Why You Might Want to Join A Hiking Club

If you are a hiking enthusiast, you are probably looking for ways to improve your hiking experience and get even more enjoyment out of your hobby. One of the easiest and most fun ways to get more out of hiking is to join a hiking club. There are a number of benefits to joining a hiking club - let’s take a look at a few of them.

The most obvious reason to join a hiking club is to meet new people who share your interests. Everyone knows that the most fun part about having a hobby is having people to discuss that hobby with. When you join a hiking group, you quickly make new friends with people who enjoy getting out in the open air and hiking as much as you do. If you are a new hiking enthusiast, then joining a hiking club may introduce you to experienced hikers who can give you real-world advice on how best to enjoy your hobby, ideas on new hiking adventures to go on, and details about mistakes that they made when they were novices to hiking so that you don’t repeat their errors in judgement.

Another reason to join a hiking club is to find partners to go on hiking adventures with. If you’re not blessed with family members and neighborhood friends who enjoy exploring the trails as much as you do, it can be hard to find people to accompany you on a trip. When you join a hiking club, you have instant access to a network of people who would love to join you the next time you want to tackle a hike up a mountain or through a forest. Hiking clubs can help you find fellow hikers who are able to go on hikes with the same level of difficulty that you are able to do, at the times that you are able to go.

Joining a hiking club can also help you find new places to explore. Perhaps you are new to the world of hiking, and aren’t entirely sure what trails are out there that are safe for someone with your level of experience. A hiking club can introduce you to new adventures, either through informal “if you liked that trail, you’ll love this one” discussions, or through more formal events where experienced hikers can guides novices through tougher trails, sharing the knowledge that they’ve gained along the way.

When you join a hiking club, you also gain a motivational support group to help you when the going gets tough. If you attempt a challenging hike by yourself, you may find it easy to throw in the towel when the hike starts to challenge you. If you go with a group, however, you will find the strength within you to carry on to keep up with the group. Their support and motivation can go a long way towards helping you achieve things you may not have thought were possible. Never underestimate the power that having a friend tell you, “I KNOW you can do this!” can have on you when it comes time to reach a goal.

Finally, when you join a hiking club, you may find that you qualify for discounts on gear through the purchasing power of a group. All companies want to be your first choice when it comes to purchasing the products that they sell, and if a company knows there is a group of hiking enthusiasts in the area, they will want to cater to the needs of that group to keep them coming back again and again. In some cases, you may find that special events are held by parks and other organizations for members of these groups, since parks want to provide outreach to the types of people who enjoy what they have to offer - people like you.

There are many more reasons out there why joining a hiking club may be in your best interests. If you want to get the most out of your hiking experience, a hiking club is an excellent place to start.