I've gotten into hiking (as we call it here) since moving to the pacific northwest. As said, it is good clean fun! It's nice getting to the top of a ridge, ledge, mountain, whatever, and having such an awesome panoramic view of the world around you. Nothing like it, really. What's nice about the whole experience too is that you leave all your problems behind. You're so focused on what you're doing, enjoying the scenery, conversing with whoever you're hiking with, etc. it's just a very liberating experience.
Yesterday I went snowshoeing. It was fun too, but was mostly amongst trees and didn't enjoy any views really. The drive there was nice and more scenic though.