Walking / Hiking / Tramping

[Jessica]

Walking is way underrated, I think. It's the answer to so many issues. Since I have started walking to and from work (two miles each way) I have had people express disbelief and amazement, which surprised me. I'm used to that reaction to other things I do, but I find it depressing that walking four miles is even something to remark upon.

If it was normal, which it once was, I think a whole lot of physical and psychological problems would decrease dramatically. It's partly the exercise, but also it just slows life down. That 45 minutes I am walking for is so relaxing, and I find I often end up having thoughts and ideas I wouldn't have otherwise had time to have. One of the main reasons people give for driving over walking is not having enough time.. And there is a flaw in society. In the long run we'd be more productive if we were healthier.

And then there is long distance hiking which I just love. But really, even if everyone just started walking more to get to places, it would have a good effect on all kinds of levels. Sometimes I do kind of groan inwardly.. Oh my goddd I don't want to do it, can't someone give me a ride... That tends to all disappear once I get going.

[Tropical Breeze]

Never having a car walking long distance is very normal for me. I groan inwardly when it starts down pouring on me. Walking for thirty minutes to about an hour to get home in down pouring rain is not fun. Especially if you're carrying food from the supermarket. Walking in very cold weather can be frustrating for me too. I seem to do well in hot weather though.

Long distance walking or using the public transportation in different and completely foreign cities is pretty exciting. I've been lost so many times even during hikes. It can be frustrating and scary at first but afterwards you see it as an exciting adventure. Its how i've gotten to know places pretty well. Know the areas very well. By getting lost a few times and finding my way back.

[Audiogen]

For the vast majority of people where I live, it's not really practical to walk everywhere, you'll have to at least rely on public transportation. I'll take a car over walking/public transportation. I did the walking/public transportation thing for the first few years I lived here and that and work pretty much consumed my whole day, I have way more time to do other things with a car.

I do enjoy hiking and leisurely walks however.

[KL71]

A walk I can do, but not enjoy: Walking and sprinting between Boston's North Station and South Station. They're about 1.5 miles apart. The MBTA "T" subway was available but didn't want to shell out more money. Wasn't my fault the train back from Portland, ME was half an hour late.

[Jessica]

For the vast majority of people where I live, it's not really practical to walk everywhere, you'll have to at least rely on public transportation. I'll take a car over walking/public transportation. I did the walking/public transportation thing for the first few years I lived here and that and work pretty much consumed my whole day, I have way more time to do other things with a car.

I do enjoy hiking and leisurely walks however.

why is it not practical?

edit, oh i assume you mean the time thing. yes. i understand most people feel that way.
i pretty much gave my opinion about that so won't repeat myself.

but anything up to five miles in a day.. no reason people can't spend a couple of hours doing that. because it isn't just walking. it's thinking time, meditation time, if you're with a friend, talking time.

you're right that it isn't practical in the society we've created, but i think that society should slow down in general. so. shrug.

[Jessica]

I groan inwardly when it starts down pouring on me. Walking for thirty minutes to about an hour to get home in down pouring rain is not fun. Especially if you're carrying food from the supermarket. Walking in very cold weather can be frustrating for me too.

Agreed. But I guess life isn't always fun and comfortable, is it?
It's not fun and comfortable to have many of the health issues that could probably be avoided if it were normal to accept that sometimes a walk home in the rain is going to suck. Getting home is always appreciated : )

[Undies]

I like walking places like the store, or someplace you're going for a short time and coming right back. Walking to work is impractical because sometimes I have to go places from there that aren't in walking distance. Even if not, I go out for lunch most days and that 10 minute round trip would turn into 45 minutes, which I usually can't afford in the middle of the work day.

[Audiogen]

why is it not practical?

edit, oh i assume you mean the time thing. yes. i understand most people feel that way.
i pretty much gave my opinion about that so won't repeat myself.

but anything up to five miles in a day.. no reason people can't spend a couple of hours doing that. because it isn't just walking. it's thinking time, meditation time, if you're with a friend, talking time.

you're right that it isn't practical in the society we've created, but i think that society should slow down in general. so. shrug.

It doesn't have to do with how I feel about it, it's the layout of the area.

A lot of people enjoy the beaches here, where you could do walking, thinking, and meditating. But for probably 80% + of the population, it's not within a 3 mile walk. So you could spend your 2-3 hours walking to the beach and do that stuff or you could take a 10-15 mins drive and do that stuff for 2 hours at the beach.


Edit: And even with the walking to the beach, you're still going to have to pay attention to stop lights, cross walks, etc. so you would still be occupied with responsibility about the same amount of time as driving.

[Meliai]

Yes I echo what Audiogen is saying, everything is super spread out here. You really have to have a car. I've never worked anywhere that was walkable to me. Where I live now there are basic shops and stuff in walking distance which is cool but my work is 5 miles away, there are no parks in walking distance, there really isn't much here except the shops and a few eateries. So if I want to go grocery shopping and pick up Chinese I can walk but if I want to actually walk somewhere interesting I have to first get in the car and drive there

With that said walking is probably my favorite thing to do and I could walk all day. Would love to live in a more walkable area of town but there seems to be this rule that the more walkable it is the more unaffordable it is

[eggsprog]

I used to walk to work when I was younger, and I still walk or cycle places most of the time, but with kids it usually isn't practical.

I made a point of walking to axe throwing though, before the pandemic. Only about 20 minutes unless there was a lot of snow, but I always felt awesome after.

Honestly sometimes my motivation to walk/drive is because I can smoke some weed without worrying about timing it right to be sober when I need to drive.

[Guest]

Walking/hiking is something I try to do everyday. No matter how far.
I have done most of my regular walking when I did not have a car and I was taking public transport.
I used to do a lot of extreme day hikes up to 25 miles and 10,000 ft of elevation. I ended up hiking all of the tallest mountains in my state in the winter in snow with snowshoes or crampons or in the summer.
the tiredness at the end was always so motivating.

[Tropical Breeze]

Agreed. But I guess life isn't always fun and comfortable, is it?

What fun would it be if it always was?

It's not fun and comfortable to have many of the health issues that could probably be avoided if it were normal to accept that sometimes a walk home in the rain is going to suck.

I wouldn't know but i would imagine not.

Getting home is always appreciated : )

Very. Even after a very pleasant day.

[tumbling.dice]

One of the good things about living in the city was I could walk or bike to most of my destinations. Work was probably 2 miles, grocery store was 2 blocks, convenience store 1 block and there was a huge-ass park right next door. If I had to walk to work now it would be a 4½ mile walk, one way. Just not practical in Kentucky's heat and humidity. I'd need a shower when I got to work. Nearest grocery store is now about 6 miles away.

I've considered getting one of those bicycles that has a small two-cycle engine. I could see myself getting to work on one of those but for two worries: being chased by all the dogs along the way, and being hit by a speeding car on the curvy county road I have to travel. Mennonites drive like bats outta hell, for some reason.

[Jessica]

It doesn't have to do with how I feel about it, it's the layout of the area.

A lot of people enjoy the beaches here, where you could do walking, thinking, and meditating. But for probably 80% + of the population, it's not within a 3 mile walk. So you could spend your 2-3 hours walking to the beach and do that stuff or you could take a 10-15 mins drive and do that stuff for 2 hours at the beach.


Edit: And even with the walking to the beach, you're still going to have to pay attention to stop lights, cross walks, etc. so you would still be occupied with responsibility about the same amount of time as driving.

Yes I echo what Audiogen is saying, everything is super spread out here. You really have to have a car. I've never worked anywhere that was walkable to me. Where I live now there are basic shops and stuff in walking distance which is cool but my work is 5 miles away, there are no parks in walking distance, there really isn't much here except the shops and a few eateries. So if I want to go grocery shopping and pick up Chinese I can walk but if I want to actually walk somewhere interesting I have to first get in the car and drive there

With that said walking is probably my favorite thing to do and I could walk all day. Would love to live in a more walkable area of town but there seems to be this rule that the more walkable it is the more unaffordable it is

yeah i do get what you're saying.
i mean, i only meant to say it shouldn't be unusual or thought of as a big deal to walk four miles in a day.
i don't know where stop lights, cross walks etc come into it.. like i never said anything about responsibility? i still think it's better to walk than drive, if you need to get somewhere.
in a society where it was thought of as normal, towns and cities would reflect that, with more footpath routes.
this isn't something i really intended to argue... the thread is about leisure walking, too, which i know you both enjoy.
but i don't see any of your reasons for walking not being the primary way people get around as being insurmountable... it's impractical with how we set everything up.
many people who wouldn't want to spend two hours walking home from work will spend two hours watching tv that evening, which is fine if that's what they want to do, i'm just saying the mental and physical health of the human race would be greatly improved if they had more fun in their own thoughts for two hours : )

five miles to work.. by the way.. it once would have been completely normal to do that each way. people don't have time now. people are always complaining life has sped up too much. well.. this would be how to slow it down. like i say, i don't mean this as a debate, i'm not trying to convince you. but i have to say, i don't see that distance as unwalkable in the slightest.

[Irminsul]

I walk a fair bit, walking the dog but I also walk at work at least 2x walks a night while working on breaks sometimes 3. We do live off the edge of the forest so can go walking in there too. Hike up a mountain and find a snow melt pond.