Beginners Guide to leading hikes
TOC
Overview
As a Hike Lead, you play a crucial role in creating, organizing, and guiding hiking excursions for our outdoor enthusiasts. Your responsibilities encompass the entire hiking experience: from detailed trip planning to managing the experience during the hike. You strive to ensure a fulfilling, safe, and memorable time on trail for all participants.
Responsibilities Before the Hike
Designing Your Trip
Research, explore, and analyze your trip in advance of publishing your event. Use the following guidelines and questions while envisioning your trip:
- What type of terrain are you comfortable leading hiking trips on?
- What type of weather are you comfortable hiking in?
- What is the desired duration you would like to be in the outdoors?
- What hiking pace can you comfortably lead a group in?
- Determine your trip:
- Based on your desired duration and pace, what distance can you reasonably hike?
- Alternatively, if you have a desired route or distance and you know your pace, how long is your trip expected to take?
- What group size are you comfortable managing on your own? This includes keeping track of participants and moderating your pace to ensure the group sticks together.
- What minimum experience level would you need your participants to have?
- Would you need additional volunteer hike leaders to assist you?
The points above should help you get a better understanding of the trip parameters that will dictate the location, timing, and route details for your trip.
Planning Your Hike
You may already be experienced in planning hikes in detail. This section includes some important guidelines, tips, and planning tools that may aid in creating a well-organized hike:
- Route planning
- Weather forecasting
- Risk management
| Route Planning | Weather Forecasting | Risk Management | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it entails | “Measure twice, hike once” Planning a route begins with picking an area to hike in and should detail everything from the moment hikers arrive in a vehicle and where they park, to the moment they return safely to their vehicle after the hike ends. | “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing” Weather is still a key factor in determining the safety and fulfilment of a hike. Consider weather forecasts to understand the difficulty in accessing and participating in the hike, and also impact on experience. | “Hope for the best but plan for the worst” Risk management is a practice of assessing and planning solutions in advance to objective and subjective hazards on the trail. Objective hazards are risk factors inherent to the trail environment, e.g. cliffs, fall-hazards, poison-ivy, wildlife, etc. Subjective hazards are risk factors that are human-caused, e.g. overexertion, improper preparation for the environment, inadequate navigation aids, etc |
| Know before your go | 1. What trail/route will you be taking? 2. Do you have the route mapped with the distances and all necessary trail information needed to execute the hike? 3. What is the terrain like (flat, rolling, rough, icy), and do attendees need any specific footwear or skill-level? 4. Where is parking and the trailhead? 5. Is the trail accessible when you plan to hike? Are there any daily or seasonal trail closures? | 1. What is the expected temperature range in your area? 2. What is the probability of precipitation and how will that impact route conditions (mud or ice)? 3. How will weather impact clothing and footwear choices?Will weather impact the start or end times for the hike? | Will you have a means to call 911? Do you or another attendee have certification, training, or awareness of general first-aid? Do you have a turnaround time, that you must turn back to your cars to avoid being caught in the dark or in inclement weather? Have you submitted a trip itinerary on the event page? Have you assessed the general skill level and preparedness of attendees at the start of the event? Do other attendees know how to navigate in your absence? Are people made aware of objective hazards on the trail and know how to avoid them? |
| Highlighted Links & Tips | AllTrails, route aggregator and review website: https://www.alltrails.com/ Komoot, detailed route planning: https://www.komoot.com/ Understanding Yosemite Decimal System terrain classes: https://climber.org/data/decimal.html Heatmaps on Strava, Suunto, Garmin, and other sportswatch apps | Windy for advanced weather forecasting tools and forecasting models (e.g. HRRR): https://www.windy.com/ Environment Canada: https://weather.gc.ca/ Understanding weather forecasting metrics: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/types-weather-forecasts-use/public/guide/elements.html Understanding “Chance of Precipitation” on forecasts: https://windy.app/blog/how-do-we-measure-precipitation.html | Check latest trail reviews on AllTrails for any reported hazards and trail conditions: https://www.alltrails.com/ Check any applicable websites for the conservation area and any bulletins or recommendations posted. Consider investing in general first-aid training, and advancing your training into wilderness first-aid. |
Publishing Your Event
Keep participants informed about any changes to the planned route, meeting point, or timing. Promptly communicate any safety or weather-related updates. Adding Details Provide comprehensive details about the hike, including distance, elevation gain, expected duration, and specific challenges. Offer suggestions for carpooling, parking, and any equipment or gear needed.
Responsibilities During the Hike
Ensuring Group Cohesion
Facilitate a brief pre-hike orientation to set expectations and guidelines. Monitor the group during the hike to ensure everyone stays together and address any stragglers.
Attention to Pace
Maintain an appropriate pace that accommodates the varied fitness levels within the group. Make necessary adjustments to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all participants.
Addressing Concerns
Be attentive to participants’ needs and concerns, addressing them promptly and effectively. Have a basic understanding of first aid and emergency procedures.
Keeping the Group Engaged
Encourage participation and camaraderie among group members. Share interesting facts about the surroundings or conduct simple team-building activities during breaks.
Responsibilities After the Hike
Ensuring Everyone is Back
Conduct a headcount to ensure all participants have safely returned. Address any post-hike concerns or feedback.
Posting a Blurb in the Group
Share a brief summary of the hike experience in the group, highlighting memorable moments or challenges. Encourage participants to share their thoughts and experiences.
Uploading Pictures:
Collect and upload pictures taken during the hike to a shared location. Create a photo album or share individual shots to commemorate the experience.
Qualifications and Skills
Passion for hiking and outdoor activities.
Strong organizational and communication skills.
Ability to adapt to changing conditions and make on-the-spot decisions.
Basic knowledge of first aid and emergency procedures.
Enthusiastic and positive attitude.
The Hike Lead plays a pivotal role in fostering a sense of community among our outdoor enthusiasts while ensuring a safe and enjoyable hiking experience.