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OK I know on here we have distance runners and so on. But Hiking up, over and through the mountains. I guess I am a hillbilly, but this is not a sport to RJ??? I guess it falls into disc golf category!!!

They're missing a bunch of good sports in the sports categories. Don't feel too bad about it. Mountain biking and road biking aren't in there either!

You might think hiking is akin to golfing...
But why don't you take a ride over to Vancouver
and take a leisurely hike up Grouse Grind and see
what you think after you get done with the trek

... it was a stair climber on steroids
and it nearly kicked my ASS!

The reason Hiking is not classed as a sport is because it is non-competitive. The Olympic Games does have paced walking as an event, but that isn't Hiking. Neither have I ever seen or heard of Hiking footrace events.
Having said that, hiking is a strenuous activity, particularly on hilly or mountainous terrain. Many hikers, such as myself, combine endurance with the joys of sightseeing and photography. You don't do these things when competing in a race!
But to take hiking seriously, an element of training is necessary to build stamina. One of my life's greatest hikes was one I completed at the Grand Canyon in 1995. There I hiked the Bright Angel Trail down to the Colorado River, then on to spend the night at Phantom Ranch right at the bottom of the Canyon, then hiked back up to the Rim the next day, a total hike of 23 miles, taking in a three-mile detour to visit Plateau Point for the extra vistas. This hike was extra strenuous because it is the reverse of mountain hiking. At the Canyon, the uphill part is last, when one is already tired!
For training, two or three times a week, I went out to break in my new hiking boots by walking up to ten miles in an evening. Added to this, I spent a weekend hiking the Jurassic Coast Path, (in the UK) which has some crushingly challenging hills, some steep enough to virtually crawl on all fours (honestly, I'm not exaggerating!). When I arrived at my hostel bed, my whole body was aching, as I carried a backpack throughout the hike. But the preparation paid off.
If ever you hear of a hiking footrace, let me know!

I classify anything that works up a good sweat, makes me breath hard, and makes me feel proud when I'm done a sport. Yess, ha ha, I know that criteria makes sex a sport. I agree, I've got the medals to prove it!