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When? Started: 1993 Who? Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester. Organiser: Martyn Harris We walk every Wednesday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day. How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day. More walk on a Wednesday than on a Saturday. Most ever: 29. Current group size walking: 2-7 in mid-week and 2-4 on Saturday. Where do we walk? Saturday: Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland. Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester. Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles (but usually under 10 miles). Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!). People involved on walks in 2024:- Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Mike Dodd, David Savage,, Ed Meads, Nigel and Elaine Taylor, Winston Feather.

Sunday, 19 March 2023

Is it now time to bring Harris Hikers to a close - maybe not

After venting my feeling to Mike and Ed after the walk today, I felt I needed everyone else in our group needed to hear as well.
Since 2005/2006 i have pannned two walks a week, every Saturday and Thursday and currerly every Wednesday.
I don't think all members appreciate how much time it takes to plan walks, taking into acount walks we have done in the last twelve months and post it a month in advance, as well as post a walk report with pictures after each walk.
I have received so much negativity about suggested walks of late that I wonder why do I still do it?
Contacting me late on Tuesday doesn't help either as I am out until about 22-30 as I have a House Group Meeting (Phone on mute ) every Tuesday until then.
Contacting me when you don't plan to walk is just as imprtant as when you do plan to walk, but not everyone does this on Monday at the latest.
Canceling a commitment to a walk several days or even less, isn't helpful either, especilly  when booking a meal venue is involved.
Several walks of ate, I have felt that on most of the walk, I have been walking solo, another reason for feeling, I might as well do that without any planning, and do more walks when I can walk solo, bird watching at the same time.
Is it time to end Harris Hikers (UK) and leave it to Conley?
I think!
After receiving comments from group members, I happyto believe that  everyone now appreciates that we all have different abilities in terms of our firness and capabilties to walk distance, especially when it involves climbs as well.
If we are to continue walking together and enjoy walking together, I think everyone realises we must all take into account the capabilties and limitations of all other members in the group.
Taking that into account, I will continue to plant monthly walks, but will probasbly give other members of the group the opportunity to organise walks, especially short walks followed bt a meal if these are to be continued.


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Definitely not time to stop, but maybe put it out to the group for suggestions of all types of walk and areas they'd like to do. I could whip up a questionnaire to help if needed.

Remember you cannot please all the people all of the time and it's difficult to do this. A balance of walks is hard to do.

Pace wise it's sometimes hard for all keep together, definitely when going uphill or downhill, but maybe we all can keep this is mind to stick together more.

Maybe also we could take up a bit more organising for you, with a guest walker leading the walk once a month.

Agreed communication is key here. I know I normally let you know by 5pm or 6pm if iffy weather on the day before a walk.

These are only ideas or thoughts, I for one appreciate getting out walking with you and the group and am happy to assist in anyway I can. Ed

Anonymous said...

Please don’t stop the HH walks Martyn, I would miss the group terribly. You make some good points about the effort required to organise, the walk splitting into subgroups, and the meal bookings which are valid and we tend to take you for granted. Some changes I think are needed to ensure it is fun to organise and walk, but I think we all need time to think what. Please don’t walk away from us. I will walk on Wednesday wherever we go. Nigel