The essence of hiking is to leave life behind, if only for a few hours, and explore the world around you using only the power of your body.
It is feeling your lungs labor, your muscles tighten and relax, and all your senses bringing new information into your brain.
Being a Hiking Dude is being on the move, covering ground, challenging your body, and renewing your soul.

Join me on My Long Hikes from 2012 to 2017 and beyond. If you're in a Scouting group, consider accepting my ScoutStrong Challenge.

Hiking Dude Blog Nighty Night 01/22/2012 I really, really, really want to be comfortable sleeping on my Arizona hike. Without restful sleep, I'm afraid I'll get worn out much faster. That's where this lightweight pillow becomes a necessary piece of gear. OK, necessary isn't quite true, but highly desired is. Three things make nighttime more pleasant: Warmth - This is the most important, for survival and rest. I told you about my Read More ...   First Pole Walk 01/17/2012 Well, it finally happened. On my hiking stick page, I mentioned that some day I'll start using hiking poles when someone gives me a pair for Christmas or birthday. They did. My sons got me these Outdoor Products trek poles for Christmas and today I tried them out for the first time. Felt kind of like a 2-month old golden retriever stumbling along. I hit my foot with the pole a few times. I kicked the pole with my Read More ...   SNOW 01/13/2012 Finally, finally, finally Snow, snow, snow Well, it's actually just a dusting but we're supposed to get more tomorrow and it's just super! When I got back from my morning hike, I just had to do this creative masterpiece in our driveway. Scout Read More ...   Previous Posts

The number one problem in America is the drop in miles walked per day. The sedentary lifestyle that so many of us now lead (especially people spending too much time making web sites!) is causing us to keel over right and left. Just going for a walk (let's call that a hike) for 30 minutes every day is about the best thing you can do for yourself, and for your family!

Hiking is a sport unto itself. But, it is also the means of locomotion that backpackers use to get around on multi-day adventures. I'm offering information about the art of hiking and all the preparation, skills, problems, and gear used by hiking dudes in moving about from place to place on foot. After learning all about hiking here, please visit the Outdoors Dudes web site for even more great advice about skills for trips and the outdoors.

If you've been surfing the web to find out something about hiking, then please check out my Beginner Hiker Plan to learn how to get ready to start hiking.