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. 

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.

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.

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.   

A new hiker 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 a Thursday Leisure 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 gear 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. 

Hikes can be cancelled due to existing or forecast bad weather that may present an en-route or onsite hazard. Some examples are ice/snow, extreme cold, thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. All MHH members will be notified of hike cancellations or changes by e-mail.  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.

Bringing the proper equipment in your day-pack will add greatly to your enjoyment, your safety, and the enjoyment and safety of the group.

•  Water  (bring extra in summer and for hikes with lots of elevation gain-- consider up to 1 quart per hour) and a lunch/snacks  
•  Personal first aid kit  (including any prescription meds for allergic reactions to insect stings) and personal hygiene supplies
•  Personal ID and medical information
•  Rain gear or poncho (no matter what the forecast) 
•  Sunscreen and insect repellent  
•  Headlamp or small flashlight  
•  Extra clothing – long sleeve shirt, socks. (Winter: Insulation layer(s), hat, gloves)  
•  Other items to consider: whistle, knife or multi-tool, large plastic bag,  nylon cord, space blanket, GPS, map, or cell phone, and a pack capable of holding the gear.    

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. 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. 

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.     

1. 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.
2. Each hike has a rating which defines the distance and the difficulty. Choose a hike which fits your ability.      
3.  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.     
4.  If you decide to leave the hike altogether, the leader must be informed and physically sign you out on the sign-out sheet.
5.  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. 
6.  NO PETS are to be brought on any hike.       

Hiking etiquette is mostly common sense, but there are a few topics that are hiking specific:     

• Please hike quietly and keep talk to a conversational level.
• When hiking on a trail, the larger group yields to the smaller group and moves off the trail until they pass. 
• When hiking downhill, we yield to any hiker(s) coming uphill. 
• When the group stops for a view, or any reason, we move off the trail. 
• Individuals should not stop and cause delays without good reason. 
• 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. 
• Cell phone courtesy is leaving it off. 
• Rider courtesy is offering your driver a carpool amount, with a “Thank you for driving”.   

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:     

• Leave what you find. Leave natural objects of beauty so others can experience a sense of discovery, the same as you have

•  “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.  

•  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. Toilet paper and other hygiene products must be packed out. This is a good use for waterproof zipper bags.   

• 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.