Kamloops Hiking Club offers a full range of outdoor events, ranging from easy to difficult.

• To determine the difficulty of an event, the distance + climb + terrain + pace (group speed) + conditions are all key factors.
• Fitness, strength, experience, and current health are all factors in determining readiness to do one of KHC’s hikes.
• KHC has not been a learn-to-hike club.    To be ready to do KHC events, a year of walking and hiking the hills is a good first stage.   KHC does offer a number of moderate hikes, but we are always looking for leaders who will offer more moderate hikes.   Many of our members have been hiking more difficult routes for decades and many of our leaders prefer more challenging hikes.
• KHC offers events over all 12 months in a variety of conditions.
• KHC is insured for all of its scheduled events, registering its activities with the insurer through the Federation of Mountain Clubs.

Hiking

• Hike Leaders choose the routes, times, duration, and itineraries for their events, bearing in mind KHC Guidelines and Expectations.
• Hiking routes can range from easy (walking) to challenging (scrambling).
• Distances can vary from short to very long, with a range of durations from one hour to all day.
• Many hikes are on trails, some are off-trail, and some are mixed routes of single tracks, double tracks, off trail, and scrambling.
• Some routes have good footing, but some routes will be on loose material or on difficult terrain.
• A number of routes may go to or past areas with some danger from drop offs, falling rock, narrow access, and steep terrain.
• KHC organizes events that may require scrambling,  but does not offer events that require climbing.   See Scrambling.
• The harder the route (distance, climb, terrain) the more demanding the hike/snowshoe will be and fitness, strength, health, and experience will come into play.
• Conditions will affect the difficulty.   Hot or very cold weather will make the hike or snowshoe more difficult.
• Smoky conditions may also affect the event difficulty.
• If the leader and most members of the group hike more quickly, it will make the hike more difficult for those struggling to keep up.
• Longer, steeper routes are more demanding on base fitness.
• More complex routes require more coordination to keep all hikers on the right route so fitness may be a factor for these routes.   The leader may choose to put a sweep in place for safety, if one can be found who will volunteer and who knows the route.
• For more difficult events, the hike leader may restrict registration/participation

Backpacking:

• Carrying a heavy backpack automatically makes any hike more difficult.
• Backpacking a short way in to establish a basecamp will be less demanding than a point-to-point backpack.
• Long days of hiking with a backpack over difficult and demanding terrain requires fitness, strength, experience, proper gear and provisions.
• As it is a group event, the member’s awareness of their own limits in relation to the details and the daily expectations of the event should be taken into account prior to signing up for the enjoyment and the safety of the group.
• For this reason, the hike leader may restrict registration/participation after a dialogue with the member.

Snowshoeing

• Winter routes on snow may be on trail, off-trail, or in steep terrain.   Under the snow hazards may be present on any route.
• Very cold weather will make the snowshoe more difficult.
• In cold conditions, any participant who falls behind the group will be at risk so the leader may choose to restrict registration/participation to prevent this situation.
• For alpine routes, the upper areas may be more exposed, will likely have deeper snow, and there may be avalanche risks off-trail.   Hike leaders will restrict these outings to smaller groups of prepared snowshoers.

Paddling

• Paddling outings may vary from shoreline paddling on a small lake or bay of a larger lake to river or ocean paddling.
• Since drownings are always a danger, any paddling on large lakes, on the rivers, or on the ocean should only be done by experienced paddlers.
• Whitewater paddling (Class I to Class III) will be restricted to experienced paddlers with skills in self-rescue.   KHC does not sanction Class 4 or higher events.
• Anyone paddling in a KHC event should have knowledge (and preferably experience) in self-rescue in the event that the boat capsizes.
• All boats must carry (by law) the list of safety gear (PFDs, towrope, bailer/pump, signal device, paddle float).   The leader must have experience in rescue techniques.

Cycling

• Although KHC does little cycling, in the past it has organized easy to moderate events, mostly on mountain bikes.
• Mountain biking routes have a wide range in difficulties so most leaders do not choose overly-demanding routes, but members need to read the event listing carefully.
• Helmets are required for all KHC events.
• At times we have mountain biked access tracks to mountain trailheads when the route is too difficult for vehicles.   All of these are difficult routes.

Some Examples:

• Battle Bluff Trail – moderate overall in most conditions, but more difficult in hot, smoky, or cold conditions.   Some steep sections may challenge those less fit.
• Trophy Mountain Summit – More Demanding even in good conditions.
• Skoatl Point – moderate for most of the route, but more demanding for the final climb.   Difficult in wetter conditions.