Show Time To Go Hiking By EDWARD H II SIMS t This is the time of year for hiking and to millions of Americans Americans Americans Ameri Ameri- cans it is a lost art Not only is hiking good but it seems to be good for the soul for one drinks in natures nature's beauty and gets back down to earth so to speak in hiking over the countryside There is no tension and hustle and natures nature's natures nature's natures nature's na na- tures ture's beauty and the relaxation relaxation relaxation tion which comes after a good walk are conducive to good sleep OF COURSE the incentive to explore the countryside is often proportionate to the beauty it offers In hilly areas where the climate is not oppressive oppressive oppressive op op- op- op hiking is possible all year round and always reward reward- ing In the Deep South hiking hiking hiking ing in summer mid-summer is out and this is the time of year to begin thinking about it again Europeans especially the Germans and Scandinavians and peoples living in the Alps who hike to work or to the store every day take hiking very seriously On the southern slopes of the Alps in the Sud Tirol a grand old hiking custom still sur sur- vives TIllS THIS AREA was once part of the which ended with the end of World War I and now the former Tirol of Hungary Austro-Hungary is Italian It was ceded to Italy which also has a historic claim to it as a reward for Italy's entering World War I on the allied side But even though Italian the people in the hills I as part from in the cities are speaking German-speaking Aus- Aus They are arc landsmen and hikers And it is the custom among dwellers in these the hills-the to Dolomites take of care hungry hungry hun hun- gry hikers at any time by providing them bread and cheese and wine or perhaps 1 eggs at very minimum cost When the hiker reaches a farm house perhaps one he has never visited before he calls for the head of the household and asks for food One of the daughters or the frau fetches what is available and the hikers sit down at their hosts' hosts table and partake THERE IS A small charge which amounts to the value of the food on the farm and the hikers bid their host farewell farewell farewell fare fare- well and continue on Where Where- ever the walk takes the hikers they can usually stop at farm houses and nourish themselves in this fashion an old tradition tradition tradition tion in the Tirol In many parts of America inhabitants may not be found for miles and this would be impossible But in these Austrian Austrian Austrian Aus Aus- trian hills there always seems to be someone a few kilometers kilometers kilo kilo- meters ahead AMERICANS SHOULD walk more and ride bicycles more And if one cant can't do both he should walk hike New England England Eng Eng- land is magnificent at this time of year as is so much of the west and much of the north where September is a genuine fall month and the trees are turning The eastern eastern eastern east east- ern mountains offer wonderful wonder wonder- ful fall walks also and one can take advantage of the many state and national parks where wild animals are not dangerous |