A hike is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.[1] Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer time. "Hiking" is the preferred term in Canada and the United States; the term "walking" is used in these regions for shorter, particularly urban walks. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, the word "walking" describes all forms of walking, whether it is a walk in the park or backpacking in the Alps. The word hiking is also often used in the UK, along with rambling, hillwalking, and fell walking (a term mostly used for hillwalking in northern England). The term bushwalking is endemic to Australia, having been adopted by the Sydney Bush Walkers Club in 1927.[2] In New Zealand a long, vigorous walk or hike is called tramping.[3] It is a popular activity with numerous hiking organizations worldwide, and studies suggest that all forms of walking have health benefits.[4][5]
- ^ Amato, Joseph A. (2004). On Foot: A History of Walking. NYU Press. pp. 101–24. ISBN 978-0-8147-0502-5. JSTOR j.ctt9qg056. Archived from the original on 2019-05-18. Retrieved 2020-11-25.
- ^ "Sydney Bush Walkers Club's history". Archived from the original on 2017-02-22. Retrieved 2017-02-21.
- ^ Orsman, HW (1999). The Dictionary of New Zealand English. Auckland: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-558347-7.
- ^ McKinney, John (2009-03-22). "For Good Health: Take a Hike!". Miller-McCune. Archived from the original on 2011-04-29.
- ^ "A Step in the Right Direction: The health benefits of hiking and trails" (PDF). American Hiking Society. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2012.