FAQs

Our organization began as a Facebook group. We aim to stay connected with our members through social media and use Facebook's free event-hosting feature. We plan to continue using this platform until our funding allows for a technology budget that covers a reservation system. In simpler terms, it's cost-effective for now!

Our mission includes making hiking accessible to ALL women.  Joining is completely free!  Love the club?  Support our mission by donating!  We thank you for your contributions.  

Hikes are within or around the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill).  We also frequently offer “field trips", which are outside of this radius!

WOTTHC offers hikes an average of 5 times per week, including hikes on weekdays and weekends at varying times according to hike leader availability.  Check out our calendar for upcoming events!

An average hike has a speed of 2-3 miles per hour.  While all of our hikes have an estimated time listed in the event description, we cannot guarantee an exact speed or end time.  We ask that hikers be flexible, as our leaders will pace the hike according to the group's needs and ensure no hiker is left behind.

We offer something for everyone!  Hikes are rated beginner to advanced based on length, elevation, and technical difficulty.  Hikes range from 1 to 30 miles, and additional details can be found in the “Details” section of the event on Facebook.

The WOTTHC team uses a combination of their own experience plus user-based reviews on popular hiking applications, such as AllTrails and Gaia GPS to rate hikes. Typically, trails 4 miles or less are rated “beginner.” Hikes between 5-8 miles are rated “moderate,” and any hike over 8 miles is rated “advanced.” Factors such as rock scrambles and stream crossings are also considered. The mountain icons on our event banners (on Facebook) indicate the level. Green = beginner, yellow = moderate, and orange = advanced.

It is club policy to always bring an adequate amount of water. Other things we recommend bringing are a snack or a meal (depending on the length/difficulty of the hike), hiking shoes or boots, appropriate clothing for the weather, any personal medications, a cell phone, and an emergency kit/first aid supplies.  WOTTHC practices leave no trace principles.  Plan to carry out all items you bring, including trash.

Members should locate the group by finding the rainbow pinwheel - our signature indicator! They will be greeted, asked to sign in, and offered emergency supplies they may still need to bring. An officer (known as the hike leader) of WOTTHC leads all hikes, and a volunteer trails the group with a walkie-talkie, known as the “caboose.” This ensures that no hiker is left behind, and the back of the pack has a way to communicate with the leader in the event of an emergency.

Signing in at events is required to ensure that the group starts and ends each hike together.  Attendance is tracked to help us plan for future events based on popularity.  Plus, members are rewarded with a complimentary WOTTHC t-shirt upon completing 10 hikes! 

No. Our hike leaders carry a first aid kit but all members are responsible for their own safety on the trail.

On Facebook, take a look at the Events tab. Non-Facebook users can refer to the newsletter or calendar on our website but must be Facebook users to sign up.

On Facebook, new hikes and events are posted every Wednesday by 6 PM, approximately 3 weeks beforehand. On our website, hikes and events are posted roughly one month at a time.

We offer many beginner-level hikes for those just starting out. We suggest the 1-2 mile range and increasing length by adding .5 miles at a time. Members are responsible for their own safety and should assess their capabilities before signing up. 

Each hike has a maximum capacity due to parking availability and to ensure that we adhere to park rules while keeping the group size manageable for our volunteers.

On Facebook, use the RSVP option “maybe.” Ensure that your notifications are turned on for the event so that you will be notified of changes to availability. If a spot becomes available, change your RSVP from “Maybe” to “Going.” Members are encouraged to check back periodically as these spots are first come, first served. 

Go to Notification settings → Events.  

New hikers must sign a one-time liability waiver and RSVP for the hike they plan to attend. They are also required to pack adequate water in addition to personal supplies.

Members are allowed to RSVP only if the maximum capacity has not already been met. All events and hikes have their own Facebook event page. To secure a spot on the attendance list, choose “Going.” This indicates that you have checked your schedule, and we can plan for your attendance. Last-minute changes and no-shows affect the ability of other members to participate in the hike.

Facebook does not allow us to close RSVPs once at capacity.  Please help us out by checking the cap limit before clicking the button!

Our hikes are planned based on attendance trends, capacity met, and hike leader availability. We recommend that your notifications are turned on for the event you're interested in so that you will be notified of changes to availability. If a spot becomes available, change your RSVP from “Maybe” to “Going.” You can also help us offer more hikes and serve more members by volunteering to be a hike leader!

WOTTHC is a large organization that strives to serve as many women as possible in an organized group setting. In order to offer opportunities for all women to participate, a strict attendance policy is enforced. After 2 no-shows, members are removed from the group. This policy is in the best interest of serving all of our members. For Facebook page rules specifically, refer to the “About” tab.

Members must change their RSVP status to “can’t go” before the event’s start time, or they will be penalized for a no-show. While our no-show policy requires that the RSVP be changed prior to the start of the event, we ask that, in consideration of fellow hikers, you give notice and change your RSVP more than 48 hrs. before the hike. We also ask that members make a post stating the availability of their spot, and to also let the hike leader know! 

Hike leaders are official officers of WOTTHC. They are experienced hikers who volunteer their time to the organization. While our leaders are very skilled, they are NOT certified trail guides, nor are they medical professionals. Meet the Team here.

Yes! We are always looking for volunteers. Review the requirements and apply here!

Although our favorite part of WOTTHC is that we get to witness members finding friendships, meetups outside of official events must be organized independently of the club for liability and branding reasons. Members are permitted to post unofficial invitations for meeting fellow hikers on our Facebook page, so long as all comments are coordinated in one post/thread and contain the word “unofficial.” WOTTHC is neither affiliated with nor responsible for these events or independent organizers.

Stay tuned as we expand our offerings in 2025. We are planning on adding backpacking and water sports to our brand.

For our weather policy, please visit the Policies + Waivers page.

We encourage carpooling as a way to get even more women on the trails! If you can arrange to carpool, members are welcome to join despite the cap limit. Click “Going” and post on the discussion page to let the hike leader know why the Guest List is over capacity. The only exception to this is state parks. At state parks we have a strict 15 count limit in order to abide by the park rules.