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Hiking Guidelines
The purpose of the Mountain High Hikers is to provide a healthful form of
recreation and fellowship for adults. For this purpose the Club
has adopted the following guidelines.
CONCEPT:
The club schedules several hikes each week, two on Tuesday and one on
Thursday. Each group has a designated leader who guides the group. The
Tuesday hikes consist of a shorter more moderate hike and a longer more
challenging hike. The Thursday hike is a leisure hike, it is shorter and
slower paced, designed for new hikers and anyone looking for nice walk in
the woods. This scheduling and hike organization allows for a variety of
hike experiences for all. The idea is to have a place for most everyone.
LIABILITY:
A MHH Member/Guest must recognize that there are risks and responsibilities
involved and be willing to assume these. Members and Guests are required to
sign a waiver of liability at the beginning of each MHH event in order to
participate.
HEALTH:
It is the personal responsibility of each participant to ensure that they
are physically fit enough for the field conditions that exist and any
unexpected conditions that may occur and be able to keep up with their
group. Each individual must be properly equipped with sufficient personal
gear to deal with the environment and the knowledge to use it correctly.
Members/Guests are responsible for their own medical requirements, to
include first aid and medications. If one has a special medical
need/requirement, that others should be aware of, it is their responsibility
to share that information with the leader before the hike/event. Hike/Event
Leaders are not responsible for a participant’s medical needs.
SCHEDULE OF HIKES:
A calendar of hikes scheduled for the coming quarter will be posted on the
website, e-mailed to each member with an e-mail address, and mailed to those
members without an e-mail address.
SCHEDULE OF SPECIALTY HIKES/EVENTS:
From time to time the club may schedule special events and specialty hikes.
PARTICIPATION IN HIKES:
A guest should call the hike leader to determine if the hike is appropriate
for the hiker’s level of fitness and experience. Beginner hikers, or hikers
with below average fitness, should start with the trail group of a shorter
hike and then make transitions to other groups as they develop their hiking
skills. Hike leaders may grant exceptions to experienced hikers. All should
arrive at the meeting place 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the hike in
order to hear the hike leader’s instructions, sign the liability waiver,
work out carpool arrangements, transfer baggage and depart on time. If one
plans to meet the hike at another location, they should contact the leader,
as the hike plan may have changed. Guests will be allowed on hikes on a
“space available” basis.
CANCELLATION OF HIKES:
Hikes can be cancelled due to existing or forecast bad weather that may
present an enroute or onsite hazard. Some examples are ice/snow, extreme
cold, thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. If in doubt, call the leader before
reporting to the meeting place. If the hike is cancelled, the hike leader is
not required to be at the meeting place.
WHAT TO BRING:
Bringing the proper equipment in your daypack will add greatly to your
enjoyment, your safety, and the enjoyment and safety of the group.
WHAT TO WEAR/USE:
Hiking clothes; synthetic, wool or silk materials that wick moisture and dry
quickly are best. Multiple thin layers work better than fewer thick layers.
Cotton is not a good idea because it dries so slowly and cotton socks may
cause blisters. Items include shirt, pants, underwear, socks & sock liners.
Broken-in hiking boots/shoes. Hiking poles (optional). These can be valuable
for balance and stability in stream crossings and on rocky terrain, and can
transfer some weight from the legs when going up and from the knees when
going down.
CARPOOLING/SHUTTLES:
While the MHH encourages carpooling because of economic, environmental and
social reasons, it is the policy of the MHH not to become involved in the
establishment of carpools/shuttles nor the assignment of drivers or riders.
a.
Each hike will have a designated Hike Leader. The Hike Leader will appoint a
sweep. Hikers should stay
between the leader and the sweep. Members/guests by participating in an MHH
hike or activity agree to accept the authority of the leader(s) and to
follow their directions
b.
Each hike has a rating which defines the distance and the difficulty. Choose
a hike which fits your ability.
c. If you begin the hike with one group and decide to switch to another one,
you must make your change known to both leaders. Do not hike alone between
groups.
d. If it is necessary for you to leave the trail for a restroom break let
the leader or sweep know and he/she will ask someone to wait for you.
e. If you decide to leave the hike altogether, the leader must be informed
and physically sign you out on the sign-out sheet. This does not apply if
you need assistance.
f. If you are in doubt about your ability to complete the hike without
problems, heed the advice of the leader. It is better to miss the hike than
to encounter problems, which may result in an unpleasant experience for you
or your fellow hikers. The leader may exclude any person from a hike at his
or her discretion.
g. Pets are not to be brought on any hike.
HIKE ETIQUETTE:
Hiking etiquette is mostly common sense, but there are a few topics that are
hiking specific:
a. We hike quietly and keep talk to a conversational level.
b. When hiking on a trail, the larger group yields to the smaller group and
moves off the trail until they pass.
c. When hiking downhill, we yield to any hiker(s) coming uphill.
d. When the group stops for a view, or any reason, we move off the trail.
e. Individuals should not stop and cause delays without good reason.
f. If a gap is opened in front of you or the hiker behind you is too close,
step aside, to the right, and let the next hiker pass.
g. Cell phone courtesy is leaving it off.
h. Car courtesy is bringing/packing plastic bags to put your dirty boots in
and clean camp shoes to wear and another plastic bag/towel to sit on in case
you get wet.
i. Rider courtesy is giving your driver the carpool amount, in correct
change, with a “Thank you for driving”.
LEAVE NO TRACE:
The MHH subscribes to and abides by the principles of “Leave No Trace”. For
more detailed information visit www.lnt.org.
The principles that apply to MHH as we day hike are covered below:
a. Leave what you find. Leave natural objects of beauty so others can
experience a sense of discovery, the same as you have. Lunch and rest breaks
should be taken on durable surfaces.
b. “Pack it in-Pack it out”. This applies to your lunch and snack breaks.
All left over food waste and litter must be packed out and taken back. No
apple cores, banana peels or any other food or litter is to be left in the
forests or on trails. For example, a bear may find & eat the food residue
and associate the human smell with the food. The bear may then become
habituated to humans as a food source. A fed bear is a dead bear.
c. All human solid waste must be deposited at least 200 feet from water or
trails. Solid waste must be deposited in cat holes dug 6 to 8 inches deep
(hence the need for a trowel) covered and disguised. Urine has little effect
on vegetation or soil; however animals are attracted to the salt content and
may damage vegetation, so look for a durable surface of rocks or pine
needles, if possible. Toilet paper and other hygiene products must be packed
out. This is a good use for waterproof zipper bags.
d. We strive for minimal impact. When on a hike, if no one could tell that
we passed through an area, that is success. We hike on durable trail
surfaces and stay on the trail. As good stewards of the environment, we
carry out absolutely everything we carried in, and when feasible pick up
other litter along the way.
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL:
Enjoy all of your hikes and your friends in the Mountain High Hikers.
Rev: 9/17
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