GoHike: Beginner Hiking Course

​​Participants must be a Mountaineers member with a current waiver on file to register for the course.  

Priority registration: 

January 27th thru February 2nd for first time participants only.  Beginning on February 3rd past course participants and alumni may register.

COVID POLICY:

All students and leaders are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to participate in this course. Participants will be required to show proof of vaccination via email to course administrators following registration. More details on this verification process will be provided. 

Participants will be required to keep up to date with current public guidelines for boosters, exposure for quarantine, etc. from the Mountaineers, King County, Washington, and the CDC. Additionally, masks will be required when indoors for in-person lectures and leaders may require masks for on the trail if social distancing can not be maintained.

Due to the ongoing pandemic and the rise of variants of the COVID-19 virus, we will strive to re-evaluate protocols closer to the course dates and, in keeping with the Mountaineers COVID Guidelines, we will modify our COVID protocols accordingly.

Course Overview

Hiking is both calming and energizing. It’s a way to connect with nature, and build community with new people.  We'd love to help you make 2022 your year to start a lifetime of hiking, in one of the loveliest places in the world to do it!    

Are you holding back because of fear of not having the ‘right’ gear, of being unprepared or unsafe, of being out of shape, of being too slow, of just not fitting in?

In the GoHike: Beginning Hiking Series, we start with basics:  preparation, safety, conditioning and  fitness tips and knowledge to make hitting the trail less daunting. The main goal of GoHike is  getting outdoors and on the trail with others who are starting out, or who want to hike at a comfortable, social pace.

We will introduce you to the essentials of hiking, encourage you to set personalized conditioning and hiking goals month by month during the course, and most of all, connect you with a community of fellow hikers. All backgrounds, shapes and sizes will find a welcoming home with GoHike!  Whether you are brand new to the trail or have been away for a while, this course will meet you where you are, help you find your trail to success, and have fun doing it!

Who is GoHike For?  

People who want to get out on a hike and would like a community and support to make it happen, starting from where they are!

• Beginner hikers – or people who haven’t been out for a long time – and looking for an easy gradual and progressive approach
• People who are already comfortable hiking but want to find a community of people who are looking for easy to moderate social hikes
• Anyone who wants to hike in a social, mutually supportive atmosphere
• We welcome aspiring hikers of all backgrounds, shapes, and sizes!

Course Schedule

• GoHike Student Orientation – Mandatory online virtual classroom session March 3, 2022 6:30 to 9:00 pm. Register for the GoHike Orientation when you register for the course.
• Pacing Hikes - One pace hike is required, to help you determine where you are and what level of hikes and pace you want to work toward – March, Registration for pacing hikes will open on February 17.
  
• Must complete “Low Impact Recreation” training - March
• Must complete Outdoor Advocates Network Introduction to Public Lands eLearning course and successfully pass the associated review to earn your badge - TBD
• Must complete 1 Pacing Hike and 6 or more course hikes, at least one a month – April to September
• Check-ins: Optional virtual online zoom sessions - Monthly, April - August TBD
  
• Graduation: October TBD

Course Components

Course Orientation

March 3, 2022, 6:30 to 9:00 pm. This mandatory 2.5-hour evening online virtual classroom session will introduce you to the essentials of hiking starting with the basics: preparation, safety, conditioning and fitness tips and knowledge to make hitting the trail less daunting. We'll talk about GoHike, conditioning and hikes, about setting goals, how you can make them happen with our support and more. Register for the GoHike Orientation when you register for the course. 

Pacing Hikes

One pacing hike required. Pacing hikes will be offered in March. These are easy, low-stress hikes to help you determine where you are in terms of gear, the pace and distance you can complete comfortably, and what your season goals for conditioning and hiking are, so that you can determine what  level of hikes and pace would be the best fit for you to sign up for   - no pressure, no judgment!

Registration for pace hikes will open on February 17. Space is limited so please sign up for only one.  Pacing hikes will help you determine where you are, what level of hikes and pace you want to work toward and help you assess your gear and clothing.

The Hike Series

This is a beginning hiking course. To be prepared for the course participants should be able to complete one, at least 2-mile fairly flat pacing hike in under 1.5 hours, including rest stops by March.

You should be available and committed to go on one pace hike in March and at least five hikes, one hike a month, April - September. Over the course of the summer you should be prepared to increase mileage, and elevation gain gradually, with your September hike being your most challenging hike of the series. Participants are encouraged to dedicate time outside of the course for conditioning and building endurance to be prepared for the hikes that you will go on. You will hike in small groups of 6 to 12 current course participants and alumni with one or two leaders.

We will hold monthly virtual online zoom CHECK IN sessions - April - August TBD. These optional sessions will include topics related to beginning hiking, such as conditioning, gearing up, nutrition and hydration, and most importantly checking in with you to see if you have any questions.

Monthly Hike Progression

Over the course of the summer you should be prepared to increase mileage, and elevation gain gradually from April - September, with your September hike being your most challenging hike of the series. Hikes will be listed for each month within the range that is posted for that month. Monthly hikes will open for registration on the second Friday of each month, beginning in March for the April hikes. On the third Friday of the month course participants may register for a second hike, as space is available.

March Pace Hikes: 1 hike required,  2 to 4 miles, 0 to 750 feet gain

April Hikes: 1 monthly hike, 2.5 to 5 miles, 250 to 1,000 feet gain

May Hikes: 1 monthly hike, 3 to 5.5 miles, 300 to 1,250 feet gain

June Hikes: 1 monthly,  3.5 to 6 miles, 400 to 1,500 feet gain

July Hikes: 1 monthly hike, 3.75 to 6.5 miles, 500 to 1,750 feet gain

August Hikes: 1 monthly hike, 4 miles to 7 miles, 600 to 2,000 feet gain

September Hikes: 1 monthly hike, 4 miles to 8 miles, 750 to 2,000 feet gain

Graduation

We hope to hold an in-person graduation celebration in October. Location and date to be determined.

Course Requirements:

• Complete Covid-19 vaccine verification.
• Mandatory attendance at the virtual online GoHike Orientation on March 3, 2022 6:30 to 9 pm.
• Completion of the Low Impact Recreation video series.
• Completion of Outdoor Advocates Network Introduction to Public Lands eLearning course and successfully pass the associated review to earn your badge.
• Completion of 1 pacing hike in March and 6 course hikes, at least one per month between April - September.

Participant commitment and expectations  

• Provide Covid 19 vaccine verification following registration. We will be providing further details on the verification process after January 24th. In order to register you will have agreed to follow Mountaineers established Covid guidelines.
• Ability to complete a 2-mile fairly flat pace hike in under 1.5 hours including rest stops.
• Available and committed to go on one pace hike in March and at least six course hikes, one hike a month, April - September. Early hikes in the series could involve a half day or long summer evening including driving to the trail. As the season progresses the hikes are likely to require being able to get away 6 to 8 hours including travel time. Hikes may be held during the week, in the early evening and on weekends.
  
• Commitment to build and maintain your hiking endurance over the course of the spring and summer to hike a little further and a little higher to get to more and more amazing places. This means going on walks near your home and/or training at home or in a fitness facility in between course hikes  to continue to build your hiking endurance and stamina over time.
• Willing to complete the Mountaineers ‘Low Impact Recreation’ video course during the first month of the series so that you will start out as a great ‘trail citizen’!
• Commitment to borrow or buy the minimum gear for your safety and comfort in advance of going on the offered hikes.  It doesn’t have to be expensive or fancy gear, and we’ll help you figure out what you need and find the best deals!  We will introduce gear recommendations at each level appropriate to the needs of the season and where the hikes will go.