3 ms·

It's just walking. I'm not sure why this is here.

• Jtsummers 6y ago
  And a marathon is just running. Hikes like the author discusses are not "just walking". As to why it's here, HN readers seem to like topics related to stoicism and perseverance.
  • drenvuk 6y ago
    A marathon is not just running. The prolonged length of time, distance and speed are heavy stressors. The hike that the author discusses is just a nature walk with poor footwear. I did St. Olav's way back in 2019. There is no sanctity in hiking. It's just a walk and you either are prepared or aren't.
    • Jtsummers 6y ago
      As a runner, I could say the same about running a marathon. A half-marathon (or near) distance was practically a light exercise for me for a long time there. A marathon would be a harder exercise, fatiguing, but not too challenging. Because I was prepared (running 5/10/15k regularly for several years). But I would never call it "just running" for anyone else. The idea that hiking is "just walking" because for you it was, is similarly absurd. With elevation changes, gear on your back (10-40lbs depending on how lightweight you go, easier to be lighter than when I started with metal-framed packs), significant distances per day, potential time constraints requiring longer daily distances, you have similar "heavy stressors" in hiking.
• nednar 6y ago
  This confusion you felt while you wrote it: That's the feeling of not knowing what you don't know. Remember it, so you won't make bad decisions when it happens in a more important situation.
  • drenvuk 6y ago
    Your capacity for patronizing comments is noted.