Transcript Slide 1
Hike Leader Orientation
Roles and Responsibilities
Thank You
for being a hike leader
Without you, we are not a hiking club
CONTENTS
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Pre-Hike Responsibilities
Leader Pack Essentials
Responsibilities at the Parking Lot
Hike Responsibilities
Hike Courtesies
Post Hike Duties
Issues /Concerns
Troubles on the trail
Resources
Radios
Cell Phones
Open discussion
First Aid ( Separate Presentation)
The Parking Lot
• We always meet at the same location:
We always
Meet here
Independence
center
LEADER PACK ESSENTIALS
First aid kit plus an ACE bandage, space blanket, & possibly a cold pack
Communications (Whistle / Radio/ Cell Phone) w/spare batteries
Extra water for those who may run out...2 half liter bottles is suggested
Phone numbers of emergency help
Knife
Nutrition
Whistle
Compass, map or GPS w/spare batteries
Reflective mirror
Lamp or Flashlight
Sunscreen
Matches or other means of starting a fire
PRE-HIKE RESPONSIBILITIES
Know the hike
Check the weather
POST A NOTICE OF CHANGE ON WEBSITE
Preview the hike before you schedule it
Consider difficulty and options
Consider turn around time
Consider Bathroom stop
Responsibilities at the
Parking Lot
Introduce yourself to the group
Provide an overview of the hike including the level of difficulty,
distance, elevation gain, and terrain
Ensure everyone has signed the hiking club sign-in sheet
Have guests sign a waiver and ensure the member sponsor is
responsible
Check everyone for water, ability, proper equipment
If not prepared, respectfully deny hiker from
participating
Verify radios are working
Responsibilities at the
Parking Lot
New hikers?
Introduce them, assess level
Did they attend orientation?
Waiver and $1 fee for guests
You can reject hikers if they are not fit or outfitted properly for the hike
Responsibilities at the
Parking Lot
Announce $ for car pool
($5 Red Rock & Lake Mead, $10 Charleston)
Arrange car pools (be sensitive to hiker levels in the same car)
Provide driving directions
Know the number of hikers and vehicles
HIKE RESPONSIBILITIES
Verify radios are working
Appoint one or more sweepers
Take frequent rest and water breaks
Check that everyone is drinking
Look ahead to identify route
Look back frequently to verify the return route
Adjust pace to keep group together
Consider formally splitting a large group with fast and slow pace hikers by
adding a leader in the middle
Do frequent head counts
Take timely breaks for nourishment
Don’t allow hikers to rest too long
Observe trail conditions for hazards
HIKE COURTESIES
• Commence all hikes at a slow speed
• Do not speed up to crest a ridge or summit
• Be pleasant but firm when giving instructions
POST-HIKE DUTIES
Do a headcount to ensure everyone has returned
Have everyone sign out
Ensure all hikers have a ride back
Be sure everyone is in good condition
Put sign in sheet in Club Mail Box or bring to Hike Leaders meeting
and give to Caroline or Keith
Issues/Concerns
Safety is always highest priority
No one should hike alone
Discourage hikers from running ahead or taking different routes
Consider formally splitting a group by fast and slow pace hikers by
adding a leader and gaining confirmation of how many and who are
going with the new leader.
If a Hiker can not continue, have them escorted back or wait with
communications
If there is an obstacle that requires assistance or work around, provide
wait/join up instructions, also assign someone to assist hikers so you
can remain in lead
Issues/ Concerns
We are good neighbors –
Parking
Noise
Environmentally conscious
Don’t cut switch backs
Careful not to damage ecosystem – Cryptographic soil
Pack out everything
Responsibilities
(when not the assigned leader)
Support the directions and decisions of the assigned leader
Volunteer to sweep
Assist hikers at obstacles
Volunteer to assist struggling hiker
Assist in keeping group together
Assist in discouraging hikers from running ahead or taking different
routes
Lets assume you are leading a hike...
• And……………………Then…………….
The Unexpected Happens
You determine you are lost, or are not confident of where you are
You look back & no one is following
Someone gets hurt or gets sick (or you)
Your flock scatters
Mutiny, some folks want to go another way
Weather changes
Out of water
One or more Hikers are over exerted
You are at the ¼ way point & someone wants to go back
Its getting dark & you still have hours to return
TROUBLE: What is the 1st thing you should do?
IN ALL CASES exercise leadership 101
Do Not make a snap judgment
Stop, think and assess the situation & your surroundings & options
Take a water break, stop the group so you can think & maybe consult
with capable others
Maintain leadership or you will have 20 leaders, and your flock can
scatter
Decide how much you want to think aloud
Plan next steps than act on them
On our web site
http://www.sunhikers.homestead.com
Club forms, for hike leaders
Hike Leader Guidelines (including this PP)
Health Card
Emergency phones
Sign in sheets
New member forms
Waivers for guests
Ability to post hike changes
Radios
• Push to talk, delay, then talk
• Test with your sweeper
Channel 4 and
Sub Channel 4
Cell Phones
• Before you call, know where you are
• Who are you going to call? Carry emergency
numbers, leaders numbers
• Not all 911 dispatchers can tell your location as
with land lines, although most GPS equipped cell
phones can be located
Open Discussion
• Topics for information or further exploration