Starting A Hiking Group

A question that keeps coming up from listeners to ATHiking…the podcast and from hikers that want to start group hikes is “how do you go about starting and organizing hikers in your area?”

I can tell you it’s not a task that’s realized overnight. It takes some time to plant the seeds, water and cultivate the crops, as they say. The best part for me has been the opportunity of hiking with others that enjoy the sport. Ultimately, everybody enjoys the fellowship and common link to hiking.

This blog entry will be the first in a series describing how our group got its start and how the group continues to grow. Hopefully this information will help you plant your seeds.

If you have the desire to start a hiking group then the first thing to do is start a list. Jot down a list of friends or acquaintances that might be interested in an overnight hike. The people on the list can come from your workplace, from your church or from your children’s scouting group. Just think about anyone you know that might be interested in going on an overnight, close to home hike. Don’t be disappointed if the response is weak. Quality far outweighs quantity.

Gather your core group and talk about what it might take to realize your first organized hike. I can tell you that the need for or lack of equipment is always near the top of the ‘con’ list. Sharing equipment can further bond the members of the group and that’s a good thing. You don’t need 6 stoves to make this work.

Where to go ranks high on the ‘pro’ list also. Choose a destination that’s not far from home but still feels like an adventure. Avoid the temptation to travel to a campground, set up and then sit for 48 hours. It’s OK to set up a base camp, but you need to venture out from base for at least a half-day hike. The goal of this exercise is to get folks interested and wanting more. There’s nothing worse that heading out on your first 20 mile hike ill prepared. Your group will fall apart if you move too fast.

You are the one who will ramrod the first trip and future trips. Once the first trip is history you should start planning the next trip. I notify our group, six months in advance of the next trip date. You’ll find that everybody is busy and they will appreciate the advance notice. The success of your first trip will automatically bring new hikers to the list. Your core group will tell others and the list expands.

Stay tuned for our next installment: Planning Details