Do you prefer a Trek or a Hike?

Bushman · 11-24-2009, 11:32 AM

Some time ago I took some people I know on a "trek". I told them we were going on a "trek" and to travel light. I had taken this path before and I knew what to expect, and no one asked me what to expect.

There is a part on the path where we had to get in the water to swim around this huge rock. Some of them were mad because they felt like I miss lead them.

I told them "I said we were going on a "trek" not a "hike""

The difference being, a hike means you will be walking on a path defined or undefined. A trek is a journey usually meaning you do not know what you will encounter.

2coastcamper · 11-24-2009, 03:01 PM

That sounds quite fun. I then went on a trek through Eldorado Nat. Forest this summer. I abandoned the trail right away and found my own way through -- very tiring.

That being said, when you're leading the group, you should probably always explain to everyone what to expect.

Reese · 11-24-2009, 04:49 PM

Sounds like fun, but I think if someone invited me on a "trek" I wouldn't expect getting in the water either. I prefer treks, but they aren't for everyone.

Christie · 11-24-2009, 06:04 PM

I am more of a hiker as I pretty much stick to trails. I don't mind a challenging trail where a bit of climbing is involved, but, I wouldn't want to deal with swimming and going through deeper water. I think, though, if someone asked me to go on a trek I would probably question a bit before I agreed to go.

Bushman · 11-25-2009, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christie

I am more of a hiker as I pretty much stick to trails. I don't mind a challenging trail where a bit of climbing is involved, but, I wouldn't want to deal with swimming and going through deeper water. I think, though, if someone asked me to go on a trek I would probably question a bit before I agreed to go.

Well, if someone had asked me what to expect I would have gladly told them "we will have to walk a trail, climb a few rocks and swim around a massive stone". It honestly didn't occur to me to tell them since all of them told me "I would like to try something different".

claire · 11-25-2009, 10:45 AM

I've never thought that there was a different between trek and hike, so that part would've thrown me a bit. I wouldn't have minded the water though, because to me hiking is anything you're doing in the woods that includes walking.

summer · 12-01-2009, 07:20 AM

I would rather take a hike so I know exactly what to expect. I think that if you are more adventursome, you would love the trek. It sounds like you had a fun time.

3ofusnow · 12-04-2009, 06:55 PM

I prefer hiking myself because I like to be on fairly well marked trails just in case something bad should happen. A trek might be a little too adventurous for me.

sarahbean · 12-09-2009, 07:34 AM

Anything involved trooping off through the woods is a hike to me, whether using trails or not, so I likely wouldn't have thought to ask what to expect either. I've always thought trek and hike were interchangeable but it must vary from region to region.

Bushman · 12-09-2009, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarahbean

Anything involved trooping off through the woods is a hike to me, whether using trails or not, so I likely wouldn't have thought to ask what to expect either. I've always thought trek and hike were interchangeable but it must vary from region to region.

I think that is the problem, using words interchangeably assuming they mean the same thing.

a Hike is defined as: to walk or march a great distance, esp. through rural areas, for pleasure, exercise, military training, or the like.

while a Trek is defined as: a journey or trip, especially one involving difficulty or hardship.

Now a days we interchange words so easily it distorts the meaning of one of the words, like psychopath and sociopath. They are similar but not the same, its like saying a lion and a tiger are the same animal because they have claws.

Maybe its my fault for knowing the difference between the two.