Walking Hills

Steve said:

Do we walk hills for the personal satisfaction/ego at getting to a
high place - or the simply whole natural environment/outooors/away
from urban bustle experience.

I don't know about "we", I suspect we all have different reasons and
different motivations and get different things out of it, but as for
"me"...

Certainly I get a personal satisfaction from standing on a mountain top,
but it's not an ego thing, quite the opposite. Standing alone on
mountain top, looking at vast panoramas, makes me realise how small and
insignificant I am. When the weather turns bad that only emphasis one's
vulnerability as well. Of course, there's a certain satisfaction to be
had from surviving bad conditions, but it's a humbling experience IMO,
rather than one to feel big headed about. It tends to put life in
perspective for me.

It's civilisation and all it's associated complexities that provides the
breeding ground for egos. Of course, I do most of my walking and wild
camping alone. In a group there may be a certain tendency to show off.
There are those who enjoy competetive macho activities in the outdoors.

I think my main reason for being out there is to get away from
civilisation, which distorts perspective, distorts the true meaning of
things, and piles on unnecessary stress. A few days in the outdoors
helps me to get my head together, forget my trivial little problems and
restore perspective.

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk
http://www.wildwales.fsnet.co.uk

No hills do not walk,
Except a few mm a year with continental drift.

;-)

--
Dave F

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

Do we walk hills for the personal satisfaction/ego at getting to a high
place - or the simply whole natural environment/outooors/away from urban
bustle experience.

Yes.
--
I try to be a good example to my children, but they just see me
as a dire warning.

Steve <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

Do we walk hills for the personal satisfaction/ego at getting to a high
place - or the simply whole natural environment/outooors/away from urban
bustle experience.

I welcome the views of the group.....

My pleasure in climbing hills, apart from the enjoyment of the physical
exercise, is simply to experience the extended view which is only
possible from high ground.
If you have company, it is very satisfying on a warm summer's day to
say "We must come up here on New Year's Day with a roast chicken and a
bottle of wine".

Of course you never actually DO that. ;-)
--
Gordon

Steve said:

Do we walk hills for the personal satisfaction/ego at getting to a high
place - or the simply whole natural environment/outooors/away from urban
bustle experience.

1. exercise
2. satisfaction
3. the view
4. away from the 'urban bustle'

(3 and 4 are why I prefer the South Downs over the North, even though
I live at the foot of the North Downs. The ND around here are largely
wooded, and suffer from traffic noise (M25). The eastern end of the SD
- roughly from Arundel eastwards - is largely open farmland, with much
better views, and is noticeably quieter. Better yet, of course, are
the larger hills further north - mostly the Dark Peak and Lake
District in my case.)

Peter,

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Do we walk hills for the personal satisfaction/ego at getting to a high
place - or the simply whole natural environment/outooors/away from urban
bustle experience.

for a number of reasons:

- physical challenge

- peace & quiet, & time to think

- appreciate the outdoors

- spend quality time with good friends

- de-stressing and escaping the everyday grind (bit like 2 above)

Think that's about the size of it!!

--
Darren

In article <[email hidden]>, pvs1
@wildwales.fsnet.co.uk says...

Quoted message said:

Steve said:

Do we walk hills for the personal satisfaction/ego at getting to a
high place - or the simply whole natural environment/outooors/away
from urban bustle experience.

I don't know about "we", I suspect we all have different reasons and
different motivations and get different things out of it, but as for
"me"...

Certainly I get a personal satisfaction from standing on a mountain top,
but it's not an ego thing, quite the opposite. Standing alone on
mountain top, looking at vast panoramas, makes me realise how small and
insignificant I am. When the weather turns bad that only emphasis one's
vulnerability as well. Of course, there's a certain satisfaction to be
had from surviving bad conditions, but it's a humbling experience IMO,
rather than one to feel big headed about. It tends to put life in
perspective for me.

It's civilisation and all it's associated complexities that provides the
breeding ground for egos. Of course, I do most of my walking and wild
camping alone. In a group there may be a certain tendency to show off.
There are those who enjoy competetive macho activities in the outdoors.

I think my main reason for being out there is to get away from
civilisation, which distorts perspective, distorts the true meaning of
things, and piles on unnecessary stress. A few days in the outdoors
helps me to get my head together, forget my trivial little problems and
restore perspective.

Amen to that!

--
Darren

I noticed that Message-ID: <[email hidden]>
from Peter contained the following:

Quoted message said:

Better yet, of course, are
the larger hills further north - mostly the Dark Peak and Lake
District in my case.)

I bought a map of the White Peak area today. I nearly got it wrong
because the cover of the Dark Peak map has a picture of 3 Shires Head.

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

Geoff Berrow <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I noticed that Message-ID: <[email hidden]>
from Peter contained the following:

Quoted message said:

Better yet, of course, are
the larger hills further north - mostly the Dark Peak and Lake
District in my case.)

I bought a map of the White Peak area today. I nearly got it wrong
because the cover of the Dark Peak map has a picture of 3 Shires Head.

I remember when there was a bird on the front. (Feathered).
--
Gordon

Bitstring <[email hidden]>, from the wonderful person
Steve <[email hidden]> said

Quoted message said:

Do we walk hills for the personal satisfaction/ego at getting to a high
place - or the simply whole natural environment/outooors/away from
urban bustle experience.

Stuff the 'high place', I'm just as happy walking along something level,
except there isn't much of that around here. Climb hill when wretched
thing blocks route ahead (seems to happen all the time on the Shropshire
Way).

Peace, quiet (**see later), exercise, nature, scenery, weather .. not
'getting away from urban bustle' .. I already live a long way from urban
bustle.

(**ability to play progressive rock, or folk, music through headphones
for hours on end while walking ... do get the odd funny look from people
coming t'other way when I am singing along though .. so 'quiet' is more
like 'undisturbed'. Makes miles/hours go much faster).

--
GSV Three Minds in a Can
Outgoing Msgs are Turing Tested,and indistinguishable from human typing.

"Steve" <[email hidden]> schreef in bericht
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Do we walk hills for the personal satisfaction/ego .....

Certainly not for my ego. My friends and colleages think I'm an idiot. They
go to Spain, Turkey, Egypt. Warm and sunny places with beaches, disco's and
even some activity like scubadiving. They say they also go there for the
culture but IMO if you've seen one Mac you've seen them all. In my case,
spending my holidays in the UK (and I prefer Scotland), every Mac differs
from the other. I love the wildness and ruggedness of Scotland. That's
something we've lost a long time ago in Holland. Of course I do my best to
maintain my image of being an idiot. After every holiday I tell this stories
about galeforce winds, heavy rain and even snow and frost and getting
knackered and my f&c feel sorry for me. I hope to persuade one or two to go
to Scotland but certainly no more. It might get to crowded :-)

--
Theo
www.theosphotos.fotopic.net
[email hidden](we'll.leave.the.house.and.read.the.mail)

I walk because:

1) its the only way to get to some interesting places
2)Because I enjoy it

Richard Webb

theo said:

"Steve" <[email hidden]> schreef in bericht
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Do we walk hills for the personal satisfaction/ego .....

Certainly not for my ego. My friends and colleages think I'm an
idiot. They go to Spain, Turkey, Egypt. Warm and sunny places with
beaches, disco's and even some activity like scubadiving. They say
they also go there for the culture but IMO if you've seen one Mac
you've seen them all. In my case, spending my holidays in the UK (and

<< snip >>

You don't have to go to Spain just for the beaches and discos. This summer
we went to the Costa Brava, and were astonished at the rich culture there.
And if you want a nice energetic walk, visit the castle above Torroella de
Montgri. Not recommended in high summer though, with temperatures
consistently in the 30s! Alternatively you could go to some concerts at the
music festival - although they start at 22.30 and end in the early hours of
the morning! Of course this is Catalunya, which is atypical of Spain as a
whole.

If you want a less energetic walk, try the 5 mile circuit of the lake at
Banyoles. (Nothing much else to recommend that place though.)

Brian

I noticed that Message-ID: <[email hidden]> from
Gordon contained the following:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I bought a map of the White Peak area today. I nearly got it wrong
because the cover of the Dark Peak map has a picture of 3 Shires Head.

I remember when there was a bird on the front. (Feathered).

Prolly should have explained that 3 shires head is in the White Peak
area.

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

Geoff Berrow <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I noticed that Message-ID: <[email hidden]> from
Gordon contained the following:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I bought a map of the White Peak area today. I nearly got it wrong
because the cover of the Dark Peak map has a picture of 3 Shires Head.

I remember when there was a bird on the front. (Feathered).

Prolly should have explained that 3 shires head is in the White Peak
area.

No, you shouldn't. Been there done that, etc. Panniers Pool,
Hanging Rock, Ludd's Church.....
--
Gordon

I noticed that Message-ID: <[email hidden]> from
Gordon contained the following:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Prolly should have explained that 3 shires head is in the White Peak
area.

No, you shouldn't. Been there done that, etc. Panniers Pool,
Hanging Rock, Ludd's Church.....

Yebbut, not everyone has.

--
Geoff Berrow (put thecat out to email)
It's only Usenet, no one dies.
My opinions, not the committee's, mine.
Simple RFDs http://www.ckdog.co.uk/rfdmaker/

My friends and colleages think I'm an idiot. They

Quoted message said:

go to Spain, Turkey, Egypt. Warm and sunny places with beaches, disco's

My idea of absolute hell!

Quoted message said:

They say they also go there for the culture

Possibly, but not in my experience. I have done a few 'sunny' activity
based trips, and on these the suggestion of taking a day out to explore
the local environment is usually met with complete puzzlement.

Quoted message said:

I love the wildness and ruggedness of Scotland.

What can you say? Other than YES!

Quoted message said:

After every holiday I tell this stories
about galeforce winds, heavy rain and even snow and frost and getting
knackered and my f&c feel sorry for me. I hope to persuade one or two to go
to Scotland but certainly no more. It might get to crowded :-)

Leave them to their crowded beaches and discos, I say :-)

Steve

Quoted message said:

ot recommended in high summer though, with temperatures
consistently in the 30s! Alternatively you could go to some concerts at the
music festival - although they start at 22.30 and end in the early hours of
the morning! Of course this is Catalunya, which is atypical of Spain as a
whole.

Absolutely. A friend of mine lived in Spain for 3 years, and there is SO
much more than what some people expect i.e. the beaches and discos.

I'm considering a trip to the Catalonian Pyrenees myself, I would be
grateful for any reports of this area

Steve

In message <[email hidden]>, Steve
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

Do we walk hills for the personal satisfaction/ego at getting to a high
place - or the simply whole natural environment/outooors/away from
urban bustle experience.

A walk without views is, IMHO, a boring walk. If you're climbing a hill,
you want some reward.

--
Martin @ Strawberry Hill