Introduction
Preparing For The Trip
Gather the information you need to plan the trip. Possible sources of information include maps, guide books, weather forecasts and discussions with other bushwalkers or park rangers. If you know the area of your planned activity, you may already have all the information you need. Carefully plan the route to be followed. Depending on the nature of your trip, you may need to work out distances and times required to intermediate points. Consider the need for alternative routes to cope with weather changes or delays due to illness, injury or slower-than-expected progress. Consider what information additional to that included in your published description you may need to give to those who contact you about your trip. Such information might include details of any special equipment, skills or experience needed; the availability of water, campsites and shelter; the expected weather conditions; or possible hazards.
 When you pass on this information to prospective participants, try and give an objective description of what can be expected and avoid the use of subjective terms such as ‘simple’ or ‘easy’. What is straightforward to you may well be daunting and difficult to others. As well as providing information about the trip to those who contact you, you will also need to form an opinion about their ability to complete the trip. This will be relatively straightforward for members you know and whose capabilities are familiar to you. You may, however, be contacted by members you do not know or by non-members. Talk with these people about their fitness and bushwalking experience before you accept them for your trip. You are under no obligation to accept anyone for your trip whom you doubt is suitable. If you need to reject someone who has expressed an interest in your trip, it helps if you can suggest an alternative trip from the Walks Program. Non-members are welcome on Club trips but should be advised that they will be asked to read and sign a waiver and pay the participation fee. They should also read NBC's Introduction information. Without proof of adequate experience, it is recommended that you reject non-members on a trip known to be long or rough.
Decide on your preferred transport arrangements for the trip and meeting points. Make sure you obtain any permits you need to camp or light a fire. If you are intending to cross private land, seek permission from the landowner beforehand.
Before Departure Before you leave for the trip, check the latest weather forecast and make sure that you have left a completed walks notification form with a responsible person. The club’s personal locator beacon (PLB) must be carried on remote and wilderness trips. It can be collected from the Walks Secretary.
At The Start Of The Trip Make sure that everyone has arrived and is aware of what is planned. You should spread the map and explain the route to be taken and what to expect along the way. Make sure that everyone is introduced to each other. Make sure that everyone has filled in the walks activity / waiver form, which should be returned to the club after the trip. Do not move off until everyone is ready to leave and check soon after leaving that everyone is there. Appoint a ‘back marker’ if necessary.
On The Trip Make frequent checks to see that no one is left behind, especially after stops or in difficult conditions. Be alert for and address any hazards you may come across or any physical or other problems within the party. Keep a watch on the weather, adjusting your plans if necessary. Pace the trip and time rests and other breaks to meet the needs of the weakest members of the group. Monitor your progress against your plan for the trip and make any adjustments necessary to ensure the trip’s smooth completion.
At The End Of The Trip Make sure that all participants have returned. Arrange for drivers to be reimbursed for their transport costs, park entry fees etc. and request drivers to not leave until all vehicles are moving. Remember to contact your contact person(s) and any other person(s) as soon as possible after you get out. Advise the Walks Secretary of any concerns or of any incident on the trip that led to injury or threatened the safety of the party.
 Dealing With Problems
Leaders occasionally encounter problems on the trips. Serious problems are very rare. In dealing with any problem that may arise, do not be afraid to ask for help from other members of the party. In any emergency the party’s food and equipment should become communal.
Group Spread The most common problem you are likely to face is that of group spread, caused by faster walkers moving ahead or slower walkers lagging behind. It is important that participants do not become widely scattered. This may mean the party travels at the pace of its slowest member. If you do allow faster members of the party to go on ahead, make sure that clearly understood waiting places and times are agreed. Regroup at likely branch points (e.g. track junctions). Ensure everybody knows what will occur if you do not regroup, such as where you intend to have lunch or camp. In heavy scrub, bad weather or other difficult conditions, make sure the party keeps together and in contact. Inform participants that, as a rule, each person is responsible for the person immediately behind and should inform the leader if contact is lost.
Being Unsure Of Your Location
If you are unsure of your location, the first question to ask yourself is does it really matter’? In most cases you will still be able to get yourself to a known point and complete your activity without difficulty. For instance, you may be able to retrace your steps until you can re-orientate yourself, climb to higher ground and take bearings to known points or head towards a ‘collecting feature’, such as a ridge, track or watercourse, that will take you to where you want to go. Discuss options with experienced members of your party and take action based on a systematic elimination of possibilities. Keep the party together. The convention of ‘if lost wait until rescued’ generally only applies if you are ‘truly lost’ or you are unable to move because of risk to the safety of the party. In this case, you should set up camp in a prominent spot that has access to water and use whatever aids you can to maximise your visibility.
Watch for potential separations at the start of the day, after rest stops, at route branch points and in difficult terrain. If someone becomes separated from the party, shout Cooee or Fish-O or use a whistle to try and re-establish contact. Check back to where the person was last seen with the party. Investigate likely wrong routes. Try and imagine what the separated person would do and respond accordingly. It is generally not desirable to split the party to search for the separated person. If the separated person has not been found within two hours, you should contact a club officer and decide if external assistance is required from Police, National Parks and Wildlife Service or Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Service. If apprehension exists about the missing walker/s the police must be notified. The NPWS or BWRS will notify the police in these circumstances. Your response may depend on the person and your knowledge of their skills.
The party who is separated should stop at the place you saw the rest of the party if possible. Do not wander around.
Bad Weather If the weather is bad at the start of your trip or bad weather is forecast, consider cancelling the trip. If you decide to proceed, make sure that all participants are properly equipped for the conditions and that no one feels pressured into taking part. If bad weather occurs during a trip, you should consider shortening, modifying or abandoning the trip, depending on the conditions. Pay particular attention to signs of distress in the party. The Club recommends that activities not be undertaken in areas where a total fire ban is in place. An Unplanned Night Out If your party suffers a prolonged delay, it may be better to spend a controlled night in the bush rather than risk trying to get back to the cars in the dark. If considering this option, remember that your first responsibility is to yourself and your party rather than to anxious relatives and friends. Stop early enough to find as suitable a spot as possible. Make use of available shelter and keep warm and dry as best you can and share available food and equipment.
Injury Or Illness On A Trip If an injury or illness does occur on your trip, it is important that you act early. The need to look after the casualty and ensure the safety of other members of the party overrides any walking objectives. Do not rely on the medical condition improving. In cases of heat stress, exhaustion or hypothermia, assume that you and others in the party may be nearing the same state. Make use of the first aid skills and resources of the party to treat the casualty. Regularly monitor and record details of the casualty’s condition and of any first aid that you administer. Depending on the circumstances, it may be appropriate to shorten or rearrange the trip to lighten the casualty’s pack by distributing its contents; or to split the party to retrieve a vehicle or get help. Activate the PLB in the event of any life threatening situation such as snake bite, suspected heart attack etc.
 (C) Newcastle Bushwalking Club Inc 2009 |
Leading a Club WalkAttachments (4) |
