The significance of the Industrial Revolution on hiking

The following is an adaptation from Ramble On: A History of Hiking.

While overcoming a fear of mountains and the gradual breakdown in the social stigmas associated with walking certainly enabled hiking to germinate, I would argue that the single most important event to spur the development of hiking was the Industrial Revolution. The social changes brought about by industrialization were profound. As explained in much more detail in Ramble On: A History of Hiking, industrialization triggered a massive backlash from certain segments of society, which inspired movements in art, philosophy and religion. These movements, in turn, would motivate people - in one way or another - to visit wilderness areas for recreational purposes. As industrialization progressed, especially in America, it gave rise to the labor movement, which eventually resulted in increased wages and significant reductions in the average number of hours worked each week. Thus, workers began to enjoy more free time, many of whom pursued recreation in the great outdoors. Industrialization also gave rise to railroads, automobiles and roads, which provided people with the ability to travel more easily to wilderness areas. As a result of these social transformations and movements, hiking emerged as a pastime. Though it was only a fringe activity in the early 1800s, the sport grew steadily through the Great Depression. After World War II, however, it exploded, and has now become one of the world's most popular outdoor activities.

Learn more about Ramble On: A History of Hiking on my author page.

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Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure? Ramble On: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.

On this date in hiking history: Glacier becomes America’s 8th national park

On this date in 1910, Glacier became America’s 8th national park. Take a step back in time and check out this quick tour of the park from the 1920s:





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Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout this vast park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Glacier National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Glacier:

A Young Granite Park Chalet

The two photos below of the Granite Park Chalet in Glacier National Park were taken by T. J. Hileman in 1925, just ten years after it was constructed by the Great Northern Railway. The rustic lodge was the last of the nine backcountry chalets built by the railroad, all of which were part of an interconnected system of trails, tent camps, backcountry chalets and frontcountry lodges [more details on this system here]. All were constructed to provide comfortable accommodations within Glacier during the era before automobile travel become an important mode of transportation. Both Sperry and Granite Park, the only chalets that survive to this day, still offer overnight accommodations for hikers. Both are National Historic Landmarks.

Compared to Sperry Chalet, the Granite Park Chalet is much more basic, and is essentially a simple hiker's hostel, with virtually no amenities. It has 12 guest rooms, each with 2 to 6 bunks. Although there's no electricity, the common-area kitchen does have a propane stove that you can use to cook a warm lunch or dinner. The chalet also sells packaged foods, beverages, snacks, and bottled water to day hikers.

Although accommodations are limited, the chalet is still a popular destination for hikers on the Highline Trail, as the upfront views of Heavens Peak are second to none:

Here's another photo of a "man playing with bear at Granite Chalet" in 1924. This photo was taken by John Morten:

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Glacier National Park preserves more than a million acres of some of the most spectacular scenery on Earth. With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout this vast park, how will you find and choose the most scenic and rewarding hikes?

Exploring Glacier National Park takes all the guesswork out by focusing on the most amazing hikes, and provides you with handpicked recommendations that will allow you to make the most of your trip to Glacier:

Gran Teton posts construction updates

Gran Teton National Park posted this blurb on their social media yesterday:

Planning a trip to Grand Teton National Park this spring? Most of the park is OPEN and ready to explore 🏔️

Scenic drives, hiking trails, visitor centers, and campgrounds are available across much of the park.

🚧 A few construction areas to plan around:

• Death Canyon Road/Trailhead: closed

• Moose-Wilson Road: open between Granite Entrance and Rockefeller Preserve

• Moose/Teton Park Road area: occasional short delays possible

• Taggart Lake Trail: hiking detour in place

✨ Bottom line: classic Grand Teton experiences, like Colter Bay and driving the Teton Park Road are here—just allow extra travel time and check conditions before you go. 🔗 nps.gov/grte/planyourvisit/road-construction.htm

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Check out our online trail guides:

• Glacier National Park: HikinginGlacier.com

• Grand Teton National Park: TetonHikingTrails.com

• Rocky Mountain National Park: RockyMountainHikingTrails.com

• My new edition on hiking history is available on Amazon

The Surprising History of Pedometers

The following is an adaptation from Ramble On: A History of Hiking.

While conducting research for my book I came across an enlightening article in the June 1877 edition of Appalachia, the journal of the Appalachian Mountain Club. According to the piece, much discussion was given to the pedometer during a previous club meeting. Like today, the pedometer counts the number of steps one takes while walking to calculate the total distance covered during a trip. And like today, the owner of the instrument had to accurately measure their average stride in order to obtain a relatively accurate reading of their mileage. Interestingly, at that time, the cost of a pedometer was $15.00, which is roughly equivalent to the price of a modern version of the same device.

To be honest, I was quite surprised to learn that the pedometer existed at that time. Even more surprising was learning that the device has been around for hundreds of years! As far back as the fifteenth century, artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci sketched plans for an apparatus that could track the distance soldiers walked, and possibly as an aid for improving the accuracy of maps.

Though it’s generally believed that his drawings never materialized into a working prototype, an apparatus that counted steps was invented shortly after his death. In 1525, French physician Jean Fernel created a device that resembled a pocket watch. It had four dials (units, tens, hundreds, and thousands) that were connected by a mechanism that attached to the user’s belt. A cord was then attached to the user’s knee so that it would pull on the device every time a step was taken. Though the precise timing is a little murky, Fernel also created a device that counted the number of revolutions of a carriage wheel. Specifically, he used this to measure the distance and the degree of the arc of the meridian between Paris and Amiens, which ultimately allowed him to calculate the circumference of the earth. It’s not clear if the two devices were developed in conjunction with each other, or one invention preceded the other. Depending on which history you read, his carriage wheel counter was invented in either 1525, 1527 or 1528.

Other devices would follow. In fact, the Germanic National Museum in Nuremberg has a pedometer in its collection from around 1590:

Similar in function to Fernel’s invention, London watchmaker Spencer & Perkins sold a pocket watch style pedometer between 1775 and 1794. In 1777, Swiss watchmaker Abraham-Louis Perrelet invented the world’s first automatic winding watch. This timepiece used an oscillating weight within the watch that moved up-and-down while walking. Building upon this technology, he introduced a pedometer three years later:

While in Paris, between 1784 and 1789, Thomas Jefferson commissioned a local watchmaker to craft a custom-made step counter for his personal use. The device was worn in a vest pocket, which was connected by string to a strap worn below the knee. Each time Jefferson took a step, the string would pull a protruding lever arm attached to the gears on the counter, and thus be recorded. In 1788, he sent a replica to James Madison, along with detailed instructions on how to use it. Unfortunately, neither of those devices exists anymore.



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Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk through the woods for pleasure? Ramble On: A History of Hiking explores the rich history of hiking, and how it evolved into one of the most popular pastimes in the world.