Sole Mates may have thousands of followers on Meetup, but the real heartbeat of the group is the hikers who become Annual Members and join us regularly on the trails. Here’s how membership works.

Membership Types

Annual Member

Anyone who has paid their Annual Membership Fee (AMF).
These are our active hikers — the people who actually show up and hit the trails.

Member in Good Standing

An Annual Member who has:

• paid their AMF, and

• not been blacklisted for multiple Late Cancellations or a No Show.

This means you’re reliable, committed, and fully welcome on all hikes.

Active Member

A Member in Good Standing who has completed 12 or more hikes with us.

Active Members enjoy special perks, including:

• priority movement from the Waiting List after the hike registration deadline.

Active Membership Levels

These levels reflect your hiking achievements with Sole Mates and match the hat colours you receive as you progress:

• Yellow Member — 12+ hikes

• Green Member — 26+ hikes

• Red Member — 52+ hikes

• Blue Member — 100+ hikes

Bonus for Red & Blue Members

Red and Blue members receive a discounted Annual Membership Fee, equal to the Q2 price, if paid in January or earlier.

A small thank-you for the commitment you’ve shown (and all the kilometres you’ve clocked).

Membership Roles

Sole Mates runs entirely on volunteers — here’s who does what:

Organisers

Plans, posts, and manages all pre-hike organisation and general communication.

Admin

Manages banking, loan accounts, and hiker registration.

Host

Oversees the hike on the day, ensures attendance is taken, and supports the Organiser.

Group Leader

Experienced Active Members who guide our hiking groups — Rabbits, Tortoises, and the occasional Torbbit in between.
They help keep everyone safe, paced, and on the right track.

Sole Mates reserves the right to adjust these membership categories, levels, and roles as needed to keep the group fair and well-run.