1. It’s a moderate calorie burner: Walking at a 20-minute-mile pace burns about 103 calories every hour, which is not too shabby. And if you pick up your pace, you can burn a few calories more an hour — a 15-minute-mile pace will burn about 118 calories. Add a few more movements to your walk, and you’ve got a veritable cardio routine going on.
2. It can combat that uncomfortable post-big-meal feeling: Taking a walk after an indulgent meal can not only aid in digestion and help combat heartburn, but it can also reverse some arterial damage caused by fat.
3. It makes a perfect fitness date: Need to catch up with a friend? Swapping happy hour for a walking date means you still get the best of both worlds — all the gossip you can handle while burning a few calories (and not ingesting all those empty ones)!
4. It’s a gateway exercise: If you want to become a runner, walking is a great place to start. Create a plan to gradually increase your pace and turn your normal walks into full-on runs in no time!

Walking is a great way to prepare for some challenging hiking.  My favorite place to hike is in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State!