Is Hiking Only On Mountains?

To some, hiking may seem like an unattainable activity unless you live in an area surrounded by mountains. Sure, most of the time hiking is done on steep slopes and rocky terrain, but not everyone has the luxury of living by the mountains. So, this prompts the question, is hiking only on mountains?

Hiking doesn’t always have to be in the mountains. It can also be in an open space, park, or in the woods.

This activity that lets you explore nature is described as being a long walk in outdoor areas like hills, mountains, and open parks. So, if you are going for a hike in a countryside or woods, although you aren’t scaling any boulders or trudging up steep rugged ground, you are still going hiking.

Getting outside and breathing the fresh air is good for you. It can help your mindset, be a simple refresh and also give you plenty of exercise. A common activity done outdoors is walking. The act of just walking up and down a sidewalk or around a park is a necessary part of most people’s day. Now, take walking up a notch and you have hiking. A little more intense, hiking involves a long walk into nature. When you hike, you will be walking uphill and downhill often. Usually, hikes start out flat and increase in elevation which is why is is mostly down in mountainous areas. However, you can still do some hiking even if you aren’t in the mountains. Choose a park or trail in the woods and enjoy a few hours of the serene outdoors.

 

What is considered hiking?

For centuries, people have enjoyed hiking areas of the world. If you have ever experienced hiking, then you can understand the sense of accomplishment you feel as you summit that peak, or discover that hidden lake at the end of the trail. So, what exactly is hiking?

Hiking is a lengthy walk up hills and rough terrain.

This activity is vigorous and involves more exercise and walking. Most often, hikes end in a beautiful view making the trek to the destination worth all the miles traveled.

Traveling by foot has been a way of transportation since ancient times. Food and water would be gathered together and people would set out on long journeys to inaccessible places. When settling areas of the U.S. many made long treks in order to find the place they would call their new home. Over time, the exploring of new areas became a popular physical activity and many would do it just for fun. It is an excellent way to spend more time outdoors and is good for you mentally as well as physically.

Hiking allows people to connect with nature and improve their mood, mind, and body. There is a sense of freedom as you head off down a rocky dirt trail to see the unknown. Today, hiking is somewhat different than what was done long ago. With all the technology available to us, we can plan, track and research hikes before we set out on a trail. But, that the beauty of the hobby. Since it can be done by almost anyone and because it provides experiences only found in the wilderness, hiking is enjoyed by many all over the world. Sure, the road may be steep and at times treacherous, but the view is worth the climb.

 

Where does hiking usually take place?

Hiking is a fun and healthy activity. It is peaceful to walk on trails enjoying all the sights and sounds around you. Not to mention that sense of accomplishment you get at the end of your journey. If you are interested in starting to hike, you will need to make sure you are doing so in the right areas. So, where does hiking usually take place?

Hiking usually takes place in the mountains or in wooded areas out in the country.

National Parks and other preserved regions are usually preserved for hikers and wildlife. They feature trails made specifically for you to hike up.

If you don’t live close to Yellowstone or the Rockies, don’t worry. Even if you aren’t in an area close to the mountains, you can still enjoy hiking by taking a long walk in the woods or in an open space. Keep in mind that hiking is more than just a walk around your neighborhood. When hiking, you can expect to pack up some food and plenty of water for the day and trudge along rough ground. Because hiking has an ascent and descent, it is usually done in the mountains. Plus, the allure of hiking is to view gorgeous landscapes that you don’t see everyday in the city. Because of this, hiking is usually done in the mountains, but you can still hike anywhere.

 

What are the different types of hiking?

Depending on what type of hike you are doing, the level of difficulty can differ. For example, there are easy, moderate, and hard hikes. If you have never been hiking and are wondering if it is easy enough for you to try, check out this article – Is Hiking Easy?. Along with this, there are different types of hiking. but, what are they?

Basically, hiking can be broken up into 3 categories – Day hiking, summit hiking, and long distance hiking.

These vary by length of time it takes to do them and the terrain that must be crossed along the way. Types of hikes can also be divided up into out and back hiking, section hiking, and thru-hiking.

First of all, day hiking is what it sounds like. A hike that is done during the day. For this, you simply drive or take a train or bus to a trail and hike for a few to several hours and then return to head back home in the evening. Then you have summit hiking where a person hikes up to the summit of a mountain. This is more challenging than day-hiking but the view from the peak is amazing. Lastly, long distance hiking can take weeks or even months to accomplish. This involves hiking miles and miles and overnight camping.

It’s important to note that the broad term of hiking also features types of hiking. They are:

1. Out and back hiking – where the hiker follows the trail to a certain point and then returns back to where they started.
2. Section hiking – where a trail is divided into sections and the hiker only travels the parts they choose to.
3. Thru-hiking – where a hiker commits to being on a long-distance the trail for an extended period of time.

 

Conclusion

Although, hiking is usually done in the mountains, it can also be done in other areas as well. Places like open spaces, hilly regions, or the woods of a country can be great places to hike through. Hiking is a long walk uphill and downhill over rugged terrain. If you have not yet been on a hike into the mountains, then this is something you will want to experience. The scenery is breathtaking. But, even if you aren’t near any peaks, exploring other places like a trail through the woods can also be exciting!

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