New Book Explores the Rich History of Hiking

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - EntSun -- Virtually no one went hiking before the 19th century. What occurred that inspired ordinary people to take a walk in the woods for pleasure?

Jeff Doran answers this, and many other key questions. The second edition of his book, Ramble On: A History of Hiking, examines hiking's close association with early mountaineering, the cultural and societal trends that fostered its growth, the earliest known hikers, the first trails built specifically for recreational hiking, the profound influence 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 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 unearthed 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 at that time."

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Praise for the first edition:
"Doran weaves the social, cultural, industrial, and political milieu into this fascinating history. Amusing, astonishing, and sometimes alarming anecdotes .. make this a fascinating and significant account of the history of hiking."  - - Priscilla Estes, Appalachian Footnotes, Winter 2018-2019, Delaware Valley Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club

The book is now available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GKY1777Q

About the Author:
Jeff Doran grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, and now resides in East Tennessee. A graduate of Xavier University, Jeff worked in marketing for several years before starting his own online hiking trail guide business. After decades of hiking in America's national parks, he founded HikinginGlacier.com, RockyMountainHikingTrails.com and TetonHikingTrails.com, which provide detailed trail information. In addition to being an avid hiker and a history buff, Jeff is also an avid cyclist.