lovingkindness
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
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I agree. It's a walk, a trek, not a "hike" to me.As a whole, the various popular Camino routes are 90% just plain walking. Nothing more. Maybe a wee bit of what would be termed as "scrambling" (for example stretch right after Foncabedon on the Frances) but otherwise just walking. Not even what would be termed as hiking (in a traditional sense)
The descent from Sierra del Perdón was akin to scree-running 20 years ago and about the only place on the CF where I'd seriously consider ankle boots though even that has been worked over to "improve" it (I was going to say cleaned up but I understand it's still the largest open air toilet on the CF - as of 2019).As a whole, the various popular Camino routes are 90% just plain walking. Nothing more. Maybe a wee bit of what would be termed as "scrambling" (for example stretch right after Foncabedon on the Frances) but otherwise just walking. Not even what would be termed as hiking (in a traditional sense), though I am sure many people come home from the Camino and tell everyone about their "hike" across Spain lol.
When describing my Camino experiences I always just say I "walked" from a point A to a point B on the Camino route.
No.For the sake of accuracy and responsibility, do you think such a list would be helpful here, on the forum for us to refer to when describing our experiences ?
Maybe it was because I'd just had a pasta dish for dinner but spazierengehen made my mind segue to Spätzle and conjured up the joy of combining a favoured dish with a Walk in the Schwarzwald . . . . One for the Bucket-Liste!No.
And one of the Wikipedia links demonstrates to me why:
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside."Hiking" is the preferred term in Canada and the United States; the term "walking" is used in these regions for shorter, particularly urban walks. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, the word "walking" describes all forms of walking, whether it is a walk in the park or backpacking in the Alps. The word hiking is also often used in the UK, along with rambling (a slightly old-fashioned term), hillwalking, and fell walking (a term mostly used for hillwalking in northern England).Add to this that we have members with activities such as randonner, wandern, se promener, spazierengehen, wandelen, pilgern, to name but a very few, none of which can be translated with all their associations and implications into British or American English.
So let them continue to argue whether it's a hike, a very long walk, a trail, a pilgrimage, or whatever.
This.I like the laid back, non technical sharing of experiences on it. All the goofy BS that can occur. Meeting characters on the Way. Whacky hospitaleros, too much wine at dinner, lumpy beds, dogs and cats and other animals etc.
TrampingI don’t know about you, but when it comes to describing trail experiences accurately and responsibly here, on the forum, I struggle with vocabulary. Although English is our common language, being a global community, it is easy sometimes to misinterpret what others have written. A single word can have a thousand nuances. It can mean different things to different people depending region, country and hemisphere and also depending on context.
What I’d like to know is, are there any standards for writing about trails ie. lists of technical terms which publishers of guide books such as Cicerone and trail magazines use ?
For the sake of accuracy and responsibility, do you think such a list would be helpful here, on the forum for us to refer to when describing our experiences ?
Some of the people visiting this forum have been published or have self-published trail guides and Camino experiences. How did they describe moments on the trail? Which sporting or technical terms, if any did they choose to use? Why?
Here is a list of words with links to sporting activities on Wikipedia. I referred to it the other day in another conversation here: Post #26 .
Climbing
Scrambling
Hiking
Rambling
Walking
Looking forward to your comments.
Regards
-Lovingkindness
Same situation here. The best part of the Camino is that you don’t have to do “out and back”! I love the experience of walking to a new destination every day.Phoenix, I often get the opposite response. Coming from the Pacific Northwest, hiking usually involves ascents and descents of a few thousand feet in the Cascades, along with oodles of scenic mountain beauty. People can’t comprehend how “just walking” could be interesting or difficult. Of course, as the Camino gets better known, responses are different. A lot of people assume they can easily walk tens of miles per day if it’s rather smooth and flat, they just wouldn’t want to.
I think the best way to avoid any confusion is to make everything simple.I don’t know about you, but when it comes to describing trail experiences accurately and responsibly here, on the forum, I struggle with vocabulary. Although English is our common language, being a global community, it is easy sometimes to misinterpret what others have written. A single word can have a thousand nuances. It can mean different things to different people depending region, country and hemisphere and also depending on context.
What I’d like to know is, are there any standards for writing about trails ie. lists of technical terms which publishers of guide books such as Cicerone and trail magazines use ?
For the sake of accuracy and responsibility, do you think such a list would be helpful here, on the forum for us to refer to when describing our experiences ?
Some of the people visiting this forum have been published or have self-published trail guides and Camino experiences. How did they describe moments on the trail? Which sporting or technical terms, if any did they choose to use? Why?
Here is a list of words with links to sporting activities on Wikipedia. I referred to it the other day in another conversation here: Post #26 .
Climbing
Scrambling
Hiking
Rambling
Walking
Looking forward to your comments.
Regards
-Lovingkindness
Living in the land of 14ers is probably similar. I've done my share of them, and no longer have much desire to do more unless I'm going with someone who hasn't been before and I can experience it through their eyes.Phoenix, I often get the opposite response. Coming from the Pacific Northwest, hiking usually involves ascents and descents of a few thousand feet in the Cascades, along with oodles of scenic mountain beauty. People can’t comprehend how “just walking” could be interesting or difficult. Of course, as the Camino gets better known, responses are different. A lot of people assume they can easily walk tens of miles per day if it’s rather smooth and flat, they just wouldn’t want to.
Exactly. Because the Camino isn't a hiking expedition in the wilderness. It's not mountaineering. (no, not even in the Pyrenees) It's a journey across Spain (a civilized country) using your feet as transportation, rather than a train, bus or car.Then again, perhaps in conversations about it I should just lead with, "Hey, do you like to take a walk, drink great coffee/beer/wine, and meet people from all around the world?"
And these pilgrims in Europe who set out from home to go to Santiago, walking / hiking / trekking / scrambling perhaps even climbing, are doing this without following yellow arrows because there are none. Thank you for mentioning @Peter Robins. He did a fantastic job with his database and interactive maps. I contacted him once to get a clearer idea about one part of the trail I was planning to follow and he very kindly wrote back.Just to say
You're Welcome!And these pilgrims in Europe who set out from home to go to Santiago, walking / hiking / trekking / scrambling perhaps even climbing, are doing this without following yellow arrows because there are none. Thank you for mentioning @Peter Robins. He did a fantastic job with his database and interactive maps. I contacted him once to get a clearer idea about one part of the trail I was planning to follow and he very kindly wrote back.
Reminiscing now ...
Forgot to mention squinting at every stick to see if it moves and hisses and frequent encounters with wombat waste at nose level while crawling under giant tree trunks ..As long as it is not Australian bushwalking, it is OK by me.
Bushwalking - hot sun beating down relentlessly, pulling oneself on hands and feet over huge rocks, climbing up and down impossible slopes, cliff edges to fill one with terror - and all the while surrounded by hard scratchy plants that seem intent on tearing the skin and destroying clothing and packs. And that's on a good day!
Good point. @Jeff Crawley mentioned earlier that the descent from the windmills at the Alto del Perdón just after Pamplona had scree-running potential. I used the technique, and I was wearing proper shoes, btw. I could tell that many of my fellow pilgrims were puzzled by seeing someone using this methodAnd while we are at it I'll mention scree. Many of our mountainous trails in the USA have sections of scree which can be rather dangerous. Of course we do not start off walking from home.
I heard that I had to climb a steep pass in the Pyrenees.Much later, after I had already walked from SJPP to Roncesvalles and beyond, I noticed comments on the forum where people described how steep it was to walk there.
I couldn't figure out what they meant. I didn't recall anything as steep there.
I have always preferred the downhills, skampering like a rabbit, although I think I am in a minority. I absolutely detest the uphills, but I've got to say it's when I take the most pictures...pause, aim and shoot.Good point. @Jeff Crawley mentioned earlier that the descent from the windmills at the Alto del Perdón just after Pamplona had scree-running potential. I used the technique, and I was wearing proper shoes, btw. I could tell that many of my fellow pilgrims were puzzled by seeing someone using this method. Also, I was the fasted going down that hill.
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to describing trail experiences accurately and responsibly here, on the forum, I struggle with vocabulary. Although English is our common language, being a global community, it is easy sometimes to misinterpret what others have written. A single word can have a thousand nuances. It can mean different things to different people depending region, country and hemisphere and also depending on context.
What I’d like to know is, are there any standards for writing about trails ie. lists of technical terms which publishers of guide books such as Cicerone and trail magazines use ?
For the sake of accuracy and responsibility, do you think such a list would be helpful here, on the forum for us to refer to when describing our experiences ?
Some of the people visiting this forum have been published or have self-published trail guides and Camino experiences. How did they describe moments on the trail? Which sporting or technical terms, if any did they choose to use? Why?
Here is a list of words with links to sporting activities on Wikipedia. I referred to it the other day in another conversation here: Post #26 .
Climbing
Scrambling
Hiking
Rambling
Walking
Looking forward to your comments.
Regards
-Lovingkindness
most confused as I stood on top of the col looking down towards Ronscesvalles wondering where the Pyrenees were!!
Probably better call it "hill walk" in English or "Bergwanderung" in German.20 km walk.
I did some hikes in Ireland and England a few years ago. I recall some locals mentioning it was "fell walking".Probably better call it "hill walk" in English or "Bergwanderung" in German.
Like the way you describe it... however, I may have missed out on that pint of cerveza each hour... :>)This.
When trying to tell friends or acquaintances about Camino, they say something like, "Oh, I couldn't do that." My usual reply describes walking, drinking café con leche, walking, meeting people from all over the world, maybe a section here or there that is like a hike, drinking a pint of cerveza appx 1/hr while walking, albergue life, dinner & meeting more people, world championship snoring at night, etc. then repeat. Some get it and some can't fathom Camino life.
Used mostly in Northern England.I did some hikes in Ireland and England a few years ago. I recall some locals mentioning it was "fell walking".
I laughed out loud at that.Forgot to mention squinting at every stick to see if it moves and hisses and frequent encounters with wombat waste at nose level while crawling under giant tree trunks ..
My impression is that "fell walking" is used by the English mainly when they live in fell walking countryside, and that they use "rambling"with the slight disdain or distant memories so aptly described by @Dromengro.I did some hikes in Ireland and England a few years ago. I recall some locals mentioning it was "fell walking".
Josephus, I totally agree. As a native English speaker, and professional, I abhor technical language. If one can’t express ones meaning in simple words of one syllable then Imho one does not understand the subject. The KISS principle makes total sense.Well, language is a tricky thing, especially if it’s not your mother tongue (as it is not for me).
But I wouldn’t over complicate it in a way that I should learn a set of technical terms in order to express myself correctly. Best practice for me will be: Keep it simple. Avoid saying that are difficult to understand for people who do not come from the Anglo Saxon cultural area.
¡Ultreia!
I had to look this up as I'd not heard of it before. I usually use simple words, but sometimes I think I use too many of them to get my point across. I often tend to "paint a picture" with words instead of giving the cliff notes.The KISS principle makes total sense.
I defined it further up! Although the last word I used isn't the usual word but I didn't want to use that...I had to look this up as I'd not heard of it before. I usually use simple words, but sometimes I think I use too many of them to get my point across. I often tend to "paint a picture" with words instead of giving the cliff notes.
I didn't scroll back far enough. Either way it was nice for me to get an official dictionary definition/meaning.I defined it further up! Although the last word I used isn't the usual word but I didn't want to use that...
If the wine tasting went really too far you might say you "fell walking".Somehow late to the party
Obviously the Camino is just for a "walking" even though I can imagine some need for "scrambling" skills if the wine tasting has gone too far ...
On the other hand "wading" has been required several times though. Or should I say "fording"??
I actually fell walking on the Portuguese in 2019. I had a few gouges on my knees and fractured a rib.If the wine tasting went really too far you might say you "fell walking".
I prefer the picture, sometimes I fall off the cliffI had to look this up as I'd not heard of it before. I usually use simple words, but sometimes I think I use too many of them to get my point across. I often tend to "paint a picture" with words instead of giving the cliff notes.
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