“One day of trails, eight days of health!” : Villeneuvois hikers celebrate their half-century of existence

Everyone knows the health benefits of hiking. For 50 years now, the motto of the Groupe des randonneurs du villeneuvois which can be found on documents dating from 1982 and which is the trademark of the association's founder, Jean-Pierre Laporte, has been: “A day of trails: eight days of health!

“I have been president of the GRV for a year already” explains Jean-Marc Escande. “These 50 years of existence of our group remain proof that hiking still has as many followers. And if there are 80 of us in the association, the average age remains quite high: the youngest of our members is 55 years old, the oldest 83. Last year, I calculated the average age of our members: it is 70 years old. It's a bit of a shame not to have younger people coming to take over. and rejuvenate the executives This is what we will strive to do throughout the year. We must not forget that we do not only stay in the neighboring department or departments. days: this year, we have planned a stay in Catalonia in April, as well as a stay in Cap Ferret in May.

A well-established organization with 15 certified facilitators

For 50 years, the GRV has had time to refine its organization, but it still remains based on the same principles: long hikes in the countryside and regularly, outings lasting several days during long weekends. We can notice on the program for the 2nd quarter of 1982 departmental hikes on Sundays (Gavaudun, Saint-Pastour or even Pujols), but also discoveries in other departments, on other playgrounds. The weekend of May 1, 1982, for example, two days of hiking at the confluence of the Lot and the Célé between Cabrerets and Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. Or on May 29, 30 and 31, 1982, an outing in the central Pyrenees.

“Now, we hike every Tuesday and Wednesday as well as alternating Saturdays and Sundays. Wednesdays are reserved for a gentle hike of 6 to 7 km. Tuesdays, a 10 km hike is offered, and on weekends, they do between 12 and 20 km. This way, everyone benefits from it and some of our members really do all the hikes every week.

As for the safety of hikers, it is ensured by instructors, all certified. “We have 15 people authorized to supervise groups of hikers. But hikes are not our only activities. Even if we only serve very little, we train our hikers, if they wish, in the use of a compass and reading maps When hiking, almost everyone uses a GPS and their phone. But this is still useful knowledge. More generally, it allows you to better know your way around. space, knowledge that is always useful when one can find oneself in an unknown place, a path, an unknown city.”

Maintenance of trail markings on the program

But the pleasure of hiking also comes with some constraints, which are beneficial to everyone. “We also take care, in a sector entrusted to us by the Departmental Federation, of checking and maintaining the markings on the hiking trails.” An activity that is not new, which can be seen in the program published in 1982. “Sunday April 18, maintenance of the trails in the different sectors according to the various teams formed. Departure 8 a.m. […] Sunday May 16, trail maintenance in different sectors. Same story as before. Departure 8 a.m.

“Every year or so, we set off with our brushes and paints to refurbish the trail markings. In any case, during each hike, we take a look at the markers on the trees or fences. And s 'there is work to be done, if marks are no longer visible, we intervene during the next outing.'

For Jean-Marc Escande, the benefits of hiking are obvious. “The good thing is that you can do it at any age. So if groups of people younger than us are interested, everyone is welcome.”