https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jul/14/hiking-walking-younger-generation-ramblers
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
“ ‘Walkers are middle aged, hikers are cool’ “
(17 posts)-
Posted 4 years ago #
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Same as difference twixt craft beer and real ale (nowt)
Posted 4 years ago # -
@gembo, except you can charge a fair bit more for "craft beer". Presumably that's also the difference between "hiking equipment" and whatever "walkers" use.
Then it's marketed to young people as the essential difference that sets them apart from uncool oldies... I suppose the narcissistic impulses set in train by social media are easily fed by this approach.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Before I moved to Australia I thought that 'hiking' was the right word to use to describe my activity of walking, which involves climbing up and down. Then I learned that in Australia you 'bushwalk' and I became a bushwalker. I found it very amusing to learn that people here 'hillwalk' (but it makes sense). Now I say go on walks. 'Hike' to me sounds American and carries a message that it's a tough activity for tough people (when it usually isn't).
I noticed recently that Mr Bill started saying 'hiking' when talking to other people about our walks. He reckons that it gives people better idea of the sort of walks we do. But I frown upon this.
One of the Blue Mountains bushwalkers and a member of the volunteers rescue team runs a blog. When she was analysing search data, it turned out that 'hiking' was definitely a more popular search word than 'bushwalking'. So to get more exposure she uses now both...
Posted 4 years ago # -
Yeah I suspect its the
Americaninternet influence.Hillwalking has a typically British understated connotation though, a month long trek across Scotland, 'bagging or a wander in the Pentlands traditionally comes under the same banner.
With the internet and international forums and simple written communication I think comes this drive to label and define every aspect of a past time. Touring has split into bikepacking, road touring, cc touring etc. I think it just saves time to use one word to fairly accurately bucket everything.
The marketing people do push this too of course.
Posted 4 years ago # -
"Hillwalking has a typically British understated connotation"
Yeah that might be why the instagram selfie takers featured in the Graun article don't like the term. I'm imagining that they don't "do" understatement, instead Everything Is Overstated With Exclamation Marks And Totally Inspiring!!! I note also that most of the brand and marketing references in the article were fashion industry centric, save for a couple of key
lifestylemountaineering/hiking gear brands. Oh and somewhat anachronistically, the Ramblers Association gets a plug.Is this a bit like that moment when young people started getting into beards, wooly jumpers and smoking pipes? (Well maybe not that last one).
Posted 4 years ago # -
(joins in shaking her head at the younger generation)
“Hiking” i.e. long walks, was popular with young people in the 1950s. Often involving youth hostels.
“Hiking” now to me has American connotations of doing the Appalachian trail, carrying sleeping bags and food.
We did tramping in New Zealand, which means walking through the bush for several days with supplies, staying in huts or camping. When I described hill-walking to New Zealand tramping friends, they said, But what is there to see? Meaning, that there were no trees.
Posted 4 years ago # -
I love it - "...a five mile hike". I've walked further then that to reach the start of "a walk". I suppose it's all good though - I love being outdoors and its good to see young people doing likewise, even if their need to photograph everything is a bit tiresome.
Posted 4 years ago # -
But I frown upon this.
Indeed. The correct verb for moving around the Scottish landscape is 'to stravaig'. Locally this can become 'to realm'.
Posted 4 years ago # -
You flanneur
Posted 4 years ago # -
I'll just stick with ma wee daundering aboot .
Posted 4 years ago # -
@Rosie in a battle of sandflies vs. midges which do you think would win?
Posted 4 years ago # -
As long as they never interbreed!
Posted 4 years ago # -
@bill - individual sandflies do seem to be bigger and nastier than midges (cf rugby teams) - however midges go about in clouds.
@steveo - terrifying thought, mutant sandmidges.
Posted 4 years ago # -
Minor edit
Bushwalkers by Bill Harriman, on Flickr
Posted 4 years ago # -
The bush walker could have corrected dependant to dependent too?
Posted 4 years ago # -
Should this be posted in the Sentient Beings thread too?
I hope the machinery has good eye sight.
Posted 4 years ago #
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