A recent post linked to a story that went over the dangers of thru hiking. That was really a story about the adverse health effects of the typical on trail diet rather than the hiking itself. Nevertheless, how about a story that highlights the health benefits of walking, and by association hiking?

A recent story on CNN called walking the most underrated form of exercise. Among the listed benefits:

• Improves health
  
• Improves memory and cognitive ability
  
• Boosts your mood and lowers stress
  
• Energizing, but also helps you sleep
  
• Safe and easy exercise for newbies
  
• Can be a vigorous workout
  
• Builds family and community bonds
  
• Walking is free and can be done anywhere