Perfect Group Hike Size & Racing with Brock Hawke

Welcome to another episode of Take a Hike! This week, hosts Blair Woodcock, Luen Warneke, and Cherry Judge tackle a highly debated topic on the trails: what is the perfect number of people out on a group hike? We also welcome back local legend Brock Hawke to talk about the intense, sleep-deprived world of adventure racing.

Finding the Perfect Hiking Group Size

Luen kicked off the conversation with a surprising favourite: solo hiking. While it offers unmatched peace, serenity, and the ultimate "choose your own adventure" freedom, it does come with increased safety risks.

For group hikes, the team's consensus landed in the sweet spot of two to six people. A group of four is fantastic for camaraderie, but a group of six is often considered the perfect number from a safety standpoint. Why? If someone gets injured, two people can stay with the injured hiker to keep them warm and calm, while the other three head off to get help.

Queensland National Park Limits

If you are planning a bigger excursion, keep these local regulations in mind:

• Off-track: Maximum 15 people without a permit. Any more than this makes the group hard to manage and drastically increases the risk of injury or getting lost.
• On-track: Up to 40 people.

As the hosts noted, when groups get larger than six or eight, you start to lose that personal bonding experience. Smaller groups allow you to share the hardships of the trail and have in-depth, meaningful conversations around the camp.

Enter the World of Adventure Racing with Brock Hawke

After tackling the Herbert River in our previous episode, Brock Hawke is back to discuss his transition into the gruelling sport of adventure racing. Inspired by the Bear Grylls documentary 'Eco Challenge', Brock and his dad decided to test their limits.

Pushing Boundaries at Godzone

Brock recently competed in Godzone, a brutal six-day race in New Zealand covering hundreds of kilometres. The catch? No GPS. Teams navigate using only a map and compass through intense terrain and severe sleep deprivation.

Brock shared wild stories of scrambling up loose rock scree cliffs after days without sleep. Doing it alongside his 54-year-old dad made it an unforgettable memory for a lifetime.

Local Thrills: The Gauntlet

If New Zealand sounds a bit too extreme for your first outing, there are local options like 'The Gauntlet', run by Joel out in Charters Towers. Designed to mimic the famous Coast to Coast race in New Zealand, this gruelling course features:

• A 1.6 km sprint
• An 85 km road bike ride
• A 22 km sand trail run
• A 31 km Burdekin River paddle

Starting at 3:00 am, racers get to experience the outback sunrise and the sounds of the bush coming alive as they transition between legs. It is a beautiful, albeit painful, entry point for anyone looking to dip their toes into adventure racing.

Whether you are heading out solo or with a trusted crew of six, stay safe on the trails. Catch you next time on Take a Hike!