Safety

Remember: You are responsible for your own safety and for the safety of those around you. (U. S. Forest Service)
Always bring enough water; dehydration is one of the biggest problems on the trail; have food, rain gear and a whistle.

Trail Protocols

Definitions and responsibilities to the group
Leader/organizer

1. This person organizes the trip itinerary

• Decides on drivers, where to eat, costs, who leads/sweeps
• Decides on who will go on the trip
• Has a map, first aid kit, whistle, safety gear, spot messenger if in wilderness where help is not readily available
• Should talk to the group and set the protocols, decide lead, sweep, etc.
• In short, this person organizes the details of the trip

Lead (the person in front)

1. Needs to be bear/mountain lion and obstacle aware. This person needs to look up, down, side to side every few minutes to check for dangers: mountain lions in trees and overhangs, call out and look for bears around curves and in bushy areas, decide the best crossings of creeks, etc.
2. Doesn’t let anyone pass her
3. Knows how to use bear spray and has it in a place easy to grab
4. This person is responsible for keeping the group together:

• She knows the way
• She must always keep an eye on the sweep.  If she cannot see the sweep, she stops and waits for the sweep and asks the sweep if she and the hikers near her need a break. If the sweep does not show up within 5-10 minutes, she backtracks. Someone near the end could be sick or injured or the lead got too far ahead and the group missed a turn, etc.
• She stops and waits at all obstacles until all members of the group clear the obstacle, such as a stream crossing
• She leads over tricky parts showing the way
• She stops at every turning point to make sure everyone makes the correct turn
• She checks on hydration, reminding people to drink water and ensure enough breaks to do so
• Greets other hikers on the trail and reminds her group of trail etiquette: uphill traffic has right of way
• Counts the group after lunch break before heading out

Middle of the Pack

1. Keep an eye out for the person behind you. If the person is lagging quite a bit or can’t be seen, she should call out to the lead to say something
2. Let the person behind know of any loose rocks or other obstacles she sees
3. Keep enough distance between herself and the person in front so as not to be hit by brush or hit the person in front with a pole, step on a shoe, etc. (The person in front doesn’t need to hold brush, etc, back from the person behind. This can throw a hiker off balance as she bushwacks. The bushwacker needs to keep an eye on her feet and obstacles and not worry about the person behind her)
4. Should pass along any shouts from the sweep to the lead to make sure the lead hears
5. Know how to use bear spray and have it in a place easy to grab

Sweep

1. Should keep in shouting or whistle distance of the lead. Should shout ahead if the hikers near her need a break.
2. Should not let anyone get behind her.
3. Know how to use bear spray and have it in a place easy to grab
4. Stands and waits for anyone needing to use the bathroom. Should stand or mark the place where the person left the trail.
5. Keep an eye on the pace. Let the lead know if it is too fast or too slow
6. Watch to see if anyone drops gear or trash on the trail.

Who makes a good lead?
A strong assertive hiker who can modify her pace or a strong, fast assertive hiker who is willing to wait. Someone with a good sense of place who recognizes landmarks and can look around while hiking. Someone who has a good sense of time, keeping the group moving if  Someone who likes to chat a lot is probably not the best choice as she will be distracted.

Who makes a good sweep?
​A strong assertive hiker who is not afraid to speak up about the pace or other concerns she sees with certain hikers. Someone who can help make decisions if the need arises. A good map reader; an observant person. a person who has concern about those who may be slower. The sweep often puts in extra fast steps catching up to the sweep after a bathroom stop.

Middle of the Pack
Slower hikers should be in the middle. That way, they do not set too slow of a pace in the front nor do they lag behind as sweep (a slow sweep will be hesitant to mention pace to the lead and may fall too far behind). People who are not very observant, who don't have a good sense of direction or who like to talk on trail should also be in the middle of the pack.

If You are Lost

If you do become lost. your most important tool is keeping a positive mental attitude.The first thing is to STOP: Stay Put; Think; Observe; Plan

Stop:

• As soon as you realize you may be lost: stop, stay calm, stay put. Panic is your greatest enemy. 

Think:

• Go over in your mind how you got to where you are. What landmarks should you be able to see? Do not move at all until you have a specific reason to take a step.

Observe:

• Get our your compass and determine the directions based on where you are standing. Do not walk aimlessly.
• If you are on a trail, stay on it. All trails are marked with signs (where intersections meet) and diamond blazers or maker. However, signs are sometimes vandalized or stolen.
• If you are in danger or you have time before dark, go downhill and follow a drainage or stream. This is often difficult path but could lead to a trail or road. Again, this could be very dangerous. Usually, it is best to stay put

Plan:

• Based upon your thinking and observations, come up with some possible plans, think them through then act on one of them.
• If you are not very, very confident in the route, then it’s always better to stay put.
• Be found: Draw SOS in the sand or with rocks in an open area, blow your whistle with SOS (dit-dit-dit, dah-dah-dah, dit-dit-dit) and place a bright-colored item out in the open, secured by a rock or tie it to a tree branch.
• If it’s nightfall, you are injured or you are near exhaustion, stay in place. Look for shelter under a rock overhang or grove of trees, but avoid dead trees, which could fall in the wind.

Self-rescue tips:If after careful planning and consideration you decide that you try to rescue yourself, here are some tips to remember:

• Stop and rest when you start to feel tired. Don’t wait until you are exhausted.
• Your body can’t hike hard and digest food at the same time. Rest in the shade for at least 30 minutes when you stop to eat. If you are still tired after 30 minutes, continue to rest.
• Make sure to drink enough water to avoid dehydration. Symptoms include heading, feelings of irritation and frustration and more tiredness than warranted.
• Stop and fix small problems while they are still small. If you ignore your body and keep pushing, the pain or illness will only get worse and make recovery more difficult.
• Avoid hiking between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on hot days. If you are on a trail between those hours, find a shady spot and stay there until the temperature cools down. Adjust you’re hiking pace to what you can comfortably maintain and rest when you feel the need.

Amended from: U.S. Forest Service

Searching for a Lost Hiker

If a hiker becomes separaated from the group, STOP: Stay Put. Think, Observe, Plan

Stop: Determine if the person is truly missing and not just taking a powder or resting

Think: When was the last time someone saw the hiker? Does the person have any health issues? Overnight gear and water? Did the person say anything about being tired or anything else to another hiker? Would the person be able to find her way without assistance?

Observe: Do you see any footprints going off trail or going ahead? Did anyone hear anything? What landmarks do you see? What do you hear? Would a whistle carry or is there too much wind? Where was the last trail junction? Assess the state of the rest of the hikers. Can you search and still make it back to your camp/cars? Do you have enough supplies/water/food for the extra effort required?

Plan: Make a plan to search or call SAR

1. Set up a base, where everyone will return. Point out a landmark by which everyone can find her way back; Leave at leasts two people, the weakest hikers, at the base camp. If the base isn't set up where you stopped, set up two people where the group first noticed a hiker was missing.
2. Only send out strong hikers with sense of direction and make sure they are not in any danger to prevent two lost or injured hikers;
3. Set call signals for the lost hiker as well as the signal to call off the search.
4. Plan so that everyone searches a different area: to the last trail junction, last stream crossing, the right side and left side of the trail.  Everyone should be in pairs.
5. Set a time for all searchers to return to the base. This should be well before dark.
6. Call Search and Rescue/911 or push the button on the emergency beacon at least two hours before sunset to enable a search to start before night sets in.

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