What Is The Difference Between Hiking And Trekking Hiking and trekking are terms that are often used in place of each other. However a lot of people are unaware that they are two very different activities although both involve walking for the most part. Hiking is leisure based activity and is done on trails and manmade paths that are often easy to traverse. Trekking however is not necessarily leisure based and often involves traversing terrain that does not have any form of a road. Let us look at some other differences between hiking and trekking. Environmental impacts: The long-term impacts of hiking in some areas have led to degradation of the environment. Since hiking involves walking the same laid out paths in natural areas, it is a given that over time the environment is affected. Trekking involves traversing lesser known routes and in many cases people don't take the same route even though they are going to the same place. This does not however mean that the environmental impact is greater than hiking in any way. Since treks are longer than hikes, they tend to put more pressure on the environment. Safety: A hike is a relatively safer activity as compared to a trek. There are many unknowns with a trek all of which can't all be determined and anticipated which increases the risk factor. Trekkers usually navigate hostile terrain to reach far off and isolated places. Hikers are not always exposed to this situation because of a certain amount of certainty to the activity. Equipment: The equipment that you need for a trek is very different from what you need on a hike. Usually hikers simply need a compass, a walking pole and a good pair of shoes. Trekkers however have to carry camping gear, boots, food, clothing and a survival kit that includes other basic necessities. Hikers who go on overnight trips may also need to carry some basic equipment but it is not nearly as much as required for a trek. Trekking sometimes can extend for more than a couple of days and in such cases the requirements increase manifold. Planning:
A lot more planning is needed for a trek as compared to a hike. A hike does not involve much planning as hikes are usually not isolated from the rest of the world but trekkers are often completely disconnected from the world for days on at an end. There is less planning for a hike as you can simply pick up a small bad, put on your shoes and go for a hike. A trek on the other hand can sometimes take days, weeks and even months to plan out properly. Locations: Trekking locations usually take people to unseen, untouched areas which mean that the result of a trek is usually more rewarding as compared to a hike. A hike involves beautiful locations too but most such locations are known areas. Hikers when it comes to coming in contact with nature have less opportunity as compared to trekkers. Most of the trekking destinations of the world are in mountainous areas where there are places of virgin beauty untouched by the greed of man. If you are looking for more information and a selection of hiking equipment then visit us at http://walkingboot.org for hiking boots or our sister site http://swissarmybackpacks.org for hiking backpacks.