The Difference Between Trekking and Hiking: Physical Endurance is the Most Important
Trekking and hiking are two terms in climbing. Both are activities favored by outdoor sports enthusiasts. Both trekking and hiking share a commonality, which is the activity of walking long distances. However, for nature lovers, the two are certainly different.
So what are the differences? Well, for friends who are just getting into outdoor sports activities, you can learn about the differences between trekking / climbing and hiking below.
Hiking: Recreational Long Walks
Hiking is the activity of walking long distances on relatively easy terrain. Usually, hiking is one of the activities for Scouts. Friends still remember when they were Scouts in elementary to high school and had a schedule for hiking, right? The trails during hiking are still easy to navigate, so it doesn't drain energy too much.
The hiking trails are prepared, ranging from footpaths to narrow alleys. These trails are official and are indeed commonly used for hiking activities, even having points for resting.
The duration of hiking activities is more predictable. Because hiking is usually done by a group, hiking has a timetable. It can be completed in a few hours and usually lasts no longer than a day. This is because hiking has easy-to-navigate trails and is aimed at recreation.
However, hiking for nature lovers is not just a simple recreational activity like the hiking done by school Scouts. Aimed at merely pursuing a hobby or even relieving stress, hiking has its own sensation when carried out. Located in the still cool open nature, hiking certainly needs to be done with good physical preparation.
Trekking: The Magical Point for Nature Lovers
If hiking can be called recreational long walks, trekking is also so. However, the terrain traversed during trekking cannot be predicted like hiking. Usually, trekking is done in the interior of an area that is still less accessible to tourists, and even the local population is sparse.
Trekking trails are longer with routes in areas that still have minimal facilities. Traveling from one area to another certainly makes the trekking journey time unpredictable, ranging from several days to over a week.
Trekking is not usually done just for recreation. This activity is usually done to explore an interior area for personal satisfaction. Meeting the local community and exploring forests that are still pristine always becomes a magical point for nature lovers. Because some trekking areas are still untouched, this activity often opens up paths in those regions.
If asked which is more challenging, of course, trekking is more difficult to do than hiking. Trekking is an activity with a higher risk of accidents compared to hiking. Therefore, physical preparation and supplies must be carefully considered for trekking because this activity can also be called a survival activity due to its relatively difficult terrain.
So, friends, do you feel more comfortable doing hiking or trekking? Knowing your body's capacity is certainly important to understand which journey is more suitable for you.
When you are not yet accustomed to long journeys with heavy loads on your back, hiking becomes an alternative to relieve work fatigue. Once you are used to exercising in the great outdoors, trekking will become an exciting activity. Both can train your survival instincts. The important thing is, during the activity, nature must be preserved!
Author: Nisa Maulan Shofa
