The Value of Tramping
“One of the Best Innovations the Present Generation Could Indulge In.”

On September 4th the New Zealand Railways Department ran its first “mystery” hike train in Auckland. The innovation proved an immense success. About one thousand people filled two trains, and each and every individual is loud in his or her praise of the idea, and state freely that when the next “mystery” hike takes place, they will be there.

Ask the average individual to walk ten miles by himself and he will refuse. But walk that distance with a crowd and it becomes a different thing. There is something about mass psychology which makes things easy in the case of the individual.

Just recently, we consulted Mr. R. J. Terry, health writer for this journal, on the value of hiking. He stated that it is one of the best innovations the present generation could indulge in. In his opinion it makes for health, poise, and ability to sleep soundly. But he stated that in all hiking it was necessary to observe certain common sense rules.

For instance, he states that the first half-mile should be covered at rather slow speed,

“The sociableness of music conforms itself to all companies.”—Fuller.
(Photo, J. F. Louden.)
Pipers provide bright music on the occasion of the Hamilton-Okoroire (North Island) “Mystery Train” tramp, 11th September, 1932.

and that thereafter a steady gait should be the order of the day. The last couple of miles should be done slowly in order that when one rests, no overheating should be present. The secret of successful hiking is to cool down during the last mile or so, thus avoiding a chill upon reaching the train for the homeward journey. In Europe, some years ago, a priest achieved some fame as a healer of various diseases by using a method based somewhat upon the modern hiking idea. He would make the patient wear a shirt which had been wrung out in water, covered by another dry shirt to ward off the wind. The patient then had to start on a walk, commencing slowly, but gradually working up to a smart briskness. This was kept up until the damp shirt had dried upon the body, when the walking slackened down.

Thus it can be seen that hiking possesses a true curative value. The more the public indulge in this form of exercise the less general ill health will be, and the Railway Department is to be commended for its action in stimulating public interest along these lines.—N.Z Home Pictorial.