Why ride when you can walk?

I just had to climb the sand dune the second I saw it. The giant dune towered above all the others and was sure to offer a great view of the Oregon coast.

The climb was tiring, but the view from atop the sand was just what I had expected. The ocean churned in the distance and dunes stretched for miles in every direction before fading into the pine forest.

I was too far away to hear the ocean, but ATVs buzzed in the distance. The sound grew louder as a group of riders approached. A young woman on one of the ATVs pulled up beside my hiking group and slowed to a stop.

"Do you need a ride?" she asked.

"No, we're just walking for fun."

The young woman stared at me in disbelief. Walking? For fun?

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or roll my eyes as the other members of my group tried to explain we were walking by choice, not because our vehicles had broken down. The women didn't quite seemed to understand, but she drove off anyway after giving us a puzzled parting glance.

I've received that bewildered look before from friends. Growing up in the country, almost everyone I knew owned an ATV and drove around their land or on nearby trails. When I'd tell them I prefer to walk to a destination rather than jump on a four-wheeler, they'd always asked the same question: Why walk when you can ride?

With gas prices soaring I now have a pat answer to that question, but the truth is, I would choose to walk even if gasoline were free.

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area near Reedsport is where I recently encountered the perplexed young ATV rider. The region is well-known for its miles of dunes and draws hordes of ATV enthusiasts each year. Hikers, it seems, are less common. Or perhaps the only thing uncommon is hikers who choose to walk up steep dunes rather than collect sand dollars and shells along the beach.

ATVs are restricted from the beach as well as one section of the recreation area to the north. Both regions have very nice trails for hikers and are worth checking out, but the big dunes just aren't there. All of the highest dunes are open to ATVs. Still, no signs forbade hikers from walking in the ATV zone, so I set off on foot.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself, picking my way around the delicate dune vegetation. The sand was smooth and cool between my toes as I walked barefoot. Once at the top of a dune, I did somersaults down the other side and then spent the next hour spitting out grains of sand. It was the perfect morning for a hike.

Not until I met the group of ATV riders did it even cross my mind someone would want to experience the dunes in a different way.

Some enjoy the thrill of cruising up and down dunes, but I'll always choose a relaxing hike. After a long climb I may feel tired, but I also feel a sense of accomplishment. Granted, I could reach the top of a dune faster on an ATV. I could cover a greater distance and see more land, but why not take my time and enjoy the view?

I suppose in my own way, I'm not very different from the confused ATV driver who offered us a ride. You see in my mind, there's no reason to ride when you can walk.