If you enjoy the great outdoors, Indianapolis is a good place to be. The Indianapolis Hiking Club was founded in 1957 by a group of people who enjoy hiking and participating in conservation projects. The less formal Indianapolis Hiking Meetup Group simply loves to hike, enjoy socializing and plan fun hiking events. Indianapolis has a range of hiking opportunities that fit many skill and interest levels.
Types
The Indianapolis Hiking Meetup Group has various types of hikes, from easy to strenuous, that range from a couple of hours to six hours. The Indianapolis Hiking Club has beginner to strenuous hikes within Indiana and around the United States. The Walkers Group and IndyWalk Group hike on paved paths. The membership fees range from $5 to $22 for a family annually (this and all prices as of 2010).
Features
Generally most hiking associations hold weekly hikes that are planned and organized by the leadership. The membership hold Christmas parties, house parties and after-hike parties. The Indianapolis Hiking Club is responsible for clearing trails and other conservation work. Nearly one-half of the club's hikes are outside of Indianapolis in Brown County and throughout the United States. The club keeps track of each member's logged mileage and posts the top members who belong to the 10,000 Milers designation.
Considerations
According to the Indianapolis Hiking Club, the average age of its 750 members is around 50. The Indianapolis Hiking Meetup Group with over 700 members is an adult association. However, some holiday parties and events may include children. Hikes are categorized for beginner, intermediate and experienced hikers.
Benefits
According to the Mayo Clinic as reported by the OC Register, hiking has healthy potential health benefits, like improved mobility and mental outlook, as well as heart-health and weight-loss benefits. Consult your doctor before beginning a hiking program, to make sure you're fit enough for it.
Cautionary Advice
The hiking associations publish the place, map and level of strenuousness or difficulty of the hikes in advance, on their respective website or MeetUp site. Hikers should take into consideration their individual competency and health before engaging in a hike. The Mayo Clinic suggests people under the age of 65 participate in aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes per day for five days. People over the age of 65 and individuals with health conditions should balance aerobic exercise and strength training for best results.
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