Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1922-08-04
HIKING DOWN The
LONG BROWN PATH
Vacationists With Shelter Tents
and Tin Cow Learning to
Walk All Over Again.

Oil It's not the pack that you carry ca
Nor the rifle on your shoulder
Nor the FIVE inch crust OF khaki coloEed
dust
That makes you feel your limbs are
And ft's not the hike on the hard turnpike
That drives away your smile,
Nor the socks OF sisters that raise tbs
blooming oliste9s-
It's the last long mile.
Stringing out from the suburban
transit terminals Of New York every
Sunday and holiday goes the army Of
khakI-clad mixers There may be an
automobile for every twenty of the
country's population, but d host Of
city folks disprove the theory Of .
future leg enfeebled citizenry and are
learning to walk all over again.
To the more casual minded, the hike
is just exercise but to those who
catch It's real Significance the hike
means great deal more 1t Is the
cheapest form Of recreation and
therefore appeals to those living IN
crowded districts and unable to avail
themselves of the more expensive
amusements. And these people, be
It noted. are Just those the country
is so anxious to have spread out and
settled In the farming sections The
hike, indeed, has possibilities as
real starter for the back TO the farm"
movement
Doughboy and Boy Scout Lead Way
just brief survey Of the rolliCking
groups which move off from the out
lying terminals on holidays estab-
fishes few general types There Is
the ex>segvice man and his friends
who will hear from him the story
of more serious excursions on the
muddy roads Of France. He tight
ems & strap here and another there
on the blanket roll adjustment or the
shelter half IL which the commits
s4ry IS packed for the midday feast
by the roadside. Expert directions
come from him on the method Of
Singing the pack so II will not feel
50 heavy or interfere with the free
body movement He will pass along
the information, gained in his army
days, II how that same pack was
evolved after numerous experiments
10 find the easiest way Of carrying
the heaviest load With results he
now compliments, but which he char
acterlzed when a doughboy as
"blankety blank total failure"
Then there are the boy scout par
ties, adept at everything pertaining
10 "sh8nks mare" travelling and wood
craft. The ex-servtce man and the
1 boy scout are pioneers in the hiking
game Listen to one Of them right
of the train and making ready for a
twelve mile taunt: Get that can
teen over to the side Jimmie, and
1t won't keep bouncing of your leg
1 every step. Is it filed? Well, then.
we drink How about the eats7 Let's
check EN- of. You got the spuds,
I Bill; the bacon Jimmie. Who has the
I coffee and the Borden tin cow"
| Right here" announces freckled
1 comrade Of the road, pattIng his KNAPP
4 sack Switched the mocha and the
can Of milk when Sis wasn't looking"
We'll then, let's go" snaps the
commander Of the expedition.
This party 10 travelling light for real
distance. Another must expect 70
make q shorter hitch or else be count
Ing greatly on It's power Of endur-
ance. Perhaps the camp IS not far
of because the group is equipped for
an overnight stay with heavy blanket
rolls hatchets, lanterns, canvas wa
terpails rubber ponchos, kettles, pcys.
new tangled firsstand. etc, etc. The
blankets are laid out for a better
Epacking Of the bags and cans Of food,
When the party commences to load
up the members bristle all over wI;h
| camp tools and equipment
Back to ths Farm
The veteran from the crowded city
| tenements has found new territory
| to roam and one almost unknown 70
his associates. he Is introducing them
to this newly discovered land and
teaching them how to be independent
OF any transportation but their OWL
good legs and Of any subsistence hut
I what they can carry and prepare
R"Wa1k, and cook your own is hi'
1 motto.
Who will say the leayen thus fer
menting in the city crowds will not
bear fruit in keener appreciation Of
country delights, especially as ;hest
are added 70 by increased comforts
4 on the farm. With his radio hitcheC
| up, the farmer listens in on the bes'
| entertainment the country has tC
offer. Modern home devices wipe on
many hardships formerly impose
l upon isolated jewellers. There is II
short, q rapid cutting down Of tht
difserentiai between farm and cit!
/ life.
In the meantime, knowledge mus
precede true appreciation of wha
the country holds, and this is wha
the hike supplies. There is more ap
peal in one apple tree in blossom thar
Il In reams of printed matter put out Il
i induce the citizen Of the city Il
!, change his abode to the country. Th'
I hikers constitute growing army
equipped with bacon spuds, coffee
and tin COW for merely days outiu;
q but nevertheless seeing sights tina
make them yearn TO be among then
all the time. It Is not too much t
assume that the army may one da,
| recruit the open places.