Getting Everyone Involved

Articles in this Topic Discussions in this Topic

Jul 11, 2001

Introduction

Yes, you can get everyone in your family, on your block, or in your department to go on a hike at the same time. Group hiking presents a different set of challenges and rewards than solo hiking, but it can be worth it. Take a Wednesday afternoon off, pack some water and snacks, and go for a hike with your co-workers.

Trail Rating

Level: well, it depends on how enthusiastic everyone is, but it's a good idea to go for a gentle one at first
Kids: sure, the kids are out of school and bunches of them generally amuse themselves
Dogs: why not?
Facilities: it depends on the trail you pick

What to Bring

Well, you want everyone to be comfortable and enjoy themselves, so put these things in your vehicle before you go: sunscreen, some extra hats, some extra jackets, a bunch of water bottles, a bunch of easy snacks, an extra dog leash or two. This way, when you get to the trail head, people who are new to hiking can slap on sunscreen and a hat, tie a jacket around their waist, grab a water bottle, stuff a snack in their pocket and feel darned good about starting out on the right foot.

How to Pick a Trail

Look through the other hikes in this Hiking Colorado Trails topic and you will find several that are gentle and easy to do. For a very easy hike, I suggest Garden of the Gods or Palmer Park, but look through the other articles to see what you think too. For something a little more remote - only a little - you can try Waldo Canyon. This one is terrific because after you finish it, you can visit the Wines of Colorado a little farther west on Highway 24. The Wines of Colorado is a local wines store that has a lovely outdoor restaurant with some of the best hamburgers, turkey burgers, and veggie burgers around. Yummy! Plus, you can sample a glass of the local wines and even take a bottle home. Double Yummy! It is a terrific lunch spot. See the Waldo Canyon hike for information and directions.

Trail Specifics

Be aware that when a group of people are hiking, it is generally much noisier than when you are hiking alone. Your group may contain experienced hikers, but in most cases, you will have a mixture of ability levels. If your intent is to foster good team-building, I suggest you put an experience hiker in front to lead the way, put one in the back to round up stray co-workers and friends, and then keep the rest in the middle of the group. That way, the experienced hikers don't get too far ahead and they can provide encouragement to the others. Just my suggestion.

Go To Page: 1 2

The copyright of the article Getting Everyone Involved in Hiking in Colorado is owned by . Permission to republish Getting Everyone Involved in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.