Do people in Europe enjoy hiking as much as people in America?

Hiking's popular in parts of America; I would say it is far more popular in Europe, especially in Central and Northern Europe where the landscape lends itself to it. I live in Central Europe, in a (small) mountain range called the Beskyds. Hiking(and other sports associated with hills and mountains: downhill and cross-country skiing, mountain biking) is something most people do literally every single weekend, especially if the weather behooves it. '

The reason is that hiking more accessible in Europe than in the States.

• The land has been 'tamed' for far longer, so encounters with 'wild' nature are a little less common; it's an altogether more comfortable and encouraging exercise.
• Many hiking treks end with a cool pub and a cold beer at the end of it. At the end of a good hike in the US, one has a gorgeous, view...and a long hike back. Beer is motivation!
• Trails tend to be a little better-marked GENERALLY in Europe(both Europe and USA are big enough that there are wild regional variations.)
• Trails are less difficult and rugged in Europe(exceptions being summits of a few very high mountains in the Alps.)
• Everybody does it. When everybody does something, then, you know...everybody does it. When it's as accessible and convenient to do as it is in Europe, it creates a culture of average people as hikers that kind of sustains itself. In America, hikers tend to be somehow MORE than average, more sporty, more outdoorsy, more rugged and tough. You have to be that way there. You don't have to be in Europe.

My company is planning a team-building excursion on May 7th for a big hiking trip to the top of the highest mountain in this region, Lysa Hora. I'm getting excited just thinking about it!

Written Apr 26th 2016