General Info

About Volkssport and Four Plus Foolhardy Folks:

All of our club walks are sanctioned by the American Volkssport Association (AVA).  These walks can be counted toward AVA or IVV award patches and certifications for distance walked and unique walking events completed. 

 

The purpose of AVA and its member clubs (of which Four Plus Foolhardy Folks is one) is to offer walks to the public, usually 10 kilometer walks, in a variety of beautiful places.  Walkers can enjoy a well-marked and thought-out trail.  If the walk is listed under “upcoming walks”, walkers participate on a specific date and have a window of time in which to register for and complete the walk at their own pace.  There will be club members at the walk and the trail is usually designated with ribbons and arrows.  If the walk is a “year round” or “seasonal” walk, the walk can be done any day on your own, whenever  the listed start location is open.   A walk route and map will be available there to be used by walkers.

 

Walks sanctioned by the AVA offer a unique walk stamp.  These can be collected in AVA booklets (called ‘walking for credit’) and redeemed to earn the patches and certificates.  For more on the AVA program, see www.ava.org.  If you are not interested in getting the stamps you are welcome to come and walk for free and just enjoy the trail.

 

Registration:

These walks are open to everyone.  All participants must register, fill-in a start card, and turn in the card when the walk is completed.  Registration can be done during the hours listed for the walk.  Pre-registration is not necessary, but you can pre-register to save time at the start table or ensure you get one of the limited patches.  Here is a link to our pre-registration form for 2007.

 

Trail Ratings:  Trails are rated 1 through 5.

1.        A flat easy walk on pavement or a well-maintained trail. 

2.        A moderately easy walk on some pavement or some woodland and open field trails.  Trails may not be well-maintained.  No significant hills.

3.        A moderate walk in any setting with some difficult terrain, one or two substantial hills and/or steps.

4.        A more difficult walk, most likely in a natural setting with poorly maintained trails and steeper or hilly inclines (or lots of them).  May be physically strenuous.

5.        A very difficult walk.  All in rough fields or woods.  Many steep hills or significant elevation gain or very rough and uneven terrain.  Not suitable for any person who is not in good physical condition.

 

Precautions:   Extreme hot or cold weather, rain or snow may change the difficulty of a trail by one or two points.  Carry water and dress appropriately.  Check with the walk’s contact  person if you are unsure about the condition of a trail.

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