| It was millions of years ago that man stopped | | | | history of hiking is that there are several forms of |
| hopping around on all fours and stood upright to walk. | | | | hiking. There are some that consider Mountaineering |
| The hiking that was done then doesn't really differ | | | | as a form of hiking. It is really just walking up the |
| much from what we do today. | | | | mountain. Coasteering is another one. This is walking |
| It is impossible to actually give a date when the first | | | | along the seashore. A more logical subdivision is |
| distant relative of ours went on the first hike. Man | | | | Thru-Hiking. These are those long range hikes that |
| has walked upright for millions of years. During most | | | | involve great distance and camping along the way. |
| of those years, the only way to get from point A to | | | | Each of these divisions have some key dates like |
| point B was to hike there. So, you might as well say | | | | you was the first to the top of a particular mountain |
| the story of hiking begins back in this prehistoric time. | | | | or what year did the Appalachian Trail open. |
| The problem is that, today, hiking is considered the | | | | The Appalachian Trail, by the way, is a good example |
| sport of walking when you do not have to walk. | | | | of a Thru-Hike. Its trailheads are located at Springer |
| Although you might say that children walking to | | | | Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Northern |
| school are taking a little hike, we do not consider that | | | | Maine. It is a 2000 mile long trail that typically takes |
| walk a hike because, well, they have to do it. It is | | | | between six and seven months to travel. By the |
| when you go out and walk to some place that you | | | | way, the first section opened in October of 1923. |
| really do not have to walk to in the first place that | | | | It is not really dates and times that make a true |
| you begin to speak of the sport of hiking. | | | | history of hiking. Hiking is one of those highly personal |
| So, when did people start walking when they did not | | | | and individual things. You may belong to a hiking club |
| have to walk? No one really knows. It would seem | | | | or hike with friends or family, but it is still you that |
| likely that our caveman ancestors, from time to time, | | | | are walking. It is that special feeling of being part of |
| just strolled around for the shear joy of it. On the | | | | the country that is missed zooming through it in an |
| other hand, maybe they did not walk anywhere that | | | | automobile or flying over it in a plan that makes hiking |
| absolute necessity did not demand. There were | | | | special. The true history of hiking is those special |
| those tigers with the big teeth out there and the | | | | moments, those feelings of accomplishment, and |
| walking that must have been done just to find food | | | | even the aching feet that are engraved in your own |
| most likely took away any desire to take fun walks. | | | | heart and mind. |
| Another problem that comes up with the writing of a | | | | |