The Caledonia Ramblers are lacing up for the summer hiking season.
Every Sunday for the next six months the club will be leading day trips to destinations throughout the Central Interior. (The club also hosts a winter snowshoe schedule starting in November.)
A major reason people join the club is to enjoy all the outdoors has to offer in a way that's safe and social, club president Nowell Senior said.
The rate of difficulty ranges for easy two-hour walks to strenuous eight-hour hikes, although most are rated easy or moderate. A few multi-day treks are also on the schedule.
"We tend to start with the lower elevation hikes because there's still a lot of snow in the mountains, usually," Senior said.
A day trip typically draws about a dozen people, although the club's total membership usually hovers around 100, and has grown to about 140 in recent years.
Highlights for the coming season include overnight trips to Humbug Ridge, Jasper, Longworth Lookout to Red Mountain, Ozalenka and Silver King basin. A week-long trip along the Blueberry trail southeast of Prince George is also planned for early August.
Participants are asked to be properly equipped with appropriate footwear and clothing, including rain gear. A pack carrying food and fluids is also mandatory. A suggested list can be found on the club's website.
Everyone must also sign a waiver absolving the Ramblers of liability in the case of injury although precautions are taken - at least one person carries a first aid kit and another a Spot beacon or a satellite phone in case of emergency.
Membership is $30 per year, plus $7 for each additional family member. Prospective members get two free trips before deciding whether they want to join.
The fee pays for membership in the Federation of Mountain Clubs of British Columbia, which also provides liability insurance, and for trail maintenance work.
Last summer, members cleared blowdown off 30 kilometres of the Alexander Mackenzie Heritage Trail and have been heavily involved in installing the wood trail through the Ancient Forest east of Prince George.
An easy hike to Huble Homestead is set for this Sunday. Meet at the city hall parking lot by 9 a.m. The car pool fee is $4.
For more information on the club, e-mail [email protected] or visit caledoniaramblers.ca.
