Why do people go bushwalking?

[paidal_chalne_vala]

escape from civilzation and bullsh*t
fitness
adventure/mild risk taking/challlenges in the wilderness
beauty of nature
waking and sleeping with the sunrise and sunset
cooking on a trangier!
being self sufficent in the bush for up to 4 nights
photography of amazing scenery
being happy with just what I can carry on my back.
being beholden to the elements

[yegdod1]

Because the bush at night, when i am on my own, scares me.. .... and that makes me love it even more.. ..

[puredingo]

The Min min lights get you too, huh?....Gulp.

[johnat]

We (+1 and I) live out of town, so the solitude thing is not a biggie for us - our life away from work is full of the stuff!

We enjoy getting to places that there is no other way to get to (the OT, fer example, and Kosi). The planning and preparation is similar to that required for our other love - snow skiing, so there is a fitness regime in common. We also just enjoy being out and about with just us (or a couple of good friends) to see what's around the next corner, or over the next (false at times) crest.

I honestly could not EVER AGAIN live in the city. 5 years in the Newcastle of BHP was enough, and I couldn't wait to get a position out in the real NSW again! Fresh air is what it's all about!

Clubs? I guess there are a couple around here, but have never bothered to ask/look. As I said earlier, we like to be on our own, do our own planning, and relive it with our mates. Half of the fun is in the preparation, so having someone else do that would be a loss of 50% of the enjoyment.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

I have walked with clubs and those kind of people who obsess about weight, equipment and gear .Many of these people have no time to be silent and present with the natural world and a lot of them do want to organize the hikes by a stop watch down to the last second and that is not why I go trekking at all.

By trekking I get away from time and stress and move into a better more transcendent space.Some People once asked me what time is it when I was hiking around Wilson's Prom . in the warmer weather , I said I don't know what day it is,let alone what time it is ..... and that is how it should stay ! Trekking here in Australia has made me interested in going higher and further into the Indian Himalayas too.
I like snow shoe walking in winter too.

[stepbystep]

Edit. Woops wrong thread, as you were...

[markg]

I'm not a huge walker as such, although I can be. I love the bush because it's the only place thats lets me be me. I love animals, rivers, and a lack of people. I enjoy the smells , the sounds. I don't have a strict destination as such at times, don't want to stick to a time or anything else. If I find a nice spot on the way that may be as far as I go.

[davidmorr]

I started this thread back in 2012 to find out why people went bushwalking. There were some wonderful replies, eloquent, pithy, humorous and mostly from the heart. By far the most common reason was to escape from the pressures of modern life to get out and enjoy the native bush.

But we are going to have to fight to keep some of our pristine areas. There is currently a review of feral horses in Kosciusko NP, and comments like you have made here are required to show that bushwalkers love the bush and do not want it trashed.

You can read more here:

http://www.bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17904

[mikethepike]

I know people who find bushwalking in itself to not have enough purpose e.g a chap who belonged to a field naturailsts club and though he walked in the bush, it was to learn about plants etc and he seriously considered bushwalking itself to be rather purposeless. So he lacked an understanding of it and his own walking would rarely if ever require overnight pack carrying. For many peoiple though, walking in the bush is essentially secondary to their primary purpose and creekline flyfishers and birdwathers come to mind. Retired people make up the vast bulk of volunteers in bush environmental programs and they love the bush and love walking in it though most have no experince of extended pack carrying walks,
I was surprised to recently discover that very few people in my own bushwalking club in Adelaide own 4WDs and was told that often in the past when club members have bought a 4WD (and with the probable intention of going 'outback' a lot), then that seems become their main interest and they drop out the club and presumably they give up bushwalking.

[GoForFun]

I do bushwalking because

- I simply enjoy it
- I can get back to nature
- I find it very relaxing to be alone in nature
- I love to explore new things
- I can get away from all electronic devices and stressful everyday life
- I do something good for my body and my health...

There are many more reasons why I love bushwalking but these are my main ones

Cheers

[dougjjj]

Nothing better than going on a multiday hike in a quiet area. Nothing to do but eat, walk then read a book in the evenings ... happy days

1 - Peace and quiet
2 - Time to think
3 - Lots of sleep and chilling out

[dplanet]

Mixed factors include:
walk therapy and fitness
explore and develop
beauty of nature and photography
stress coping strategy due to conflict and/or change in life events.

[Picaro]

Because I'm one of those that knows, being hooked up to the Matrix is not our true expression.
I go because I know I'm still a facet of nature, and even though I can't remember the language of the trees and rocks and streams, it does me good to hear it.
When I'm in nature, I'm not a factory farmed consumer, I'm a human being.

[MickyB]

I do bushwalking because

- I simply enjoy it
- I can get back to nature
- I find it very relaxing to be alone in nature
- I love to explore new things
- I can get away from all electronic devices and stressful everyday life
- I do something good for my body and my health...


Cheers

Same for me.