A step back in time: posters of hiking back when…

A step back in time: posters of hiking back when…

Posted on May 9, 2013

I’m feeling a little nostalgic today. It’s Simon and my two month wedding anniversary; plus, we’re soon to embark on a trip to the Kimberley – where I spent my honours year of uni studying tourism in the Bungle Bungles (there are still some places left – call me now).

So come with me for a trip down memory lane and enjoy the poster images and quotes about hiking from a time now past.

First up: Victorian lady hikers. Thank goodness we don’t have to wear this sort of getup these days. Those walking poles probably aren’t aluminium or carbon fibre either…

This is an old railway poster from the 1930’s – I wonder if Australian railway companies have ever pursued this sort of advertising.

John Muir (1838 – 1914) was an early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the United States. His words haven’t lost any of their potency over the years.

“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity…”
– John Muir

Even Jesus loved hiking, as seen on this old poster from about 29 AD 😉

Who is Carrie Latet? I don’t know but she seems like a pretty smart woman… Perhaps she was contemplating the hiking habits of Jesus when she made this remark

“Walking:  the most ancient exercise and still the best modern exercise.”
– Carrie Latet




Below is another railway poster by the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). LNER was the second-largest of the “Big Four” railway companies created in 1921 in Britain. It existed from 1923 to 1948.

I’ve never thought of the role of railways in encouraging hiking before this but it makes sense that the two were connected. How else could the masses escape the cities to hike when most didn’t have cars.

The advert below was produced for French visitors in the mid 1950’s (see look at those berets and neckerchiefs). It shows a couple of Frenchies walking alongside the Croatian seashore – when Croatia was part of Yugoslavia. The sign indicates directions of mountains, sea and spas. Are they mountain Frenchies or spa Frenchies? And is Frenchies even a word?

I’m not sure the poster below has much to do with hiking but I love it! Don’t try to shoot the deer in Poland – they will not stand for it.

Perhaps people in New South Wales that are opposed to new hunting regulations which allow recreational hunting in national parks can use similar images in their campaign.

A quote from Bambi shows that deer are usually shy animals and will rarely bag a hunter as they do in Poland.

Young Bambi: What happened, Mother? Why did we all run?
Bambi’s Mother: Man was in the forest.

I do love camping but when it comes to the end of a long day walking, there’s nothing better than a hot shower and a real bed! That’s why we don’t camp on most of our tours. I love not camping too!

And finally, a bit of personal nostalgia to celebrate two months of marital bliss… you can practically see the love in the air.

What did you think of the above collection? Have you seen any other old posters about walking or hiking? Are Polish deer really different? Share your thoughts in the comments.