Who we are
Welcome to our website. We’re so glad you found us. Victoria Pathfinders Walking Club is a proud Volkssport club, which means we are one of over 3,000 clubs in more than 40 countries dedicated to promoting healthy, non-competitive sporting activities for people of all ages. We are one of 20 clubs belonging to the Canadian Volkssport Federation, whose motto is “Fun, Fitness and Friendship”.
Being a Volkssport club affords many opportunities to explore, travel, and make new friends. Club exchanges, bus trips, local, national, and international festivals are a big part of who we are. Information about these and much more is available on our BC website, volkssportingbc.ca, the Canadian website, walks.ca, and the international website, ivv-web.org
What to expect
Our volunteer-run club offers a wide variety of walks, and some cycling, with four or five group walks scheduled every week. You may also walk more than 100 of our routes on your own. Click here for a list of all our Permanent trails.
Our walking routes are usually about 5 or 10 km. When we walk together as a group, these usually take about one or two hours, since we walk at a brisk (but not race) pace.
All walks are rated: a rating of 1 to 5 tells you the number or steepness of hills. A rating of A to E tells you the type of terrain. You can find a more detailed description of this rating system here.
We ask for a fee of $1 or $2 per walk, which helps to cover our expenses, such as the website, insurance, parties, and picnics. We also charge a $10 annual membership fee.
We ask people to wear appropriate footwear in good condition and recommend the use of hiking poles for some of our hillier or rougher walks.
Our walks start on time! So, when you come to one of our walks, plan on arriving at least 15 minutes early so you can register, which includes signing a waiver.
We offer record books so can track your progress. It’s a fun way to record your walks and to participate in several special programs. When you reach various milestones, you will be recognized in Volkssport Canada, our national newsletter. Learn more about these special programs here.
Our calendar, found here, gives a complete listing of all the group walks planned for the year. We also send our members weekly emails listing upcoming walks and sharing Volkssport-related information.