“HIKERS.”

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17660, 10 August 1929, Page 6

“HIKERS.”

LURE OP THE OPEN LOAD

TRAMP EPS IN WELLINGTON

You see them dishevelled and mudstained on the last Day’s Bay boat or marching over the Pine Bridge into Petone of a Sunday evening. They are of both sexes. They carry huge packs, and sometimes pv staff (not a walking stick). Thick-soled hoots and serviceable stockings—everything for service rather than show. These are the disciples of the even road—the trammers of to-day; “hikers ’ of America. They are common to every country—England, Germany, France, Italy—one sees them everywhere. They may he typistes, salesmen, school teachers, clerks, factory hands during tho week, but at noon on Saturday they “change their skins,” disguise themselves in khaki nondescripts, slip their arms through the pack-straps, and set off for the open spaces. Genuine lovers cf fresh air, high altitudes, and fresh scenes, ever so far from the maddening crowd.. some of these people merely exist during tho week—at the week-end they get in contact with Nature and are exceeding ‘glad. In America the girl “hikers” dress much the same as the youths. Here the difference cf costume is still marked, though not so much as it was a few years ago.—-(Dominion).