Onondaga Ski Club Hike Leader Guidelines

Version 4      12 May 2021

Below are the most important points to follow is setting up and leading a hike.

Planning the hike

• Provide a detailed description of the hike including distance and the expected conditions along with:
• • Time and date, with a clear description of the meeting point.
  • The hike terrain, difficulty, and length
  • The trail conditions (easy, rocky, roots, mud/water)
  • A recommendation that members arrive 15 minutes early for check-in.
• Know the area you’re hiking and the hazards.  (You should have hiked it within the last month.)
• If you are going to a managed area, i.e., a park or memorial forest, etc., contact the authorities to be sure there are no conflicts.
• Plan for a hike of two to three hours.
• If the hike is on AllTrails, include the hike name. Many participants will both look up and follow the hike on All Trails, but have a few paper copies of the trail map available.

A day or two before the hike

• Two days before the hike, recheck the weather report
• Late on the day before the hike look carefully at the forecast and let people know if it should be cancelled. (We recommend not hiking in wooded areas if the sustained winds are over 20 mph or the wind gusts are expected to be over 25 mph.  Very detailed local area forecasts can be found on nysmesonet.org)

At the trailhead

• Carry a basic first aid kit and a cell phone, and be aware of the local emergency number.
• Be sure all the hikers sign the waiver sheet and include their emergency contact information
• Before starting, have people introduce themselves, then give a basic description of your hike plan, including any shortcuts that can be used by people who may be in over their heads.
• Designate a sweep.  (This may be the assistant hike leader.)

During the hike

• Plan periodic “catch-up” stops and make sure the entire group meets at trail junctions.
• If someone is having trouble and wants to short cut the hike, try to make sure they have a safe and clear route back to the trailhead and are physically able to be on their own.