Yesterday, instead of walking my favorite two-mile dirt road that starts behind the golf course and ends at the bay, I decided to try a different trail through the woods. Marked by blue trail markers nailed just above eye level on the trees, this three-mile loop starts at a small parking area just off of a busy road. The trail winds through the woods with some moderate ups and downs, though it is never more than a mile from the road, and only at the farthest point are you fully out of range of hearing the occasional roar of a truck barreling down the road.
Was I walking or hiking yesterday? For that matter, is my typical walk down the dirt road a walk or a hike? Is there a real distinction, or is this merely a “you say tomato, I say tomato” situation? Perhaps more importantly, does it matter?