New Book Highlights the Rich History of Hiking

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Sept. 22, 2018 - PRLog -- How did hiking evolve from the upper-class European sport of alpinism and the publication of an English travel guide into an activity that now has millions of participants all over the world?

Jeff Doran answers this important question, as well as many others. His new book, Ramble On, 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 hiking gear and apparel.

The book also includes several anecdotal stories of trail development in some of our oldest and most iconic national parks, as well as the peculiar and quirky traditions of some of the early hiking clubs. The book also discusses the mores of the Victorian Era, which dictated what women could and could not wear while hiking. In fact, Doran remarked that "One of the most compelling stories I found was 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 also takes a look at some of the issues that currently impact hikers and trails, such as overcrowding and social media, and takes a peek into the future on how some of these trends could unfold. The author explains some of the solutions public land managers are currently considering, while also offering a few suggestions himself.

The book is now available at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1725036266/

About the Author:

Jeff Doran grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and now resides in Louisville, KY. A graduate of Xavier University, Jeff has worked in the marketing areas of several Fortune 500 companies before starting his own online hiking trail guide business. After many years of hiking in some of America's most beautiful national parks, Jeff founded HikingintheSmokys.com, RockyMountainHikingTrails.com, HikinginGlacier.com and TetonHikingTrails.com, which provide detailed trail information, as well as many historical anecdotes. In addition to being an avid hiker and a passionate history buff, Jeff is also an avid cyclist.