While us ramblers'n'amblers are
taking a break to pore over maps and polish our boots,
here are some happy reflections on what we get out of walking.
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (crazy name, crazy guy), the originator
of the concept of 'Flow', has this to say on what's so enjoyable about hitting
the trail:
Walking is as simple a use of the body
as one can imagine, yet it can become a complex flow activity, almost an art
form. A great number of different goals might be set for a walk.
For instance, the choice of the itinerary: where one wishes to go, and by
what route. Within the overall route, one might select places to stop, or
certain landmarks to see. Another goal may be to develop a personal
style, a way to move the body easily and efficiently. An economy of
motion that maximises physical well-being is another obvious goal. For
measuring progress, the feedback may include how fast and how easily the
intended distance was converted; how many interesting sights one has seen; and
how many new ideas or feelings were entertained along the way.
The challenges of the activity are what
force us to concentrate. The challenges of a walk will vary greatly,
depending on the environment. For those who live in large cities, flat
pavements and right-angle layouts make the act of walking easy. Walking
on a mountain trail is another thing altogether: for a skilled hiker each step
presents a different challenge to be resolved with a choice of the most
efficient foothold that will give the best leverage, simultaneously taking into
account the momentum and the centre of gravity of the body and the various
surfaces – dirt, rocks, grass, branches – on which the foot can land. On
a difficult trail an experienced hiker walls with economy of motion and
lightness, and the constant adjustment of her steps to the terrain reveals a
highly sophisticated process of selecting the best solution to a changing
series of complex equations involving mass, velocity, and friction. Of
course these calculations are usually automatic, and give the impression of
being entirely intuitive, almost instinctive; but if the walker does not
process the right information about the terrain, and fails to make the
appropriate adjustments in her gait, she will stumble or will soon grow
tired.
So while this kind of walking might be entirely
unselfconscious, it is in fact a highly intense activity that requires
concentrated attention. Walking is the most trivial activity imaginable,
yet it can be profoundly enjoyable if a person sets goals and takes control of
the process.
Nicely put, Mihaly : )
