Meet other local hiking enthusiasts who are dedicated to hiking excursions near and far, with a focus on leaving no trace of litter on our lands. This group meets year-round and is mainly for experienced hikers, but our hikes vary in duration and ruggedness, with certain events geared toward beginners.
WHO WE ARE
The Indianapolis Hiking Meetup Group was formed in October 2006 by Christine B. (who remains a member of the group) and has grown rapidly. We're a group who enjoys the outdoors, meeting new people, and just having fun. Our aim is to explore the great hiking spots Indiana has to offer and provide an opportunity to socialize with others who have a passion for hiking. Hikers of all levels are welcome to join. With us, you'll burn a few calories and see some great sights to boot.
KNOW YOUR LIMITS!
The hikes we do are usually either moderate or rugged, depending on the park. The group is geared toward people who either exercise on a regular basis. It's important that people realize what their limits are and not attend a challenging hike they may not be ready for. Please be sure to note the hike descriptions and determine whether or not you'll be able to enjoy the event. None of us want anyone to end up injured or unable to finish the hike.
We also hike all year-round, so weather conditions can also be a factor, and although we avoid hiking in extreme temperatures (in the teens or in the nineties), please be aware of any weather conditions that may have an effect on your ability to hike.
TYPES OF HIKES
Rugged hikes consist of lengthy events across challenging terrain, which can mean rocky streambeds and steep hills. These hikes wouldn't be recommended for beginners or those who are still getting into shape. Our rugged events are often our best hikes but are definitely a workout. Examples of these would be Clifty Falls, Turkey Run, and Shades State Parks.
Moderate hikes are not as physically challenging as the rugged ones and take place on less hilly terrain. These hikes contain a few hills that will get your heart rate up or else the length of the hike will be the real challenge. These would require a decent level of fitness and examples of moderate hikes would be Eagle Creek or Fort Harrison.
Easy hikes aren't frequently on our schedules, but that may be a matter of opinion. Any hike in this category would consist of a flat terrain and nothing strenuous.
DUES
$5 per year
Paypal is an available payment method, but you can make arrangements with the organizer if you need to pay cash. The dues go toward maintaining the fee for the Meetup site.
RSVP'ING
With each hike, I try to accommodate as many people as possible since we do have members of varying fitness levels. I occasionnaly cap the number of people on the hikes to keep the group to a reasonable size that I can keep track of.
The hikes frequently fill up quickly, so if you’re not able to land a spot, then consider getting on the waiting list. Often no matter how many spots are created for the event, people drop off as we get closer to the weekend and that’s when the waiting list comes in. I’ll move people from the waiting list on the RSVP list as spots open up. I also post the events as early as I can, so that people can determine if a particular weekend will work for them.
GUESTS
You are always welcome to bring a guest or guests with you, but we ask that they join if they are your guest more than a couple times. We limit the number of guests to 2 people.
KIDS
We're not strictly an all-adult group, but young children may not be up for the hikes we do, so please take that into consideration. Any young people willing and able to come out are welcome.
DOGS
Dogs are welcome on our hikes, as long as he or she gets along with other pooches and a large group of people. In some cases, dogs can be let off leashes while we're out on the trails, but on days when we're at a popular park, dogs will be need to be kept on leashes.
CANCELLATIONS/POSTPONEMENTS
If a hike is called off due to inclement weather or some other problem, an e-mail will be sent out as early as possible letting everyone know and an update will be made to the site. Hikes are usually postponed to another weekend to avoid bad weather or any other setback.
PHOTOs
As you can be seen from the Photos section of the site, we have some great photographers in the group and taking pictures is a big part of our events. Everyone is welcome to upload their photos to the site.
If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact me.
Take care,
Michael
