Conservation group pushes real hiking with virtual tracking

For many, getting outside is a welcome escape from computers, iPads, smartphones, and all the electronic gadgets that make our lives “more convenient.” Others embrace technology, happily combining pedometers and global-positioning systems with their adventures.

Today, such personal devices as Fitbit and applications such as MapMyHike give outdoor enthusiasts tools to gauge their effort and record their accomplishments. And goals have long been a part of the Northeast hiking community, as the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Four Thousand Footer Club (established in 1957) can attest.

The Trustees of Reservations Hike 125 initiative, challenging members to hike 125 miles this year, blends both perspectives — getting outside while employing technology. Participants register on the Trustees website, where they can record their hikes and compare results with other enthusiasts.

The Hike 125 challenge is being held in conjunction with the 125th birthday celebrations of the Trustees, one of the world’s oldest conservation organizations and the largest in the Commonwealth of Massachussetts. Trustees president Barbara Erickson said Hike 125 is an invitation to explore the Trustees myriad properties and is intended to spark “a lifelong love and appreciation for nature, recreation, and the culture that surrounds us.” The Hike 125 initiative runs through Dec. 31, 2016.

Read full story…

 

The following are paid links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.