Several years ago, when a local Agenda 21 group was working on sustainable (non) development in this area, one of the things they discussed was establishing hiking trails. One guy in the audience made a good point that if anyone wanted to hike there, there would already be a trail.
Yea that's right and if there wasn't, they'd make one. The guy was probably a builder who wanted to build a sub-division.
I walk daily and I guess the rural loop counts as a hike. I don't do backpacking anymore. We used to hike up to high mountain lakes and fish, but Mr. B is not able to trail walk or do anything exerting. I am a little shorter of wind than I once was, but can still do short trail trips.
I get bored walking on sidewalks or along roads. Plus, walking for exercise isn't much appreciated here, so people keep stopping to ask if I need a ride, which breaks up the walk. I prefer hiking in the woods, either along animal trails or on trails I have made from previous hikes. My problem is that the woods are covered with snow here for much of the year, although not so much this year, and when the snow's depth is low, I have to deal with mud, slush, and water. I don't mind getting wet when the ambient temperatures are tolerable, but I don't like being wet when the temperatures are low. I'll also have to admit that I don't do as well with slippery stuff as I used to. I don't mind walking even long distances in a spring or summer rain, however.
Not long ago I walked almost every evening except in winter, to a running track open to the public after hours. Went around 3 or more laps, and back home. Shooting for 3 mph pace. Unfortunately, the public didn't heed the signs to avoid the inner 5 lanes most used in racing events. I was alone in the outer lane. Ha! So they closed the track to the public. Gets your metabolism going. I need to find another route to get enough miles in to make it worth it. Or maybe anything is better than nothing. Thanks for bringing the topic up. I'll think about it again. Winter is when I need it most.
Good point about needing a walk most in the winter. I must walk a couple of miles in the summer without leaving our property.
I haven't gone on any wilderness hikes recently since it's winter, but I am building up the amount of walking I do, walking every day and increasing the distances I walk every week, averaging about five miles a day now, sometimes but not necessarily in a single walk.