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HIKE LEADERS’ MANUAL

So you’ve signed up to lead an OHC “Day Trips” outing. If you’ve had previous

experience leading one of our hikes, you probably have a pretty good idea of

how to go about planning and leading an outing. But if you’re relatively new to the

game, some counsel will no doubt be welcome. In this hike leaders’ manual

we’ve tried to cover the most important aspects of the hike planning and leading

process. We hope that it will be of use to you. And we hope that experienced

leaders will also take the time to peruse this document, since experience has

shown that some of our older hands can also benefit from a refresher course in

the fundamentals.

We view this manual as a living document, and welcome your input on how it can

be improved.

CO-LEADERS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The co-leaders of an OHC outing are responsible for planning and leading the

activity. They have the authority and are encouraged to screen activity

participants. If the leaders judge that a person is not properly equipped or is not

qualified to participate, that person may be denied participation in the activity.

Factors to be considered include physical condition and proper equipment such

as boots, sufficient water, appropriate clothing for the weather, etc. The well-

being of the entire party should always be considered.

Anyone, club member or not, is welcome to hike with us. However, a parent or

adult relative or friend must accompany children under 18 years of age. Dogs or

other pets are not allowed on club outings.

HIKE CLASSIFICATIONS

Weekend hikes are scheduled every Saturday of the month and the Sundays

following the second, fourth and fifth Saturdays of the month. Most hikes leave

promptly at 8:30 am from the old Orinda Library parking lot (200 yards north of

the Community Center on Irwin Way). Participants should arrive by about 8:15 to

allow time for sign in and car pooling arrangements. Some hikes which require

an unusually long drive to the trailhead will be scheduled for 8:00 am departure.

ORINDA HIKING CLUB

“Regular” Saturday/Sunday hikes, which form the core of the hiking schedule, are

typically 8-10 miles in length, with up to 2000 feet of total elevation gain.

“Short” hikes are offered the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, plus

the Sunday following “Extreme” hikes. “Short” hikes are typically no more than 5

miles long, with modest elevation gain.

“Extreme” hikes are offered in months having a fifth Saturday, and are usually

12-16 miles in length, with up to 4000 feet of total elevation gain.

“Wednesday” hikes are scheduled the first Wednesday of each month. They are

typically somewhat less strenuous than “regular” hikes. Wednesday hikes leave

at 9:00 am from the “Pink Wall” (the intersection of El Nido Ranch Road and

Charles Hill Road, near the north end of St Stephens exit off Highway 24) in

Orinda.

Sturdy hiking boots are a must on all weekend and Wednesday hikes.

Participants must bring plenty of water, and except for “short” hikes, should bring

lunch.

“Street Strolls” are scheduled the third Thursday of each month. Strolls range

from 1½ to 3 miles in length, frequently on paved trails or city sidewalks. As a

result, footwear and other equipment requirements can be appropriately relaxed.

During Daylight Saving Time, the group typically meets at 6:15 pm and starts the

stroll at 6:30. During Standard Time we meet for a morning stroll. The hike

announcement must have details on meeting place and time. We meet at the

announced stroll location, and not in Orinda. Locations for an optional lunch

(after morning strolls) or dinner (after evening strolls) at a local, reasonably-

priced, casual restaurant should be included in stroll planning.

BEFORE THE HIKE

The hike that you signed up to lead must take place on the date and at the

location which was specified in the hike schedule. If it develops that a co-leader

cannot be there for the hike, he/she is responsible for finding a replacement. The

three typical ways you can find a replacement are: 1) calling club members you

know 2) asking your co-leader if she/he knows of anyone who might be able to

step in and 3) asking club members at upcoming hikes you attend. These three

methods usually result in finding a replacement co-leader. If they fail, however,

let Linda Ulbrich or Gary Rogers of the Day Trips Committee know the efforts

you’ve made and who you have contacted. The Day Trips Committee will then

arrange for an e-mail to be sent to all club members announcing the need for a

replacement leader. If all efforts fail, either the remaining co-leader can lead the

hike on his/her own (assigning a sweep on the day of the hike), or the Day Trips

Committee will arrange to have an e-mail sent out canceling the hike.

Your hike will be listed in the hike schedule which is mailed to all dues-paying

members and is also on the club website www.orindahiking.org . These

schedules have the phone numbers of the leaders so interested persons can call

for more hike information.

Permits – Anyone leading hikes on EBMUD property must have a “Trail Leader”

permit which enables the holder to lead groups of up to 30. Trail Leader permits

cost no more than regular permits, and all OHC members who wish to have

EBMUD permits are encouraged to apply for the “Trail Leader” variety. You may

obtain an application at the Orinda Community Center office, the Lafayette

Reservoir, or EBMUD’s San Pablo Reservoir office. Ian Baird, Steve Stiefvater

and Gary Rogers have been authorized by EBMUD to endorse your leader

permit application on behalf of the Orinda Hiking Club. The permit means that

you, the leader, are responsible for the conduct of your entire group on EBMUD

lands. If permits are required for hiking in other areas, these will be obtained for

you by the Day Trips Committee.

Planning – The hike co-leaders should scout (“pre-hike”) their hike route several

weeks before the actual hike takes place. For the hikes which will be done two

weekends in a row, hike leaders for both weekends should do the planning and

pre-hiking together. Leaders are free to select the specific route they wish to

follow within the destination area. Information on hikes done previously in the

same area is on file with our club statistician Kirby Slate, and may be useful in

your own planning. Counsel is also available from any member of the Day Trips

Committee.

During the pre-hike, estimate (or measure, if you have a GPS or altimeter) the

hike length and cumulative elevation gain. Also note water and toilet availability

along the way, trail conditions and anything else that should go into the e-mailed

hike description. Information about your hike area (history, flora and fauna,

geology, etc) may be researched for later presentation to the hiking group at

appropriate places along the way.

Contact the person who is to bring refreshments to confirm that he/she will do so.

E-Mailed Hike Description – No later than a week before the hike, a description

should be e-mailed to the club’s Googlegroups address. Steve Stiefvater, the

club’s e-mail czar, will check it over, and if it passes muster, will release it to all

club members. The hike description should include such information as hike

distance, cumulative elevation gain, trail difficulty, water and toilet availability and

driving instructions for those wishing to drive directly to the trailhead. Hike

leaders will receive an e-mail from Steve, a month or more in advance, with more

detailed instructions for writing and transmitting the hike description.

Driving Directions and Hiking Maps – The hike leaders are responsible for

providing adequate directions for anyone who is driving to the trailhead on the

day of the hike. Copy a portion of a road map and highlight the route to take in

color or sketch out a map by hand and write directions. It’s a good idea to include

written directions as well, as some members like to follow a map and others

prefer written directions. Make enough copies for each driver. Maps showing the

hiking route should also be prepared and handed out at the trailhead.

Safety – The hike leaders should do their best to ensure the safety of the group.

This begins with the planning of the hike. Consider whether the route chosen is

one that can be safely negotiated by a large group of people with varied hiking

experience. It is OK for the leaders to change the hike route at any time to

protect the well-being of the group.

Equipment – The Club owns 2-way radios, first-aid kits and clipboards. These

should be used on each Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday hike. Make sure that

the 2-way radios have fresh batteries and are ready for operation. Also included

in the OHC “kit bag” are welcoming cards to be given to new hikers prior to

beginning the hike. Prior to each hike, Kirby Slate, our club statistician, will send

sign-up sheets to the first co-leader listed on the schedule. It is important that

these sheets be used, since they include a liability waiver to protect hike leaders

and the club.

AT THE ASSEMBLY POINT

Arrive at the Assembly Point (normally the old Orinda library or the “Pink

Wall”) at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Weather

conditions don’t often force cancellation of a hike, but this is OK if judged wise

by the co-leaders. An alternative hike can be considered if conditions permit.

2. Make sure you have the sign-up sheets for OHC members and non-

member hikers on separate clipboards. As each hiker arrives, they should

sign in on the appropriate sheet.

3. Make sure you have maps and/or directions to hand out to all drivers to

aid them in reaching the trailhead.

4. Make sure that the refreshments are on hand.

5. At the gathering point or trailhead, people should be discouraged from

making announcements, handing out flyers, selling anything, or in any other

way interfering with your management of a successful hike. With the approval

of the leaders, any such activities can be done at the lunch break or at the

end of the hike.

6. About 10 minutes before the scheduled departure time get the attention of

all hikers and facilitate the organization of carpools. Make sure that everyone

has a ride. Hand out driving directions to the drivers

7. Next, briefly describe the nature of the hike: where it is, its difficulty, water

and toilet availability, estimated hike completion time, and any special

considerations such as entry fees or parking suggestions. Mention any

special rules that might be in force at the particular park or wilderness area.

8. Car pool passengers are expected to defray driving expenses to the

trailhead. As a guide for reimbursement to the driver, announce driving

distance to the trailhead, and whether bridge tolls or park entrance fees will

be encountered. Leaders may suggest a specific reimbursement amount if

they wish.

9. Discourage the participation of anyone who does not appear to have at

least the minimum equipment and water for the day’s hike. Be sure to check

footwear if hiking boots are necessary.

10. Just before departure for the trailhead have everyone form a circle to count

off. Introduce any first-time hikers, and make sure that they have received a

welcome card.

11. Proceed by car to the trailhead, leaving the assembly point on time.

AT THE TRAILHEAD

On arriving at the trailhead, have everyone (including any who have driven

directly to the trailhead) circle up once again and count off. Make sure that all

carloads have arrived. For the benefit of new arrivals, describe once again the

hike to be undertaken, and ensure that everyone is properly equipped. Both co-

leaders should be familiar with the route. One co-leader (the “lead”) should be at

the front of the group and set the pace. The other will act as “sweep”, and will

bring up the rear. Explain to the hikers that they are not to get in front of the

“lead” or be behind the “sweep”.

The two-way radios are to be used for the lead to communicate with the sweep.

This is important in case of emergency or so that the lead does not get too far

ahead. Have the sweep carry the first-aid kit.

ON THE TRAIL

Whenever the lead reaches a trail junction he/she should ask for a volunteer to

act as the junction guide until the sweep arrives. This will prevent someone

taking a wrong turn, which has certainly happened more than once on OHC

hikes. Make sure that everyone knows who the sweep is. No hiker is to be in

front of the leader or behind the sweep.

When hiking on roads, the group should generally walk on the side of the

oncoming traffic. Bikers should give way to hikers and hikers to horses. When

horses approach, move off of the trail ten feet if possible and remain quiet.

Keep the walking pace comfortable for the whole group. The lead should ensure

that the group is not strung out over a great distance. Since not everyone hikes

at the same pace, the faster hikers must wait periodically for everyone to catch

up. Allow the slower hikers time for a break before starting out again.

Lunch is a good time for the leaders to ask for Club announcements.

Arrange “potty” breaks as needed.

Trail Etiquette Tips

Observe regulations

Don’t pick flowers or plants.

Be considerate to others on the trail.

Stay on the trail. Don’t take short cuts.

Remember that uphill hikers have right-of-way.

Respect private property.

Move to the right if someone overtakes you.

AFTER THE HIKE

At the end of the hike take a count to make sure no one is missing. Then enjoy

the refreshments.

The co-leaders should stay until everyone else has departed to clean up any

trash, rescue items left behind and to be sure that no one is left without a ride.

Make sure that the sign-up sheets are mailed to Kirby Slate. Include copies of

any hiking and driving maps or other supporting documents for the hike. This

information is then filed for the use of future hike leaders. Also, make sure that

the 2-way radios, first aid kit, welcoming cards and clipboards are passed on to

the leaders of the next hike.