New Members Guidelines

Information for New Members

Outdoor activity is an easy and enjoyable way to get exercise. However, if you do not exercise regularly or have a health-related condition, it is important that you consult with a doctor before starting a new exercise program such as outdoor activities.

• At its core, our outings are shared experiences, not guided events.
• Everyone who joins is responsible for their own safety, decisions, and preparedness.
• Our volunteer hosts help bring the group together, set the tone, and keep things organized — but they're not acting as professional guides.

We Have Activities Almost Every Week

We have activities almost every week. Go to our Events Listing to find out what's being offered. We offer all sorts of adventures including walks, hiking, camping, biking, paddling, swimming, adventure vacations, social events and more. Often, members who attend our activities will meet others at their difficulty level and post their own adventures in our Calendar.

Know What You Are Capable Of

It's important to know what you are capable of before you select and attend an activity. This is easy if you have some experience on our adventures. It may not be clear for people who are new to outdoor activities, particularly hiking in New Hampshire's White Mountains. For members who are not sure of their capabilities, we suggest:

• Choose an Easy or Easy-to-Moderate hike. The difficulty level of all our hikes is listed in the description. If you are unsure of your capabilities, ask the host in the event discussion on the event page; they can help you sort it out.
• Then gradually take on more challenging adventures. Move up to Moderate and continue from there.
• If for some reason you joined an adventure beyond your capability, turn around and let your host know. That's OK — everyone has a learning curve. You then know you have to step up your outdoor training program.

Getting in Shape for Adventures — Outdoor Training Program

Outdoor Training Program Tips

During your training program it's important to pay attention to how you feel during and after your training. It's not necessary to push yourself very hard to make progress. Training is supposed to be fun, including the part where you are gradually building up your strength and endurance. For cardio workouts, you should feel somewhat out of breath but still be able to carry on a conversation. Most cardio machines monitor your heart rate, so try to reach your target level — to calculate, start with 220 minus your age, then take 50–70% of that figure for moderate intensity. Training itself should not make you very uncomfortable — rest often if needed. It's normal to feel tired after training. If you have difficulty sleeping that night or are very tired the next day, perhaps it was too difficult at that time. If so, stay at that level or back off a bit until you feel comfortable, then gradually add more difficulty.