Walking in a beautiful setting is one of life's better pastimes, and with all the National Parks around Sydney there are no shortage of options.
The club runs hikes throughout the year, typically single day or overnight trips. Club hikes also have the benefit of being a very social activity, and are a great way to make new friends.
Other fun pursuits related to hiking include:
- Trail running: take your regular hike, throw away the backpack and go ultra-light attempting to run the entire trail. Fantastic for the fitness fanatics out there.
- Rogaining: Using only a compass, pen and the supplied map, you must selectively navigate to checkpoints in attempt to maximise your score. It's great team fun! For more info and events check out NSW Rogaining's site.
- Orienteering: typically an individual event, you must navigate over a set course as quickly as possible.
Safety
While hiking may seem like the tamest activity on offer in the club, the number of bushwalkers that suffer from misadventure in the Blue Mountains alone is a reminder that venturing into remote areas comes with risks. With good preparation you can avoid most problems and handle things that come your way. Most issues seem to come from lone walkers who don't tell people where they are going, two easy fixes! Take a friend and tell someone where you are going! National Parks and NSW Police have a handy checklist you should consider: Think before you TREK.
For club trips, your trip leaders will take care of most of the logistics, but as an attendee you should make sure you are as well prepared as possible. Read the trip description carefully, make sure you have the required gear, and ask questions if you are unsure.
If it's your first hike packing can be a stress, just remember that everything you take you will have to carry, and hills are unforgiving. So maybe leave the ugg boots at home and focus on the essentials, a lighter pack will make for a more enjoyable walk 🙂