How to effective walk as a group in wild or undulating terrain

Everyone walks at a different pace so it takes practice to walk as a group and writing from experience (and having just returned from the Lake District) it takes a lot of patience to reign in the fast walkers and encourage the slower ones to keep going.

So this mini online walking guide is to help you and your group get the most from your country walks and hikes in the hills and the mountains of the UK.

Planning your walk

At the very least we suggest you spend 5 minutes:

• reviewing your route (if you have one planned)
• reviewing distance to be covered
• estimating a comfortable walking speed for everyone in your group
• incorporating scheduled rest breaks
• assessing the type of terrain you will be walking over
• communicating to your fellow walkers what the plan is so that everyone knows and can voice their opinion
• checking over each others equipment ensuring it is in working order

From experience nothing is worse than having a group race off and then spend the whole day stopping due to tiredness.

Pace is the key.

Set a steady pace and stick to it. Try to encourage others not to push on as this can only demotivate others around you who then think they have to catch up and that might be difficult for some who walk at a slower pace.

Don’t forget its a walk, not a route march!

What is the best speed to walk?

Every walker is different so there is no right answer.

Some are fast on the straight whilst slow coming downhill but with an average uphill walking ability against someone who is fast uphill, lightning quick downhill yet struggles to maintain a quick step over solid level ground.

The best way is to experiment as a group but we say find a flat route and estimate a comfortable walking speed that you can maintain for an hour – for some that might be 5 km’s per hour, for others it might be as slow as 2 km’s an hour.

Practice walks as a group will help you find the optimum speed to walk at.

What happens then when different walkers walk at varying speeds?

When a group walks together it is best to place the slowest walker upfront and walk to their pace.

This is difficult as slow walkers might not be as fit as other members which can cause frustration with others who are fitter and faster. This problem can become more apparent whilst negotiating steep terrain as an unfit walker will usually have a tendency to want to stop more often, further reducing the walking speed of the group.

 How do I ensure a slow walker keeps on going whilst walking on steep terrain?

First make sure the slowest walker understands they are NOT holding up the group.

If another member in the group begins to make noises that progress by another group member is slow then allocate that person to walk alongside or behind the slow walker and offer them encouragement to keep going – though take care to make sure this does not turn into a bullying tactic!

If a slow walker keeps stopping you might need to check them out. Are they unfit or is there a possibility they have an underlying problem they are not sharing? Sometimes a poorly packed or overweight rucksack, ill fitting clothing, new boots causing blisters or feeling cold/hot can cause someone to stop as much as someone who is unfit.

Setting distance goals

We usually set a distance goal/checkpoint (that can be easily seen ahead) for a slow walker to achieve, as the terrain becomes steeper we shorten the distance and slow them down so they “keep plodding” to each point we designate. This can help them make steady progress uphill especially with gentle encouragement.

Make sure that you get the slow walker who is struggling to call out their goal. If they struggle try to keep them going slowly rather than stopping before the checkpoint. Promise a reward when you get there (a better view, a chocolate bar or even just a sip of water if its a short distance) and make sure they get it. If you offer a reward and then do not offer it when they reach the checkpoint you’ll lose all the trust they put in you!

Stopping and starting can encourage the group to continually walk in different gears, changes people core temperature hot/cold/hot and this tends to quickly bring on fatigue. A steady, slow pace is much preferred when walking uphill, adjust to a smaller stride but try to keep physical intensity to the same level as walking on the flat.

If you have someone who walks faster and refuses to slow down then it might be advisable you ask them to wait and follow on after a few minutes. Nothing demoralises a slow walker more than continually being overtaken by someone quicker or reaching a faster walker who has chosen to stop in front of them at which point upon reaching them they are up and off again!

However this technique is to be only used in clear weather, in poor visibility or bad weather EVERYONE sticks together and anyone rushing off or remaining out of sight to then catch up should not be tolerated.

How often to rest?

The rule of thumb we like when it comes to resting is 10 minutes for every 1 hour walked. In practice this is a lot harder to maintain especially when you are climbing uphill and it is hot!

If everyone knows from the start that rests will be regular for 10 minutes after every hour walked then it is far easier to maintain. If you let others in the group dictate when they decide to stop for a rest then rest intervals can become quite chaotic in your walking schedule.

Not resting is a serious mistake. A rest from walking helps with the following:

• Slows your heart rate down
• Slows your breathing down to a relaxed state
• Gives your muscles the chance to get rid of lactic acid built up whilst walking
• Takes the weight off your feet – helps to reduce pressure sores
• Gives you the chance to enjoy the view!

If you must stop for shorter breaks then encourage your group members to keep their rucksacks on. To most walkers a rucksack being removed is an indication that a long rest break is coming up and that might not be the case if the break is unscheduled.

When you do stop for your scheduled 10 minutes try to find somewhere out of the sun though this can be difficult when on top of a mountain or hill. If this isn’t possible then look for somewhere out of the wind as a brisk breeze can soon make someone feel cold.

Some recommend that you remove your boots during a long break but this is something we do not advise, unless you are used to walking around barefoot on open ground, it is too easy to injure your feet which can cause problems when you pop your boots back on.

It can be difficult to encourage someone who is becoming belligerent to keep the pace - you will need patience, good humour and leadership skills to promote a positive manner to get them to comply. In certain cases it might be advisable to curtail the walk and try again another day.

Finally remember the adage “Walk Cool, Rest Warm” and you probably won’t go far wrong.

Happy hiking!