why do you bushwalk in preference to other activities?

[wayno]

why do you bushwalk in preference to other activities?
what is it about bushwalking that makes you do that activity in preference to other active pastimes?

i've done team sports, and athletics, i'm a bit over competitive sports and some of the egos.
bushwalking just clicked for me.
I avoid exercising indoors like the plague, I work indoors , i wont want to exercise indoors as well.
the wilderness either gets into you or it doesnt, and the outdoors got into me staying on a relatives orchard as a kid, i wanted to explore more of it and get into the real wilderness,
my parents never took me on anything more than a short stroll through the odd forest and i felt frustrated at never going further as a kid. went on the odd overnighter with cadets, then after frustration of an injury with running a mate invited me to do overnighters with him in the mountains, and i never looked back... there were so many places and terrains to explore and the changing weather made each experience different... free of the parents it was a big confidence booster and learning experience. lots of adventures and vistas burned into you memory never to be forgotten.
other physical activities played second fiddle to bushwalking...
not sure why but the bad weather was just added excitement to the whole recipie to make it a more interesting mix, a badge of honour to have endured. the mud, the tree roots. the cold, the wet, the wind, the snow all enhanced the experience, well up to a point... walking well groomed trails never quite had the same appeal...
the solitude, the open spaces, the emotions, friendships, the parephanalia. all added to the appeal.

[Genesis]

Wayno,

Well, I use it as a spiritual getaway as well as building friendships, exercise etc.
I live in Tasmania and am indeed blessed with an abundance of choice!
Moved here from Queensland, to the amazement of friends, But would not be anywhere else.

The peace and quiet, seeing wildlife in its ecosystem and the general feeling "at one" with it all.
This is why I choose to bushwalk over other exercise.

Genesis

[Scottyk]

To be in amazing places where other people aren't.

[GPSGuided]

Bushwalk is a supplement to my cycling, and is one that my wife enjoys more. Otherwise, walking is an excellent form of exercise and being outdoors. Seeing amazing scenery is an absolute bonus and keeps me coming back for more. The major limitation with bushwalking as a form of exercise is its time consumption. Before retirement and with a growing family, it's impossible for me to turn it into a weekly event, let along even greater frequency. So it will remains to be diversional activity until retirement.

[perfectlydark]

Bushwalking is actually the only "physical" interest I have these days. Not into any sports and I suppose my other hobbies are more on the "nerd" level, being gaming and lego (yes seriously)

[Genesis]

Bushwalking is actually the only "physical" interest I have these days. Not into any sports and I suppose my other hobbies are more on the "nerd" level, being gaming and lego (yes seriously)

Perfectly dark,

Sounds like we would get a long! I am too a middle aged lego fan! and an engineer which probably explains it....

Genesis

[wayno]

having grown up with lego, I know the squabbles that go on over parts when you put two lego builders together...

[perfectlydark]

Ha nice! Up the AFOLs

[Onestepmore]

Bush walking - being outdoors, doing things with my hubby and my kids, being minimalistic compared to our lifestyle it home, access to great scenery, the smells and noises of the bush, appreciating the changing environment even walking the same local tracks repeatedly, an excuse to go on trips and visit new places. More recently we've discovered walking above the tree line, alpine stuff, and I've finally introduced hubby to skiing, which to my delight he took to immediately. .

I don't regret the time it takes at all. I used to ride and compete on dressage horses, that was a very time consuming and all encompassing lifestyle. Now I do something with my husband which is much better for our marriage!

I'm still a bit of a gamer geek (World of Warcraft for over seven years), but I also love my garden and cooking, books and music. I am lucky and only work part time, in blocks, so I have time for all of this.
Lego and mecchano aficionado too!

[Tony]

Why do I bushwalk, these photo's which I took last Saturday evening explain it all, there were around 12 Red Neck Wallabies feeding around our camp some came within 2 meters of me to check me out.

[Hermione]

To be in amazing places where other people aren't.

+ 1
Far more succinct than I can manage as my academic supervisor is so fond of pointing out

[corvus]

Because Tasmania is so beautiful in all seasons I do this as my main outdoor activity other than gardening,I have been hampered in the past 18 months with health problems but intend to be out there as soon as I can
corvus

[wayno]

from what i've read in the past you need to look at cholesterol consumption as well. a lot of red meat puts your cholesterol consumption right up... one book i read claimed it plays a big part in causing the blood to clog up more readily and contribute to clogging of the arteries...

[GPSGuided]

Because Tasmania is so beautiful in all seasons I do this as my main outdoor activity other than gardening

Are you trying to grow the densest Tassie bush in your garden? For gear testing?

[philm]

Peace and self fulfilment. The challenge is there planning, navigation, solitude, close friends and the fear of the unknown of what is ahead.
Bushwalking has everything to challenge the mind and provide inner strength to tackle challenges in everyday life - it makes you stronger.

[corvus]

="GPSGuided"]

Because Tasmania is so beautiful in all seasons I do this as my main outdoor activity other than gardening

Are you trying to grow the densest Tassie bush in your garden? For gear testing?[/quote]

No, but I do collect native flora and plant them in my garden my Dianella revoluta is a prime example of a really good take up also have Ferns which are a bit weed like if you don't control them
corvus

[Swifty]

I wish I could do more bushwalking! But work has taken me away from Tasmania, which is the place I definitely prefer for bushwalking!
I have other hobbies that I enjoy - cabinet-making is one (you just can't beat A. melanoxylon for furniture), film photography is another.
But the Tassie bush stole my heart long ago....

[MickyB]

I love it as it's mentally relaxing. Stress levels drop as soon as I am hiking. I forget about work and life's problems and see scenery/flora/fauna that many people don't get to see. Still love watching most sports but there is nothing like getting into the bush and exploring new areas.

[Lizzy]

It makes me happy I love the planning & preparation- I always have a few walks planned even if I know I can't do them at the moment. When I do get out there it is freedom, adventure, a change of pace, a sense of fulfillment, pushing oneself, visiting amazing places...

[weighty walker]

It restores my mind and my body, the beauty of nature, the wonderment, the peace, the solitude, the list goes on.I would rather be in the bush/rainforest than anywhere else. It's my happy place

[perfectlydark]

It restores my mind and my body, the beauty of nature, the wonderment, the peace, the solitude, the list goes on.I would rather be in the bush/rainforest than anywhere else. It's my happy place

+1

[AlbinoNeutrino]

When I'm solo bushwalking I no longer feel like a human being who is part of society, I feel like a human animal walking on the surface of the planet, on the same level as all the other living things that share it with us.

[troutboy]

When you live at Katoomba in the Blue Mountains do you really need a reason. cheers troutboy

[headwerkn]

Bushwalking is an "enabler" of three of my other pastimes - fishing, hunting and photography.

Most of our hiking of late has been simply to access wonderfully remote fishing spots where relatively few people go. Sunday last, my partner and I hiked for 3 hrs through a blizzard and camped in snow just so we could enjoy a early start at First Lagoon. Never really cleared up enough for polaroiding and I only spied one trout the entire morning, but even walking back without hooking let alone landing a fish, it was still great fun to have an entire lake to yourself.

Cheers, Ben.

[tibboh]

Have always had a strong attraction to Tassie, especially the mountains. I am never happier than when I am standing at the summit. I was born here but spent alot of time away. Bushwalking is more than a hobby....more like a passion. I'm lucky enough to have turned another hobby into an occupation with cabinetmaking (Swifty ). Am thinking about trying my hand at kayaking....plenty of water about. Also like riding the bike but am not a bodysuit wearing fanatic........Bushwalking stands alone, like me mostly when I'm out there.

[Snowzone]

It makes me feel alive!

[Smeagle]

The freedom of being my own self and not having to listen to the banter of day to day life, wish i was born in the exploration era, when no one had been there before....argh the tranquil life

[walk2wineries]

All of the above.
I'm not competitive and whether I walk alone or with buddies there is no competition.
I can wear -indeed it is de rigeur to wear - my most comfortable clothing and who cares what it looks like. WHo cares what I look like, the only thing to raise a comment was "that tick on your earlobe looks like a new sort of ear-ring." or maybe "your bootlaces are undone. Again. "
Looking forward to rewarding walks is an incentive for me to keep a little bit fit during the week.
And I have wondered- I think there may be a meme that kicks in at middleage that sends one hunting for and identifyin orchids?
Lastly - my challenge, and I've had some success, is plotting a bushwalk that takes in great scenery and if possible (sorry, I do mainly daywalks not Real Bushwalking) a restaurant - best, a cellar door restaurant - at apogee. I would recomment the middle of the Bibulman track and the Cape to Cape in WA as being the best places for this, although one musn't forget the railtrails going through Margaret River itself... there are some places on the Fleiurieu Peninsula and Barossa Valley in SA- well, the Heysen goes past it - I must checkout. Onkaparinga Gorge... Suggestions very welcome btw.
Can one combine oeneology and food appreciation with any other sport? I think not!

[Rob Gosford]

I love it as it's mentally relaxing. Stress levels drop as soon as I am hiking. I forget about work and life's problems and see scenery/flora/fauna that many people don't get to see. Still love watching most sports but there is nothing like getting into the bush and exploring new areas.

+1
plus, i luv taking landscape photographs, so bushwalking gives me an opportunity to do that. And i get a bit of exercise.

[Strider]

It gives me a mental escape and a physical challenge. An opportunity to let worries fade away and life to return to normality.