Hike More (Stress Less) with a Hiking Buddy...

We all know hiking is good for both mind and body as this article points out - Five Ways Hiking Is Good for You.  Now that Covid is winding down and summer is here, it's time to "don" your hiking boots and find a hiking buddy to hit the trails with. To get you started, here's a list of Alaska hiking groups compiled from various Facebook posts and websites. The groups range from easy family-friendly to more challenging for experienced hikers. Some welcome anyone; others are women only and are geared for various ability levels. I included website and/or Facebook links if available. If you know of others, just send me a message (or post a comment) and I will include.

Anchorage Trail Walkers - https://www.meetup.com/Anchorage-Trail-Walkers/
Website says - We get out 2-3 times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays DURING THE
DAY, usually at 10am.

Women Who Hike Alaska - https://www.facebook.com/groups/284961021989141/

Hike Like A Woman Alaska: Typically women only, but may host “family style” events where everyone is welcome. All skill levels, though the hikes will vary in difficulty

Thick Chicks with Hiking Sticks (slower pace) https://www.facebook.com/groups/thickchickshike2/ 

She Hikes - Matsu / Anchorage (females only, moderate/difficult hikes, faster paced)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/127009304685202/ (Anchorage)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/136053427148202/ (Matsu)

Women Who Explore Alaska - https://www.facebook.com/groups/306953139806029/
Facebook page states: Our mission at Women Who Explore is to inspire every woman to get outdoors, to try something new, to push boundaries and to help check off your bucket list. We are not experts, nor are we superior athletes. We are regular women who love to get outdoors. We would love for you to join us on a weekend getaway, a free local meetup or simply peruse the blog for ideas on how to get outdoors and explore. Visit womenwhoexplore.com to view articles, getaway opportunities and more!

Anchorage Adventures -https://www.meetup.com/AnchorageAdventurers/
Website states: We host a wide spectrum of outdoor activities. Many of our events require strong safety awareness, good personal fitness, advanced skills, and quality outdoor gear. Our core participants are older adults (age thirty and up) with a fair amount of outdoor experience. We are not geared toward beginners or those just thinking about getting fit. Our events are generally not suitable for children.

AK Wild women hiking and backpacking (female only, various levels)

Kenai Peninsula Outdoor club on Meetup (Very active - open to all)

Wehikealaska Palmer hiking group - https://www.meetup.com/Palmer-Hiking-Club/

Alaska Outdoors http://alaska-outdoors.org/?page_id=222
As per website, hosts 2 hikes on Monday and Thursday year around .

Baby/toddler:
Hike it baby (lots of different areas) - 5 miles or less, hiking with baby/toddlers
Anchorage-Matsu Tiny Trekkers - Families with kids of all ages, ++kid-paced https://m.facebook.com/groups/1141463852548308?ref=share

For more groups in Anchorage at this website - Outdoors & Adventure Groups in Anchorage https://www.meetup.com/cities/us/ak/anchorage/outdoors-adventure/

***I am not endorsing these groups one way or the other, just providing info so you can find the hiking group that's right for you. Happy Trails!