ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP 2022

In 2022, you have the choice of either paying the fee of 3,8€ each time you sign up for a hike or paying a flat fee of 70€ (42€ activities fees +28€ Federal membership & insurance) to become an Annual member. You can sign up for the Annual membership from January to end of June, but the fees remain the same (there is no prorata temporis)

You will then be eligible for free participation for the rest of the year and will be signed up on demand for every eligible hike. You just have to sign out whenever you can not attend. Don't forget to do that, because the NO-SHOW policy still applies.

IMPORTANT REQUIREMENT: The main rule is NEVER WITHDRAWING ON THE DAY OF THE HIKE, FOR WHATEVER THE REASONS. If you do it TWICE, it would be considered as an ​abuse of privilege​ and therefore, you will be removed from the Annual Membership without any refund and won’t be able to sign up for it again, in the future. A waiver can only be granted by providing an official document (medical certificate, picture of train disruption ...) that proves the emergencies preventing you from backing out before.

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT WE DON'T DO ANY EXCEPTION: The spirit of the Annual Membership is encouraging members to walk more frequently, not giving them an easy way to pull out for free at the last minute.

The program reset every January 1st, independently from the date you signed up.

If you fully understood and agreed with the Annual Membership requirements, then you can sign up for it here : https://www.helloasso.com/associations/power-hiking-paris/adhesions/php-annual-membership-2022

Breaking the rules of 6 people ?

Since the end of the 2nd lockdown, we are restricted, by Law, to 6 participants per group on our hikes. Some members complain not being able to sign up, because our hikes are always full. We are sorry for that, and we do as much as we can to offer more hikes during this difficult period of time.

The same members told us that some other Hiking groups on Meetup accept more than 6 people and were ok with that. They say that there is no risk of spreading the virus when you are outdoor. They say they would split the big group into several groups of 6 people walking at some distance from each other.

So why would PHP not do the same?

We say that this deceptive trick would not fool any law enforcers if the group got caught and would result on getting all the participants fined (135€), even more for the organiser.

We say that there is a sanitary reason why the government restrict all gathering in public space to 6 people. If everybody tries to break the Law, with lame excuses and deceptive unlawful tricks for their selfish benefits, so we will get back soon into lockdown for another 2 months.

At Power Hiking Paris, we are responsible people. We respect our members and the Law, so don't count on us to carry out this kind of irresponsible scheme.

You don't have to be a Spiderman or a Superman or a Batman to be a superhero. A superhero is someone who can make a difference, who can bring goodness into the lives of others.

As a matter of fact, everybody can make it happen. When you commit to serve others, you have the superpower to change people life and that makes you a superhero.

By becoming a hike leader with Power Hiking Paris:

  • you will be vested with the superpower to make people happy and healthy, in a safe and structured environment.

  • you will feel like you do have an impact in people's lives.

  • you will spread positive vibes.

  • you will feel more positive in knowing that you have made other people's day better.

  • you will feel proud about yourself

  • you will make a difference in a world where selfishness is a way of life .....

It's 2021, new year new resolutions. It's time to become awesome. It's time to become a Hike leader :-)

Join the Team. Click here : http://tiny.cc/wgk7tz

WHAT IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANISATION ?

Power Hiking Paris (PHP) is a registered law 1901 not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promote and organise Hiking activities in France and abroad. But what does that mean ? Why does PHP charge a fee to participants ? Where does the money collected go ? What is it used for ? These are legitimate questions you might want to ask.

What is a not for profit organisation ? “Not-for-profit organisations are types of organisations that do not earn profits for its owners. All of the money earned by a not-for-profit organisation is used in pursuing the organisation's objectives and keeping it running”

If an accident happens to me on a hike, who is responsible ? When you take part on a hike, organised by any individuals, these people are responsible of all the participants, on their personal capacity. The consequences are well described by the Hiking Federation here: J'organise des randos pour mes copains. Suis-je responsable ?

PHP being a registered organisation. It is always safer to walk with us. We buy annually a liability insurance policy (the premium is over 1000€/year) to protect, not only the organisers but also every participants on our events, even for the first time or just occasionally.

Could anyone organise a big hiking trip in France or abroad ? PHP is the only Hiking group on Meetup, that could legally organise Hiking WE or Big Hiking Trips in France and abroad, because we are a beneficiary of a Tourism Licence. Check out the regulations here : Voyages et séjours : Quand entre-t-on dans le champ de l’immatriculation tourisme ? Qui peut y participer ? There are, of course, fees and insurance premiums to pay annually, based on the number of trips we organise.

Are the hike leaders trained to lead hiking trips ? PHP is affiliated to the FFRP (Hiking Federation) so we can benefit from their experience and training program (First Aid training, Rules & Regulations to organise big hiking trips in France & abroad ...) . That comes with a cost and PHP takes care of that, so the hike leaders don't have to spend their own money to get trained.

Now you know where the participation fees go to.

WHY IS IT SAFER TO WALK WITH PHP ?

All participants on our hikes, even for the first time or just occasionally, are fully insured by our insurer MAIF CS 90000 - 79038 Niort cedex 9

When you walk with PHP, you are insured but also the organizers (PHP & its hike leaders). It's peace of mind for everybody. Otherwise, check out here what issues would you and they have to face, in case of accident: https://www.ffrandonnee.fr/faq/1154/1/association-sportive-responsabilite-assurance-randonnee-pedestre-securite.aspx

Message from mahasoa* to php

Hello Victor,

How are you doing ? We are all fine here but the situation is getting worse. The virus has been spreading very slowly until now but the contamination is really speeding up right now. We have partially reopened our center but we may have to close it again anytime soon. We have distributed staple goods, re-opened our canteen and set up shifts for students so they could not be too many in the same place at the same moment, but everything remains delicate. Many cities are going back to containment and schools are closed again in several regions.

In this context, it has become unthinkable to take the children to a trip, unfortunately. We have decided to use your donation to do something else. As we were about to build another classroom so as to help more children, we decided to buy more material and build another room. This room will be occupied by a family of seven persons (husband, wife and five children). This is a poor family we know well who do not have a house. They keep going from a place to another (mostly members of their family).

Our goal is to let them live here, give them a job and take their children in our school. Actually, one of them is already a student of ours, that's how we met them. The parents will help us with our project : the husband will be our night watch person (we have been burgled a few times), the wife will take care of our garden (plant and water vegetables and fruits...) and a few other thing they can help with (fetch water, cook the meals...). The construction should begin as soon as we finish building the classroom - probably at the end of this month. It should be done at the end of August, at the latest.

I hope you and your members approve of our decision. I will of course take some pictures and keep you informed when the time comes. How are things going for you and Power Hiking Paris ? I guess it's still a tough time. Hopefully everyone is healthy and things are slowly going back to normal for you.

Thank you once again.

Regards,

Maxime.

*Mahasoa is a charity organisation in Madagascar, which has benefited from PHP Charity Fund in 2019

post lockdown THIRD Phase

operating guidelines (from 23 June ON)

  1. We gave our hike leaders the choice to not lead hike if they don’t feel comfortable to do so. Hence we might offer fewer number of hikes.

  2. We would have to limit the number of participants on our hikes, to comply with the government guidance (10 people max until June 22)

  3. We would go to areas that don’t need more than 30-40mn travel journey from Paris, on train, so we don't spend too much time on public transportation.

  4. Meeting point will be set at the arrival station, so you can come by car.

  5. All our hikes will be a loop or at least on the same train line.

  6. In order to avoid injuries, we limit the distance to a maximum of 20-22Km and the pace to newcomers pace (4,5 to 5km/h) on the first month.

  7. We expect the participants to abide by the Social Distancing rules.

  8. We recommend not sharing anything on a hike: treats, equipment ….

  9. Face Mask is mandatory in order to attend our hikes. To be used on the public transportation and when you talk to another hiker. You don't have to wear it during the walk as long as you keep the safety distance with other hikers (2 to 5m).

  10. We won’t accept anyone with illness symptoms : fever, cough, tiredness ...

  11. We release our hiking programme each Monday for the upcoming WE.

  12. In order for everybody to get a chance to attend our hikes:

    • some spots will be reserved to Annual Members and some to the other members, on first come first served basis.

    • the release of the programme on Monday is taking place randomly during the day.

    • we don't recommend you use a credit to book a place, it might be too late when it gets processed.

  13. No guest allowed. You can only sign up once every WE (Saturday or Sunday).

After lockdown Guidelines

Basic knowledge about the pandemic ?

  1. 80% of people infected have none or mild symptoms, especially children and young adults (WHO source).

  2. Older people and people with pre existing conditions are more likely to develop serious illness.

  3. There is no cure nor any vaccine available right now.

  4. Lockdown has been put in place in order to not overwhelm our healthcare system, by slowing down the spread of the disease.

  5. The pandemic will still be around until we get herd immunity (at least 60% of the population immune) or a cure or a vaccine. Right now herd immunity in Ile de France is estimated between 10-15% and there are some controversies regarding this immunity.

  6. Virus is transmitted mostly by hands and respiratory droplets.

Social distancing rules

Because the virus is transmitted mostly by hands and respiratory droplets. The social distancing rules are set to avoid these :

  • Face Mask : doesn’t protect the wearer, unless the mask is a FFP2 model, but avoid your respiratory droplets to spread into the air and travel to the person standing next to you.

  • Keep at least 2 m distance from another hiker : the droplets can not travel more than 40 cm from your mouth, unless you sneeze. It would fall to the ground.

  • Wash or sanitize your hands regularly: because the droplets can fall on any surface and the virus staying alive for many hours on it. You can get the virus by touching this surface and get infected if you touch your face with your hands. Avoid shaking hands and washing or sanitizing your hands after you touch any object is a good practice.

Guidelines we set out to resume our activities

  1. We gave our hike leaders the choice to not lead hike if they don’t feel comfortable to do so. Hence we might offer fewer number of hikes.

  2. We would have to limit the number of participants on our hikes, to comply with the government guidance (10 until June 2)

  3. We would go to areas that don’t need more than 30-40mn travel journey from Paris, on train, so we don't spend too much time on public transportation.

  4. Meeting point will be set at the arrival station, so you can come by car.

  5. All our hikes will be a loop or at least on the same train line.

  6. In order to avoid injuries, we limit the distance to a maximum of 20-22Km and the pace to newcomers pace (4,5 to 5km/h) on the first month.

  7. We expect the participants to abide by the Social Distancing rules.

  8. We recommend not sharing anything on a hike: treats, equipment ….

  9. Face Mask is mandatory in order to attend our hikes. To be used on the public transportation and when you talk to another hiker. You don't have to wear it during the walk as long as you keep the safety distance with other hikers (2 to 5m).

  10. We won’t accept anyone with illness symptoms : fever, cough, tiredness ...

  11. We release our hiking programme each Monday for the upcoming WE.

  12. In order for everybody to get a chance to attend our hikes:

    • some spots will be reserved to Annual Members and some to the other members, on first come first served basis.

    • the release of the programme on Monday is taking place randomly during the day.

    • we don't recommend you use a credit to book a place, it would be too late when it gets processed.

  13. No guest allowed. You can only sign up once every WE (Saturday or Sunday).

Donation made

As decided at the General Meeting in February 2019, we have settled a donation of 1000 Euros (one thousand euros) to the NGO Mahasoa, in Madagascar.

936.36€ are from the non refunded fees of No Show or late withdrawal. We rounded it up to 1000€.

Mahasoa is young Charity non governmental organisation, founded in 2017, based in Antanikatsaka, a small village 7km away from Antsirabe. Their main purpose is providing primary education and food to children from poor rural families in the area.

In 2018, more than 160 children have attended their educational programme and they have opened last year the school to children with disabilities.

We bumped into them during our trip in November 2018 and witnessed the good work they have been doing there, with their very limited resources (annual budget is less than 10K€)

That is why, PHP is proud to support them and the donation we made this year is the biggest we have ever done, thanks to the PHP Community.

2020 Annual membership Programme

In 2020, you have the choice of either paying the fee of 3,5€ each time you sign up for a hike or paying a flat fee of 60€ (33€ activities fees +27€ Federal membership & insurance) to become an Annual member. You can sign up for the programme from January to end of June, but the fees remain the same.

You will then be eligible to free participation for the rest of the year and will be signed up on demand for every hike. You just have to sign out whenever you can not attend. Don't forget to do that, because the NO-SHOW policy still applies.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The main rule is never withdrawing from a hike at the last minute (the morning of the hike), for whatever the reason. If you do it twice, it would be considered as an ​abuse of privilege​ and therefore, you will be withdrawn from the programme without any refund.

Please be advised that Hiking Federation Membership is compulsory to attend our Hiking WE or Hiking Adventures (big hiking trips).

The program reset every January 1st, independently from the date you signed up

The Annual Membership is now closed until 1 Jan 2021.

from November on

We encourage participants to follow the principle of “starting and finishing together” on all our hiking trips.

That means when participants sign up for a hike, they commit to stay with the group from end to end, and to not leave the group without the hike leader consent. If they need to adapt the itinerary, they would have to discuss with the hike leader in charge upfront.

No more running ahead to get the earlier train, no more getting on the train without the hike leader, no more leaving the group without the consent of the hike leader in charge.

Safety reasons and comradely spirit are the purpose of this principle. We count on you all to comply to it.

Safety rules during hunting season

In 2019, Hunting season in Ile de France starts from mid September to end of February 2020. Hikers and other users of the wood and forest have to share the space with the hunters. Hunting accidents happen every year. In 2018, 132 people have been killed or injured.

It is advised to all of our participants to wear a safety vest when you come hiking with us. If you don't have one, try to wear flashy and colourful clothing, so you can be seen from afar.

PHP Hike leaders will now be wearing a safety vest during the hikes, until the end of the hunting season.

Gear Tips for RAINY Weather Hiking


  1. No cotton. Cotton holds water, including your sweat, and chills you. Go with wicking materials like wool, nylon or polyester clothing instead.

  2. Wear layers: Layering is a three-part system that includes a base layer that wicks perspiration away from your skin, a mid layer that insulates you from the cold and a shell layer that keeps wind and moisture out. The goal with layering is to add and remove layers throughout your hike so you can stay warm and comfortable without overheating and getting sweaty.

  3. Breathable Rain equipment, so you don't get wet from your perspiration. For me, umbrella is the best pick. Click here to find out the 10 best reasons to go hiking with an umbrella.

  4. Pack gaiters. They’ll shield your socks and the tops of your footwear. They help to keep your feet dry, if your hiking boots are waterproof.

PHP CHARITY programme

At the last General Meeting in January 2019, Annual members have voted the creation of the PHP CHARITY PROGRAMME. The idea is putting aside, in a dedicated fund, all the money coming from participants who didn't show up on a hike or who didn't ask for a credit refund or who did withdraw too late to get a refund, as per our Refund policy. So far more than 700€ have been saved.

At the end of the year, PHP would donate this money to a maximum of 3 Charity organisations, endorsed by our members. If there are more than 3 organisations proposed. Then the Leadership Team would pick the 3 that fit best our values.

This programme is not a one-time shot but will be renewed every year. If you have in mind a Charity you want to endorse, please do it here : https://forms.gle/xgpcd1ZdqPpe35F79 . It might get picked this year or in the future.

Please note that the Charity should be small, not well known and could operate anywhere in the world, not only in France. Below is an example of a Charity we endorse.

De : Maxime Blanc <maxime@ong-mahasoa.org>

À : Power Hiking Paris Organization <organisation@powerhikingparis.com>

Envoyé : jeudi 30 mai 2019 à 16:45:41 UTC+2

Objet : Re: Donation

Hi Victor !

I hope you're doing well. Here are some news about your donation

We have decided to make two different groups for the excursions. The first group were the eldest children. They went hiking to Ibity and picnicked there. I'm sending you some pictures. The little children will go to a different place in June.

Thank you once again !

Maxime.

Challenging the Fansipan

On September 22, 2019, 14 power hikers challenged the Fansipan and after 7 hours hiking through jungle and difficult pathways, we conquered the highest summit in Vietnam and in Indochina (3143m).

Check out this 3mn video to find out more.

Check out also our Overnight Hiking Trip along the Camino way to Chartres in November :

pLOGGING WITH php

Since mid August, on every newcomers hike, we do #plogging which is picking up trash (can, plastic bottle, papers, tissues...) we find on the trail and take them back to the dustbin. Small #contribution to the #environment but fully part of #powerhikingparis #value and #spirit

Trying some BarefooT WALKing with PHP

At Power Hiking Paris, we like it, thinking out of the box and experimenting new concepts. Before Summer ends, we invite you to experience barefooting with us in the beautiful Fontainebleau Forest.

The route is 15km but we only walk barefoot a few kilometers. During this part we will walk much slower, of course.

Barefooters are described as sensation-seekers because at first, the unfamiliar textures overwhelm the tactile senses. The first ten minutes or so for a beginning bare-footer can be the most difficult. You will be in a process of adjustment. Most find that after this time (sometimes just as they were about to give up), the going became considerably easier.

If you are interested in experimenting this concept, sign up here : https://www.meetup.com/Powerhiking-Paris/events/263842664/

Safety Rules

  1. According to the French Traffic Laws, when a group is over 10, it should walk on the right-hand side of the road in pack. So as soon as we need to walk a certain distance on a road, we have to regroup and then walk together on the right-hand side. The hike leader will make sure of that.

  2. When we take a "comfort break" in the wood, you are advised to leave your backpack with the group before getting away. Whenever there's no more lone backpack on the ground, we resume the walk. We don't count people.

  3. Every participant should have the hike leader phone number with them. In case they lose the group, they should call the hike leader immediately, otherwise it might not be possible to catch the group up anymore. Also, if a participant didn't call the hike leader after he or she got lost, the hike leader would assume that the participant has chosen to manage on his or her own.

  4. Any participant experiencing pains or tiredness, should inform the hike leader soon enough, so a shortcut or a drop-out point could be shown to them. The group might not be able to wait for the late participant to catch the train.

  5. The hike leader has a safety whistle he/she would blow when there’s a biker, car or runner wanting to pass through the group. When the whistle is blown, everyone should squeeze him or herself to the right hand side of the way.

  6. For safety reasons and camaraderie spirit, our activities are based on the principle of “starting and finishing together”. Please discuss with the hike leader if you need to adapt the itinerary. Don’t decide to leave the group by yourself or without the hike leader consent, you might get expelled from PHP.

  7. Please note that we have a no animal policy (don’t bring your dog)

Code of Conduct

In all of our activities, the hike leader is the only one in charge. He is delegated by the Power Hiking Paris Head to organize the event on the Organization behalf. He is responsible and accountable to Power Hiking Paris. He has the right to change anything (schedule, route …) ,he sees fit, in the hike description before or during the hike.

His role is to be mindful of the group's wants and needs, within the scope of the official program. Bear in mind that he has the group best interest in mind, not any individual whim.

If it is obvious that the hiker is not fit enough to keep up with the group, he/she might be asked to drop out at a train station or at a shortcut to the train station. He/She should comply in order not to disturb the group function.

For safety reasons and camaraderie spirit, our activities are based on the principle of “starting and finishing together”. Please discuss with the hike leader if you need to adapt the itinerary. Don’t decide to leave the group by yourself or without the hike leader consent, you might get expelled from PHP.

Power Hiking Paris retains the exclusive right to suspend, delete or ban any member from the group, or any particular event, for whatever reason it sees fit.

We reserve the right to remove any and all written comments that are of a bullying, harassing, rude, disrespectful or irrelevant nature.

We also reserve the right to remove and ban members at any time for inappropriate postings, actions, or direct remarks made towards or about other members. This includes, but is not limited to, message board posts, direct emails, instant messages, profile comments, comments, and/or in-person interaction at any events. Anyone found to be pestering, bullying, harassing, disrespecting or behaving rudely towards the volunteer hike leaders, or any member will immediately be removed and banned from this group.

Once again, being member of Power Hiking Paris is not a right. We expect our members to behave accordingly with our values and code of conduct. We are not here to babysit people.

Show off this Summer with the brand new Power Hiking Paris T shirt. 6 colors available. Check out and order here

100% polyester. lightweight fabric for quick drying. Round neckline with clean band. Raglan style sleeves with recovery points. Double needle finish at the neck, cuffs and at the bottom of the T shirt. Unisex.140gr/m²

Why do we have rules and why do we make sure they are abided by ?

In May 1996, sixteen climbers accompanied by two experienced guides and several sherpas launched an attack on Everest. They prepared for several months and paid $ 65,000 for this privilege. The final phase of the ascent should take them from the fourth base camp to the summit of Everest. It is very perilous because there is practically no oxygen at this altitude.

The two guides (Scott Fisher and Rob Hall) have made a very simple rule to avoid accidents: climbers who will not reach the summit before two o'clock in the afternoon will have to turn around. If they do not follow this rule, they will not have enough oxygen to complete the descent. They will not be able to return to the base camp until nightfall ... and there is nothing more dangerous than a night-time descent.

Against all expectations, only four climbers will respect the "two-hour rule". Scott Fisher, for example, will hit the summit at quarter to four. The nocturnal descent was getting worse when a storm broke out. Ultimately, five climbers died on this expedition ... including both guides, Scott Fisher and Rob Hall, .

Why did most climbers ignore the "two-hour rule"? Originally, this rule was enacted by the guides to deter late climbers from climbing. When the guides violated their own rule, the mountaineers deduced that they could also do it ... and the consequences were dramatic.

In a nutshell, disaster often occurs when those with the highest status are not exemplary. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is not limited to high mountain guides ... QED (quod erat demonstrandum).

Joint event with Metropolitan Walkers from London March 2019

It was end of March 2019, we hosted a joint event in Paris with the Metropolitan walkers based in London. They paid us a visit and we organised 6 walks together over the WE. Check out what they think of the experience here : https://www.metropolitan-walkers.org.uk/blog/2019/04/05/a-french-adventure/

It's Summer time so let's make the most of these long and warm days outdoors. We have several hiking trips planned in France (Trek in the Vanoise and in the Pyrenees) and abroad (Ireland, Vietnam) but the basic regular day hikes are still around, every Weekend, for those who are not travelling outside Ile de France.