The Forest Is Waiting
I offer a range of events for individuals, groups and teams from corporates/organisations. These include Forest Therapy walks (both in-person and Virtual), short, and full-day walks, Big Walks and Retreats. If you or your company/organisation would like to participate in an event or arrange your own, click on the respective button below and I’ll be in touch. Be sure to read our waiver below!
Big Walks
Multi-day walks here in Switzerland on the magnificent trails create a very special and unique opportunity to build your relationship with yourself, your fellow walkers and with the beautiful Nature on offer. I arrange specific Big Walk dates that you can join. If you’d like to participate in a Big Walk or arrange your own Big Walk for yourself, your group or work team, write to me at scott@adifferentway.life and I’ll be in touch with more information.
What to Bring
Warm pullover, though not heavy. It can get cold in the evenings and if it rains, it will be important to keep warm. Whatever you bring, try to keep it lightweight.
Raincoat - again, keep it super light. It might rain and you don't want to get soaked. Having a light raincoat is really important.
A waterproof cover for your daypack. Really useful if it pours down. Again, super lightweight.
A good quality sun hat, preferably wide-brim but whatever you find comfortable. It's so easy to get heatstroke. You really MUST have a sun hat.
Other things:
Sunscreen - really important!
Insect repellent - also important. In the region we're walking, they have tick borne encephalitis as well as Lyme disease. The Lyme disease is easily treatable with antibiotics though it's not always clear that you have it. The encephalitis is a much bigger worry. Wearing good socks will be important but giving them a good spray with insect repellent each morning will be an added protection. We’ve done this before and we didn't have a problem but each evening, and even during the day, it's going to be a good idea to just check for ticks.
Water bottles x2 - already mentioned above.
First aid kit - I will have a mini First Aid Kit and am trained in Wilderness First Aid.
Compeeds - there's a good chance someone will get a blister. If you are buying new boots for the walk, buy them now and go walking in them to wear them in. Compeeds are great little plasters to put over emerging blisters and there is also a gel that you can put on parts of your feet as soon as you feel an irritation. This can REALLY help. Blisters are ridiculously painful so we want to avoid them at all costs.
A Day Pack: You just need a day pack. You DO NOT need a big backpack as if you were heading into the remote mountains for weeks. We don't need tents. We don't need cooking equipment. Just a good, sturdy day pack.
Walking Poles: Poles help you keep your balance which means you place a lot less stress on your knees, back, ankles. This is important as we go down most evenings from the ridges to stay in valley towns so there are some long descents.
Footwear: The trails are pretty good and we walk on forest roads a lot of the time but there are rocky bits too and if there's rain, the paths will be slippery. No sports shoes unless proper trail running shoes with excellent support and grip on the soles. That said, you don't need massive, heavy hiking boots either. A good pair of light, preferably waterproof walking boots is recommended.
Clothing: Everyone has their own preference for what to wear when they're walking. But making the right decisions on clothing is vital because every extra item you bring, is another weight in your backpack. Our aim must be to carry as little as possible. That said, it is the mountains so we will need to be ready for anything. I recommend:
One change of clothing only. I will be wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I recommend having ONLY one spare pair of shorts and one spare t-shirt. Some people prefer long pants and long sleeve shirts. That's of course fine but the same idea applies, just bring one set to wear and one set to change into. The key will be to wash the used set as soon as we arrive at our destination each evening and if you have to go one (or even two!) days without washing it...well, it'll be OK.
Socks - it will be really important to have two pair (one to wear, one spare) of good quality, woollen, walking socks. We don't want any blisters so woollen socks are really important.
Forest Therapy Walks
joining a Walk
I offer Forest Therapy walks on a regular basis. Rather than schedule events, as I used to, I ask people to let me know they’re interested and then I coordinate to arrange a date that works. If you’d like to join a walk, write to me at scott@adifferentway.life and I’ll get back to you with dates, important information and advice on what to bring etc. The forest looks forward to welcoming you!
If you’d like to arrange your own event
If you’d like to arrange your own Forest Therapy Walk for friends, family, your team, book club, any group you belong to, either in-person or Virtual, write to me at scott@adifferentway.life I’ll be in touch to arrange it with you!
Corporate or organisational Teams
If you’re a organisation seeking to arrange an event for your team, again, please write to me at scott@adifferentway.life and I’ll be in touch to arrange it with you.
Short and Full-Day Walks
Like Forest Therapy walks, if you’d like to participate in or arrange your own short or full-day walk, for just you, a group or a corporate/organisational team, please get in touch by writing to me at scott@adifferentway.life
Retreats
I offer Retreats in the Gran Paradiso National Park, in Cogne, Italy. These multi-day events involve walks in the magnificent Nature of the region and are perfect for individuals and teams. Visit the Retreats page to learn more. If you’d like to participate in a Retreat or plan your own, please write to me at scott@adifferentway.life. I’ll be in touch soon!
Waiver
Of course, we're not anticipating any issues but there are always opportunities to twist ankles or worse, to fall over and cut ourselves and such like on any walk and this brings me to the issue of liability which is always difficult to discuss in that it can spoil the spirit, but it's important that we're all clear on this before we begin.
It's critical that everyone understands that everyone taking part in the walk does so at their own risk. I do not employ qualified guides on the walks. We will walk together on the same basis as a group of friends who go out walking together and who invite others to join them. I assume no responsibility for anyone joining the walk and so will not be held responsible for any accident, injury or loss occurring as a result of anything that happens on the walk. By joining the walk, you indicate that you accept these conditions and accept that no legal liability is accepted by me or by anyone in the group in the event of accident or injury, however caused. I do remind you that you need good equipment (see the equipment list suggested in the previous email including boots, waterproofs etc) and that I don't supply any of these. You're all responsible for assessing your own risk and safety. While accepting no responsibility or liability for the walk, I do reserve the right to not admit anyone to join the walk if I think they're ill-equipped for the terrain or the weather conditions.
