Ouachita Mountain Hikers - Hike Leader�s Guidelines

Specific responsibilities of the Hike Leader are identified in the OMH �Guidelines for Hike Leaders/Coordinators�, which all hike leaders should have.  This paper discusses some additional considerations, for planning and conducting your hike, in order to accomplish those responsibilities.  The most important point to remember is that in the Ouachita Mountain Hikers, the Hike Leader shown on the published Hike Schedule is responsible for all aspects of the assigned hike.  Please keep in mind that preparation and planning for the hike is a bigger job than actually leading a bunch of enthusiastic hikers through the woods.  The Hike Chairman will assist the hike leader in any of the duties shown, to the extent requested.

Plan the Hike:

• Plan your route.  Obtain maps and or trail guides for your hike.  Maps may be obtained from state parks, HSNP, the National Forest Service, or similar cognizant agencies.  Trail guides are commercially available.  Our club web site now offers links to many national forest and state park maps.  The Hike Chair maintains a file of maps of many trails and may be able to help.  If necessary, conduct a �scouting hike� a week or so before your scheduled hike to make sure you are familiar with trailheads, intersections, timing, etc.  If you haven�t hiked that trail before, take an experienced hiker with you.
• Establish times and meeting places for the hike.  Determine when you want/need to actually start hiking at the trailhead and work backwards to establish meeting times and carpool times. 
• Carpooling is the norm for hikes.  When appropriate, establish both a Hot Springs and a Hot Springs Village car pool location.  Ask another hiker to lead the second car pool site (the one where you will not be).  Make sure this hiker knows where you want to rendezvous and how to get there.  Calculate the carpool distance and the rider cost share dollar amount, based on current club re-imbursement rate (0.06 / mi in 2006; round to nearest dollar).  This information is included in the Hike Flash.
• Plan for car shuttles, if necessary.  On point-to-point hikes, figure out how many cars you need at both ends and how you intend to get them there.  Consider parking availability at the trailhead(s).  If the crowd is large enough, split the group, hike from opposite ends, and swap keys.
• If your shuttle plan includes two hiking groups, hiking in opposite directions, consider pre-planning the groups ahead of time.  This saves a lot of time at the meeting point getting organized.  Use hiking strength/ability to keep the two groups relatively even, so one doesn�t wait on the other after the hike.
  

Screen the Hikers:

• Screen all new hikers to determine that they understand what they are getting into and that they are ready.  New hikers should be requested to begin with Saturday hikes.  Ask them about hiking experience and general physical condition.  Make sure they realize that they need good shoes and water as a minimum.  If you do not feel that they are capable of the hike, for any reason, suggest they start with a simpler hike or more local walking to get in shape.  Advise new hikers that they will be required to sign a Participant Release Form.
• When any hiker checks in for your hike, member or otherwise, consider their abilities, particularly for difficult hikes.  Consider recent hiking experience, overall fitness, known injuries, etc.   Any club member not capable of a difficult hike, in the hike leader�s opinion, should be requested not to participate on that particular hike.  Try to suggest another upcoming hike more suited to the hiker's current abilities or perhaps suggest a plan to work up to the difficult hikes.  (If you are uncomfortable with these suggestions, refer them to the Hike chair.

Conduct of the Hike:

• Weather aborts are the Hike Leader�s call.  Either before or during the hike, you have the responsibility and the authority to cancel the hike if you think weather conditions dictate.  Common sense should be your guide.  Rain in itself is not usually sufficient reason to cancel a hike.  Rain plus a cold wind might be; a thunderstorm is almost always sufficient reason to cancel a hike.  Consider the trail condition as well as current conditions.  An inch or two of rain the night before a hike can leave the trail difficult to walk and/or could make creek crossings impossible.
• Set a pace that is comfortable for the group you have.  This is usually different, for example, on a Thursday hike than it is on a Saturday hike.  The Hike Leader does not have to be the pace setter, but is still responsible for the pace.   If you let some one else set the pace; let them know how they are doing.
• Assign a �sweep� man to bring up the rear.  This should be an experienced hiker who can remain with stragglers.  At the end of the hike, you and the �sweep� must be able to account for all hikers who started the hike.
• Recognize that all the people in the group will not have the same pace.  The larger the group and the longer the hike, the more the group will spread out.  Stop periodically to let slower hikers catch up.  When they do catch up; advise them that they are entitled to a break also, even if the lead group moves out.  Stop at all intersections or confusing sections of the trail to make sure the stragglers know which way to go.  If the group is spread out very far, leave an experienced hiker at the intersection to wait on stragglers.
• Dogs are common participants in OMH hikes. As hike leader you have the say as to whether dogs go on your hike.  Hikers should advise you if they are bringing dogs with them.  You should advise them of whether or not leashes are required (usually in the state parks and National Park; usually not in the National Forest).  If you are unsure, call the cognizant agency and ask.  If you do not want dogs on your hike (because of conflicts with other dogs, or conflicts with other hikers, or any other reason) advise the requesting hiker of that prior to the hike.

 Administration:

• Coordinate with the Publicity Chairman the week prior to your hike to provide information for publication in the weekly "Hike Flash". Include meeting times and places; carpool share cost; any special equipment hikers should bring (such as waders); whether or not they should bring lunch or snacks; and anything unusual or enticing that you want to say in the Hike Flash.
•  E-mail the information for the Hike Flash to hikersnews@gmail.com no later than the Saturday before your hike
•  Also copy to: Glen McClain mgmccl@yahoo.com and Jim Gifford hike.arkansas@gmail.com .
  . 

• Obtain a signed Participant Release Form from each new hiker prior to the start of your hike.  Carry several blank forms with you whenever you are Hike Leader.  Turn completed forms in to Membership Chairman after the hike or at the next regular monthly meeting.  If you collect dues, please forward these to the membership Chairman with the release form.  Notify the Membership Chairman and the Publicity Chairman by email when you collect dues, and make sure they each have the new member�s email address. 
• Complete a Hike Report and submit to the Hike Chairman after your hike.  You may e-mail it or bring it to the next regular monthly meeting.  Use the club standard Hike Report format.  Be prepared to give a concise verbal report on your hike at the next regular monthly meeting.
• Maintain a supply of both forms.  Both forms may be obtained from the club website  (www.omhikers.net ) .  If you like, you will be provided a file to print the forms if you use a computer.  You may also request a digital copy from the Hike Chairman via e-mail.  If you do not use computer, you will be provided with a paper copy, which you can make copies from.  Think of this as part of your hike preparation.

• Hike release form
• Hike report 

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Ouachita Mountain Hikers - Guidelines for hike leaders