Hiking in European Mountains

Nature sports in general and hiking in particular have become, in our urban andpost-industrial societies, a growing phenomenon practiced by millions of citizens.The motivations and interests of this large group are varied, but they have a commonelement: to disconnect from stressful modern life and reconnect with nature.National parks and other protected areas are the preferred destinations, but theypresent an challenging contrast for land management: conservation versus tourist use. Whileonce considered a romantic practice of escape and discovery, hiking is now a consumerproduct and a tourist experience. It promises experiences of disconnection, quiet andhealth; yet, natural spaces are increasingly scarce and more often than not they arecrowded by other recreationalists.This book presents a multidisciplinary perspective on the latest trends and developmentsin hiking. In particular, the authors work from a European perspective withvarious outdoor recreation models represented and different conservation initiativesexplored in the contexts of Spain, Norway, Poland, Germany and Lebanon. Collectively,the authors attend to hiking as a social phenomenon and economic opportunity,which has the potential to sustainably revitalize rural destinations, if managedproperly.