Hiking Vs. Walking: Which is it?

There’s a scene in the television show, Sex and the City where Carrie Bradshaw, the Sarah Jessica Parker character, visits her boyfriend, played by David Duchovny, in a mental institution. It’s a lovely mental institution – practically resort-like.

While the pair chats on an emerald-colored, neatly manicured lawn, the Duchovny character lists some of the facility’s amenities. He points out that there are hiking trails all over the property and suggests hiking later in the afternoon. Appalled, SJP shakes her head slightly, stammering, “Oh, I don’t really hike.”

“Neither do I,” he replies, lying on the grass, adding, “I’ll fill you in on something I’ve discovered. Hiking is walking.”

“Really…” SJP mutters breathlessly, looking around with a skeptical grin.

“Yes. It’s just walking…” he confirms, drifting off as they’re interrupted by another patient screaming about feces. Things take a turn, and I don’t think the two ever make it onto the trail. But…

He makes a point.

Hiking is walking.

At least at its core. And walking is something most of us have been doing since we were around one year old. Easy. One foot in front of the other. Over and over. But if that were it, we would be done here.

There’s a lot of debate between what constitutes a walk and a hike.

If I were pressed to define the two, I would say that a hike differs from walking because it usually involves talking to the trails and immersing yourself in nature. It can or can not involve some elevation change but is typically performed on more natural terrain than a paved road, sidewalk, or track.

This is only my definition. There is often heated discussion as to what constitutes a hike. Some people think it’s not a hike if it’s under a specific mileage or if you don’t climb up something. Others will argue that a city park does not constitute a hike. I call bullshit on all of that. I think a hike is whatever you think it is.

For some, completing a three-mile loop at their local park is the equivalent of a more seasoned hiker summiting a 14er – for the uninitiated, that’s a mountain peak over 14,000 feet. Both are great. What’s important is that you’re outdoors, putting one foot in front of the other. That’s it. That’s the magic.

I guess I’m saying don’t overthink it, especially at first. Find a trail close to home. Look at your city’s website. Lots of times, they’ll have listings of parks and walking trails in your town. Tourism boards are also excellent sources for local intel. There’s always the internet. Just be aware that a great deal of information posted is user-generated, therefore subject to bias and not entirely reliable.

When picking your trail, start small.

The most significant mistake people make is choosing a trek that’s too long or has a lot of climbing. Don’t do this to yourself, especially if you’re starting. I suggest picking a mileage that’s a little less than what you feel comfortable with. Trail miles are a lot different than road miles.

Uneven terrain requires a lot more effort. You’ll use a different set of muscles as you go up, down, and sideways requiring subtle shifts in the way your leg muscles lengthen or shorten while performing work, and those shifts increase the amount of energy expended during your trek. According to a study conducted at the University of Michigan, hiking on uneven terrain increases the amount of energy your body uses by 28% compared to walking on flat ground.

So start small, do less than you think you can, and have fun. If you overdo it your first time out, you’ll be miserable, and your hiking career may be over before it even begins.

Okay, you’ve picked the trail, and you’ve selected a day.

It just got real.

Excerpted from Stuff I Wish I Knew Before I Went Hiking: Tales and a Few Fails From the Trail