WHEN a hiking trail turns messy, it deeply pains enthusiasts, especially those from the Hikers Roundtable.
Unable to bear the sight of rubbish indiscriminately strewn along Cherok Tokun Hill on the mainland, three hikers – Kesavan Kandan, Chakrawarty Muthiah and Mogan Ramalingam from VSS – took action on Dec 22. Armed with 10kg waterproof bags provided by the Hikers Roundtable, they cleaned up one of the most littered trails in the state.
“This hill is probably the Hall of Shame for hiker’s desecration of Nature & the Environment. A Big Thank you to these hikers who picked up about 5kg of trash on this hike!” wrote Tony Leng, the founder of Hikers Roundtable, in a chat group.
When contacted by Buletin Mutiara today, Leng shared that Hikers Roundtable, an alliance formed in 2019 comprising hikers, hash runners, trail runners, mountain bikers (MTB) and members of the outdoor community, has always been championing responsible hiking.
“We encourage people to enjoy nature while taking care of it. Real hikers care for the environment, unlike those who damage trails, paint on trees, exploit nature, or chop down trees.
“It only takes one per cent of hikers to damage trails or turn them into muddy paths, affecting the experience for the remaining 99 per cent. We don’t want this to continue,” Leng said.
Leng expressed concern that more people, especially the younger generation, are becoming ‘stuck’ on their mobile phones.
“We foresee more social issues as teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 25 become increasingly addicted to their phones. With the advancement of AI (artificial intelligence), this dependency will worsen, which is not good for their psychological health.
“We encourage them to appreciate nature – look at the birds, the squirrels, and the trees – and build resilience of character through hiking,” Leng explained.
Another segment of the society that Hikers Roundtable is targeting is the older adults, particularly those aged 50 to 70.
“With advancements in medical sciences and healthcare, people are living longer. However, transitioning into retirement can be challenging after working for the last 30 to 40 years.
“While travelling is great for retirees, simple hikes can be part of their daily routine. Not necessarily strenuous hikes; just connecting with nature, breathing fresh air, and meeting new people can be incredibly beneficial,” Leng added.
He noted that quite a number of older people suffer falls at home due to imbalance. Regular hiking, even simple walks, can gradually help improve balance, step by step and day by day.
This Saturday, Hikers Roundtable will partner with the YMCA to organise a hiking outing to Penang Hill for about 20 foreign students using the Heritage Trail. The group will be guided by three experienced hikers, including two doctors and a marathoner, ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience.
“One of the doctors is over 70 years old, setting an example for younger generations to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
“We’re happy to collaborate with YMCA again. We guided 160 from the deaf and mute community around the Penang City Park recently. It was a free community service initiative by Hikers Roundtable,” Leng said proudly.
Hash paper littering has significantly reduced on hiking trails on Penang Island but Tokun Hill on the mainland is still a ‘paradise for litterbugs’.
Leng mentioned that it can be rather shameful to bring overseas visitors to hike in Penang, as Hikers Roundtable and YMCA are doing this Saturday.
“Hikers Roundtable hopes the trails of Penang can be improved further,” Leng concluded.
For those interested in connecting with Hikers Roundtable, Leng can be reached at +6019 418 1319.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix courtesy of Hikers Roundtable