Ramble On: How Hiking Became One of the Most Popular Outdoor Activities in the World

by Jeffrey J. Doran

How did hiking evolve from the upper-class European sport of alpinism and the publication of an English travel guide, into an activity that now has millions of participants all over the world? How did western cultures overcome their intense fear of mountains, and why were the social stigmas associated with walking rejected? What roles did the Industrial Revolution play in the development of hiking as a major pastime?

Ramble On: How Hiking Became One of the Most Popular Outdoor Activities in the World answers these and many other key questions. It chronicles hiking’s roots in alpinism and mountaineering, the societal trends that fostered its growth, some of the early hikers from the 19th century, the first trails built specifically for hiking, the formation of the first hiking clubs, as well as what the early hikers wore, and what some of the key inventions and innovations were that led to our modern array of gear and apparel.

The book also includes anecdotal stories of trail development in some of our oldest and most iconic national parks, such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, Great Smoky Mountains, Mt. Rainier, Glacier and Acadia National Park, as well as the first trails to be blazed in the White Mountains of New Hampshire - America’s first hiking destination. It also takes a look at some of the peculiar traditions of some of the early hiking clubs, including the Appalachian Mountain Club. Among the more compelling stories is the apparel women were forced to wear during the Victorian Era, and the danger those fashion standards posed to women who dared to venture into the mountains.

289 pages, Paperback

First published September 22, 2018

About the author

Jeff Doran grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and now resides in East TN. A graduate of Xavier University, Jeff worked in marketing before starting his own online hiking trail guide business. After many years of hiking in some of America's most beautiful national parks, he founded HikinginGlacier.com, RockyMountainHikingTrails.com and TetonHikingTrails.com, which provide detailed trail information, including many historical anecdotes. In addition to being an avid hiker and a history buff, Jeff is also an avid cyclist.

Reviews

[K.A. Doran · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid hiker, I read Doran’s first book on this topic several years ago and thought it was very informative. He recently published a second edition, which is an expanded version that goes deeper into detail on a few topics. For example, there’s quite a bit more information on the history surrounding Mt. Washington (in New Hampshire), and the significant role the family who built the first hiking trails played during the early years of hiking in America. I also thought he did a better job of explaining why people started hiking during the 1700s, primarily the result of the social changes brought about by the Enlightenment and the Romantic periods. He also makes a compelling case that it was specifically the Industrial Revolution that spurred wide interest in hiking, arguing that it both enabled and inspired people to hit the trail. As a woman whose been hiking for 30+ years, I really enjoyed all the information about the first female hikers, the important roles they played in the early hiking clubs, as well as the clothing they wore. Yikes! Thank goodness we don’t live in the Victorian Era! As the old saying goes, we’ve come a long way baby! Overall, I thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed the additional information. If you love the outdoors, especially walking and/or hiking, I think you’ll find this to be a great read.

[Paul Wilkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been an avid hiker for several decades, and knew very little about the sport I cherish so much. This book provides a great overview of how hiking was able to proliferate throughout America, and much of the world. I especially appreciated the stories and anecdotes of how and why the trail networks in some of our national parks were built.