Scott Stoll logo world traveler. A bicycle wheel and the globe symbolizes Scott's journey around the world on a bicycle.

Hiking and Backpacking

Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails (footpaths), in the countryside, while the word walking is used for shorter, particularly urban walks. Hiking and walking are the preferred terms, in Canada and the United States. In the United Kingdom, the word “walking” is used to describe all forms of walking, whether it is a walk in the park or backpacking in the Alps. Rambling is an old-fashioned term, and hillwalking, and fell walking are more obscure. The term bushwalking is endemic to Australia. In New Zealand, a long, vigorous walk or hike is called tramping. Hiking is a popular activity with numerous hiking organizations worldwide, and studies suggest that all forms of walking have health benefits. And long soul-searching journeys on foot are often called a pilgrimage. And if you bring a backpack, you’re called a backpacker.

My girlfriend and I were returning from a three-mile hike to see Delicate Arch, the most photographed landmark in all the national parks. The sun had set, and we had a few more minutes of twilight when a loose bull crests the trail ahead.
Travel is an excellent way to hit the reset button. Our guest adventurer, Ethan Kiester, is currently in Scotland during his European travels. He discusses how he has done a few hard resets, and how you might want to be ready to push that reset button when the opportunity presents itself.
Adventurer Mark Loftin explores the glaciers of Alaska, including climbing ice walls, rappelling down and sitting before the beauty of an ever-changing, surreal ice wonderland. It turned out to be an antidote to the information overload of daily life.
Treacherous conditions at Laguna de Los Tres in Patagonia force two hikers to turn back but that doesn't stop them from enjoying an unforgettable experience.
In seventh grade, I had a teacher, Mr Montgomery, who changed my life in more ways than one. We exchanged addresses so that we could send each other postcards of our summer vacations.
Our adventure, Mark Loftin, books a last-minute, solo trip to Kauai, Hawaii, and avoids looking at pictures so the 550 square miles will be a surprise.
Jacob Laukaitis is a 21–year-old digital nomad who’s been to more than 35 countries in the last 3 years. He documents his journey with video.
We've heard a lot of great things about traveling Iran — history, hospitality, cuisine — and Tom Allen's unique journey traveling the Karun River from source to sea proves that and more. Be sure to watch the trailer to his film below, a successful Kickstarter project and "Official selection of the Kendal Mountain Festival 2015.
With winter weather the current reality it is a natural time to reflect on the past summer and it’s warmth. My past summer was spent walking across the US on the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2660-mile footpath from Mexico to Canada.
Congratulations to Ed Stafford who just finished his epic 2-year walk down the Amazon River. Which Sir Ranulph Fiennes says is "in the top league of expeditions past and present."
This guy makes me super jealous. I mean I can actually feel my skin burn, and get a little angry that he got so "lucky" to attract the media's attention and go super nova. But then again I could call this same feeling inspiration.
Scott renews his spirit of adventure in Bali, Indonesia, an island full of spirit, art and crafts.
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