"Meet Up" Bushwalking Groups

[Thatoutdoorsyguy]

Hoping you guys might be able to share your experiences or thoughts on this one...

Given my limited time to attend a formal bush walking club, I thought that I would check out some of the events being planned by groups on the social networking site "Meet Up". And yes, there is an app for that.

What appealed to me at first glance was a younger demographic, a focus on the social connection with like minded people and the absence of the rigid rule sets and risk management processes that are in place by the formal bushwalking clubs. Please don't misinterpret me. I understand that these systems are required to be in place for the formal clubs. I get that.

What i found when I signed up for a walk, was that the nominations kept coming through with more and more folks signing up.

In the end 50 people had signed up for a walk.

At that point I withdrew my nomination to attend for a few reasons. 50 people walking though the scrub to me is just too many people. The noise of the group would drown out the sounds of the streams, the whip birds and the general sounds of the bush that we all find incredibly pleasant I'm sure. I like social interaction, but equally I like to take a moment and enjoy a solitary moment to soak it all in. I just don't know how I could do this with 50 people.

I'm interested to hear of anyone's experience walking in such a large group and if I am being overly fussy or not. Thanks.

[dingelberry]

Thats not a group thats an army .

[north-north-west]

Walking . . . with people? *shudder*
That's just perverse.

[Son of a Beach]

BWA still runs a rudimentary tool to help people arrange meet-up walks. it is focused on trying to come to a consensus on dates and track options. Not sure how relevant that is to this topic, but thought it might be worth posting.

http://bushwalk.com/meetup/

[taipan821]

In the end 50 people had signed up for a walk.
50 people walking though the scrub to me is just too many people

50 people is indeed too many think of the logistics with car pooling, car parking, shuttles and campsites.

I've had one experience with a group walk. didn't enjoy it.

[flyfisher]

The Strollers must just be a group of easygoing folk then.

We have had many walks, usually 4 or 5 but up to 9 on a Walls trip via a different route.

Think we are just a relaxed bunch.

FF

Attachments

[davidf]

9 and 69 is a different proposition

[Thatoutdoorsyguy]

It's interesting hearing everyone opinions. For me, groups of around the 12-15 mark is probably the maximum.

[flyfisher]

The point of my post was not to prove anything other than the coming together of a mixed group with some common interests.

It started when the forum was a year old with an overnighter to Lees paddocks, suggested by SOB the forum founder.

After that, other trips were organised with parties generally 4 to 6. We had many excellent strolls, up to 4 or 5 days, a couple maybe longer.

kayaks,mountain bikes and 4w drives have also featured in some of our adventures.

The Strollers group was by invitation and worked well, no rules as such, just consensus.

Trips were suggested and listed to be ticked off when done.

Injuries, illness and family and work have all taken a toll, but we are still around.

FF

[Thatoutdoorsyguy]

Great to hear you guys are still actively out walking as a group.

[findbuddha]

I've had some good experiences with a local meetup group, numbers were limited to around 6-12 for the walks we did which were on the more challenging side. Unfortunately this group recently closed.

I have yet to try any of the other groups here in SE QLD, but am a bit put off by the large group numbers and lack of interesting walks.

[Snowzone]

Hmmm, a little unfortunate that the group doesn't control their numbers. I've not long started a meetup in the Ballarat/Western Vic area which is in its infancy but going quite well. We limit the amount of participants on walks depending on what the walk is. A general daywalk would be a maximum of 15 if it was all on tracks in a non sensitive area but the numbers would reduce substantially for overnight walks and off track or sensitive area walks.

Meetup groups do work well for putting like minded people in contact and also for transient or new to the area folks.