Long-distance trails and mountain huts

Five waymarked trails that you walk on foot across several maps, from a trailhead to an end point, with huts on the way.

The trails

The Sunflower Lane: 13 waymarks, 9 trail miles, across the village and Sunflower Valley.

The Middle Valley Riverway: 20 waymarks, 15 trail miles, across Middle Valley, the Green Divide and the rain forest.

The Heron Marsh Way: 20 waymarks, 13 trail miles, across the rain forest, Beautiful Forest and Whispering Marsh.

The Southern Hills Trail: 20 waymarks, 14 trail miles, across Middle Valley, South Hill, Bear Forest and Boar Forest.

The Juniper Brook Trail: 11 waymarks, 7 trail miles, across the orchard, Juniper Forest and the arid grassland.

The Sunflower Lane starts on the village green. The Middle Valley Riverway and the Southern Hills Trail start in Middle Valley. The Heron Marsh Way starts next to the old hunter's house in the rain forest, right where the Riverway ends. The Juniper Brook Trail starts at the orchard, reached from the hot desert. Use Find the nearest trailhead or hut in the trails menu for directions.

Walking a trail

At the trailhead press shift and enter. Buy a trail passport for 50 points (up to five a day) and start the hike; starting uses the passport up. Every few seconds you hear a soft chime from the next waymark, placed right where it stands: walk towards it. When you reach it, your passport is stamped and you hear where the next one is. The waymarks count only in order, only on foot (not in a car or on a bike), and only if you walked: if you are carried or moved, walk back to your last waymark first. When the next waymark is on another map, you are told; cross to that map the usual way. After the last waymark, walk to the end of the trail. Type slash hike at any time to hear your stamps and the way on. Logging out keeps your stamps and the clock keeps running.

Huts

Each trail has one or two huts. Press shift and enter at a hut to sign the hut book (once a day per hut, 5 points), read who passed through today, buy a hot meal for 30 points (up to four a day), rest on the bunk to get your energy back (every 20 minutes), ask the hut keeper about the trail, and stamp your passport with the hut stamp. Stamp every hut on one hike for the hut to hut trophy.

Trail conditions

Every day each trail has its own conditions: clear, fallen trees, fog, mud, strong wind, birdsong or washed-out blazes. In fog the chimes come less often and only when you are within about 45 steps. In strong wind they come a little less often.

Trail work

Once a day you can offer to help the trail crew at any trailhead or hut. You are given one waymark of that trail: repaint a faded blaze (paint and brush provided) or clear a fallen branch (bring any axe). Go there, stand at the waymark and press shift and enter. It pays 40 points and a trail mile on the weekly board. Ten days of work make you a Trail Keeper.

Hiking with friends

Start your hike, then before your first waymark choose Invite a friend at the trailhead. Friends join at the same trailhead with their own passport. Everyone walks and gets stamps on their own. If the whole group reaches the end within five minutes of each other, everyone gets 30 points and a trophy.

Rewards

Each waymark pays 3 points; finishing pays 20 points plus two per trail mile, and the first finish of each trail a one-time bonus. Finishing a trail gives you the title Thru-hiker of that trail and its finisher's badge for your trail badge collection. Trophies for the fastest time on each trail, for 10 and 25 trails finished, for hut to hut, and for group hikes. Walk all five for the title Long-Distance Walker. Trail miles count on the weekly board; the top three each Monday get a cup.

Danger

The Heron Marsh Way and the Southern Hills Trail go through the country of lions, bears and boars. Carry a weapon and some food.

Commands

slash trails: the trails menu. slash hike or slash trailpassport: your stamps and the way on. Both are also in the living world menu, slash world.