Hiking Clubs

By Sydney Garrison

It can be difficult to make friends when you are new to an area or work out of the house. A great way to make friends is to get involved in group activities.

This could be volunteering, taking community classes, or joining a sports team or club. My personal favorite is the hiking club.

For those individuals who love the outdoors and being physically fit, hiking is the perfect way to go.

There are many hiking clubs available throughout the United States. There are a few important things to find out before you join a club though.

The most important information you should be armed with is your skill level. Now is the time to take an honest inventory of the time that you can devote to hiking and most importantly, the physical level that you are at.

One of the best ways to ensure that your hiking experience will be awful is to lie to yourself about your fitness level and how much physical stress your body can take in a few hours.

Hikes range from Easy to Intermediate to Difficult depending on the length of the hike and strenuousness of the terrain.

Some trails are fairly flat, while others take you up steep gradations and can even include some rock scrambling and climbing. You don't want to end up on a trail you can't handle, so be honest with yourself before you begin.

There are a few ways to find a hiking club near you. The best way, is probably to search the internet. You can locate a club, and generally contact other members to get a feel for the energy in the group. They can tell you ahead of time what to expect on the trail and what you need to be prepared for.

This is especially important when you are used to hiking in one type of environment and switch to another, for example mountainous regions to desert regions. You can also stop by your local sporting goods store and ask them what local clubs are available to you.

Hiking clubs are a great way to forge strong friendships with people who have common interests. Since hiking appeals to people of all ages, you never know who you will meet.

They can help you improve your techniques and become more familiar with the beauty that surrounds your home. All of this while staying in shape and reconnecting with nature!