Day Hiking Course
GoHike: Beginner Hiking Series
Is 2021 your year to start hiking? Do you want to experience the beauty of our Pacific Northwest trails, but don’t know where to begin? In the GoHike: Beginning Hiking Series, we start with basics: Preparation, safety, general fitness tips and knowledge to make hitting the trial less daunting, with a main goal in mind: Getting outdoors with others who are starting out, or who just want to hike at a comfortable, social pace, and making this journey together.
- Info
- COVID-19: Learn about our most up-to-date guidance for participants and leaders on our COVID-19 Response page. All participants and leaders must agree to the COVID-19 Code of Conduct before participating in this Mountaineers course.
- Rolling Enrollment: Thu, Mar 4, 2021 - Fri, Oct 15, 2021
- Committee: Foothills Hiking Committee
- Members: $65.00 Guests: $75.00
- Availability: 65 (65 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
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 2021 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, general fitness tips and knowledge to make hitting the trial less daunting, with a main goal in mind: Getting outdoors with others who are starting out, at a comfortable, social pace, making this journey together.
We will introduce you to the essentials of hiking, help you set personalized 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 us! So, whether you’re 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 start
- People who are already comfortable hiking but want to find a community of people who are looking for easier more social hikes
- Anyone who wants to hike in a social, mutually supportive atmosphere
- We welcome participants from all backgrounds!
Course Schedule:
- Student Orientation – March
- Pacing hikes (to help us determine where you are and what level of hikes and pace we need to offer) – March
- Must complete “Low Impact Recreation” training before mid April
- Complete 5 or more course hikes – mid-April to mid-September
- Check-ins: Monthly
- Graduation: September
Monthly Hike Schedule: - mid April to mid Sept
- Month 1 2-4 miles up to 500 feet elevation gain
- Month 2 2-5 miles up to 750 feet elevation gain
- Month 3 3-6 miles up to 1,000 feet elevation gain
- Month 4 3-7 miles up to 1,500 feet elevation gain
- Month 5 4-8 miles up to 2,000 feet of elevation gain
- We'll provide some specific examples of hikes in each category with pictures to build your excitement for what you'll be doing and aiming toward!
- We will offer a progression of hikes with small increases in mileage and gain by month but we'll also continue to make easier hikes available through the summer for people who may not feel ready or interested to move up.
- We'll organize monthly check-ins where we'll help you overcome any roadblocks and assess the level that you will want to try the next month. (Don't worry, no pressure or 'cold calls' - just know that we're out there and available to help you set and meet your goals!)
Course Requirements:
- Attendance at the GoHike orientation on March 5 (please register below)
- Completion of Low Impact Recreation video series
- Completion of 5 of the community hikes between mid April and mid September
- “Extra Credit” : Try a Mountaineers "open" hike, or plan and complete a personal or family hike
Participant commitment and expectations:
- Ability to complete a 2-mile fairly flat pacing hike in under 1.5 hours including rest stops at the time you sign up for the series
- Commitment to make the time to go on at least 1 course hike each month between mid April and mid September.
- Early hikes in the series could involve a half day or long summer evening including driving to the trail, but after April the hikes are likely to require being able to get away on a weekend day for 6 to 8 hours including travel time.
- Commitment to build your stamina over the course of the spring and summer to walk a little further and a little higher to get to more and more amazing places
- This means going on walks near your home in between course hikes to continue to build your 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 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.
Course Activity | Date | Availability | Leader |
---|---|---|---|
GoHike Hiking Trip - 2-4 miles, <500 feet gain (optional) | |||
Redmond Watershed Preserve |
Fri, Apr 23, 2021
Registration closed Apr 21
|
1
participant
1 instructor
|
|
Paradise Valley Conservation Area |
Thu, Apr 29, 2021
Registration closed Apr 20
|
3
participants
|
|
Tiger Mountain Lowlands |
Wed, May 12, 2021
Registration closes May 10
|
7
participants
|
|
Cougar Mountain: Sky Country Trailhead |
Mon, May 17, 2021
Registration closes May 15
|
4
participants
|
|
Ebeys Landing |
Sun, May 23, 2021
Registration closes May 21
|
2
participants
|
|
Paradise Valley Conservation Area |
Wed, Jun 16, 2021
Registration opens May 21
|
8
participants
|
|
Palisades Lakes |
Tue, Jul 27, 2021
Registration opens Jun 18
|
7
participants
|
|
Sheep Lake (Chinook Pass) |
Thu, Aug 5, 2021
Registration opens Jul 23
|
7
participants
|
|
GoHike Hiking Trip - 2-5 miles, up to 750 feet gain (optional) | |||
Des Moines Creek Park & Trail |
Sat, Apr 24, 2021
Registration closed Apr 22
|
0
participants
|
|
Lake Wilderness Park |
Sat, Apr 24, 2021
Registration closed Apr 17
|
0
participants
|
|
Coal Creek Natural Area |
Sun, Apr 25, 2021
Registration closes Apr 23
|
0
participants
|
|
Cougar Mountain: Red Town Trailhead |
Sat, May 1, 2021
Registration closes Apr 29
|
1
participant
|
|
Taylor Mountain |
Sun, May 2, 2021
Registration closes Apr 26
|
1
participant
|
|
Saint Edward State Park |
Sun, May 9, 2021
Registration closes May 7
|
3
participants
|
|
Flaming Geyser State Park |
Sat, May 15, 2021
Registration closes May 6
|
1
participant
|
|
Wildside Trail—De Leo Wall |
Wed, May 19, 2021
Registration closes May 17
|
5
participants
|
|
Tiger Mountain Lowlands |
Wed, May 26, 2021
Registration closes May 24
|
7
participants
|
|
Deception Pass State Park |
Wed, May 26, 2021
Registration closes May 20
|
3
participants
|
|
Anti-Aircraft Peak |
Sat, Jun 5, 2021
Registration opens May 21
|
7
participants
|
|
Northwest Timber Trail |
Sun, Jun 6, 2021
Registration opens May 21
|
7
participants
|
|
Tiger Mountain Lowlands |
Tue, Jul 13, 2021
Registration opens Jun 18
|
8
participants
|
|
Naches Peak Loop |
Sat, Jul 31, 2021
Registration opens Jun 18; Instructor registration open now
|
6
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Northwest Timber Trail |
Tue, Aug 3, 2021
Registration opens Jul 23
|
8
participants
|
|
Tiger Mountain Lowlands |
Thu, Aug 12, 2021
Registration opens Jul 23
|
8
participants
|
|
Spray Park |
Thu, Sep 2, 2021
Registration opens Jul 23
|
7
participants
|
|
GoHike Hiking Trip - 3-6 miles, <1,000 feet gain (optional) | |||
Heybrook Lookout & Ridge |
Fri, Apr 30, 2021
Registration closes Apr 28
|
0
participants
|
|
Mount Erie, Sugerloaf, Heart Lake & Whistle Lake |
Sat, May 1, 2021
Registration closes Apr 25
|
2
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Cougar Mountain Loop |
Tue, May 4, 2021
Registration closes Apr 27
|
6
participants
|
|
Ebeys Landing |
Sun, May 16, 2021
Registration closes May 10
|
5
participants
|
|
Wallace Falls |
Sat, May 22, 2021
Registration closes May 20
|
1
participant on waitlist
|
|
Bridal Veil Falls |
Sun, Jun 13, 2021
Registration opens May 21
|
7
participants
|
|
Coal Mines Trail |
Sat, Aug 14, 2021
Registration opens Jul 23; Instructor registration open now
|
7
participants
1 instructor
|
|
GoHike Hiking Trip - 3-7 miles, <1,500 feet (optional) | |||
Cougar Mountain: Terrace Trail Trailhead |
Sun, May 16, 2021
Registration closes May 14
|
4
participants
|
|
Little Si |
Sat, Jun 12, 2021
Registration opens May 21
|
7
participants
|
|
Kamikaze (Teneriffe) Falls |
Sat, Jun 19, 2021
Registration opens May 21; Instructor registration open now
|
6
participants
1 instructor
|
|
Lime Kiln Trail |
Sat, Jul 10, 2021
Registration opens Jun 18; Instructor registration open now
|
6
participants
0 instructors
|
|
Kamikaze (Teneriffe) Falls |
Sat, Jul 17, 2021
Registration opens Jun 18
|
7
participants
|
|
Dirty Harry's Peak, Balcony & East Balcony |
Tue, Jul 20, 2021
Registration opens Jun 18
|
7
participants
|
|
Kamikaze (Teneriffe) Falls |
Sat, Aug 14, 2021
Registration opens Jul 23
|
8
participants
|
|
Little Si |
Wed, Aug 25, 2021
Registration opens Jul 23
|
7
participants
|
|
Talapus & Olallie Lakes |
Tue, Aug 31, 2021
Registration opens Jul 23
|
7
participants
|
|
Oyster Dome |
Fri, Sep 10, 2021
Registration opens Aug 20
|
7
participants
|
|
Tiger Mountain Lowlands |
Sat, Sep 11, 2021
Registration opens Aug 20
|
7
participants
|
|
Little Si |
Sun, Sep 12, 2021
Registration opens Aug 20
|
8
participants
|
|
Kamikaze (Teneriffe) Falls |
Sun, Sep 19, 2021
Registration opens Aug 20
|
8
participants
|
|
GoHike Hiking Trip - 4-8 miles, <2,000 feet gain (optional) | |||
Cougar Mountain: Red Town Trailhead |
Thu, Jun 3, 2021
Registration closes Jun 1
|
6
participants
|
|
Dirty Harry's Peak, Balcony & East Balcony |
Sun, Jul 18, 2021
Registration opens Jun 18
|
8
participants
|
|
Poo Poo Point via Chirico Trail |
Wed, Jul 21, 2021
Registration opens Jun 18
|
8
participants
|
|
Poo Poo Point via Chirico Trail |
Sun, Jul 25, 2021
Registration opens Jun 18
|
8
participants
|
|
Around South Tiger Mountain |
Sun, Aug 15, 2021
Registration opens Jul 23
|
8
participants
|
|
Poo Poo Point via Chirico Trail |
Wed, Aug 18, 2021
Registration opens Jul 23
|
6
participants
|
|
Dirty Harry's Peak, Balcony & East Balcony |
Sun, Aug 22, 2021
Registration opens Jul 23
|
7
participants
|
|
Snow & Gem Lakes (Snoqualmie) |
Thu, Aug 26, 2021
Registration opens Jul 23
|
7
participants
|
|
Poo Poo Point via Chirico Trail |
Sat, Aug 28, 2021
Registration opens Jul 23
|
8
participants
|
|
Poo Poo Point via Chirico Trail |
Wed, Sep 8, 2021
Registration opens Aug 20
|
8
participants
|
|
Greider Lakes |
Sat, Sep 11, 2021
Registration opens Aug 20
|
7
participants
|
|
Annette Lake |
Sat, Sep 11, 2021
Registration opens Aug 20
|
7
participants
|
|
Dirty Harry's Peak, Balcony & East Balcony |
Sat, Sep 18, 2021
Registration opens Aug 20
|
8
participants
|
Start from where you are and the gear and clothing you already have or can borrow! We'll help you identify what else you might need for safety and comfort specific to each particular hike and the conditions when and where you're going, and we'll give you lots of ideas for how to get any needed pieces of gear or clothing without spending a lot of money.
There are no materials for this course.