Hiking refers to walking. In ancient times, as common people had no access to vehicles, they typically traveled on foot. Thus, hiking was also a synonym for commoners. Today, hiking has become a fashionable sport among many urban dwellers. It can be said that hiking enthusiasts from around the world have set foot on every corner of the planet.
Types of Hiking
Depending on the traversed area, hiking can be categorized into suburban, rural, mountainous, jungle, desert/wilderness, snowfield/glacier, canyon, plain, mountain ridge, the Great Wall, ancient trails, grassland, lakeside, river routes, and more. However, hiking most commonly takes place in suburban and rural areas. Based on distance, hikes under 15 kilometers are considered short-distance, those between 15–30 kilometers medium-distance, and those over 30 kilometers long-distance.
Hiking Techniques
For medium- to long-distance hikes, hikers usually wear specialized hiking shoes to protect their feet. Some physically intensive hikes even require participants to carry 10–15 kilograms of gear. Like other outdoor enthusiasts, hiking aficionados are also referred to as "hikers" or "trekkers."
What Is Hiking Through?
Hiking through refers to completing a journey on foot from start to finish primarily by walking, within a designated hiking area. This outdoor activity may involve crossing various terrains such as mountain ridges, jungles, deserts, snowfields, streams, and canyons.
Wilderness comprehensive hikers require a high level of skill, integrating mountaineering, rock climbing, rafting, stream tracing, and wilderness survival. Participants must possess good physical fitness, stable psychological resilience, and high moral standards, along with a helpful team spirit. A successful trek requires careful planning beforehand, including understanding the target hiking area—weather conditions, terrain, difficulty level, risk factors—as well as necessary equipment, food, medicine, and more.
Conditions for Hiking Through
A healthy body and strong physical endurance are among the most important prerequisites for hiking through. There are no shortcuts; you must develop a personalized fitness training plan, gradually improving in endurance, strength, and loaded walking. Endurance training can be achieved through swimming, mountain climbing, long-distance running, or cycling, while strength training involves daily push-ups, weightlifting, sit-ups, and pull-ups.
Basic Principles and Essentials of Hiking Through
The basic principles and essentials of hiking: Walking isn’t just a leg movement—it’s a full-body workout. Be mindful of using your arms to balance your body and adjust your pace. Maintain a controlled rhythm; the ideal walking speed is one where you can talk without gasping, keeping your pulse below 120 beats per minute. Keep your shoulders relaxed and back straight, breathe deeply using your diaphragm, plant your entire foot—heel to toe—and always maintain your own pace. Avoid speeding up and slowing down erratically or alternating between running and stopping. Aim for a steady, consistent tempo.
When starting out, slow your pace a bit to allow all parts of your body to warm up and adapt. After 5–10 minutes, you can increase your speed. For safety, keep a reasonable distance of about 2–3 meters between hikers. This prevents disruptions if someone needs to pause—for instance, to tie shoelaces, remove clothing, or drink water. On uphill sections, your center of gravity should be at the front of your foot, leaning slightly forward. Downhill, place your weight on the back of your foot, lowering your center of gravity and bending slightly forward. On steep inclines or declines, take a zigzag path rather than going straight up or down, as this is a safer method. Always test rocks, branches, or vines before grabbing them for support during ascents or descents.
Resting while hiking should follow a balanced approach—short breaks more frequently, longer ones less so. Typically, brief stops should last no more than 5 minutes, without removing backpacks or gear, and mainly involve standing and regulating your breathing. Longer rests are best taken every 60–90 minutes, for 15–20 minutes each time.
Carry enough drinking water during hikes—about 3 liters per person per day—adjusting based on weather conditions. It’s better to bring more than less.
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