Ramble On: A History of Hiking

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? Who built the thousands of miles of trails that now crisscross America? What did early hikers wear, and what were some of the key innovations that led to our modern array of hiking gear and apparel? And what were some of the reasons why people hiked, and how have those changed over time?

Ramble On attempts to answers these and many other questions. This book chronicles hiking’s roots in alpinism and mountaineering, the societal trends that fostered its growth, some of the early hikers from the nineteenth century, the first trails built specifically for hiking, the formation of the first hiking clubs, as well as the evolution of hiking gear and apparel.

The book includes anecdotal stories of trail development in some of our oldest and most iconic national parks, such as Glacier, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Great Smoky Mountains, Mt. Rainier and Acadia, as well as the first trails that were blazed in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, America’s first hiking destination. It also takes a look at some of the peculiar and quirky traditions of some of the early hiking clubs. One of the most compelling stories was 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.

Ramble On also takes a look at some of the issues that currently impact hikers and trails, such as overcrowding and social media, and takes a peek into the future on how some of these trends could unfold.

258 pages, Paperback

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]

This is a fairly quick read which takes you from the initial roots of hiking to how hiking clubs were formed, the establishing of trails and national parks to how equipment and clothing have evolved over the years. Along this journey the author includes lots of interesting stories and tidbits of trivia like the different initiations were required to join some hiking clubs (some of which still require). As a woman, I really enjoyed how women evolved into the sport. He spends time talking about the women who pushed the envelope and opened the door for other women to be able to join men on the trails, along with the clothing requirements women were forced to endure.

As the book progresses, the author discusses the challenges we currently face with over-crowding in our national parks and what some of the parks are doing to alleviate the problem along with proposals for the future.

If you enjoy history and want to learn more about how one of the most popular sports evolved and what we can expect in the future, you'll enjoy this book.

[Lisa Wehrle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read for anyone who is a hiker and wants to learn more about the evolution of hiking.

[Anne Whiting · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like factoids and history - especially about the outdoors movement in America - this is a great book. It's mostly an overview with lots of facts along the way, with more detailed history of two or three national parks. Womans' history of hiking, hiking attire over the years, milestones in hiking, the possible future of hiking - it's all here. Recommended for anyone who loves hiking and the outdoors.