GOLDEN SOLES - an Over-50 Walking + Hiking Group

Golden Soles is an over-50, no dogs fitness walking + hiking group that welcomes folk who wish to participate in the sport of social group walks + hikes!
As a member, please be respectful of the following: 1) All safety requests from your walk / hike leader; 2) Awareness of your fellow walkers / hikers; 3) Take only memories / Leave only footprints.
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Golden Soles is not a speed-walking group, yet we do keep an energetic pace.
In addition to the fitness component of walking / hiking, along the trail we share moments of awesomeness, chit-chat + general breath catching-up.
We stay together as a group throughout the walk / hike + enjoy / reflect on the beauty of our surroundings!

Please familiarize yourself with our walks + hikes.  Please read the event details your leader provides in the walk / hike description.
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At this time, Golden Soles offers THREE TYPES OF HIKES + WALKS:

1- BRISK WALKS – terrain is on a combination of paved multi-use trails with a soft shoulder or dirt + rock-strewn trails. Most brisk walks are 3-7 miles, with an average pace = 3.0+/- mph or a 20 minute mile. Elevation gains are moderately easy up to 200-ish feet. There are water breaks + a rest break at the half-way point. Estimated drive times to the meet location = 10 - 40 minutes in our beautiful local areas.

2- TRAIL HIKES – terrain is on a combination of paved multi-use trails, dirt trails / roads with roots + rocks, hard granitic or uneven surfaces, rocky creek crossings, etc..  Most of our hikes also provide map links which contain additional detailed data about the hike. These links give information to help you decide if the hike is right for you.

Depending on the terrain, most hikes are rated moderate to difficult 4-12 miles round-trip with an average pace = 2.5+/- mph or a 25 minute mile.  Elevation gains are challenging up to 1,200-ish feet.  There are rest breaks, as needed dependent on the variables of each hike.  Estimated drive times to the trailhead = 40 - 120 minutes in our beautiful local + outlying areas.

3- PHOTOGRAPHY WALKS / HIKES – terrain varies from dirt roads to gravel + rock-strewn trails. Most photography walks are 3-5 miles, with a slow to moderate pace = 2.0+/- mph or a 30 minute mile. Elevation gains are moderate up to 400-ish feet.  There are several creative moments to capture images, as well as a rest break at the half-way point.  Estimated drive times to the meet location = 30 - 120 minutes in our beautiful local + outlying areas.
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Golden Soles is solely a social, non-professional, volunteer group. Only you can assess your abilities to attend a hike + are solely responsible for your safety + well-being. Please familiarize yourself with Meetup's Terms of Service.
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