General FAQs
What is an inspiraHike?
An inspiraHike is a guided inspirational hike. It is led by a live leader who has choreographed the music and inspirational commentary to match the scenery and pace of the journey. Participants listen using wireless headphones and personally remain silent throughout the inspiraHike to optimize the experience for all. It’s a great way to get some well needed self-reflection and peace!
Headphones on a hike? No way!
Sounds crazy, right!? inspiraHike is more than just a day hiking, it’s a complete mindful experience that is meant to engage all the senses and give you a feeling of “being alone, but together” as everyone takes in the journey at the same time. We ourselves spend many a days traditionally hiking without our headphones, but going on an inspiraHike gives us a completely new transformational perspective of the beauty nature provides. It’s like putting yourself in your own personal movie soundtrack! It’s a great experience to try for the novice and advanced hiker alike to bring peace and calm to your life.
How long is an inspiraHike?
From start to finish most experiences last 65-80 minutes. This includes 10 minutes of introduction on the front end. Some inspiraHikes may vary slightly depending on location. See the details page on each specific hike for more information.
What kind of music is played?
Most music is non-lyrical which works perfectly with the beauty of the inspiraHikes. It can be a mixture of piano, classical, theatrical, dramatic, spa, and relaxation. Anything that helps to set the overall soundtrack for the experience!
How hard is an inspiraHike?
Most inspiraHikes are listed as easy/moderate hikes, but look at the location descriptions for full details. Easy to moderate means their is some elevation climb, but should be suitable for most people who enjoy the occasional outdoor activity.
Do people talk on an inspiraHike?
Part of the experience is that we ask all hikers to remain silent throughout the entirety of the inspiraHike. This allows everyone to maintain their own personal thoughts without interruption. It’s kind of a nice change of pace from everyday life!
What kind of guided commentary is it?
The commentary that is overlayed on the music is inspirational. It is meant to produce thought provoking questions to ponder and think about. However, we always encourage people to let their minds go wherever they might wander.
How do you pronounce the name?
It is said like in-speer-a-hike.
Day Of FAQs
What do I need to bring on an inspiraHike?
A good pair of shoes and comfortable hiking clothes depending on the weather. inspiraHikes do happen when it’s cold so it’s smart to bring some layers just in case. Otherwise, a good water bottle is great to bring along.
What happens if there is bad weather?
We’re bound to encounter bad weather for some of our inspiraHikes. We keep a close eye on the forecast for every hike we take. We will hike in cold and windy conditions (it actually produces a whole other kind of experience which can be pretty unique!), but we will not hike in the rain or falling snow. Anyone can always cancel or shift their inspiraHike date up to 24 hours in advance free of charge. But on days where it can be iffy, we will send out an email notice at least 6 hours ahead of time indicating if we are indeed hiking that evening or not. If we do voluntarily cancel the inspiraHike on our end, all participants will be refunded their money. However, if we still do hike, the standard cancellation rules will apply. So we always encourage people to dress warmly and be prepared on hike day!
How many people are on an inspiraHike?
inspiraHikes can range in size, but most are between 5-15 people.
What is the cancellation policy?
All participants can cancel or shift their inspiraHike for a full refund as long as it’s done 24 hours before the event. Inside 24 hours, the charge is non-refundable.
What are the headphones like?
We use top of the line silent disco headphones! They are all wireless and have an expander to accommodate all different heads sizes. The sound quality is top notch to truly allow you to have an immersive experience without outside distractions. They are most comfortable without earrings on.
What happens if I’m late?
We do like to start the inspiraHikes promptly on time so it’s best to arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled time, but we know things happen! The orientation at the beginning lasts about 10 minutes so if you’re running a little bit late, just pick up a set of headphones on the table nearby the group and start listening. We’ll be able to check you in after the orientation. If you’re running super late, there’s a good chance the group has already left the starting point. In these instances, it will be best to join us on an inspiraHike another time.
Day Of FAQs (continued)
What if there is an emergency on an inspiraHike?
Safety is a top priority for all the inspiraHikes that we go on. In the event of an emergency on the inspiraHike, please notify the hike leader or fellow hiker of the issue. This will allow the inspiraHike leader to address the situation and call for help if needed. In some extreme cases, we may have to end the inspiraHike completely for all in which case everyone would receive a full refund. Again, safety is a top priority for us!
How fast is the pace of an inspiraHike?
The pace is described as comfortable. We do recognize everyone may have different hiking abilities so we want to accommodate all. inspiraHike is not a pump up workout class, and is more about enjoying the journey vs. getting to the top the fastest. See the individual booking sites for full information on what to expect.
How do you clean the headphones?
Cleanliness is a top priority at inspiraHike. After each inspiraHike, each headphone is completely wiped down using a sterilization cleaner and inspected for further defects. If any are found to be inadequate, we recycle those and bring in a new pair.
Is this a pump-up workout hike?
Nope! inspiraHike isn’t about getting to the top of the hill the fastest or setting a personal record time. inspiraHike forces you to really enjoy the moment and experience elements and feelings you often wouldn’t on a normal hike. The physical activity of any hike is of course a great benefit, but burning a certain amount of calories is not what inspiraHike is targeting. It’s more about letting your mind get a good workout while the physical benefits come secondary. The descriptions of all inspiraHikes can be found on the booking page so be sure to check out those for any extra details about the skill level of the hike.
What if I can’t keep up with the group or need to turn back?
If anything happens that requires you to turn back, we encourage you to do just that. When possible, notify the inspiraHike leader, but if it’s not possible, feel free to split from the pack and return to the basecamp. Kindly leave your headphones on the table there and we will pick them up when we return from the inspiraHike.
Are there bathroom stops on an inspiraHike?
This can all be dependent on the location itself. Some have port-a-potties at the basecamp while some will have a few mid hike. Look on the site page and confirmation email for full information to be the most prepared.
Other FAQs
Can dogs go on an inspiraHike?
Dogs are allowed to go on an inspiraHike as long as the specific park allows it (see booking page for more info). They must stay on a leash. However, for you to personally get the full benefit of the inspiraHike, we recommend that your dog be a good walker if you bring them along :)
Is there an age requirement to go on an inspiraHike?
We recommend that hikers be at least 13 years of age to go on an inspiraHike.
How much of my payment goes to help support the rescue dogs?
Like nature, Dogs can bring a lot of happiness to those around them. And inspiraHike wants to make supporting organizations that help with rescue dogs in the local community a core priority. 5% of total sales go directly to the dog shelters to further their cause!
If I need to cancel or change my inspiraHike date, what should I do?
You can cancel or change your inspiraHike up to 24 hours in advance. To do that, you should select the buttons that we’re included in your confirmation email at the time of booking. Please take note, if you booked more than 1 person for the inspiraHike on the same reservation, you will need to cancel each person. As an example, if you booked 3 people originally, you will have to hit the cancel button 3 different times to cancel all 3 people. On the next screen, at the top, you can see hyperlinks to each of the reservations and if they are canceled or not. Click on each hyperlink to cancel each person. Yes, it is a bit cumbersome so we appreciate your patience! We do this in case just a few people on your reservation can’t make it instead of the full party.