Essentially the difference between the above gait of the stroller and that of the pedestrian is one of hip action, joint looseness and manner of foot implantation. The novice will in all likelihood begin his practical walking on country roads and to him is now addressed the main features of the proper gait in pedestrianism. He will probably be unencumbered with a pack and will have a firm, level surface for walking with consequent freedom to develop a gait of definite “form.”
In the best regulation gait—the long swinging stride—the knee gives a little as the weight of the body is placed on that leg but not so much as to bend the knees. It is midway between the bent knee stride of the French Army and the extreme conventional stiff kneed “goose step” of the German Army. The foot is kicked well forward and by this the rate of speed is regulated rather than by pressing the foot against the ground as it leaves it, which is fatiguing. The body is held erect, chest up and shoulders back but not strained nor lifted. The movements are graceful and springy as no joint is held in rigidity. The eyes are fixed about 35 feet ahead.
There is considerable of a swing at the hips, in fact a distinct roll—the hips swaying an inch or more to the stepping side with a corresponding long pace. The leg is swung back and forth from the hip, the knee joint aiding this motion by adapting the leg to the irregularities of the ground surface. As employed by professional long-distance walkers the hip action is somewhat exaggerated. The hip roll is regulated to some extent by the swing of the arms which should alternate with the leg action. This is a means of instilling a lot of energy into the gait. The tendency is to overdo—to swing too vigorously and by overswaying disturb the body balance with a resultant fatigue. As an aid to this, some professional walkers use a two foot light walking stick or riding crop held in the hands. The arms may be held any way desirable but it is advisable to carry them well up.
Woods walking with a pack differs greatly from common road touring. In his primitive forest habitat the woodsman can outwalk the experienced pedestrian for he has the knack of negotiating a steady gait over uneven and slippery ground, edging through thickets and worming his way amid fallen timber, rocks, brush, etc., with less fret and exertion than one who is accustomed to smooth, unobstructed paths. The woodsman besides having the handicap of traveling over an uneven surface is more or less encumbered by a pack which even if made as light as possible gives the hiker a taste of real work. The long swinging gait of the bushman is less tiring than the straight ahead stiffer stride of one who walks on smooth ground as on city pavements. This woods walking is acquired with experience as a result of physical adaptation to repeated emergency footing exigencies.
The poise of an Indian in the act of stepping would be found to be a perfect body balance on each foot. This allows great control over movements: the characteristic silent stealth of the redman displays the greatest economy of vital force. He conserves his strength and makes every step count, often going around many places which otherwise he could make with a hop, skip and jump—a desideratum in preventing fatigue in woods walking where the steps must be of unequal length and the footing so different.
There is no doubt that walking is unexcelled as a short cut exercise to the attainment of physical fitness. One should never try to accomplish too much at one time, for overdoing disgusts one with the pastime. Start in easy, walk deliberately, adopt an easy, natural gait and maintain it. Short rests are permissible but if overdone they result in stiff muscles and chill.
The question of the number of miles to attempt on a day’s tramp is tempered by the several conditions of roads, trails, altitudes, hills, size of pack, if on such a trip, and physical capabilities. One records then variations in tours from the accomplishment of but two miles a day with a back pack on a woods tramp over seemingly impassable swamp to the professional achievement of the famous Weston who between his seventy-first and seventy-second birthday walked from New York to California and back at the rate of 46 miles a day.
For the average business man a one to five mile tramp each afternoon is an admirable and perfectly feasible exercise: in fact this distance is covered by many in their daily activities. Take the first mile or two slowly to limber up. Daily one can increase the distance as the perfecting of the stride and endurance permits until he can cover twenty to twenty-five miles a day in road walking without injury—a feat not difficult to attempt if one is in good health. Taken as a once a week culmination to the daily several mile walk the twenty-five mile walk is as much as the inexperienced walker should take and not feel inconvenienced. For the experienced a trip of this length would be merely incidental.
Three miles an hour is comfortable for a day’s trip. The infantry gait is three miles and is sufficient for the amateur who is out for his health. It is not easy to walk four miles an hour and keep it up and it is certainly too much for the novice to attempt.
In estimating the rate of travel measure your pace, the average is two feet in length, and time yourself for the approximately 2500 paces per measured mile, counting the 1250 right foot implantations, and then use time for estimating distance rather than the linear measure of mileage which latter is impossible in the unmapped wilderness. If you care to be more exact the pedometer can be used. Don’t try to break the record—it is endurance not speed that counts. Be free to choose your course, and never hurry lest self reprehension come upon you. It is the traveler on foot who has the time to receive and reflect upon his impressions and at the same time pleasantly rejuvenate his body and mind.