Publish Date: 2/3/23 (2nd edition)
Language: English
Paperback: 289 pages
ISBN: 979-8373963923
Dimensions: 6 x 0.73 x 9 inches
eBook Edition: available on Amazon
* The Evolution of Hiking Boots
* The Historic Circle Tours of Glacier NP
* Early Hiking Attire for Women
Ramble On: How Hiking Became One of the Most Popular Outdoor Activities in the World
by Jeffrey J. Doran
Description:
Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk in the woods for pleasure?
Ramble On, a broad history of hiking, answers this and many other key questions. It chronicles hiking’s roots in alpinism and mountaineering, the societal trends that fostered its growth, some of the early hikers from the nineteenth century, the first trails built specifically for recreational hiking, the formation of the first hiking clubs, as well as the evolution of gear and apparel.
The book examines how hiking was able to germinate and grow as a result of Romanticism and Transcendentalism, the Industrial Revolution, the labor movement, the rise of automobiles, environmentalism, club culture, and even art. It also highlights trail development in America’s first hiking destination: the White Mountains of New Hampshire, as well as in some of our oldest and most iconic national parks, such as Yellowstone, Yosemite, Mt. Rainier, Glacier, Acadia, and the Great Smoky Mountains. The book also takes a look at the profound impact of the first hiking clubs, as well as some of their unique and sometimes peculiar traditions. Among the more compelling stories is the apparel women were forced to wear during the Victorian Era, and the danger those fashion standards posed to women who dared to venture into the mountains.
Ramble On: How Hiking Became One of the Most Popular Outdoor Activities in the World builds upon the first edition of this book to reflect additional research, and to expand more broadly on a few topics. For example, I wanted to provide a better understanding of how the social trends that prevailed during the Age of Enlightenment influenced art, literature, religion and thought, which allowed hiking to bloom and eventually flourish. I also thought it was important to chronicle in more detail the crucial role the multi-generational Crawford family of New Hampshire played in the development of hiking. As one other example, since publication of the first edition, a compelling new theory has emerged as to why Darby Field made his two ascents of Mt. Washington, which directly challenges the legend of him being the first hiker in America.
The book is now available on Amazon.
Praise for Ramble On:
"Hikers of all levels... have probably spent some quiet time along a trail, wondering about the history of this pursuit they have embraced. The author's heavily researched book offers a solid springboard for the curious. Thanks to his detailed history, a reader can branch out into any number of avenues. This history offers much food for thought for those interested in uncovering the many strands of a sport — and a passion — that are intricately woven into our culture."
-- Karl Kunkel, Fall Newsletter 2023, Piedmont Appalachian Trail Hikers
"One of the more entertaining chapters in "Ramble On" deals with the evolution of hiking gear. Using old guides and catalogs, Doran describes what the well-dressed hiker wore from roughly the 1840s to present, with short histories and pictures of the development of boots, fleece, breathable waterproof fabrics, and packs. The section on women's fashions speaks volumes on the social mores of the Victorian age. Doran gets high marks for highlighting the role of women in the hiking movement throughout the book.
"Ramble On" closes with an intelligent discussion of the future of hiking. Doran identifies overcrowding as the biggest challenge to hiking and offers some good stats, arguing that hiking's popularity has become its worst enemy. The pandemic only added to the problem. Doran offers some familiar solutions..., but also includes arguments on both sides as to their likely impact and success."
-- Wayne Limberg, The Potomac Appalachian, July 2023, Potomac Appalachian Trail Club
Praise for the 1st Edition of Ramble On:
"Doran's book is a treasure: a well-written, entertaining, knowledgeable, and exactingly researched book on the roots of hiking and hiking clubs, the history of trail-making, the evolution of hiking gear and clothing, and the future of hiking on overcrowded trails. Doran weaves the social, cultural, industrial, and political milieu into this fascinating history. Amusing, astonishing, and sometimes alarming anecdotes, along with photos, footnotes, and an extensive bibliography, make this a fascinating and significant account of the history of hiking."
-- Priscilla Estes, Appalachian Footnotes, Winter 2018-2019, Delaware Valley Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club
"Hiking might seem rather bland as a topic to build a book around, but just as Terence Young did in 2017 with Heading Out: A History of American Camping, Doran's research brings to light some surprising hiking trivia... But Ramble On is more than a book of hiking trivia, though it is chock-full of that. Rather, it can be viewed as a vehicle for taking measure of where hiking got its start, why we hike, and what the future of the activity might look like as we crowd the outdoors."
-- Kurt Repanshek, National Parks Traveler
