Mountaineering is more strenuous and requires a lot of preparation and health checks. FILE
What you need to know:
Out of town excursions are becoming common with groups getting together to either hike in nearby trails or train to conquer mountains.
In 2009 a group of friends came together to organise a hiking excursion up Mount Longonot, Naivasha.
They were four friends looking to take up the challenge, but before long they realised many more of their friends wanted to be part of the action. In the end a group of 100 people went up the mountain.
This was the birth of Kwea Milele, a group of hiking enthusiasts.
“It was initially a challenge by four friends who wanted to climb Mount Kenya, and so we started with preparations to Mount Longonot to test our readiness for the mountaineering,” says Ms Wandia Kalii, a member of the initial group.
They saw a growing interest in hiking as the initial group asked for more hiking activities outside the city, many saying that the sport is addictive and ask for more challenging activities. Using social media, especially Facebook, they are able to reach many other enthusiasts.
Hiking is gaining popularity as Kenyans look for weekend excursions, especially out of the city. Whether it is going up a mountain or a hill, hiking activities are capturing more attention with friends and families forming hiking groups.
Ms Kalii says that the age groups of those around ages 23-35 years are a bit bored of spending their weekend or public holidays eating and drinking but would rather go for more engaging sporty activities like hiking.
Mountain club
They derive various benefits from hiking or mountaineering such as a healthy workout, losing weight during the preparation, getting their daily exercise when preparing and a socialising platform.
Kwea Milele now hosts monthly hiking activities in the three years since it was formed and has expanded to mountaineering three to four times a year.
The mountain club of Kenya, is another club that encourages mountaineering and regularly organises climbing and exploration of mountains and rocks across the country.
First started in 1938, the club encourages enthusiasts to take up membership and in return one gets information on the different mountaineering activities planned, as well as hiking classes.
They update an activity organized by the group usually posted on their websites every month. The club says climbing mountains has gained popularity as an outdoor activity. For some its a hobby while others take it professionally.
Mountaineering is not to be confused with hiking, which involves a lot of walking and mostly happens on hills or hiking trails.
The different types of hiking include back packing- on hills and scrambling which is non-professional rock climbing.
Mountaineering on the other hand is going up a mountain, which is more strenuous and requires a lot of preparation and health checks. Hells Gate National Park is one of the places most visited by non-professional hikers who want seasonal hiking escapades.
Other popular hiking places include Menengai Crater, Mt Longonot, Shanamo Hills, Williams Hill and Elephant Hill in the Aberdares.
There are usually guides to escort hikers at an agreed cost and to carry any luggage. Mountain climbers are accompanied by porters who carry luggage up the mountains.
Hiking groups have also realised that most people preferred to go long distances for hiking and introduced packages that include camping.
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