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Welcome to the PGOSA Hikers. We know you will enjoy meeting your fellow hikers and exploring many of the outstanding trails in our area with our hiking groups.
There are two hikes each week. Our most popular hike is on Thursdays and generally is done on established trails on eastern mid Vancouver Island between the Comox and Cowichan Valleys at a leisurely pace, ending back in town by 5 pm. Our more challenging hike is on Tuesdays and may go further afield, often on less defined trails, maybe with significant elevation gains and usually at a quicker pace. Tuesday hikes often don’t return before 5 pm. See Hiking Trips for complete details.
Both hikes should be considered a full day’s outing. Because of expected weather conditions either hike may be moved to a Wednesday with advance notice. We send an email bulletin before each hike to announce its destination and particulars as to length and challenging features, specifying a meeting place and time.
We recommend that our new members start with Thursday hikes to build their stamina and confidence and join in our Tuesday hikes later. However, if you are recently experienced in mountain trekking with significant elevation gains over long distances, you will certainly enjoy many of our Tuesday hikes immediately.
In the past, we have been asked if dogs can be brought along on the hikes. For safety reasons we have decided that we must hike without pets. At times the trails can be narrow and slippery, if dog and hiker are both trying to negotiate a difficult section an accident could happen.
For environmental reasons and because of limited parking at many trailheads, we carpool from our meeting places. All hikers are expected to share in the carpooling so that the same ones are not always driving. Those who ride with another driver pay for gas, etc at the rate of $7 to $24 round trip per person depending on distance. The rate for each hike is given in the hike email bulletin.
We require our hikers to carry an Emergency Information Sheet in an outer pocket of their backpacks in case of an accident that may prevent a hiker from answering important questions about special medical conditions, allergies or who to contact. A copy is available here.
And, most importantly, please see the attached copies of our PGOSA Hiking Guidelines and Hiking Essentials to be Worn or Carried in Your Pack.
Hiking with our groups requires you to be a member of PGOSA. If you have not already done so please send your membership fee of $10 per person for the year by cheque to:
June Cousineau
591 Johnstone Road,
Parksville, BC V9P 2A5
This fee is renewable each year by January 1st and entitles you to participate in any of PGOSA activities. The fee covers the cost of insurance and pays for some supplies.
Do not hesitate to contact the following hike leaders should you require further information or have any questions.
Pamela Tindle, Trail Explorers, Tuesday 250-752-8349 pamrotindle@shaw.ca
Cynthia Robertson, Trail Hikers, Thursday 250-468-9324 cynrober@shaw.ca | 
