Be a good hiking and biking leader
Sunday, August 25, 2024 at 02:47PM
I generally enjoy group hikes and bicycle rides. New places, good conversations, and longer durations. But some are definitely better than others, often times due to the skills of the event leader.
By following a few basic guidelines, you can be a well-regarded organizer and a good role model for those who may lead in the future. These are practices I try to keep in mind.
Provide an accurate description. Most hiking and biking clubs and Meetup groups give the organizer of the event the opportunity to describe the activity. How long is the bike ride? How fast is the hiking pace? What will the surfaces be like and will there be hills? Anything special that one needs to bring? Any other activity (bird watching, stopping for ice cream, etc.)? Anticipated length of activity.
Oh, and then do your best to conduct the activity as described!
Scope out the route. The best organizers hike the trail or ride the route shortly before the group event. No surprises then with closed paths, muddy trails, or large carnivorous plants from which one needs protection. Oh, and it significantly decreases the likelihood of the leader getting lost themselves.
Start on time. One of my major complaints about group activities is that there are often those participants who feel being ten minutes late qualifies for being on time. Here in Minnesota, especially in the winter, keeping people just standing around waiting in the cold is cruel. Being on time means not just being present, but being ready to go - tires filled, boots on, pack adjusted, bathroom visit completed. I make it clear that our event’s starting time is our starting time and that I do not wait for those coming late. Text me and I will let you know the route and perhaps you can catch up.
Use a sweep. There will always be faster and slower participants in a group hike. There will be those who may wish to stop and take a photo or retie their shoes or just walk/ride slowly. For a group of any more than about half a dozen, a sweep is a good idea. The sweep’s job is to monitor the stragglers and make sure no one gets left behind. If the leader can see the sweep, they know everyone in the group is accounted for. Walkie talkies are a good to use if you have them.
Stop at junctions. Our family has a long standing hiking rule: You can go as fast as you want, but you must wait anytime there is a choice of paths or roads to follow. I like to share a map of the ride or hike I am leading, but stopping before others get lost is even more important. I am proud to say I have a participant survival rate of over 80% as a result.
Remember that people join group activities to socialize and learn new places to recreate. Most of the group activities in which I participate start with introductions - first name, length of time with the club, etc. A little icebreaker is usually a good idea - Where is your favorite place to bike? What are you looking forward to this fall? What is your favorite dessert? (Stay away from religion and politics.) I suggest a place to gather for lunch after the ride or hike if people would like to eat lunch together.
In planning, I also try to select places that may not be terribly well-known. One of things I’ve liked best about the club and Meetup group activities is learning new bike trails and hiking paths myself. I live in a suburb of Minneapolis/St Paul so while I know parks and trails in the south metro area, I am always happy to try something new in the northern part of the metro (or out state)
Look for training. Good bike clubs offer, and may require, training to those new to leading rides (partly out of legal responsibility.) Know the rules of the organization (helmets required, for example). Good club rules result in a safer experience for all.
Be a sport and lead a hike or ride. Repay the leadership others have shown you in the past. If you mess up, you will find participants quite forgiving. Do your good deed for the day.
Reader Comments (3)
Over the years, I've organized and led many photowalks and your best practices for leading hikes and bike rides closely matches what the process of my planning. Although I don't recall ever having to ask anyone to wear a helmet. On the other hand, photographers might be a little harder to keep moving in the same direction since there's always a side street, alley, or path with the potential for a great image and we just have to find it.
Over the years, I've organized and led many photowalks and your best practices for leading hikes and bike rides closely matches what the process of my planning. Although I don't recall ever having to ask anyone to wear a helmet. On the other hand, photographers might be a little harder to keep moving in the same direction since there's always a side street, alley, or path with the potential for a great image and we just have to find it.
Leading a photo shooting group sounds like herding cats!
Doug