Hiking: Difference between revisions

Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking have been confirmed in studies.^[1] The word hiking is understood in all English-speaking countries, but there are differences in usage.

In the United States and United Kingdom, hiking refers to walking outdoors on a trail for recreational purposes.^[3] A day hike refers to a hike that can be completed in a single day, but not requiring an overnight camp. Multi-day hikes with camping is refered to as backpacking.^[3] In the United Kingdom hiking is usually called rambling, as represented by the Ramblers. Bushwhacking specifically refers to difficult walking through dense forest, undergrowth, or bushes, where forward progress requires pushing vegetation aside. In extreme cases of bushwhacking where the vegetation is so dense that human passage is impeded, a machete is used to clear a pathway. Australians use the term bushwalking for both on- and off-trail hiking. New Zealanders use tramping (particularly for overnight and longer trips), walking or bushwalking. Multi-day hiking in the mountainous regions of India, Nepal, North America, South America, and in the highlands of East Africa is also called trekking; the Dutch refer to trekking also. Hiking a long-distance trail from end-to-end is also referred to as trekking and as thru-hiking in some places.^[4] Examples of long-distance trails include the Appalachian Trail (AT) and Long Trail (LT).

The equipment required for hiking depends on the length of the hike, and according to the source. Hikers generally carry water, food, and a map in a backpack.^[3] Hikers often wear hiking boots to protect their feet from rough terrain.^[3] The use of hiking boots on long-distances hikes is controversial, however, due to their weight.^[5]

Some outdoor organizations, such as The Mountaineers strongly advocate a list of equipment for hiking, such as the Ten Essentials. This list includes items such as a compass, sunglasses, sunscreen, clothes, flashlight, first aid kit, fire starter, and knife.^[6] Other sources suggest additional items such as insect repellent and an emergency blanket.^[7]

Proponents of ultralight backpacking claim that long lists of required items for multi-day hikes increases pack weight, and hence fatigue and chance of injury.^[5] Instead, they recommend a goal of reducing pack weight in order to hike long distances more easily.

Hikers often seek beautiful natural environments in which to hike.^[3] These environments are often fragile: hikers may accidentally destroy the environment that they enjoy. While the action of an individual may not strongly affect the environment, the mass effect of a large number of hikers can degrade the environment. For example, gathering wood in an alpine area to start a fire may be harmless if done once (except for wildfire risk). Years of gathering wood, however, can strip an alpine area of valuable nutrients.^[8] Generally, protected areas such as parks have regulations in place to protect the environment. If hikers follow such regulations, their impact can be minimized.^[8] Such regulations include forbidding wood fires, restricting camping to established camp sites, disposing or packing out faecal matter, imposing a quota on the number of hikers per mile.

Many hikers espouse the philosophy of Leave No Trace: hiking'Bold text' in a way such that future hikers cannot detect the presence of previous hikers. Practitioners of this philosophy obey its strictures, even in the absence of area regulations. Followers of this practice follow strict practices on dealing with food waste, food packaging, and alterations to the surrounding environment.^[9]

Human waste is often a major source of environmental impact from hiking.^[8] These wastes can contaminate the watershed and make other hikers ill. Bacterial contamination can be avoided by digging 'catholes' 10 to 25 cm (4 to 10 inches) deep, depending on local soil composition and covering after use. If these catholes are dug at least 60 m (200 feet) away from water sources and trails, the risk of contamination is minimized.

Sometimes hikers enjoy viewing rare or endangered species. However, some species (such as martens or bighorn sheep) are very sensitive to the presence of humans, especially around mating season. To prevent adverse impact, hikers should learn the habits and habitats of endangered species.

There is one situation where an individual hiker can make a large impact on an ecosystem: inadvertently starting a wildfire. For example, in 2005, a Czech backpacker burned 7% of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile by knocking over an illegal gas portable stove.^[10] Obeying area regulations and setting up cooking devices on designated areas (or if necessary on bare ground) will reduce the risk of wildfire.

Because hiking is a recreational experience, hikers expect it to be pleasant. Sometimes hikers can interfere with each others' enjoyment, or that of other users of the land. Hiking etiquette has developed to minimize such inteference. For example:

• When two groups of hikers meet on a steep trail, there may be contention for use of the trail. To avoid conflict, a custom has developed in some areas whereby the group moving uphill has the right-of-way.^[11]
• Being forced to hike much faster or slower than one's natural pace can be annoying, and difficult to maintain consistently. More seriously, walking unnaturally fast dramatically increases fatigue and exhaustion, and may cause injury. If a group splits between fast and slow hikers, the slow hikers may be left behind or become lost. A common custom is to encourage the slowest hiker to hike in the lead and have everyone match that speed. Another custom is to have experienced hiker(s) sweep up the rear on a rota, to ensure that everyone in the group is safe and nobody straggles.
• Hikers generally enjoy the peace of their natural surroundings. Loud sounds such as shouting or loud conversation, or the use of mobile phones, disrupt this enjoyment.^[11]

Hiking may produce threats to personal safety. These threats can be dangerous circumstances while hiking and/or specific accidents or ailments. Diarrhea has been found to be one of the most common illness afflicting long-distance hikers in the United States.^[12] (See Wilderness acquired diarrhea.)

Dangerous hiking circumstances include losing the way, inclement weather, hazardous terrain, or exacerbation of pre-existing medical conditions. Specific accidents include metabolic imbalances (such as dehydration or hypothermia), topical injuries (such as frostbite or sunburn), attacks by animals, or internal injuries (such as ankle sprain).^[13]

Attacks by humans are also a reality. There are organizations that promote prevention, self defense and escape.^[which?] The cell phone and GPS devices are used in some organizations.

In various countries, borders may be poorly marked. It is good practice to know where international borders are. For example, in 2009, Iran seized three American hikers for crossing over the Iran-Iraq border while hiking.^[14] Many nations, such as Finland, have specific rules governing hiking across borders.^[15]

• Hiking equipment
• List of long-distance footpaths
• Walking in the United Kingdom
• Nordic Walking
• Swimhiking
• Ten essential items of gear
• Trek
• Ramblers

• Backpacking – also known as trekking, a multi-day, often arduous hike especially in mountainous regions
• Dog hiking – hiking with dogs
• Freehiking – hiking while unclothed, also hiking off-trail
• Hillwalking – a British term for hiking in hills or mountains
• Nordic Walking – fitness walking with poles
• Llama hiking
• Scrambling – "non-technical" rock climbing or mountaineering OR "technical" hiking
• Thru-hiking – hiking a trail from end to end in one continuous hike (people may end to end a trail, but in section hikes)
• Ultralight backpacking
• Waterfalling – aka waterfall hunting and waterfall hiking is hiking with the purpose of finding and enjoying waterfalls
• Dayhiking
• Heli Hiking – using helicopters to access remote areas otherwise inaccessible
• Bushwhacking – a North American term for hikers and cross-country skiers who make their own trails

• Appalachian Trail
• Continental Divide Trail
• Pacific Crest Trail
• North Country Trail

• Cross-country skiing – often the equivalent of hiking in snowy lands during wintertime
• Fell running – an English and Welsh sport of running over rough mountainous ground, often off-trail. Known as Hill running in Scotland and Ireland. Similarities exist with Mountain running popular overseas, but also many differences.
• Geocaching – outdoor treasure-hunting game
• Orienteering – running sport involving navigation with a map and compass
• River trekking
• Rogaining – sport of long distance cross-country navigation
• Trail blazing

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