History of Hiking ((4 Credits))

Catalog description

In the United States, the pursuit of walking in wilderness areas and of outdoor recreation has roots in forestry and farming and was often a response to industrialization. However, the use of the wilderness for recreation and hiking has not included all Americans. In this course, we will consider both the leaders in guiding, trail blazing, developing equipment, and organizing groups to advocate for the pursuit of hiking, the interests of hikers, and wildness preservation AND the groups—especially BIPOC, differently abled, and those without the material wealth to pursue wilderness exploration—who have long been excluded from this history.