Bei-cology: Hit the Trail with Beijing Hikers' Third Hiking Festival, Oct 15

Creating a more environmentally friendly world may seem daunting, but for Hayden Opie one of its key aspects is merely a walk in the park. Or, should we say, a hike up a hill. The IT management and deputy general manager of Beijing Hikers says scaling such peaks on the outskirts of Beijing is the perfect way to better connect with nature, and better appreciate just how crucial ecology is.

On October 15 he and his summit strivers in Beijing Hikers will coordinate their third hiking festival. Two hikes will be arranged for the event – a 10km "hike for fun" and a 24km "challenge" (both of which are pre-marked for the occasion,and both of which will begin with an in-town meetup before Beijing Hikers buses the participants to the beginning of the trails). The hikes will end with a picnic and prize-giving, the latter featuring items from Ganges Indian Restaurant, Mantra Bar, and Factory Fresh.

Below, Opie offers up more details about the hike and the importance of getting out there and getting in touch with nature.

Tell us how hiking helps people attain a better appreciation for the environment and nature.
When you go out into the hills for a hike you’re getting right into nature, instead of just seeing it in a photo. You can hear the wind in the trees, you can see the leaves blowing and the birds flying, you can feel the sunshine on your skin, smell flowers and plants and dirt, taste berries and wild fruit. Then after your hike you come back into the city, and you can imagine the difference. When you see such a contrast you definitely appreciate being able to get out into nature.

How have some of the first time hikers you have taken out in the past, come alive during these hikes?
We organize outings for school groups and youth organizations, and some of the feedback we get from the parents and teachers is awesome – at first not being sure the kids were up for the challenge, but finding out they loved it and enjoyed the experience. We love hearing that kind of feedback.

I’ve also seen first timers and people who haven’t been hiking much before really get into it, starting with our easiest hikes and slowly working up to our most difficult trails. People have told me they’d never see themselves doing one of our Level 5 hikes, but a year later and they’re out on all of them, and at the front of the group.

And for some extreme examples, there are more than a few of our regulars who came out hiking for fun, or to socialize, or to get in shape, and have now gone further into ultramarathons and serious mountain climbing. Now our toughest hikes are way too easy for them. I think that’s awesome.

What do you love most about the trails for this hiking festival?
We’ve got two trails in the hiking festival – a 10km "Hike for Fun," and a 24km "Challenge."

The Hike for Fun trail has two sections that are super scenic. The first is the hike up through a deciduous forest that should be full of autumn colors at the time of the festival, and the second is the peak of the trail, a Great Wall tower at about 1,000m above sea level with views of mountains all around.

My favorite part of the Challenge trail is the middle section, starting about 8km into it – a big climb up on to a high plateau, passing one of the highest Great Wall towers in Beijing, and then the trail switchbacks down into a wild valley. The trails in this part are clear and well-formed, really good if you’re looking to go fast. 

Participants can look forward to a well-marked track through great scenery, on-point organisation, and a cold beer or two after the hike. Plus: the chance to win some of the prizes from our sponsors (click here for more details).

A lot of people think of concrete and traffic jams when they think of Beijing. How would you try to clear up that misconception as someone who is knowledgeable about the prettiest trails a short drive outside of town?
If you stay in the city, Beijing is all concrete and traffic jams. Can’t argue with that. But Beijing Municipality is actually massive – larger by area than 41 countries. The concrete and traffic jams are mostly concentrated right in the middle, and 91 percent of the municipality is classified as rural – it’s almost a different world out there.

Pretty much all of the hikes we do are within a 1.5-2.5 hour drive, and after a couple of hours of hiking you can be way up in the hills, away from everything.

Anything else you'd like to add? 
It’s the time of year to get outside and do some hiking. Visit our website (click here) to see the hike schedule, and email us at info@beijinghikers.com if you’d like our help to pick out the perfect first hike. I’d also add: to everyone who has told me in conversation that you’ve been planning to come out for a walk and have somehow put it off for the last two years ... it’s your time!

Beijing Hikers' third hiking festival takes place October 15. To sign up, or for more information, click here.

More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
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Photos courtesy of Beijing Hikers