THE "HIKING" SEX

Waipa Post, Volume 49, Issue 3504, 11 August 1934, Page 4

THE "HIKING" SEX

WOMEN'S SUPERIORITY OVER MEN. In the annals of the world's famous walkers, women hold pride of place. When Miss Patricia Ellis arrived in Sydney, after having walked the 1200 miles from Adelaide, it was but another proof of the superiority of women over men in this form of athleticism. At the age of 63, when most Wcjmen would consider themselves past the age for journeying on foot, Kathl Kopp, a German, decided that she would make twelve pilgrimages to Rome before her death. Only ten of these was she able to accomplish. When first she entered Rome in 1914, after having walked all the way from Obenamergau, in Germany, she made at once for the Vatican and inquired for the Pope. She received his blessing, and the next day set out on her return to Germany. This tremendous feat was ten times repeated by the aged woman, and apparently it. had no ill-effect upon her health. Her death occurred recently at 83, when she was preparing for yet another viisit to Rome. Fate, however, had destined her for the longer pilgrimage. For one of the earliest authenticated stories of pedestrian endurance, it is necessary to go back as far as the middle of last century. In 1851, a' Cornish fisherwoman decided that she must see something of " foreign" parts. She determined to walk to London and see an exhibition which was then about to be held. The distance from her 'home in Cornwall to the metropolis was over 300 miles, but she resolved to make the whole journey without other aid than her feet. Being unable to show her patriotism by visiting the King in person, she did the next ibest thing and went to the Mansion House, the residence of the Lord Mayor. Here she assured the mayor of her loyalty, and explained the circumstances of her visit. A grrinea was then presented her by the mayor, at wttiich she exclaimed, "Thank you, sir—now I shall not have to walk back again! " An American woman has undergone a greater journey than this, but her .preparations were far less simple. This woman, Miss Zoe Gayton. set out in 1890, to cross the American continent from! west to east. She decided aerainst walking. " solo" because of the fatigue of carrying her baggage. So she hired two men to accompany her with the heavier necessities' —her blankets and eatables. She left San Francisco in the August of 1890 and took the .ferry across the inlet to Oakland and from thence walked the whole of the remaining distance to Franklin Square, New York. •

To make the trip, even more uriusual, she travelled along the transcontinental railway line, and added to the ordtinar-y hazards of the journey that of being run down by a train. This danger soon lessended. She became known to the i*egular engine drivers, and tTsey were always on the watch to give the "Sunset Special"—as, for some unknown reason, they nicknamed her—a cheery ■blast of the whistle. Miss Gayton is the only woman who has ever walked across the railway track of the International Bridge over the Niagara River. To' do this she was first to obtain the special permission of the superintendent of the Grand Trunk Railway. In March, 1891, she made her triumphant entry into New York,

having completed the entire journey of 3400 [miles in 226 days. The greatest distance she managed to cover in a day was 40 milks, while her longest week's " hike " was 193 miles. Another remarkable walking record was obtained by Mrs Anderson, an Englishwoman living in the United States. To prove that women have more endurance in this form of athleticism than men, she set out to walk 2700 quarter-miles in 2700 quarter hours. She began the test on a circular track in the Mozart Beer Garden, New York, on 16th December, 1878, and finished on 13th January of the next year. The trial was without a stop from beginning to end, and although nothing more than a gigantic publicity campaign, was a huge success. She made circle after circle in stifling atmosphere. As the time drew on her face became deathly pale, and she began to stagger, but still she kept on. Into an ill-venti-lated room, intended to hold only 500, 2000 people had compressed themiselves. Two men had to. walk in front of her and two behind to keep open her path. Finally, after 28 days of walking, she came to the last lap, which, in her eagerness to complete!, she almost ran. After all tihPs effort, she was capable of a brief speech, in which she stated: "While men are the best for seeking danger at the cannon's mouth, I believe women have the most endurance." With such outstanding feats as these to the credit of female pedestrians, it is no wonder that the average modern girl makes hiking her chief recreation—and no wonder she outstrips her feebler male companions!