I hear ya. I like to think that my #1 reason for hiking is being out in nature but I've come to realize the same point you've mentioned when comparing my backpacking to my birdwatching or wildflower walks. Years ago, I gave up bringing even the small binoculars on backpacking trips because there were too much of a PITA. On my CT thruhike, I was fascinated with the wildflowers but not enough to buy a field guide in the middle of the hike. So I agree that if I really want to go out to observe and study birds, flowers, etc., then I'm really not going to backpack long distances; maybe 1-2 nights just to get to backcountry locations for my observations.

I'm not fast or in great shape so I hesitate to consider anything I do as "athletic," but undeniably, backpacking long distances is first and foremost a physical fitness challenge for me albeit in a much more pleasant venue than pounding city streets.

When I finished the AT by section hiking 700 miles in 2005 scattered all throughout the corridor ("missing pieces"), I met one thruhiker twice - early April in Virginia and mid-June in New York. He had started in February but was taking his time and carried a detailed field guide to plants, trees, flowers, birds and other wildlife. In NY on a mere 3 day section hike, I got way ahead of him because he was studying the natural features as he went along. It's safe to say he was atypical of most thruhikers but he made an impression on me.