikers heaven. I love it, when there are 1-2m high snow hills at the road side. You know why? Cause it makes life so much easier, especially in rural areas with not a lot of traffic. The question about the keeping area is not important anymore, because there is just no keeping area. Which means you basically can stand everywhere. It does not make a difference. Also people in the winter pick you up, everywhere. They are much more hold to stop and give you a lift.

This advice is for cities and small roads, not for highway with fast traffic (remember, winter, snow, slippery roads, longer braking ways…be careful what you do). If you are hitchhiking on a fast and big road in the winter the situation changes completely. Keeping area and taking a safe position is getting even more important here.

When you are in danger of getting into heavy rain, try to stay near a shelter. It is not worth to get soaked. I prefer shelter rather than carrying rain equipment with me.

Der Beitrag Positioning and hitchhiking erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

If you go hitchhiking your speed is all about your technique. In day-time the advanced and not-advanced hitchhiker might move with more or less the same speed. But with the right equipment and technique you can also move through the night without any problem. There is less traffic, but therefore the cars will go further. More experienced hitchhikers use the night for their movement as well as the day.

On my „Royal Stage“ from New York to Alaska I achieved a very good time while rushing through Canada. I had one of my best runs going from Thousand Islands border USA/Canada to Otter Falls/Haines Junction in Yukon Territory. I did 6071 km in 107h 8m; Ø56 km/h. I think this is faster than driving by yourself. And since this tour had a acceptable length, I would like to call it my personal best time.

In the Russian hitchhiking school you calculate an average speed of 50km/h during summer-time and 40 km/h during wintertime. This counts for most of the developed countries like Iran, USA, Kanada, Russia, Germany, Argentina, etc. The calculation has to be adapted if you move through mountainous territory with serpentines. In general the road is getting slower the higher it is. In technically more difficult regions your covered distance can drop down to 200-300km per day. I experienced that, when I hitchhiker through the Bolivian high plateaus.

The longer your tour is, the harder it is to keep up the speed. If I would have traveled only 3 km/h less on my Canada crossing, that would have meant in the end 321 km less distance. 3 km/h less sounds not much, but it really makes the difference in the end.

When I started hitchhiking we always calculated with twice of the normal driving time (if you drive by yourself, including rest and sleeping breaks). For beginners this is a good landmark, which is easy to achieve. If you fail this, you do something wrong. But in my covered routes through Asia, as South and North America, you can see, that the Russian calculation is realistic, especially if you move a longer distance.

If you hitchhike alone you will always be slightly faster than going as a couple. With three person your average speed will drop significantly. Border crossings are always different, but you can calculate an average delay of one our, when getting into a new territory. Crossing cities is a big issue and you should calculate around two hours more, than the normal driving time, especially if you need to fight your way through a Moloch like La Paz or Panama City. With or without public transport. Crossing cities is one of the hardest things to do and you can lose much more time here, if you are an unexperienced hitchhiker.

The more experienced the hitchhiker is, the less will be the difference in the movement speed between each other. And this is independent from age or gender. Who argues, that you hitchhike faster with a woman, just because she is a woman, has not enough own experience to convince drivers to stop. And if one of my female hitchhiking comrades is hitchhiking faster than me, then it is about her advanced technique and not about her pussy.

In general I want to show with this article, that hitchhiking is able to be scheduled and your speed is most dependent on your skill. This includes body language, clothing, attitude, gesture, facial expression, how good your communication is and how charming you can make cars to stop. Also your positioning is very important and that you avoid tactical mistakes like, letting the driver decide where to put you or taking rides that won’t bring you any advantage. All that are parameters which affect your speed and they are much more important than pure luck. Who argues that hitchhiking is about luck might not know how to hitchhike properly.

Der Beitrag Personal best – How to calculate your hitchhiking speed erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

Contents:

The following text contains basic informations about the technique of competitive hitchhiking, how it is practiced and developed in Russia. The chapters are orientated to the Russian customs. The documentation is divided in three chapters: (1) Preparation (Equipment, Maps, Cars,…); (2) Strategy (Tactics); (3) Utilization (Nighthitchhiking, Wintertime)

(1) Preparation

Historical context:

Basic problem for our Russian friends was the big backpack in the former soviet republic. There was not much space in the cars for big backpacks. In the 80s PASL¹ developed it´s own, hitchhiking optimized backpack, which holds about 40l and looks similar to a parachute container. Traditionally there was a rope attached to the backpack, to being able to tie it at the outside of cars, if there was not enough space inside. Nowadays this is not needed anymore, but the rope is still there. Habits. After developing the backpack, our friends realized, that the conventional equipment was too big for it. Logically this meant, that they need to reduce the size of their gear.

Originally the technique of competitive hitchhiking had its beginning while making outdoor expeditions. For getting into the mountains to do a hiking or skieing trip, they hitchhiked, even if they didn´t knew it was hitchhiking. After a while they figured out, that at certain times and in certain places the hitchhiking works better or worser. It was the first step to analyze and optimize their own movement and can be seen as the beginning of the idea of competitive hitchhiking. The second most important milestone within this technique was the observation, that hitchhiking also works in the night. With being able to hitchhike all night through, also the needed equipment could be reduced alot, because there was no need for camping gear on short and middle distances anymore.

Equipment:

Three different types of equipment exist: Technical Equipment, Camping Gear and Clothing.

Clothing consists of three layers: The first layer has basically the function to transport moisture to keep your skin dry. On longer tours you should use every possibility to wash to keep up the functionality. Synthetic clothing is recommended, as this soaks not as much as wool and stays not as wet. The second layer has the function to protect yourself from cold. Here a fleece is very functional. In principle it is better to wear 2 thin layers, than just one thick layer, because the temperature regulation is working better this way. Also small clothings are easier to pack, easier to dry and two stacks have a better isolation. The third layer is to protect you against wind and rein and should be breathable.

The Russian hitchhiking uniforms, as they are used in competitive hitchhiking, are not made to keep you warm. Therefore you need additional equipment in winter competitions as caps, gloves scarf to keep yourself cozy in colder times. For the body you can use a downvest. This should be worn above the uniform, cause it is not working in compressed condition. In extreme temperatures you can wear thin synthetic finger gloves and on this mittens. Mittens are in general superior, cause they store more warmth. The finger gloves are very useful, if you have to touch cold metal, because, especially in Russian winters, you can injure yourself very fast when touching metal with you bare hands. As you have to dress and undress your gloves constantly while hitchhiking, the gloves are attached to an elastic tie at your arms. You don´t wanna lose this and so you wont. Another classical part of the equipment in competitive hitchhiking is a rain cape.

As shoes normal boots are recommended. In winter you can wear leather boots, they work and are easy to dry. Most important are insoles, cause 90% of the heat disappears through the ground. In cars or trucks you should take of your shoes, for a better heating of your feets. Also it is practical to buy your shoes one number bigger than you are used to, cause you feets will swell up if you sit for a long time or in a long lift. In deep snow you can overdraw your boots with nylons, to keep them dry. Same as with your body clothing it is also recommended to wear 2 layer of socks. First layer a thin one and over it a thick wool-sock. Cotton is not recommended.

Technical equipment exists of a small pair of field glasses to eventually check control points within the competition and observe the traffic. The hitchhiking uniform is especially developed for moving in the night and pays of during this time. Basically they are made to represent a silhouette of a person, cause this is easier to recognize for the drivers and has an advantage towards bright clothing on the upper part of your body, which not might be recognized as a person. Furthermore the uniform is there to give the impression of an accurate, sporty and kind person, to increase your chances getting picked up. In principle there is only a small amount of cars which stops for everyone and a small amount of cars which stops for no one. Therefore it is required to provide the best impression to the drivers, to secure an advantage within the competitions.

Beside that you should use active and passive reflecting equipment during the night. Beside a head-torch, which ideally can be switched on and of easily, reflectors should be standard equipment during the competitions. Reflectors can be used for the legs and for the hands. As the spotlight of the cars beams mostly to lower objects, we ensure a maximal reaction time for the drivers. They can see very early, that there is something beside the road and slow down.

A transportable charger, which can be used in the cigarette lighter of the car is very useful. Same for a compass. Compass, because usually, if not announced different by the referee, GPS navigation is forbidden during the competition and compass represents a more traditional way of execution in orienteering sports. Maps should be colorful and include measuring rod. Also important is a functioning watch to be able to note the times during the competition.

Camping Equipment is always a question of distance. In PASL for short (<1000km) and middle (<3500km) distances, camping gear is usually not taken. For the tent you can use the classical version with poles. But it is very costly to take this kind of equipment with you for just 1-2 nights. For the competitions we use special produced tents without poles, which provide a rain and wind protection and use less space in the backpack.

As summer sleeping bag a synthetical filling is recommended, because it is drying faster. Wools are not recommended, cause they are heavy and moisture-sensitive. For colder regions down is the material to go for. PASL members use amongst other things a double sleeping bag. It means less space but a better thermal insulation. As inflatables usually the Therma-Rest is used. They are better than normal foam mates, because those are big and difficult to store. The isolation to the ground is very important in the winter time. Sometimes you also can use your clothing for isolation. But remember to keep your equipment dry, especially in the winter time.

Cooking gear you should only take for long-distances. For short trips it is easier to just buy something on the way and take „non-cooking-food“ with you. For cooker you have different combustibles. Gas is the easiest to use and most of the times you need less, than you carry with you. High quality has aircraft gas. Fuel contains 20%-25% more energy than gas and you can buy it almost everywhere. Especially in wintertime fuel works much better than gas. Beside that you should, in extreme climates, always have half a liter kerosine with you. Sometimes the diesel in the tanks freezes and you can make it fluid with the kerosine.

As cooker a multi-fuel solution is recommended. In winter time you can cook in the tent, but be careful. Pots should be made of aluminum, because it is lighter. The more flat a pot is, the faster it will cook. If it is very cold in the night, you can take a bottle of hot water with you in the sleeping. Also a candle in the tent can increase the temperate. But as with the cooking, be careful. Technical equipment should also include a waterproof bag. In trouble plastic bags will do the job.

Also the food is dependent on the distance. For a 2 day competition we store the following catering: Small sausages, flat bread (like Tortillas, normal bread gets crushed in the backpack and is not useful for our purposes), dry nuts and fruits, chocolate (winter) or Nougat (summer- doesn´t melt), water mixed with juice (summer) or tea (winter) and canned fish or meat for dinner time. For longer distances always carry food for two days with you. Buckwheat is recommended, rice (more energy than noodles) and sugared tea with lemon. Be careful if you have a competition during summertime and you lose a lot of salt, because this can cause muscular problems. To prevent this you can use a teaspoon of salt for rebalancing the Water-Salt household.

(2) Strategy

Preamble: Example: Moving from A to B. Person one changes the car 15 times. Person 2 changes the car 3 times. Coincidence? No.

For longer distances you can calculate the traffic volume. There are times of the day where is less traffic. This is known most of the time and it is necessary to make optimal use of the „waves of traffic“ for your own movement. Beside that there are so called „dead zones“ existing, which are mentioned as corridors, with extreme less traffic. In general: In the morning time there is a lot of traffic into cities and in the evening a lot of traffic out of cities. For a long distance trip it is recommended to start in the morning, to catch commuters, which go more far.

Tactics of movement represent a fundamental discipline of competitive hitchhiking. Especially the effective switch between small and big roads is important for the success within the competition. In general you should move from one good position to another good position. It is better to get out of a lift before he reaches its destination, to take a good position, than going till the end. Same counts for nightfall. But in nightfall and on less used roads it is recommended to use every possibility for moving forward to the next position.

Technique for crossing cities: Hitchhike with the car into the city. Never position yourself at the entrance of a city. Better go out before (f.e. 70km before the city in cities without a ring) and wait for a suitable car. If you, because of drowsiness or other reasons, end up in the middle of the city, move forward as followed: (1) Get orientation (2) find a big street (3) hitchhike on the big street, find a lift. Ask for the way (4) get informations about the way. Forget the way description and find a new car. It is best to rate a good position by yourself.

Positioning. A good position is, if the driver has good view on the hitchhiker and enough space to stop. Positions are always depend on the environment: road markings, holding surface, ascend and tempo limits. Peaks of ascents are always good positions, f.e. It should be avoided to position yourself at the end of a descent.

Positioning examples:

Those positions are most of the time the best for hitchhiking. But always keep in mind the visibility and holding surfaces. Never try to catch a lift on a position, where the vehicle becomes an obstacle for the following traffic if stopping. Better: Find a spot where cars can safely leave the road. Don´t try to hitchhike cars that are followed by trucks. If a driver stops on the middle of the street, ask him to pull over to the side.

The hitchhiking signal (if thumb, hand, stop sign or waving) is a question of personal preference. More important is to lift you arm in the right moment, which should not be too early or too late. Without motion, there is no communication between you and the driver. Always look at the driver, Especially when moving in a team it is very bad, if one person does something else, while the other one tries to stop a car, cause this communicates you’re not ready. Small details are very important in hitchhiking, cause they determine, if the car stops or not.

(3) Utilization

Night hitchhiking is the core art of competitive hitchhiking. When we realized that a 24/7 movement is possible, it was the hour of birth for competitive hitchhiking. Much gear and a big backpack could be easily reduced and replaced with the nowadays backpacks. The technique and the equipment during the night differ from the ones during the day. You have passive reflectors and active light. Passive reflection is not working in the twilight and if there is no direct light available, like in a curve.

In the night it is recommended to flash your own source of light, to start communication with the driver. Mind the position in street lights. Always stand behind the light, to not being covered by your own shadow. If you don’t have a hitchhiking uniform, you can wear a white shirt on top of your jacket or pullover. In Russian Tundra you can make a small campfire in emergency case beside the road. This is understood as a common distress-signal. Beside that you should not forget to sleep. This is also something you can use the night for.

Trucks cover most of the time not very long distances and make  a lot of breaks. Especially if you go middle distances and during the night, this can turn out negative. Even if the driver tells you, he goes long distance, this can turn out as a short ride sometimes. Be prepared. The best is to ask the driver to announce breaks before you stop, to be able finding a better position and hit for the next vehicle. If you found a good spot, tell him he shouldn´t worry.

To fight the drowsiness it is good to eat something (seeds or chewing-gum). In the night it is much easier to move in a team as two, because then one person can sleep and the other one talk to the driver. But the best way to overcome drowsiness is to sleep. Try to take a most relaxed position and gain as much comfort as possible. The „as much as possible“ should be in the center of attention. In the morning you should look out for well-rested drivers, f.e. trucks that just started. It will be good for your own well-being as well.

Winterhitchhiking differs from conventional hitchhiking in the following points: it is cold, the average driving speed is less, you are endangered (especially in the east parts of Russia) getting stucked and the braking distance is higher, which is important for your own positioning. If the temperature is around the freezing point it is sometimes more dangerous than extreme colderness, cause the streets are slippery and drivers might not be prepared. Also, compared to the summer, small roads have less traffic if it is dark during winter time. The „dead zone“ begins earlier.

The equipment during hitchhiking in the winter should be kept dry! Never try to wear as much clothing as possible to keep yourself warm. It is working at the beginning, but not the best tactic. It is better to keep your muscles active for staying warm. For this you should wear less clothing to get warm faster and prevent sweating. For cold fingers you can simulate to chop wood. Don´t use masks in the winter, they could scare the driver. If you drive on the loading platform of a vehicle and it is very cold, you should use snow goggles to protect yourself. In general you should not walk during the hitchhiking, cause drivers might think you just want to go short distance and less cars will stop for you. But you can walk or run upstream (opposite of driving direction), it can work. In wintertime it is legit to walk, because so you stay warm at least.

Never be hungry if its cold. Carry Antigel or Kerosin with you to make Diesel fluid again.

Der Beitrag Basics of competitive hitchhiking – Beginners course documentation erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

In the end I had around 12kg and 50l volume, which I think is quite reasonable. My backpack was so full in the end, that I could not even fit an extra shirt in it. If you have any suggestions or questions, feel free to leave a comment at the end of the article. I will be happy to reply.

Most important

Backpack

Around 50l, two sections, simple carrier-system, front access, really minimized design, very robust material and the typical Parachuter-Look. The backpack has not much to offer, but thats why it is so genius. It is taylor made from the Russian hitchhiker Alexej Vorov, who developed hitchhiking optimized outdoor equipment in the last 30 years. Simple and functional. I would never choose a different backpack.

Tent

Also from Russia, made by Alexej. Two container, both around 1,5l big and together 2,7kg heavy. It got a tent and a tarp. No sticks. Which might be a disadvantage, because you can not use it without two trees/obstacles/pillows. But I never had problems to hang it, wherever I was (except in high-alpine mountain areas).

Also: The tent fits perfectly in my backpack. The Russians developed the backpack back in the days and then figured out, that their other equipment is too big for the backpack. Logically they had to resize their other equipment. The tent is one outcome of this process.

The hitchhiking suit

Most important for my hitchhiking. My second skin. My hitchhiking suit. Our official DTSG uniform. The suit is primarily developed for night-hitchhiking but has also some small features, like the pockets on top of your upper legs (which are perfectly accessable, when you sit in the car, which we do a lot) or the colorful design. It is breath-active (synthetics, dry fast) and taylor made (of course). But thats it. Doesn’t keep you warm, does not protect you against wind or rain. I also have some leg-reflectors, which are part of the uniform.

My Writing-In-The-Rain notebook, which I introduced already in my logging article. Really really nice to log your hitchhiking adventures.

Sleeping

Ultra Light Summer Sleeping Bag (+11° Comfort Zone)

My sleeping bag has an extreme small packing volume and weights 420g. 40€ at Globetrotter. I am happy with it, as long as it is not colder than +5°, otherwise it starts to hurt, if you sleep with this baby. He disappointed me several times, until I got my winter sleeping bag (also made by Vorov). But now for the spring and summer I got it back!

Sleeping pad

You can buy inflatable Ultra Light sleeping pads. They have 1-1,5l volume, but are not very robust. Therefore I choosed the Therma-Rest version. On of my buddies recommends body-sized sleeping pads, but never tested them.

Electronics

Camera

I started with a cheap Panasonic compact-camera until it gave up. Now I got myself a Lumix DMC-LX3 for 90€. Got some nice Reviews and I wanted just a small camera for small money. I am really satisfied with the pictures tho.

Laptop

Since I had no Smartphone and I wanted to write the blog, I decided to take a laptop with me. One of my heaviest pieces in the backpack with 2kg, but for my digital comfort zone, absolutely necessary. Also I had to buy the laptop, because it was looking so damn well. I got a Thinkpad Edge E135 with a flash hard drive. Especially the Thinkpad keyboard is a lot of fun to work with and a huge advantage towards those terrible EEE-Pc’s as for normal laptops. A good middle way for me.

Smartphone

Got some as a present meanwhile. Thanks Bobby. My life is so much more simple now. Never get lost again, with Google offline maps. It is a Nexus 5 and the first smartphone which I ever have. Like it so far.

Action Cam

Actually I don’t know why I got one with me. We bought a bunch of Action Cams, sponsored by the European Union for documentation of our hitchhiking races. Now I record roads all over the world with is. We got a GoPro-Clon for about 80€, called SJ4000.

Head-Phones

Practical. Also good to combine with a MP3-Player. Got one as well meanwhile, but don’t really know for what, as I never listen to music with it.

Chargers

Yes, of course you will need chargers for all the shit you got.

Clothing

Okay, this is a boring point, but let’s do it, to keep it complete.

Basically I got my hitchhiking uniform, one set of long clothes and one set of short clothes. With my Equipment I can survive until -5° outside (hitchhiking, not sleeping).

• 2-3 shirts (meanwhile four)
• 2 pair of socks (Merinowool, doesn’t smell) (meanwhile four)
• 2 pair of underwear (meanwhile 4)
• 2 under shirts
• long underwear
• hat (warm)
• scarf (also warm)
• base-Cap (against sun)
• gloves (normal ones, thin, wool, 5 fingers which with you can still use your camera
• one pair of trousers (Jeans)
• short trousers (lost meanwhile)
• wool pullover
• one nice pullover for dates and official happenings (my one was of Kashmir wool, which Jonas mum gave me during a DTSG competition and brought me lost of compliments. But I lost it. Sorry Jonas mum, I really loved that one!)
• Daune inlet/jacket, can be compressed into the backpack, same as a sleeping bag.

Shoes

Leather with Vibran sole. Shoes should be bought for a purpose. My ones are not for high-alpine hiking, but a hybrid, because I walk a lot along streets. They are water-proved. In the winter you can use an extra inlet and thick socks, so better buy the a little bit bigger than normal.

Extras

Head torch

Actually more than just an extra, but crucial part of our competitive hitchhiking equipment and night hitchhiking. We use in the DTSG some head torch from Fenix. I think I can compete with a car beam. If I use it on the highest level, it hurts to look into it. Beside that it has a remote control and an external battery pack, to keep it warm near the body. Also it can get into the water and is shock-safe. It is a very good lamp and I love it.

Hip-Bag

Mine is from Daikine. In the end a matter of taste. I wanted something simple, black and robust.

DTSG Sticker

Have to bomb street signs and promote competitive hitchhiking….

Knife

Mine is a standart Opinel 8, with 8,5cm blade, which is also nice for cooking.

Toilet paper

This should not be here, but in the first part of this list. There is nothing worse, than hitchhiking around and having no toilet paper with you.

Sleeping mask

Does not weight much and is good against light. Actually, the longer I have this, the more I like it.

Daypack

Simple wool bag is enough, if you ask me. Enough to climb 4000m high mountains definitely.

Books

I had maximum 5 books with me. Now I got two. They make you happy twice. When you read them and when you get rid of them.

Medical support

I did some research in the beginning and most of the things I never used, which would be a reason to kick them out. But better safe than sorry.

• malaria Standby Medication. For the jungle.
• antibiotics
• painkiller. I got some Ibuprofen 600mg pills. They are good but not high-end. Some of my friends recommended me, to take some serious shit with me, to get sedated, when I really need it, like my leg is broken and bloody or other reasons for strong pain. But hard to get, even if it sounds right.
• desinfection. Got Bettaisadonna, the creme.
• anti-Histamines. Against allergic reactions.
• eye-Celaning-Liquid. If you get some chili in your eyes, this shit can safe your life.

Beauty farm

• nail scissor (lost and never replaced)
• tooth paste (hey here is a tip, in Germany we got Ajona Stomatikum tooth paste, really small and efficient and tasty. I even send myself some from Germany to the USA, because I don’t want to travel with something different.
• toothbrush
• piece of soap (oldschool and small
• deodorant

Dismissed

Things I had with me, but kicked them, because I did not see them as useful after 1,5 years.

Cooker

I had a small and simple Trangia cooker. Really good for one person, but you need quite a lot of fuel for it, especially if you go hiking for several days. You can only cook small meals with it.

Reason: Used it once. I am not the kind of guy, who takes the time to cook his own food I guess.

Selfie-Stick

Reason: Get rid of that shit.

Climbing shoes

Reason: Expected more climbing action, but didn’t do it in the end.

Water-Filter

I had a Sawyer Water Filter, which only weights some gram and is as big as a thick pencil. The company promotes the filter with the fact, that you can drink out of toilets with it. Pretty impressive innovation. But more for using in Africa and not when you are traveling and have access to water almost everywhere.

Reason: Used it once. Why carry it around with me?

Windbreaker

Pretty important if you go sailing, but also a good layer, if you want to keep yourself warm.

Reason: Had two of them. One got destroyed, when I crashed with a parachute. The other one I lost. Never replaced them.

Rain cape (plastic)

You can use a very thin one. Does not take a lot of room and you can find some protection during heavy rain.

Reason: I prefer to stand on a dry spot. Never used the cape.

Sunscreen

Reason: Why not try some skin-cancer this time? Or just avoid being at the beach all day.

Towel (micro-blabla).

Very small volume. And normal towels are really stupid for traveling.

Reason: Lost it. Now I just dry myself in the air or get back into my clothes while being wet. Life can be so easy.

Washing powder

Reason: No need to carry this around with you. You can buy it if needed. Most of the time you will find it anyway somewhere.

From the pharmacy: Something against shitstorms.

Reason: I prefer to stay near toilets, if I got heavy shitstorm problems. Let it out! And if it comes so hard, that you shit yourself 5 minutes after getting out of the restaurant, every product is useless.

Piece of rope

Reason: Never used.

Normal scissors to cut your beard.

Reason: Took it from me on the Chinese Airport. Well, then I let my beard grow now!

Finger tape (for long hikes and to keep your feet working)

Reason: Gave it away once and never got it back.

Der Beitrag Pack your backpack for hitchhiking around the world erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

In my 10 day calculation is included, that I might rest 2 nights, if people invite me. Also I might be stuck somewhere for whatever reason. This route as a kind of masterpiece for me and I am really looking forward to it! I wanna have this delicious trip in one part, without stopping in between. I want to be fully into this. Because being on the road is what I love.

In the following article I want to talk with you about:

How to analyze and plan a long-distance trip like this? What strategy I chose for the winter hitchhiking and in general what to say about the New York – Alaska passage.

Let´s go together through certain characteristics of the trip and im gonna share my thoughts.

Building a strategy

First of all, and this is most important, what to do when going on a long tour like this: Make a plan! Think about the upcoming tour! This might go without saying, but I think that is something that we gotta be very aware of. And as I wanna approach this topic from the scratch, we better give some credit to this point.

If you wanna do a successfull hitchhiking trip, sit down and plan it. With a proper map. You have to create a game plan to make a good tour. Get an idea about tipping points and chances. When I went from Stockholm to my home base in Leipzig, I knew that behind Kopenhagen is a good place to catch something out during the night. I was there around 02:00 and got a lift to Hamburg soon after. Worked. When i approached Lima I knew it was a goddamn moloch and I had to avoid at any costs to get dropped in this city. So I consciously searched a ride before the city limit all the way to the other side. Worked well. Would never have taken anything different.

You can work on this also while you´re on the road. Thats why you need a map. It is the basis for a good decision making. When you are on the road for several days you need to keep the overall run in focus. You will have hard times, you will have easy times, but don´t slacken or you get in the real deep shit, that will cost a lot of time. If you have a run, stay concentrated. If you have a bad time, keep trying. Never give up! The next lift is near. Especially the night hitchhiking will be most crucial for a successful run.

Let´s have a look at the route together.

Route and Cities

I know half of the route already through my testrun and have also a full list of 24/7 gas stations between Calgary and Montreal. I know the Transcanadian Highway works well and I am not taking an alternative route through the USA, even if it might be a couple of hundred kilometers shorter. Rather watch out for long-distance lifts in Canada. Good experience I can count on in this case.

What awaits me further north in and around Alaska is something I can just guess and put together from conversations with locals and other hitchhikers. Definitely not much traffic. Last part between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay will be mostly trucks operating. I am aware of this. But, some good news for hitchhikers: In Alaska is even a law that you gotta stop, if someone is standing at the side of the road and might be distressed. So people will most likely stop. If there is traffic. And people won´t leave you in the middle of the shit, cause they know how dangerous those conditions are. I trust my drivers in this case.

Cities are always an issue. I got to cross some of them in Canada. All in front Winnipeg I remember as very unpleasant to hitchhike through. But also Regina, Saskatoon and of course Edmonton are on the list. The advice is quite simple: Don´t arrive in the late night, which will for sure result in stucking for a few hours and lose too much time. If this happens I necessarily got to be at a 24/7 gas station to have a little chance catching the next ride. Although not all gas stations might provide a good hop-out into my direction. Got to choose rides and drop-offs wisely here. Also commuter traffic in the morning is annoying and I would not count on it. Intuitive the worst time for hitchhiking, because it is a lot of traffic but no one wants to pick up. Anyway: Best is to be there during daylight with enough time to cross, or just shoot directly through the place.

Weather

It is pretty clear, that hitchhiking into Alaska during January will offer the experience of damn cold climate. I expect temperature down to -35° and a strong merciless wind in the Prairies of Canada. Wind is a considerable source of misery during the cold, if not the worst. The coldest temperatures will be expected in the Prairies, as well as during the last part North of Fairbanks. Beside that I can not say, if I will run into any Blizzard or other spontaneous weather phenomenas. However: It is gonna be fucking cold! This conditions are not fun and mistakes might be unforgivable. I am aware of this and will prepare myself.

I have to check the weather daily and also talk a lot to my drivers if mother nature is freaking out around us. I need to know, if certain roads are closed, especially when passing through the Rockies. Maybe the weather is forcing me to take 1-2 day break on the road somewhere. Hopefully not.

The right equipment will be another important aspect. I by myself work with layers. I got a windproof winter jacket, which by itself might be not warm enough, but my friend gave me a nice down feather jacket, which I will put under my normal jacket. Beside that some long underwear. Two pairs of socks (thin and warm), long-sleeve shirt, special insulated ski-trousers, some -100° winter boots and a trapper head.

I will get some high-quality mittens in Canada and also some cheap thin wool gloves for wearing under them. This is important. You can´t do shit with mittens, sometimes you will need gloves. If you touch steel with you bare hands in -40° you will burn yourself pretty quickly. I even heard stories about people who lost all their fingers, cause they dropped their car keys into the snow and couldn´t find it. Shit happens. So better have „some“ protection, just in case you need to take off the mittens. Avoid cotton in your equipment. If it gets wet, it stays wet and this can be very unpleasent in cold temperatures.

Another point, which especially on a long-distance tour is of importance, that the cold makes you more tired. I might be able to camp outside until -20° at least, but wanna avoid this if possible. But I know from my testrun: The cold is sucking your energy out of the bones. It is much harder to stay awake several nights in those conditions. In Colombia or Mexico I could just lie in the sun and take some rest, during the day. Easy. Not possible on this route. Gotta keep an eye on my well-being.

Another thing is: The cold itself is not the biggest problem, but waiting in the cold is what makes you cool down. But I can make some gymnastics whenever needed. Or how our Russian fellows say: Against cold it helps to move. Against tiredness helps to sleep.

Daylight

Something to consider, especially in the winter: The days are much shorter. When I leave New York we will have approximately 7,5 hours between sunset and -rise in Edmonton. In Fairbanks it will be less than 4 hours during this time and checking for Prudhoe Bay resulted in the information, that there is no sunrise at all. Can´t say how much work the twilight will do, but I rather expect nothing to not get disappointed. Why is this important?

You might expect daylight as an issue for finding rides, but that is not a real problem. On my testrun from Calgary to New York, around 60% of my whole distance was covered during the night. And I caught some very good night rides through Canada! Some around 700-900 km long. Moving in the night is a crucial thing on a long tour and it works. So I am not worried about it.

I am more concerned about the cold. Temperatures drop drastically in the night. It is a real threat. You don´t wanna be out there without cover. There is no way I can risk to stuck at an empty crossing during the night. Usually I don´t give a fuck where I am. Even dark places without any light are sometimes my choice for positioning, because I can catch lifts there more easy (sometimes). But in the far north might be very little traffic.

Strategy

You got all my thoughts on that. So, now is the question how to approach the route most wisely? It is quite simple. The last 14 months I mostly used classical hitchhiking, which means for me, standing at the side of the road and stick my thumb out. In Germany and Europe I am used to ask drivers, just because it is so successful and I can move almost as fast as going with my own car by this technique. And this will be the way to go for me on this trip.

I´m gonna stick with the 24/7 gas stations as a matter of safety and ask the incoming drivers. It is like hopping from checkpoint to checkpoint. Who is going around in Europe might know what I mean. This gives me a better opportunity for having control about my lifts and where they go. Sometimes when you thumb, you won´t have enough time to ask all information. Especially when you are miserable you take the ride blindly and find out, that it will put you in another difficult spot. I have to avoid those kind of mistakes.

Also I simply like the Canadians. Talking to them is great fun, they are usually much more friendly than the people in the US and this approach is definitely advisable here. If I won´t get a lift, at least I will have a nice conversation most of the time. Furthermore I can check the number plates and pick the long-distance commuters, which definitely exist in Canada. Hopefully I will find some post-Christmas/New Year people going all the way back home to Alaska from….let´s say New York.

I am not focusing on trucks until I am in Alaska. The success rate is just to small in the southern regions. Once I am in more rural areas, I will give it a try. Also I might use the chance during the day to thumb directly on the highway, but I´m gonna decide this spontaneously. But my main approach is „gas station hopping“.

I won´t write another roadtrip article about this tour, but if you want you can follow me on Facebook, where im gonna post regular status updates and positions. I wish you a Happy New Year and myself warmroads.

Der Beitrag Long distance winter hitchhiking – From New York to Alaska erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

On note before we begin. Of course you don´t need to hitchhike. You always can find public transport (except in the US). But that would be too easy, wouldn´t it? The only thing i took from occasionally was a Metro line. They often go fast and uncomplicated directly through the cities. Last time i did this in Panama-City. They only had one line. Easy navigation. Beside that you also can walk for sure. Usually i walk alot through cities, especially to find a good spot to hitchhike, or do make progress or to find some nice Street Food on my way. But anyway, if i go on a long distance trip, i sometimes start with a 1-2 hours morning walk, to get somewhere i want to and catch the first ride fresh as fuck.

Objective: Crossing cities.

Problem: Too much traffic, multi-lane roads and people who don´t drive far.

Generally my strategy is as followed: Try to get to the core of the city somehow. This is most of the time possible. Here it is also the most difficult, cause the roads are narrow, too much traffic and the worst place to get out (depends, yes. But compared to the outskirts for sure). As soon as i got to the city centre i try to find the main road out and start walking towards the other end. With every meter i get away from the city centre, it is getting more easy. Promise. With every little lift you get a higher chance, that the next car is the one, that shoots you out to the country side. And at one point you will be out of the city. This is all i think about in this situation. Easy, isn´t it?

An alternative strategy is, to get out of the car 50-100km in front of the city and find a lift that goes through. So i did in Lima. Worked well and you don´t want to end up in Lima during rush-hours hitchhiking., to be honest. But sometimes you just end up in the city even if you tried to avoid t.

Basics: Orientation in the city

I don´t have a smartphone, which means somehow i have to fight my way through. But it is simple. Your most important obejctive is, to find the main road out of the city and the further you go along this towards the end, the easier our whole project gets, because the road system gets smaller and most of the other roads lead connect with our main road. I roughly find orientation through the sun and the cardnal directions and start walking till i find something promising. Asking people is also fine. Most of the time i ask someone, walk 100m further and ask the next one and repeat this several times till i found enough congruent informations. Single people can be wrong, but the crowd intelligence will know the way.

How do i get a ride in the city?

As said, cities have the disadvantage of dense traffic, multi-laned roads and being as lively as a cheese during a hot day. Difficult to find attention here. However you try to find a ride here, an active body- and sign-language i recommended. Communication between you and the car can be a bit more aggressive here, than on the abandoned country side road. Beside that i do some little tricks to find rides.

Traffic lights

Traffic lights are your best friends in cities. You can take position directly in front of the traffic light and talk to the waiting cars. It works, but you also give the impression of a window washer, which i dont like too much. I rather work purely with sign language, when i take this position. If the window goes down, the ride is almost safe.

Behind traffic lights is another good position. I like bus stops or parking areas, which begin directly behind the traffic lights. The traffic starts rollingslowly and you have a good chance that something will stop. If it is a multi lane road, focus on the lane which is near your position. Most likely nobody will pull over three lanes, to get you (except he i looking for hitchhikers and picks up everything he sees). Often the best time is, when the traffic starts from the traffic lights, because the cars far behind will be already quite fast, when they pass by and unlikely pull out of this bulk. At a certain point i even stop trying, because i don´t want to provoke an accident. Also it is important to have a good keeping area, to not provoke any traffic jams.

I repeat this: Keeping area, keeping area, keeping area! Safety first.

Asking people

Sometimes when i am walking i just ask people beside the road, which just went into their car, if they could give me a lift. Every meter counts. Thats also why i move most of the time, if i dont have a really good place to hitchhike. Maybe around the next corner your relieving ride is waiting for you, or at leats something that gets you out a little bit further. If you want to ask, you can also go to big shopping centres and check the parking lot. I personally dont like thisl because i wanna stay on the road.

Viscous traffic

Stop and go for every driver a nightmare but for me a welcoming chance to get a ride. Traffic jams, caused by roundabouts, traffic lights, left-turn vehicles, Bus-Terminals or bottleneck roads…everywhere you find those slow going car bulks you can start communication and try to get a ride. Works really well. If i see a traffic jam, my hitchhiking instinct starts to jump up and down and claps his hands.

Gateways and by-roads with standing vehicles

And here is my alltime favourite and the source of unllimited movement. Gateways and by-roads with standing vehicles are absolutely amazing. Even if you have the big city highway with hundreds of cars beside you, forget it. Don´t waste time trying to flag down a car out of this sea of cars. Focus on the gateway, where little high quality traffic comes out. Most of the time i get my lift through the gateway and rarely on the main street (except you have a really good position as mentioned above).

Behaviour is simple. The car will have to wait on the gateway. If the window is open, you can just start a conversation here (brazen version). You also can just thumb and smile friendly. Often they are suprised and ask you, where you wanna go and what the hell you are doing there. Sometimes i bend myself like and english buttler towards their windo, to get the attention of the driver. You should find relatively fast a lift like this.

Ask public transport

You can do this. Buses, Taxis and everything else, which carries people for money. Not my style, i go the long way and don´t feel well with this. But in Leipzig at night, as well as in Bolivia i hitchhike successfully with Taxis. Also our PASL friends hitchhike Taxis on Moskau and St. Petersburg city ring.

Something useful: Sign language for a short-distance-rides

Which happens very often near cities is, that you encounter people that indicate to only go a short way and won´t take you. Og course these are potential lifts, that we don´t want and shouldn´t miss. Be prepared with a bunch of signs, that try to make clear, that you just wanna go for a short distance too. However you make them understand this. Remember: Every meter counts to get out of this moloch.

In emergency case you gotta walk out of the city, or through the whole city (like i did 2,5 hours through La Paz), but at a certan point the hitchhiking spot will come for sure. To overcome the city centre has highest priority.

Of course you should always be smart and aware and make decisions about: What makes sense here? Should i walk on? Would it be worth to wait at this gateway? Should i ask at the shopping centre? You have several options to move. I need, depended on the size and extention of the city, 1-3 hours extra to cross through cties with hitchhiking. I think this is not too bad. Warm roads.

Der Beitrag A technical guide about hitchhiking through big cities erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

Introduction

The technic of night hitchhiking is strong connected with the history of competetive hitchhiking. Alexej Vorov once explained us, that competetive hitchhiking began in the moment, when they started to analyse their movement. They didn´t even know what hitchhiking is, but stopped cars. For them it was a way to get into nature for skiing and mountaneering. They discovered that at some times during the day it was easier to get a lift and that specific places where more suitable for making movement. Beginning of analysation. When they found out, that it is also possible to move during the night and not only during the day, the ground for competetive hitchhiking was created.

In Europe is night hitchhiking because of the well build highway and service station network not a problem. I would even say, that sometimes going through the night works even better, than moving during the day. The highways are empty and the chance to get a long lift is higher than during the day. Especially for distances between 1000-1500 km it is definitely worth to stay up at night and wait for the next car. Most of the time i talked to people at gas stations. But also thumbing works during the day.

Before we start some words about danger during the night. I don´t believe that in the night is a significant higher risk than during the day. Please consider, that we move along roads. Of course there are some aspects to take care of during hitchhiking in the night. For example not provoke an accident and endanger you as also the driver.

But in general discussion about danger and hitchhiking in the night i guess it is often regarded to all kind of violence and serial killers. My point here is: Streets. In general i believe, that streets are safe, much more than people say (thanks to the German TV-Show Aktenzeichen XY ungelöst, as well as to the false information spreading of several governmental and administrational departements). Different it is in cities, but they should be avoided anyway for hitchhiking (cause they can be a pain in the ass). Just to say, neither hitchhiking nor night hitchhiking are in my opinion as dangerous, as i would not recommend it to anyone.

Most important here: With night hitchhiking we access new possibilities of movement. You don´t have to get up early to start a trip. You can go WHENEVER you want. Beside that it is also a question of luggage, if i need to take a tent or sleeping stuff with me for the night, or if i use the „second half“ to get to my destination.

In our competetions we rely also on movement in the darkness, cause otherwhise we wouldn´t be able to finish our route. And i can say, it is working fucking well!

Equipment

The right equipment for night hitchhiking is most important and this is not coming out of an attitude of pseudo-padristic-careness, but because a good preparation gives self-confidence which is much needed during hitchhiking in the night. In general it is of course to reduce the risk of creating an accident. If you drove ever by yourself a car during the night and suddenly some black dressed people occur in front of you, walking along the highway, you might know, what i mean by that. Visibility!!!
For that issue we got or hitchhiking suits. They are made to be visible and fullfill their real destiny after it is getting dark. Normal bright dresses are of course working. But it is important not only wear bright trousers or only a bright jacket. The basic principle of our suits is, that we wanna create a full silhouette of a person, which is better understandable for drivers regarded to reaction time. It is much easier for your unconcious mind to classify a silhoutte, than a strange moving object without legs (even though you will be recognized also with out bright pants at some point).

Second important accessoire are lights. Here we got two different kind of lights: active and passive lights.
Active lights describe an an active source of lightning. We use headlights with remote control. It is more comftable to have a remote control for making light signs, but i will explain this further down. Beside that we have an external battery pack, which you can wear near your warm body and prevent that the batteries die out in very cold regions (from -20° down). Our headlights are strong enough, that drivers automatically turn down their lights, if i use the highest level, which i appreciate. My light is my weapon!

Passive lights are regarded to reflectors. The Russians use hand reflectors for making signs. I personal never do this, because it is extra weight for me and i am not sure if it is necessary, or working better. Or: Maybe its simply not as fun for me as without. But really important are our leg reflectors, which reflect to the front and to the back. The reflectors are at the leg, because the light of the cars often points to the ground and the reflection starts much earlier that if you would stick some reflector to your head.

In general thats it for equipment. Bright dressing, creating a silhouette, active and passive lights.

Technic

(partly taken from http://autostop.lt/old/faq/night.html, but it is general Russian teaching)

In General

As during the day the positioning shoul be ideally: slow speed of the upcoming cars, enough keeping area and good visibility. Especially early and good visibility are more important during the night. If you can´t cover this with equipment, you should look for a place which enlightens you, like a young god. Please remember when standing under street lights, to not have the light in your back, but coming from the front, because otherwhise your face will stay dark and it might look a bit unfriendly.

Another point of the positioning is to find a place, where the driver might feel safe. This is especially important if the car is stopping and you start the first conversation. In the night it often happens, that people stop, but might become scared and drive off. Not nice. Avoid crooked streets and tight places, bushy ones are also less suitable. I personally try to find places, where everything around me is good visible and where is no need for the driver to get scared of „unwanted friends“ that occur through the darkness. I like thumbing in the middle of total darkness and nature, if i have the choice. Thumbing near houses and villages is sometimes difficult.

More important than during the day is also to have enough keeping area. Also to be able to make a step beside, if you don´t get seen for whatever reason. Don´t go out without proper equipment. It is not efficient and dangerous.

Behaviour during the night

The following technic is well used and well-tried by our russian colleauges. It is all about communication and your primar communication works through the light impuls.

(1) If the car occurs at the horizon i give a short signal with my light, that the driver recognizes, there is something.

(2) This first light impuls i re-echo after 3-5 seconds if the car comes near (long straight road needed!). Normally the cars start to lower their speed from now on and switch of their high beams.

(3) If the car dazzles if give a sign back to say hello.

(4) Now is the most critical moment. If the car is near the driver might ask himself, what the *** you are doing there on the side of the road in the middle of the night. It is important to offer the car with a gentle and friendly gestic the possibility to stop. You have to be absolutely self-confident and believe in the drivers stopping. Doubts or even frustration are not very good friends during hitchhiking in the night and transport a negative attitude, which shines even more through, than during the day.

(5) If the car stops you should better turn off your flashlight to not dazzle the people in the car. Alternativly you can also point the flashlight on yourself. Especially when moving towards the car i keep my lights on, to make my moving visible. Move slow and relaxed to not scare anyone.

(6) Afterwards having a friendly conversation and move into the car.

People

There is one special thing while hitchhiking in the night. The percentage of freaks is much higher than during the day. During my night hitchhiking i met regularly absolutely interesting and crazy people who picked me up. Kalle, the former Deutsche Bahn employe, who told me about the “Gulasch-Collection”, when they scratched a dead suicider from a train. Andreas who came from Ukraine and was already 60 hours on the road without sleeping, coming directly from the Krim. Sallah from Marokko, Döner-Snack-Bar holder, who had a endless number of funny stories to tell. And Vitali from Romania, who did some suspicious business, only had a 500€ bill with him and couldn´t pay with it at the gas stations. Several times we almost died out of gasoil on the highway. There are much more crazy people in my head and all gave me a long-distance-lift in the night. It just rockz during the night!

Being sleepy

Other tips for not being sleepy in cars: Cool temperatures. Chewing chewing-gum. Listening to music. Drinking alot of water. Avoid drinks with coffein, they will push you in first instance, but make you more sleepy later. But in the end there is only one thing that helps against being sleepy: Sleeping.

Der Beitrag The Technique of Hitchhiking at Night erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

General

Since 20th October 2014 i hitchhiked more than 36968,2 km. I had more than 405 Lifts, had to wait in average 23 minutes and 34 seconds and waited in total 182 hours and 39 minutes (which is about 7,5 days). I don´t wanna miss any of those minutes.

The Best

Is…Tenerife. 21 lifts i catched together with Hanna on this beautiful island. 8 minutes and 12 seconds we had to wait in average. I think Lanzarote was even better, but it was before i started with my documentation.
For South America the country with the best statistics is Ecudaor. 14 minutes and 30 seconds in average, till a car stopped and picked me up. 21 lifts in total and nearly 1000 km might not be that representative. But anyway.

The Positive Suprise

Brazil felt like Spain and Italy together. Totally shit. But the numbers speak another message. 15 minutes and 15 seconds average waiting time are close to the values of Ecuador. I catched 44 Lifts and did 6550 km through Brazil, which has definitely a higher represantation than Ecuador. Feelings might be wrong, numbers aren´t in this case. I don´t know how this can be so good, but during my Brazil crossing i felt like i had to walk at least one hour for every lift. Seems like i didn´t.

Mistaken

Totally overrated was Argentina on the other hand. For me one of the best country for hitchhiking in South America. Probably because of the Free WiFi in the gas stations and the comftable mix of warm roads, acceptable food, long ways and Internet. But the numbers are quite sobering. 34 minutes and 50 seconds average waiting time is the second worst for all my countries so far. I have to add, that i did alot of night hitchhiking in Argentina and this might have affected this value. With 8045 km it is also the country which i hitchhiked the biggest distance in. Also 84 lifts represent a big part of my catched cars so far.

The Worst

Definitely Colombia. Not even in the stats, but also how it felt. Don´t get me wrong, Colombia is a beautiful country, nice people, stunning landscape but moving here is just a pain in the ass. 48 minutes average waiting time. Can´t get worser. Allthough i had only in Venezuela less lifts than in Colombia. 943 km is the least distance i did from all countries in South America. But honestly, i doubt that this stast would get better if i make more distance here. Just a feeling. The reasons for this „hitchhiking-disaster“ im going to discuss in my „Hitchhiking in… – Colombia“ article.

My Secret Favourite…

…for hitchhiking in South America is not Chile…..but Uruguay. 88 Lifts: Its the country where i had the most cars and with 2689 km we find it in the upper midfield of the distances. The average waiting time was with 19 minutes and 42 seconds quite good. Even better if we take in account, that most of the time i was with Ralf together as a men/men team. Fucking good time, good job buddy. Also the country where i hitchhiked my first Cargo Train (hitchhiked and not hopped) and beside Syria the place where i got the most of my lovely Pick-Up rides. Unfortunately riding with Pick-Ups is freshly banned by the government, but let´s hope, that the Uruguayans take this law with the same „We don´t give a shit“-attitude as they take the rest of their lifes and still stop to pick up hitchhikers. Just so much fun there.

This table is fucking nice, isnt it?

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Der Beitrag Hitchhiking in South America – Statistically conclusions of my South America crossing erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

I write this article, cause i did alot of research in the internet before starting this trip. In my opinion, there are not too many sources for information. Well there are, but most of them contain the same stuff. After all i have to say, that hitchhiking boats is not what i expected, after all my research. I would like to take another position in this post. The truth might be in the middle for sure, but i would like to share this. The truth is, as always, somewhere in the middle.

I won´t provide any guide about how to hitchhike on boats, cause there are already too many hitchers in the harbours and you can find the informations somewhere else.

My Route and my boats

I started in Gibraltar and had a first lift to Teneriffa, where i found a boat for the transatlantic. Classic. I came out in the northern Caribbean. It took me three weeks during christmas 2014 to find my next boat to St. Vincent, from where i took my last passage to Trinitad. All in all 4 boats took me. Two times i was crew for a boat transfer. Once i was with a very young crew in my age and once with an old captain. In total i did 4000 nautic miles (appr. 7000km) on sea. Travel time 2,5 months.

Hitchhiking boats seems to be very popular. During my time in Spain i saw around 10 other hitchhikers and i heard that in Las Palmas 25+ where looking for boats. For sure it was high season and everyone wanted to go with the ARC. Las Palmas was very crowded, which made it difficult to find boats. I heard from alot of people that gave up and i even met one french hitchhiker, that took a plane from Tenerife back to France, cause i found a boat there. Which means that he is flying to France, doing a 8-12 days sailing turn back to Canaries to do the transatlantic in the end. I think this speaks for itself to describe the overall situation.

My observation about hitchhiking boats:

The sailor itself…

is in majority white, priviliged, male and a bit older. Beside that imagine the occean like a crowded city which is populated with all kind of different people. Freaks, some families, really less female captains, couples, young communities, single-hand sailor and of course alot of priviliged, old, white men.

The POWM – Problem

In my research i found one very special article in Google, which is pretty far up, when you look for „hitchhiking boats“. Its written by a woman, which is going with her family crew over the occean and describes how to gt a lift with her. I was a bit upset by the arrogant and snobbish writing style. – And Jill, if you read this, i would never take a lift with you, cause u obviously expect advanced brown-nosing and this seems not very sympathic to me. – But beside the fact that the author is a woman, the article represents a general problem within the sailing community. There is a certain culture in our little occean village, which i link to the POWM – Majority. On the on side arrogance and snobbish people but also, lets be fair, on the other side alot of people that are very enthusiastic in fullfilling the existing stereotypes. An interdependency that makes me sick.

In general the POWM – Culture is primarily sexistic, which means: Men on deck, you make the „hard“ work which needs some strength and women can clean, cook or provide captains life with a cup of coffee. I personally like cooking which doesn´t give me any advantages regarding to masculinity inside the POWM – Culture. I also had some female sailors with me, that became sad and upset during the trip, cause they weren´t allowed to help on deck with the sails and haven´t been taken serious by the captain at all. A general problem.

On the other side it is much more easier to find a boat as a woman. Not fair, but fact. I don´t want to talk about the reason. But (additionally) there are also lonesome sailors outside, which are looking for a partner.

Also be aware, that there is a strong hierachie on board. It´s totally clear, that this has to be like it is, cause the captain has all the responsibility for the decisions and on the occean is often no time to discuss certain moves. If you don´t react fast enough it can have a very bad ending. But this hierarchie gets also utilized from time to time, especially if your captain is a douchebag. The problem on a boat, compared to a car, is, that you cannot get out. In general the crew is expected to follow, maybe also to lick arses and act like POWM think is right. I for myself got really pissed by that and i am sick of all this habitus (and i wasn´t alone with that).

It should be said, that definitely not all sailors are like that. I just try to describe the big majority in our occean village. But lets also talk about the other side, the hitchhikers.

Sailing with boats is not really hitchhiking

To find a boat and hire as a crew is not comparable with hitchhiking for me. It is not ike you stop a vehicle, jump on it and it takes you a part on their way. You cannot take your seat on a boat and have a lift. Youre not a hitchhiker in this moment. You are a crew.

Crew means work and especially on a big turn like the transatlantic is the general boat hitchhiking guidance between naiv and overbearing in my eyes. Most of us have the attitude: I don´t have any experience, but i can cook or clean, help with the nightwatches, am eager to learn (classic) and can play guitar. But honestly: Nobody cares if you can play guitar, are a good companion or if you can clean the boat during sailing, when you have no experience at all. If you get seasick, you won´t be able to cook, your eagerness to learn won´t help you at all cause you won´t be any help and you won´t be able to get under deck during this time. Therefor, i have to admit, that the article above is somehow right in his message.

Of course, most of the boats are fully automatized. Autopilot, AIS, wind vane and other technical gimmiks. But (also my opinion) this has no bearing with sailing if you let yourself get shipped overseas by those technical monsters. Anyways it shouldn´t be so bad under this circumstances to hitchhike boats, even if you have no clue about sailing. Of course. But how does reality in the marinas look too often?

I saw people flying to the canaries to do directly the transatlantic without ANY sailing experience. I mean, somehow i can understand if half of the marina is sick of us, if everyday people with this attitude appear on their boat and expect a lift on a 3500-4000km passage. And for free, of course. Cause you have no money. To be honest, i am opportunist and this is pissing me of, because of this it is getting more complicated for me, to find boats. Cause the atmosphere gets somehow dirty. Of course this is working for some people. But the whole hitchhiking boats thing seems to me meanwhile like the little beautiful village that occured in the Lonely Planet as insider and since then it is flooded by naiv and stupid touristsmasses, which destroy everything and leave their trash behind.

And for what?

To go +-20 days on a boring atlantic crossing. Beside water and crew there is nothing of interest on board. If the atmosphere on the boat changes for bad, its not fun at all. I had fun boats and not fun boats. Of course it can also be a big party, but if it goes bad it is like i said: No deboarding possible. You have to deal with it. Hierarchie will lead the action and the POWM will show its obsessions at one time. There are definitely much more exciting passages, than this stupid transatlantic. Don´t know why all hitchhikers wanna do that, but Lonely Planet….

Der Beitrag Hitchhiking sailing boats erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.

1. Geeks gonna geek

For all statistic nerds it is possible to analyze the data and make some nice calculation like averagre waiting times or count my kilometers or whatever. Also the way is relatively precise logged and i could, if i want, make a very specific analyses of my hicthhiking, find out where my mistakes have been and which ways could have been a better alternative, then the ones i took.

2. Reminder

Compared to our competetions i also use the log to note down specific happenings. That are sometimes little notes or words that remind me in the end of what happened. When i open my book and read the log, my whole trip is playing in my head; when have i been there, what happenede, what did i eat there, how was the street looking, where did i shit, what weird thing happened there? It is good knowledge to write blogarticles afterwards.

3. Backup

One day my notebook will be full. Then i will start a new one for sure. But those notebooks become little treasures. I already really stick to my actual notebook and the logs are the main part of my notebook usage.

What do we log?

Basically i log everything. Where am i and when? What time i get picked up, which car picks me up? A log would look like this:

10:00 Frankfurt City Limit (Where am i and when?)

10:30 BMW (What time i get picked up and which car picks me up?)

15:00 Heidelberg Gas station

15:30 Mercedes

The time of my positioning is logged and the time when i get my lift, including the car brand (teh russians even log the car type with it). We can see in the log above, that iw as waiting two times for 30 Minutes and also, when i arrived somewhere.

This is completed by entries about pauses and walking-notations. The log could go on like this:

18:00 Stuttgart Break (Eating, smoking)

18:30 Continue

19:00 VW

20:00 Basel (Walking)

21:00 Basel City Limit

21:30 BMW

I took a break of 30 minutes in Stuttgart and in Basel i had to walk for one hour, to get to the city limit. Thats it. The principle is pretty simple and easy.

Afterwards you got the exakt position, waiting times and also driving times, if you want. I am satisfied to calculate my average waiting time on my tours, to make the different countries comparable to each other. I usually put my complete log in the „Hitchhiking in…“-articles (but in german, sorry i don´t wanna translat this also), you can download it and play with it, if you want.

Any questions? Let me know.

At the end a valuation of my beloved notebook

Beside my passport, my notebook became one of my most important travel items. It was fighting hard to get there. Because of this now its the time for some product placement. But its heartfelt.

We use in our competitions the All-Weather-Memo-Book and i really can recommend this without any doubts. Use the side spiral, it is better to write on the whole page with this kind of notebook. But anyways, the best thing with it is, that it is waterproof. If you get totally soacked up in a heavy rain, at least you dont have to worry about your notes. I love it!

Der Beitrag Logging and documentation of my hichthiking erschien zuerst auf Warm Roads.