It was in July 2016 that I decided to start The Hiking Society outdoor blog off the back of almost 2 years of heavy hiking.
This also included a trek across New Zealand at the end of 2015 walking from Hobbiton (Matamata) to Mount Doom (Tongariro National Park).
This wasn’t the reason why I started the blog.
I wanted to blog about my thoughts on tracks, gear, food, and the industry in general.
And, if possible, inspire others to get into the outdoors and experience what I, and countless others, get to experience several times a month.
I’m also a big believer that there are plenty of people who want to go hiking but don’t know where to go or have no one to go with.
Firstly, this is why I will only ever blog about hikes I have done thus giving you, the reader, an insight into what to expect.
I’m a big believer in outdoor safety and this comes in the form of the content I produce. So if you have a question about any of the tracks and trails I feature on this website, I feel I am well placed to answer them.
Furthermore, I wanted to bring attention to some tracks that weren’t as well-known as the Werribee Gorges or the Mount Macedons of the world.
Secondly, I thought the best way of actually doing this was to a) start a MeetUp group and b) blog about each hike I do.
And all of it would be powered by the other love in my life – social media.
The Facebook page and the Instagram page have been integral in drawing attention to not only the blog but also the MeetUp group.
Through this group, which started in September 2016, I have met some absolutely amazing people that I can now call friends.
I have seen people start off with shorter hikes and are now tackling longer and harder hikes which are purely a result of regularly hiking.
Our group has ventured out to places such as the Dandenong Ranges, the Grampians, Wilsons Prom, Lorne, Marysville, Mitchell River, Mount Buffalo, and much more.
There’s even an interstate hike to Tasmania in the mix for early next year.
Our group now stands at 3200 people which also has roughly 25 organisers, including myself, leading hikes almost every weekend.
I’ve also dipped my toe into the business world and now own an online store called Globewalker which stocks hiking, camping, and mountaineering gear.
In the 12 months that it has existed, The Hiking Society has exceeded my expectations beyond belief.
I never thought the website would attract regular traffic and I certainly never thought the MeetUp group would be as big as it is right now.
The only reason that any of this is possible is down to one factor – you.
The Hiking Society is in every sense of the word a community of like-minded people coming together over a common interest.
Despite the fact that I write the content on this website – I’m always looking for contributors though – I’m always interested in what you guys have to say.
Something you say might challenge my way of thinking about hiking and offer a completely new perspective on it all.
And for that, I am truly grateful.
Thank you to each and every one of you who has commented on my blog posts has liked, commented, or shared my social media posts, and has attended any of the hikes that our MeetUp group has put on.
I truly am grateful for your attention and willingness to get involved in not only hiking with me or any of my leaders but also taking the time to engage with my content.
It means the absolute world to me.
Yours in the outdoors
John
