Volunteers put in 241,936 hours maintaining the Appalachian Trail for future hikers to enjoy.
The National Trails System was established in 1965.
A team of mountaineers reached Elbrus - the highest mountain in Europe.
In 1838, Scottish-American environmentalist John Muir is born, arguably the father of modern hiking and outdoorsmanship.
In 1819 one of the first, major manicured hiking trails is created to lead up Mt. Washington in New Hampshire.
The idea that pleasure can be found by walking through the woods (aimlessly or for conquest) didn't come around until the 18th century. Until then it was regarded as an indication of poverty.
If you hike the entire Appalachian Trail, you’ll be walking between five to seven months.
In 2008, “proximity to trails” was the most important amenity to prospective home buyers (this outranked things like access to shopping, golf courses, security, etc.).
Believe it or not, hiking makes food (like freeze-dried foods or energy bars) taste up to 35 percent better.
There’s nothing like getting out in the great outdoors. Grab some hiking boots, a sack lunch, a backpack, and some water, and hit the trail! Once you start, you’ll wonder why you don’t do this more often.
Proud of your accomplishment? Take photos and share your hiking experiences on social media! Add hashtags like #NationalTrailsDay and #TakeAHike to inspire others to go out in the great outdoors.
Hiking in exotic and diverse locations, all while giving back and building/maintaining trails all around the world. What could be better? Check out the American Hiking Society’s “Volunteer Vacation” for information on how you can make this dream a reality.
Amazing things happen when we get out of the house/office, off our phones, and into nature. Suddenly we start appreciating the beauty around us. Plus, the constant movement allows an outlet that helps our minds focus on solving the problems it’s been trying to figure out all week. Hiking is so effective that Cheryl Strayed (author of the book “Wild”) attributes hiking as the solution that helped her cope with her divorce, drug use, and her mother’s death.
Endorphins and serotonin make people happy — and you get plenty of them when you’re hiking. These hormones help fight off anxiety, prevent loneliness and depression, and improve your mood. Plus, if you bring a friend along, you’re sure to have a good time.
Whether it’s hiking the Appalachian Trail or simply walking a well-worn path, nearly every person of every age can go hiking. Plus, since you get to choose the location, the path, and often the terrain, you get to decide how much you want to push yourself.