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What’s in a Name?

It is interesting how different English words are used around the world for the basic task of putting one foot in front of the other. In Britain this activity is known as ‘walking’ or ‘rambling’; in the Himalayas or in Patagonia and elsewhere it is ‘trekking’; in New Zealand it is ‘tramping’ and in Australia ‘bushwalking’. In the US people go ‘hiking’, which is now considered a very old-fashioned term in Britain. But for some inexplicable reason ‘hiking’ seems just right to describe the activity of walking through the American wilderness, and is used frequently in this book.

Planning your trip

In countries such as the UK it is possible to walk the Pennine Way, for example, at a moment’s notice: pack a tent and backpack, perhaps make a few phone calls to B&Bs, catch a train and then simply … go! It is not possible to walk the JMT in this manner. Only careful pre-trip planning will ensure a trouble-free walk along the JMT with sufficient food and the right equipment.

First, questions must be asked about the direction in which to hike the Trail and the right time of year to do so; whether to walk alone or with a group. Note also that, unlike the UK and most of Europe, permits are required to walk in wilderness areas of the United States (see ‘Wilderness Permits’, below), and they are strictly allocated to ensure the trails are not overused. A permit must be applied for several months in advance of the trip, preferably before a flight is booked to the States. Thought has also to be given to the means of getting from the airport of arrival to the trailhead and back to an airport at the end of the walk, not particularly a straightforward thing to achieve in public-transport-shy America.