Hiking is a form
of walking undertaken to enjoy and explore the scenery. It
usually takes place on trails in national parks, forests,
wilderness areas and other rural areas. Trails are
referred to as tracks
in some areas of the world. Day hikes are
popular where a person only hikes for a few hours, or even
all day, but does not camp overnight on the trail. A day hiker usually has just a
day pack with water, a map, compass, some food, and
emergency equipment including raingear and a first aid kit.
Bushwalking
(Australia), tramping (New Zealand)
and
trekking
are other terms used for
hiking. Some areas of the world have huts that hikers can stay in
overnight. Wikipedia has a good
article on hiking.
Backpacking
combines hiking and camping in a single
trip. A backpacker chooses a trail
that will take days to hike or just hikes
into the backcountry to spend one or more
nights there exploring and enjoying the
scenery. He or she carries a backpack that
contains supplies and equipment to be self
sufficient. It will have the same things as
a day pack plus additional food, a sleeping
bag, and sometimes a tent. Backpacking
is also referred to as trekking, tramping or
bushwalking depending on where you are in
the world and the extent of the hike.
Wikipedia has a good
article
on backpacking.
Many young people travel to other countries to go hiking or backpacking. They usually stay at youth hostels and Backpacker hotels because it is cheaper and also for the comradeship. It is not uncommon for hikers and backpackers to carry a cell phone or GPS device to know where they are at or to be able to call or signal for help in case of an emergency.
Many companies and organizations offer hiking and backpacking experiences. See our Adventure Travel section of our site for companies that offer hiking and backpacking experiences. Some of the travel agency and travel guide websites have sections on hiking or adventure travel.
Trail Maintenance. There are also trail maintenance projects that you can join. Some of them involve a day and some are overnight, such as on a weekend, or require a longer stay.
Travel Insurance. Don't forget to get travel insurance in case you are injured and need medical attention or your trip is interrupted, delayed or cancelled.
Many young people travel to other countries to go hiking or backpacking. They usually stay at youth hostels and Backpacker hotels because it is cheaper and also for the comradeship. It is not uncommon for hikers and backpackers to carry a cell phone or GPS device to know where they are at or to be able to call or signal for help in case of an emergency.
Many companies and organizations offer hiking and backpacking experiences. See our Adventure Travel section of our site for companies that offer hiking and backpacking experiences. Some of the travel agency and travel guide websites have sections on hiking or adventure travel.
Trail Maintenance. There are also trail maintenance projects that you can join. Some of them involve a day and some are overnight, such as on a weekend, or require a longer stay.
Travel Insurance. Don't forget to get travel insurance in case you are injured and need medical attention or your trip is interrupted, delayed or cancelled.
| Search the Web | |
| If you are looking for information on hiking or backpacking in a specific place (e.g., mountain range, park, or country) and want to search the web, here are some suggested query formats: | |
| Use this format | Example |
| Hiking in <place> | Hiking in Ecuador |
| Hiking + <place> | Hiking Canary Islands |
| Hiking in the <mountain range> | Hiking in the Andes |
| Hiking + <trail name> | Hiking the Appalachian trail |
| Trekking in + <place or mountain range> | Trekking in Nepal |
| Backpacking in <country or park name> | Backpacking in New Zealand |
