[ANNOUCEMENT] Introduction of the Categories of Pathfinders’ Events with regards to difficulty levels

MNS Selangor Branch Pathfinders (PF)’ events are, generally, not a walk-in-the-park; require participants to have a certain degree of good fitness and agility.

Also, what is seen as simple, can be not easy. For example, many people would sign up for a hike in Shah Alam Community Forest (SACF) if we organized one, because … how hard can SACF be? But if we decided that the hike is going to be > 20 km within 5 hours turnaround, it would be a tough hike (see below, Tough Series).

The toughness of each activity does not depend on the location alone. The factors to determine should include the turnaround time, the walking speed, the terrain encountered, the route, the risks involved, the purpose of the trip, weather, amenities available, compulsory equipment/provisions to be carried, etc.

Hence, we have decided to class our activities based on the following:

·       Lite Series

·       Tough Series

·       Hybrid Series

·       Recce Series

·       Also, not a series itself, we could have a mixed series (see below).

Lite Series.

·    We have explained in the past that PF will be more inclusive by organizing activities to allow less-fit members / children to enjoy hiking and outdoor too.

·    Having said that, most of our Lite Series are still not suitable for beginners or people with poorer fitness/health condition. Unfortunately, going into the forest will require some degree of physical abilities.

·    If any activities are suitable for beginners and/or children (below 12 years old), we will expressly state so. Otherwise, it should be taken as not suitable for beginners and/or children.

 

Tough Series.

·    In the past, PF had been viewed as a special interest group only for the extremely fit members. For example, this could be hikes scaling up mountain or risk exposure to poor weather, etc.

·    Also, another type of this has already been illustrated in the SACF example above.

·    Some Tough Series may be classed so because some skills are required, e.g., setting up tents, climbing cliffs, swimming, clearing bushes, plentiful of leeches, etc.

 

Hybrid Series.

·    There may be events where elements of both Lite and Tough are found.

·    An example is that in a particular event, we will split into 2 teams. Those into photography may do a shorter route and those into adventure will go to the longer loop. But we start and end together.

 

Recce Series.

·    PF committee members usually explore new routes before we organize it for members.

·    However, there could be places that we have not been to; but we allow (by selective invitation) members to join us in a recce trip.

·    In such trip, members must expect inconveniences like taking longer/tougher routes, help with chopping up bushes to make way, help in navigation, prepared to make U-turn to give up impossible routes, etc. This is an adventure itself.

·    Also, there are trips, whereby, we have hired external guides – and since it is also PF’s organizers first time, we classed it as Recce Series as we do not know what to expect.

 

Possible to have more than one Series label.

·    Not all events can be neatly classed in a single series alone. Sometimes, it is both. This is a subjective judgement of the organizers.

·    To illustrate, we have a hike that is only 2 km in relatively flat terrain to a waterfall. It is a Lite Series. However, as the trip involves a 6-meter-wide stream crossing of knee-deep gushing water, we will attach a Tough Series label to it as well.

·    We should not call this trip a Tough-only Series or a Lite-only Series as it is misleading. We should consider the overall situation. Some members will call it easy but others will brand it tough. To us, just enjoy nature by embracing all experiences as a package, is the best.

Well, happy hiking with us,
The Pathfinders Team.
28 November 2024.