Transcript So you want to lead?

So you want to lead?
Just a little bit about
becoming a leader and
leading for DUHWS…
What’s going to be covered:
• Why lead?
• Extra Kit
• Planning
• Navigation
• What’s expected of a leader
• Dealing with Emergencies
Why lead?
• You like being outdoors and want to give
others the opportunity to enjoy the hills.
• You want to develop your own mountain skills.
• You want to plan your own routes and take
opportunities to go places.
• Leaders only pay £5!!!
• Looks fantastic on your CV
• Lets you get more involved in the Society
Extra Kit
• As well as your own personal Kit, as a leader
you’re expected to carry:
– Spare Layer/Spare Hat, gloves etc
– Group Shelter
– First Aid Kit
– Map, compass and Map Case
– Spare food and extra drink (500ml)
– Watch and Head torch
Planning!
• Destinations are chosen by the
exec before the year starts
although suggestions are
welcome!
• Route Planning takes place at the
DSU every Wednesday at 1.15pm.
Things to consider…
• Your own experience-what terrain are you comfortable
enough on to help others across? Are you happy leading
a scramble? Can you confidently navigate away from
paths?
• Familiarity-do you already know the area, or is it
completely new? Speak to those who know it if you need
to!
• Weather – rain, wind, visibility, future forecasts, pressure
• Daylight hours-nobody likes night navving under
pressure!
• Escape routes-is there a quick way down or will you be
committed to completing the route?
Preparation
• Route planning – exists so we can make sure
enough groups go out and potential hazards
are identified.
• Weather :
– www.bbc.co.uk/weather
– www.mwis.org.uk
– www.metoffice.gov.uk
Navigation
• Maps
– 1:25000, 1:40000, 1:50000
– Grid references
• “Along the Corridor and Up the Stairs”
– Symbology
– Bearings
– If you get lost…
756
096
Symbology
HEALTH WARNING:
Right of Way ≠ Path
Bearings
A few simple stages:
-Line up Direction
Arrow with where
you’re going
-Turn the Orientating
Arrow to North
-Add 2 degrees for
‘Grid to Mag Add’
-And hey-presto!
You’ve taken yourself
a bearing…
Bearings
Grid to mag – add
Mag to grid – get rid
3D Visualisation
Scafell
Lingmell
Valley
Navigating Skills
• Attack points and aiming off: Taking a bearing
off a certain point
Stream
Meeting
• Handrailing
• Ticking Off/Catch Points
Steep
Ground
Ground drops
away to left
SUMMIT!
Hazards
Potential Hazards:
Steep Ground, Scree/Rockfall, Water,
Dealing with Hazards :
• Alternative routes?
• Make sure your group understands
any dangers but act positive and
confident
• Plan how you will support your group
over the obstacle e.g. order of group
members.
• Take it slow/steady and think about
yours and group’s movement
• Always be prepared to turn back
Staying on track...
• A few strategies:
– If in poor visibility take bearings off summits or
features (walls, rivers, boundaries don’t count!)
– Create a mental picture of what you will see
before you travel the ground
• TIP: if the weather is poor, go through shorter legs in
your mind and if the ground does something you
don’t expect, rethink.
– Use your compass to take a slope aspect if
you’ve come off a ridge line/feature
Timings
– Using Naismith’s rule you set a speed (4 km/h)
then add 1 minute for each contour
• Eg. 28km long route with 1350m of ascent,
travelling at 5km/h => 5hr 40mins for distance +
2hr 15mins for height => 7hr 55mins total
-Or, being able to estimate your own pace. This
requires some practice and experience, but is
generally more accurate.
• Plus need to allow for breaks and photostops,
layer changes etc….
Pacing
• Personal skill which requires practise.
• 100m – counting every other foot = 55-70
paces
• Vary your pace for uphill (more) and downhill
sections (less)
• Bear in mind how the
terrain will affect your paces.
• Use with bearings/timings
If you’re momentarily misplaced...
Don’t alarm your group.
Find where you last knew where you were, and from
timing work out the furthest from there you could
possibly be.
Within that radius are there any features you
can see? (Go uphill and have a look!)
If it’s misty then slope aspect/recently passed
features will give you a clue, as will keeping
moving/retracing your steps.
Once you’ve found a recognisable feature go to
it, or infer your position from it (bearings).
I say old chap,
how do you
work this
damn thing?
What’s expected of a leader
• Group skills
• Good Navigation
• Situation Management
Group Skills
-Introduce yourself and the aims
of the day at the start of the walk
-Talk to everyone in the group
and be enthusiastic and
interested!
-Let them know where you are
and where you are going
-Keep an eye on everyone,
particularly identifying anyone
who is less happy, or struggling
-Be confident and positive
In the event of an emergency...
What constitutes an emergency?
- Injury of someone in your group
- Injury of someone not in your group
- Getting lost
- Being more than 2 hours late
In the event of an emergency...
• Stay calm, confident and positive.
• Be reassuring but also realistic with your group.
• If you are going to be late or you are lost:
• Do your utmost to try and contact someone from
the society.
• After 2 hours Mountain Rescue will have to be
contacted as per the constitution.
In the event of an emergency...
• If it is a true emergency (i.e injury of your group or someone not in your group):
• Ring 999 and ask for Police: Mountain Rescue
• Ring someone from the society until you get a message through
• Use the emergency equipment!
• Make lots of noise and (if dark) use torches to attract attention
• If you have no phone reception you may have to consider splitting the
group or leaving the casualty. Sometimes it is worth trying to get to a
summit for improved reception, however this can waste vital time and
energy for nothing as signal will not be guaranteed.
• If someone is injured:
• Depending of the seriousness or situation of the casualty, first check the
casualty is ok.
• Don’t focus all your attention on the casualty...remember the rest of your
group!
• Give members of the group tasks to keep them occupied.
GUARD AGAINST HYPOTHERMIA!
• This is the greatest danger in an emergency situation!
Prevent by: keeping out of the wind, layer up, group shelter
for shared warmth, food and hot drinks, insulate from
ground, moving.
Danger signs:
Mild: shivering, pale skin, lethargy, confusion, disorientation,
slurred/mumbling speech
Treat by: Gently rewarm using above methods and get
moving gradually
Severe: shivering stops, cold to touch, rigid muscles,
drowsiness, leading to unconsciousness and eventually death.
Treat by: DO NOT MOVE OR GIVE FOOD/DRINK! Shelter, body
heat and seek medical help!
How to get involved…
1.Talk to the Exec or other Walk Leaders
2.Pop along to Route Planning
3.Practice Walk – you can do as many of these
as you like! (within reason!)
4.Assessment Walk – these will usually take
place in the Lake District or other suitable
terrain
Any Questions?