trekking

[ trek-ing ]

noun

1. the act of traveling or migrating slowly or with difficulty, as through rough or unsettled territory:

   Arduous trekking through the Alleghenies caused their Conestoga wagons to break down again and again.

2. the act of hiking long distances as a recreational activity, especially over rough terrain:

   The three hours of hard trekking over the tough trail is worth it for the splendid view of the valley.

3. the act of making a relatively short but difficult or burdensome trip:

   I moved back into a city apartment because I got tired of all the trekking back and forth and the aggravation of having a house and car.

adjective

1. traveling, migrating, or hiking over rough terrain, or making any other difficult or burdensome trip:

   The overuse of resources by trekking tourists is contributing to environmental harm in Nepal and elsewhere.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trekking¹

First recorded in 1845–50; trek ( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses; trek ( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

Each walk spans the length of an iconic L.A. boulevard, trekking about 14 to 16 miles and stopping along the way to explore its sun-scorched sidewalks and faded public murals, its high-end furniture boutiques, cheap motels and historic churches, its food carts piled high with fresh fruit and its buzzing freeway overpasses — from below.

From Los Angeles Times

Whether it’s ultralight trekking poles, a reusable water bottle or a sun hoodie with thumb holes, the gear is part of the fun of hiking.

From Los Angeles Times

The team first discovered Tashbulak, the smaller city, in 2011 while trekking in the mountains.

From BBC

Even trekking up there was rough, he added, as they encountered strong winds, storms and logistical challenges.

From BBC

A few guide companies, such as Foot Paths of the World and Wildland Trekking, offer inn-based hiking tours in Colorado, Alaska or Maine, but much of American inn-to-inn hiking is self-guided, with the help of such books as “Walkabout Malibu to Mexico: Hiking Inn to Inn on the Southern California Coast” by Tom Courtney.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• itinerant
• roving