Just a Hiker…

If hiking is your thing, (it happens to be One of mine) Are you just a Hiker?

If you aren’t a hiker, then what is the passion that drives you, are you a Rock Climber, Backpacker, or something more? What about Mountaineering and Canyoneering. One would have to argue that regardless of your outdoor passion, you would also be a Hiker.

The simple definition of Hiking is; A walk in nature, or an extended walk for pleasure, exercise and recreation in a natural setting.

‘Recreation in a natural setting’ that statement really puts things into perspective, because all of these sports take place in a natural setting. So, to pursue your passion, there is probably some hiking involved.

Backpacking is done by some, for travel and leisure, like the El Camino, for example, or to be in nature for recreation, involving overnights and thru hikes like The John Muir Trail. Backpackers carry enough personal gear to stay in remote places for days, or weeks at a time, definitely taking hiking to another level.

Mountaineering put in layman’s terms, is the sport or activity of climbing mountains. When I attended a Rock Climbing course in California, I had an Instructor who was a fierce Mountaineer. This man was absolutely intense in the mountains. But, I know without a doubt, that this Rock Climber, this Mountaineer, also considered himself a Hiker. As a recreational Climber, I have found myself in a few canyons, and on those occasions, I was definitely participating in the sport of Canyoneering. The point is, all of these totally awesome outdoor activities involve hiking to some degree. Be proud of your sport and support and respect all the others.

If you consider yourself just a hiker, I’m with you, it’s a humble statement, and I like it. We hikers have some memorable moments, reaching a particular summit with some scrambling to reach the top, or the hike, that took you in and around a particular canyon, where you had to forge across a stream or a river. What about that overnight hike to conquer a particular mountain on the ‘bucket list’. We are a humble bunch, the truth is, we are more than just Hikers, we are Adventure Enthusiasts.