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stuthetraveler 
Group: Members
Posts: 76
Joined: Jun. 2010
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 7:12 am |
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I wanted everyone's thoughts on this question... not because it matters in the grand scheme of things but because it seems like so many other random activities are considered sport.
] What do you think? Does it meet the criteria to be considered a sport? Would there ever be any way (or reason) to backpack competitively? Thanks everyone for the input and opinions!
Stu
www.stuthetraveler.com
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Stu
www.stuthetraveler.com
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| Post Number: 2
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QCHIKER
Group: Members
Posts: 1741
Joined: Oct. 2009
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 8:29 am |
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Well some people consider it only a "true" sport if a ball is involved, although hockey has a puck. I'd consider it a sport although there are no rules to it.
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JimInMD
Group: Members
Posts: 3112
Joined: Feb. 2011
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 8:35 am |
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I feel that the term "sport" requires both rules and competition. Backpacking has neither.
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Checking out for a while, find me on FB.
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cowgiano
Group: Members
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Joined: Feb. 2002
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 9:13 am |
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Definitely not a sport. Being competitive defeats the purpose of getting away from civilization IMO. I guess there are those "fastpackers" who relish covering great distances in a single day. I don't get it personally, but that's my mindset. I still don't see that as competitive unless they are trying to outdo a hiking partner.
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Lamebeaver
trail? I don't need no stinkin trail!
Group: Members
Posts: 16351
Joined: Aug. 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 9:55 am |
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This post appears to be nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to bump the hit count on your blog.
If you want to discuss it, post the discussion here.
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| Post Number: 8
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wwwest
Group: Members
Posts: 4125
Joined: Dec. 2002
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 10:07 am |
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Not a sport. A world view, and for some a way of life.
One of the best ways to be in touch with long term human development and appreciate the ancestors who managed not to be eaten by the sabre tooth tigers.
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zipposdad
Group: Members
Posts: 315
Joined: Feb. 2009
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 10:19 am |
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When you are nearly 60 keeping up with 30 somethings, it is a challenge. Sporting yes?
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Teach your babies to camp 
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| Post Number: 10
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ColoradoWalt
Group: Members
Posts: 27
Joined: Dec. 2010
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 10:21 am |
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For me sports include football, baseball, volleyball, golf, hockey, track ..... Hobbies and pursuits include backpacking, hiking, fishing, hunting ....
Yes I know they have competitive fishing but I don't consider that a sport since you really play against the fish first and other anglers second.
I don't count horse and car racing as sports. The horse and car are putting forth most of the effort.
Gymnastics and figure skating don't count either. The scoring is done by a panel of experts.
So it goes beyond just rules and competition for me. Hard to explain but for me it has to be humans (singular or team) competing athletically on a level playing field with a scoring element that is absolute (not a set of judges who determine a score).
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| Post Number: 11
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SW Mtn backpacker
Born to hike, forced to work ...
Group: Members
Posts: 6742
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 10:28 am |
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Not unless it's an adventure race or geocache event.
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Usually Southwest and then some.
In wildness is the preservation of the world. - Henry Thoreau
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zipposdad
Group: Members
Posts: 315
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 10:36 am |
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Havent head JMO in years
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Teach your babies to camp
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treelinebackpacker
Group: Members
Posts: 431
Joined: Aug. 2011
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 10:36 am |
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There are competitions where people backpack.
First one there wins situation usually.
But anyway, I consider it a sport. Life is too short to have rules and regulations.
I play to live.
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tarol
Well I never!
Group: Members
Posts: 10337
Joined: Mar. 2003
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 10:51 am |
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no
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Got elevation? www.tarol.com
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RebeccaD
Double Arch, Arches N.P.
Group: Members
Posts: 9993
Joined: Jul. 2004
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 11:05 am |
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We have this discussion every few years. I believe the conclusion is usually that it's an obsession.
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Bits of writerly thoughts and random short fiction found at
The Ninja Librarian Blog
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fifeplayer
Group: Members
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 11:10 am |
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cgaphiker
Hen Wallow Falls
Group: Members
Posts: 11014
Joined: Apr. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 11:15 am |
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Well the first one to camp does get the best tent/tarp/hammock site. 
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
Group: Members
Posts: 14217
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 11:18 am |
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I want cheerleaders.
Only then will I confidently call it a sport. 
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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Marmotstew
Group: Members
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Joined: May 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 11:40 am |
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It's only a sport if you win something at the end, make millions of dollars, have 14 kids with 30 different women, do enough steroids to kill a guerilla, lie about said drugs, hire some goon to beat your competition with a pipe and/or pretend your pretend girlfriend died on the Internet.
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I'd rather be Facebooking watching videos of cats licking themselves
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Dave Senesac
Group: Members
Posts: 3053
Joined: Jun. 2002
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 11:52 am |
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Though a subject a troll would toss out, it is something worth discussing a wee bit lest any board member be confused over this non-issue.
Have never heard anyone call backpacking or hiking sports. They are outdoor physical activities with no element of rules or games. Oh it is true media sometimes calls all manner of non-work activities sports if they requires physical activity like polls on a list of participant popularity of leisure activities. Yeah the sport of jogging around the block for excercise each morning...yuck!
And of course equipment for some of these leisure activities are found in sporting goods stores so media advertisers tend to emphasize these activities as sports as though such makes products more desirable.
And it is true many such activities have a small number of enthusiasts who engage in competitive actitivity like those Guiness Book of Records enviest repeatedly trying to be the fastest persons to climb the trail up Half Dome. However such can be dismissed when discussing such activities in general.
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...David
http://davidsenesac.com
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GoBlueHiker
Obsessive Island Hopper...
Group: Members
Posts: 14217
Joined: Jul. 2006
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 12:17 pm |
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The whole concept of a "sport" is an entirely human-borne construct. There is no such thing inherent in nature. Its very definition is vague and subjective.
As such, whether or not a particular activity is "a sport" or not is also subjective and open to interpretation. There is no definitive "right answer", since the term "sport" isn't so accurately defined anyway.
It's still funny to watch people bicker about absolute truths though.
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Wealth needs more. Happiness needs less. Simplify.
www.RainForestTreks.com
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Tigger
Woods Pouncer
Group: Members
Posts: 10636
Joined: Apr. 2005
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 12:37 pm |
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This is a sporting discussion...
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If I'm going to be lost, in the woods is where I want to be...
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| Post Number: 26
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High_Sierra_Fan
Group: Members
Posts: 39803
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 12:40 pm |
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Can't bet on it, so no.
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RumiDude
Group: Members
Posts: 13753
Joined: Feb. 2002
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 12:46 pm |
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Yes and no ...
Yes, it is a sport in view of the definition of a physical activity engaged in for pleasure. That is the broad general definition of sport. There is no clear line which divides what is a sport versus what is not a sport under this broad definition. So backpacking and hiking are sports.
On the other hand, BPing/hiking aren't officially sports competitions like baseball or football. But the sports like ultra-marathon trail running, adventure races, orienteering competitions, etc, these are competitions. Also, people commonly keep track of things like bagnights, miles hiked, peaks bagged, etc. Listening to some ultralight BPers, pack weight can even be a sorta competition. hehe
As far as how we BPers view ourselves and our chosen pastime, we generally see it more as a hobby/activity or even lifestyle than sport. Then again, most people tend to view themselves in the most positive way possible. So though we may view what others do as a crass sport, we see ourselves as a bit more noble.
BTW, this topic has been discussed several times on this board.
Rumi <~~~~~~great trekker
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“This is my Indian summer ... I'm far more dangerous now, because I don't care at all.”
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Chuck D
Group: Members
Posts: 7415
Joined: Feb. 2002
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Posted on: Jan. 22 2013, 1:18 pm |
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(Marmotstew @ Jan. 22 2013, 11:40 am)
QUOTE It's only a sport if you win something at the end, make millions of dollars, have 14 kids with 30 different women, do enough steroids to kill a guerilla, lie about said drugs, hire some goon to beat your competition with a pipe and/or pretend your pretend girlfriend died on the Internet.
I guess it's a sport then, you've described most of us very well.
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Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
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Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
