Hiking

For the nautical definition, see Hiking (sailing). In Sailing, hiking is the action of moving the crew's body weight as far to windward (upwind as possible in order to decrease the extent the boat heels (leans away from

Eagle Creek, Oregon hiking

Symbols used in trail blazing

A hiking trail marker. Eagle Creek is a creek in Hood River County, Oregon, United States. Trail blazing is the practice of marking paths in outdoor Recreational areas with blazes, markings that follow each other at certain &mdash though not necessarily

Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery. Walking (also called ambulation) is the main form of Animal Locomotion on land, distinguished from Running and crawling It usually takes place on trails in rural or wilderness areas. A trail is a Path or Road used for Walking, Cycling, Cross-country skiing, or other activities Rural areas can be large and isolated (also referred to as "the country" and/or "the countryside over the course of time Wilderness is generally defined as a Natural environment on Earth that has not been significantly modified by Human activity

The word 'hiking' is understood in all English-speaking countries, but there are differences in usage. In some places, off-trail hiking is called 'cross-country hiking', 'bushwalking', or 'bushbashing'. In the United Kingdom, hiking is a slightly old-fashioned word, with a flavor more of heartiness and exercise than of enjoying the outdoors; the activity described here would be called hillwalking or simply 'walking'. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located In Britain, the term hillwalking or fellwalking is normally used to describe the recreational practice of walking in hilly or Mountainous terrain generally Australians use the term 'bushwalking' for both on- and off-trail hiking. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. New Zealanders use 'tramping' (particularly for overnight and longer trips), 'walking' or 'bushwalking'. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island Hiking in the mountainous regions of India and Nepal and in the highlands of East Africa is sometimes called 'trekking'. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Nepal (नेपाल) is a Landlocked country in South Asia. East Africa is the Easternmost Region of the African Continent. Overnight hiking is called 'backpacking' in some parts of the world. Backpacking (in US tramping, trekking, or bushwalking in other countries combines Hiking and camping in a single Hiking a long-distance trail from end to end is referred to as 'thru-hiking' in some places. Long-distance trails (or long-distance tracks paths footpaths or Greenways are the longer recreational right-of-way routes mainly through rural areas used for non-motorised Thru-hiking is the process of Hiking a Long-distance trail from end to end

1 Comparison with other forms of touring
2 Ecological impact of hiking
3 Etiquette of hiking
4 Personal safety hazards
5 See also
6 External links

Comparison with other forms of touring

Hiking is one of the fundamental outdoor activities on which many others are based. Outdoor activities usually mean activities done in nature away from civilization such as Hill walking, Trekking, Canoeing, Running Many beautiful places can only be reached overland by hiking, and enthusiasts regard hiking as the best way to see nature. It is seen as better than a tour in a vehicle of any kind (or on an animal; see horseback riding) because the hiker's senses are not intruded upon by distractions such as windows, engine noise, airborne dust and fellow passengers. Vehicles, derived from the Latin word vehiculum, are non-living Means of transport. For the Roman class see Equestrian (Roman Equestrianism refers to the skill of riding or driving Horses This broad description GlassWindowjpg|thumb|right|190px|A stained glass panel depicting Biblical scenes at a historic church in Scotland]] A window is an opening An engine is a mechanical device that produces some form of output from a given input Dust is a general name for minute Solid particles with Diameters less than 500 micrometers. Hiking over long distances or over difficult terrain does require some degree of physical ability and knowledge.

Ecological impact of hiking

Hikers often seek beautiful natural environments in which to hike. See also Nature The natural environment, commonly referred to simply as the environment, is a terminology that is comprised of all living and Ironically, these environments are often fragile: hikers may accidentally destroy the environment that they enjoy. The action of an individual may not strongly affect the environment. However, 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 once (except for wildfire risk). For the climate of the mountains named the Alps, see Climate of the Alps. A wildfire, also known as a wildland fire, forest fire, brush fire, vegetation fire, grass fire, Peat fire, Years of gathering wood, however, can strip an alpine area of valuable nutrients.

Generally, protected areas such as parks have regulations in place to protect the environment. If hikers follow such regulations, their impact can be minimized. 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 day. Definition Camping describes a range of activities Survivalist campers set off with little more than their boots whereas Recreational vehicle travelers arrive equipped Human Feces (also faeces &mdash see spelling differences) also known as stools, is the waste product of the human digestive system and varies significantly

Many hikers espouse the philosophy of Leave No Trace: hiking in a way such that future hikers cannot detect the presence of previous hikers. Leave No Trace is a set of principles for participation in outdoor Recreation that seeks to minimize the impact on the Natural environment. 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.

Human waste is often a major source of environmental impact from hiking. 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. The Bacteria ( singular: bacterium) are a large group of unicellular Microorganisms Typically a few Micrometres in length bacteria have A cathole is a pit for Human feces. Catholes are frequently used for the purpose of disposing of Bowel movements by Hikers and others engaging in outdoor If these catholes are dug at least 60 m (200 feet) away from water sources and trails, the risk of contamination is minimized. Many hikers warn other hikers about the location of their catholes by marking them with sticks stuck into the ground.

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. For the Wiltshire village see Marten Wiltshire. For the town in Bulgaria see Marten Bulgaria. Bighorn Sheep ( Ovis canadensis) is a species of sheep in North America and Siberia with large horns which can weigh up to. Hikers should learn the habits and habitats of the endangered species, in order to avoid adverse impact.

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. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Czechs (Češi ˈt͡ʃɛʃɪ archaic Čechové) are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic A national park is a reserve of land usually declared and owned by a national Government, protected from most Human development and pollution Chile, officially the Republic of Chile ( Spanish:) is a country in South America occupying a long and narrow Coastal strip wedged between the A Portable stove is a stove specially designed to be portable and lightweight as for camping. Obeying area regulations and setting up cooking devices on bare ground will reduce the risk of wildfire.

Etiquette of hiking

Hiking in a group increases safety, but hikers may wish to hike at different rates.

Crossing a swing bridge on the Huxley River in the South Island of New Zealand. The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. New Zealand is an Island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses (the North Island and the South Island

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, but they can minimize this interference by following good etiquette. Etiquette is a code that governs the expectations of Social behavior, according to the contemporary conventional norm within a Society, 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. Traffic on Roads may consist of Pedestrians ridden or herded Animals Vehicles Streetcars and other Conveyances either singly In other situations, the larger of the two groups will usually yield to the smaller.
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 often enjoy the silence and solitude of their surroundings. Loud sounds, such as shouting or loud conversation, disrupt this enjoyment. Some hikers purposely avoid loud sounds, out of deference to other hikers. Staying quiet will also increase the likelihood of encountering wildlife. (This is a hazard if dangerous animals are present; see Personal safety hazards. The word 'hiking' is understood in all English-speaking countries but there are differences in usage )
Hikers sometimes trespass onto private property from public land or rights of way (easements). Trespass (Fr trespas a crime properly a stepping across from Lat For railroad track easement see Track transition curve. An easement is the right or freedom to do something or the right to prevent Such trespass can alienate the property owners and (in countries where rights of way are not protected by law) close down hiking rights-of-way. To maximize hiking opportunities for everyone, most hikers will either stay on public land and easements, or solicit permission from property owners. Staying on well-marked trails avoids the possibility of trespass.
Tree branches or other vegetation often hang low across trails. A passing hiker may cause a tree branch to snap back in the face of a hiker behind. While it is courteous to warn following hikers if a branch is likely to snap back, it is every hiker's responsibility to allow enough space between himself and the hiker ahead to avoid the hazard.
When two groups of hikers meet, it is considered a common courtesy to exchange greetings (either verbal or physical, e. g. smiles and friendly nods). To pass another group without such acknowledgement is seen as rude.

Two hikers in the Mount Hood National Forest

Personal safety hazards

Main article: Hazards of outdoor activities

Hiking may produce threats to personal safety. The Mount Hood National Forest is located 20 miles (32 km east of the city of Portland Oregon, and the northern Willamette River valley Any Outdoor activity entails many Risks even if participants do not recklessly place themselves in harm's way These threats can be dangerous circumstances while hiking and/or specific accidents or ailments. 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). Dehydration ( hypohydration) is the removal of Water ( hydro in ancient Greek) from an object Hypothermia is a condition in which an organism's temperature drops below that required for normal Metabolism and bodily functions Frostbite ( congelatio in Medical terminology) is the Medical condition whereby damage is caused to Skin and other tissues A sunburn is a burn to living tissue such as Skin produced by overexposure to Ultraviolet (UV radiation commonly from the Sun 's rays In Human anatomy, the ankle Joint is formed where the Foot and the leg meet A sprain (from the French espraindre - to wring is an Injury which occurs to Ligaments caused by a sudden overtearing (for the Muscle

Hikers often propose a set of behavioral prescriptions to minimize these threats. A well-known example of such a set of prescription is the Ten Essentials. The Ten Essentials is a list of essential items hiking authorities promote as recommended for safe travel in the backcountry

External links

Recreation: Outdoors: Hiking - category on hiking sites, from the Open Directory

Cross-country skiing (also known as XC skiing) is a Winter sport popular in many countries with large snowfields primarily Northern Europe, River trekking or river tracing is a form of Hiking or Outdoor Adventure activity particularly popular in Hong Kong and Taiwan Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS receiver or other navigational techniques Orienteering is a family of Sports that require Navigational skills using a Map and Compass, usually in combination with Point to point racing Rogaining is the sport of long distance cross-country navigation.

Dictionary

-verb

Present participle of hike.

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