What constitutes hiking?

A designated hiking route
Going with a group of people
Walking on different terrains
Spending the night in a sleeping bag

1 answer

Hiking is primarily characterized by walking or trekking through natural environments, typically on marked or designated trails. While several of the options you provided can be associated with hiking, the most essential characteristics include:

  1. A designated hiking route: Hiking usually involves following specific trails or paths in natural settings. These routes can vary in difficulty, length, and terrain.

  2. Walking on different terrains: Hiking often takes place on various types of terrain, including hills, mountains, forests, and valleys, which adds to the experience and challenge of the activity.

Going with a group of people and spending the night in a sleeping bag can enhance the hiking experience (like on a backpacking trip), but they are not necessary to define the activity itself. Hence, the most appropriate components that constitute hiking would be a designated hiking route and walking on different terrains.