Guangzhou Hiking Clubs: My Big 'NOPE!' – A Warning for Fellow Tourists
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Oh, you poor thing. It's much more liberating to hike on your own – you can rest whenever you want, take a nap if you feel like it.
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I've only done group tours twice. Usually, I go on my own, taking it easy, snapping photos, enjoying snacks and drinks at my own pace – it's so much more comfortable. I don't think I'll ever want to join a group tour again. It's just different; they're all about the challenge, rushing headlong. That's not for me. I'm out there to genuinely enjoy and experience things.
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I signed up through a public WeChat account to hike a small hill in Zhongshan. Turns out, the trail was barely used. I even took a tumble on the way down. Registration fee was 80, X-rays cost 800, medicine another 800. And the worst part? It's still not healed, and I need to go back to the doctor.
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What a stroke of bad luck!
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How are the 'Baozou Cun' (Fast-Walk Village) groups?
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Never joined them. Within Guangdong, I pretty much always go on my own.
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These commercial groups usually have around 30-40 people. They need to manage time, so those at the back can't fall too far behind, or it'll delay the return trip. So, for people at the tail end, they can't afford to be too slow.
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Shouldn't they check everyone's fitness level before forming the team? If someone's not up to it, they shouldn't be accepted. Once they're in, you can't complain about them being slow.
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I actually think they're pretty good. At least you get some guidance. I went on one trip to Wugong Mountain where the leader hiked up in flip-flops with a backpack. We only found out at dinner that he'd carried two huge watermelons up! With his build, I reckon he could've carried me up too.
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It's different for me. I just want to escape the hustle and bustle of crowds and find some peace and quiet in nature, just to calmly enjoy the scenery.
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Can I pretend this is about our group? We're getting no traction. Heck, even some haters would be welcome for the engagement!
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Surely not?
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When teaming up for hikes, it's usually small, self-drive (carpool) groups.
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I usually go on my own too. This time, my hiking buddy bailed, so I was just looking for a group mainly to get a ride there and back.