For me, a speedier hike can, and often does, change the way I experience the hike much in the same way a different experience is incurred traveling by mountain bike, where I would typically be traveling at a faster rate, than being on foot. I would say I tend to take in less detail and often have less of a connection to Nature when I hike faster, that is at a faster rate, higher MPH avg. But, that may just be me and I shouldn’t necessarily apply my paradigm to other hikers doing their hike.

Although I deeply admire one speed hiker who said he sees more being a record holding speed hiker because he hikes during the crepuscular times of day, when animals are most active, usually at dawn and dusk, those hiking conditions aren’t relegated strictly to the speed hiking community. I’ve noticed slower or more moderate hikers that also hike during those times. You don’t need to be a speed hiker or after a speed record to be on the trail enjoying wildlife during those times.

I’m with you though Mags. . Who is anyone to say what constitutes a valid deeply moving hike for some else? There’s room for everyone doing their hike.

If you are on the trail, you are on the trail.

I like taking it slow, and savouring my surroundings, and I often backpack this way (in part because of those I hike with).

But I also love to run. And, there’s a buzz on a good descent off a big hill.

So it’s all good.

On a recent trip to the Grand Canyon, backpacking slow, I met a runner at Phantom Ranch (that is, at the bottom of the canyon, on the banks of the Colorado river). I was doing a three day backpacking trip, he was running across the canyon and back in one day. And we were both all there.

Good to hear from you Heiko!!! I’d like to hear the SKT as well. 😉 My wife still wears the Wurzburg hat on all our trips together!

If a person has room-mates, does not own a home (or even a car) and is supported vs Joe Backpacker who owns a home, an SUV, and a wide screen TV using as many resources? 🙂 I honestly don’t know. Even thru-hikers often make use of local grocery stores and rides from people. All using petrochemicals.

What I do know is if we go down THAT rabbit hole, well..that’s a whole ‘nother article! 😀

I have to agree on this for the supported hikes. I find it kind of silly that there are support vehicles out there. If there’s one thing I have appreciated about long-distance hiking, it is the return to living a simplistic lifestyle. Having a support vehicle follow you all the way from one border to the other is a bit lavish, and dare I say, unsustainable. I love the idea of FKTs, especially when they are unsupported.