What Exactly Counts as a Hike? A Debate That Got Way Out of Hand
It all started with a beer—doesn’t everything? I was posted up at Odd Colony, savoring the kind of lager that makes you rethink your relationship with grocery store six-packs, when my friend and I stumbled into a question that quickly escalated into a full-blown bar debate. The bartender kicked things off with a bold claim: “There’s nowhere to hike in here in Florida.” That was all it took. Next thing you know, the whole bar had opinions, and people were passionately weighing in on what qualifies as a “real” hike. Does it need a certain elevation gain? A specific kind of trail? Or is it just any long walk that feels more intentional than a casual stroll to the mailbox? The conversation stuck with me because, clearly, hiking means something deeper to people—it’s not just walking, it’s a way of being. So I did a little digging to figure out: What exactly makes a hike… a hike?
“Hike Your Own Hike”: The Existential Philosophy of Footpaths
If there’s one thing the hiking community agrees on, it’s this mantra: Hike your own hike. It’s part wisdom, part polite dismissal, and it essentially means, “Do your thing, and don’t let anyone tell you how it should look.” That’s the magic of it—no gatekeeping. You could be picking your way across rocky peaks in the Rockies or meandering through mangroves on a Florida boardwalk (take that, Odd Colony bartender). Every hike is as personal as the person taking it, shaped by the terrain, your mindset, and whether or not you remembered to bring snacks. There’s no one path, just like there’s no one way to enjoy it. Hiking’s beauty lies in that flexibility—it’s not about how hard or impressive it looks to others but about how it feels to you.
It’s Not Just Trails: Hiking Through Different Ecosystems
Sure, when people think of hiking, they often imagine well-marked dirt paths winding through forests or steep mountain ascents. But nature isn’t that predictable, and neither is hiking. Some folks might be knee-deep in desert sand, others navigating boardwalks over swamps, and a few might even find themselves trudging across frozen tundras. Different landscapes come with their own set of challenges—dodging tree roots isn’t the same as avoiding prickly cacti, and climbing hills feels wildly different from walking flat prairie land for hours. But it’s all hiking. At the end of the day, whether you’re ascending some brutal summit or moseying through a marsh, you’re moving through nature under your own power, and that’s what counts.
Why People Hike: A Study in Mixed Motivations
Here’s the thing: no two people hike for the same reason, and even your own reasons can shift depending on the day. Some people lace up their boots because they need the exercise, while others want to unplug and be somewhere their phone signal can’t follow. For some, it’s about chasing the next adrenaline rush—pushing limits, bagging peaks, and living that high-altitude life. For others, it’s a moving meditation, a chance to reset and let their brain wander along with their feet. And that’s a hard slog for one person might feel like a Sunday stroll for another—proof that hiking isn’t about meeting some universal benchmark of toughness. It’s about tuning into your own pace and finding joy, whether that’s in the burn of a long climb or the simple pleasure of moving through the world on foot.
So, What Is Hiking? A Few Common Threads
Alright, let’s try to pin down at least a rough outline of what makes a hike a hike. While the edges of the definition are blurry (like trying to describe art without sounding pretentious), there are a few recurring elements most folks seem to agree on:
- It’s Foot Travel Through Nature: If you’re on a bike or in a kayak, you’re doing something cool—but it’s not hiking. Hiking means getting your steps in on natural terrain, be that dirt, sand, or snow.
- Immersing Yourself in the Environment: Hiking isn’t just about the destination. It’s about noticing the birdsong, the crunch of leaves underfoot, or the sharp scent of pine in the air.
- Carrying Your Own Stuff: Hikers tend to be self-reliant, whether carrying just a water bottle or a full pack with granola bars and a backup poncho.
- Respecting the Space: There’s a mindfulness to hiking—leaving no trace behind, except for a few well-placed footprints. If you pack it in, you pack it out.
These elements, combined, shape what makes hiking more than just another walk. It’s a deliberate act of being present in nature—a kind of moving conversation between you and the landscape.
Hiking Is Subjective—And That’s the Point
Trying to define hiking is a lot like describing love or great art. You know it when you feel it, and the experience resists easy classification. For some, the satisfaction of topping out on a summit is what makes the whole thing worthwhile. For others, it’s the quiet stillness they find along a shaded creek. What matters isn’t whether your hike ticks all the traditional boxes but whether it resonates with you. It’s personal, malleable, and always evolving—because no two hikes (or hikers) are exactly the same.
Conclusion: Lace Up and Do Your Own Thing
At the end of the day, hiking is what you make of it. Whether you’re out for fitness, spiritual clarity, or just a break from doomscrolling, the beauty lies in how you choose to move through the world. Maybe it’s a steep climb through alpine forests, or maybe it’s a Pensacola beach stroll at sunset. Maybe you pack a full lunch, or maybe it’s just you, your boots, and a thermos of coffee. The point is that there’s no right or wrong way to hike. Just find your path, whatever it looks like, and follow it. Because at the end of the day, it’s your hike—no one else’s.
