Long-distance hiking trail

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Example of a waymark (Mittelweg)

A long-distance hiking trail or long-distance hiking trail is a supraregional hiking trail for long-distance hikes and trekking tours. In some hiking clubs, such as B. the Swabian Alb Association , the term Hauptwanderweg , as an abbreviation HW , is naturalized.

Definition

In general, long-distance hiking trails are characterized by the fact that they run through different regions and can only be mastered in several daily stages. Long-distance hiking trails are often uniformly marked and signposted throughout ; they often use regional trails as part of the route. Long-distance hiking trails, on the other hand, often run along existing long-distance hiking trails, although further, additional signage is usually omitted for the sake of clarity.

The Alpine Association uses a minimum length of 300 kilometers and a route through at least three federal states / cantons to distinguish it from other path names for a long-distance hiking trail. Long-distance hiking trails are 500 km or longer and run through several (federal) states.

Main hiking trails are trails that are classified in the hierarchy of marked hiking trails in the area of ​​a hiking and mountain club on the top level and, in contrast to local hiking trails, run through the entire region. Circular hiking trails are called routes that enable long-distance hiking with a return to the starting point.

In addition to national long-distance hiking trails (usually a few hundred kilometers in length), there are now also European long-distance hiking trails of several thousand kilometers in length. The European Hiking Association (ERA) identifies eleven European long-distance hiking trails that are cross-border as a symbol of European integration.

Besides the many localized trails that of recreation serve, long jump and long distance trails are usually voluntary basis by the national hiking and mountaineering associations and regional local history and tourism organizations carefully marked, kept accessible and well maintained, reinforced by initiatives such. B. Pilgrimage communities.

history

Long-distance hiking trails were often set up with the onset of industrialization in order to preserve coherent natural spaces and make them accessible to people.

Today it is more about promoting the popular sport of hiking and closeness to nature. To some extent, organized hikes are offered, which often also take care of the transport of luggage to the respective quarters.

seal of approval

Hiking associations and other organizations evaluate hiking trails based on various criteria; particularly attractive deemed paths will be awarded quality labels and mostly as a predicate trails designated.

The German Hiking Association (DWV) has been awarding the "Quality Walk in Germany" award since 2003, and the German Hiking Institute e. V. awards the "Premiumweg" hiking seal. Both awards try to evaluate paths based on measurable factors and thus give the hiking areas the chance to improve their offers and thus make them more attractive for their guests. The German Hiking Association distinguishes between 23 electoral and nine core criteria. The latter must be completely fulfilled by a hiking trail, the optional units must all occur on the entire route and at least partially within four-kilometer sections.

The counterpart to the German awards for hiking trails in Austria is the hiking seal of approval , which weights naturalness, orientation aids, experience and service.

In Switzerland, the Prix ​​Rando (French for hiking award) stands for original, innovative and high-quality hiking trails. In January 2010, particularly outstanding hiking trails in Switzerland were awarded the Prix Rando for the second time.

Long-distance hiking trails (selection)

Europe
Africa
Asia
North America
Central America
South America
Oceania
Pilgrimage routes

Via Francigena , St. James , Jerusalemweg , Paulusweg , way of the book

literature

Web links

Commons : Fernwanderweg  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ http://wege.albverein.net/hauptwanderwege accessed on March 31, 2017
  2. ↑ Long- distance hiking trails. Austrian Alpine Club & German Alpine Club , August 1, 2011, accessed on September 12, 2018 .
  3. ↑ Rating for hiking trails. Deutscher Wanderverband Service GmbH, accessed on October 7, 2013 .
  4. ↑ German hiking seal for premium trails. German Hiking Institute V. Marburg, accessed on October 7, 2013 .
  5. ↑ Predicate paths in Austria and Switzerland. (No longer available online.) XNX GmbH, archived from the original on June 5, 2010 ; Retrieved July 14, 2010 .