HIKE SCHEDULE:  

Dates, times, and level of hikes are indicated on the calendar section of the HIGHLANDER  newsletter.  A detailed description of the scheduled hikes will be available on the fifteenth of the prior month and can be obtained at the information center in the Clubhouse. Monthly detailed schedules should be available on the web at www.HeritageHighlands.com.  Click on Hiking Club.

SIGNING UP:

Phone the designated Hike Leader for the hike you’d like to join.  The maximum number of people on a hike will be determined by the assigned Hike Leader or in certain cases the U.S. Forest Service which controls the maximum number of hikers on a trail during certain times of the year.  Be sure the Hike Leader has your phone number.  Hikers will meet at the Clubhouse parking lot 15 minutes prior to listed departure time.  Prior to departure, the Hike Leader will require your signature on the sign-up sheet and give driving directions to the trailhead.  Car-pooling is encouraged.

HIKE LEADER:

The designated Hike Leader is the person in charge of a hike from sign-up to returning to Heritage Highlands.  He/she is available to answer any questions or concerns prior to departure.  The hike group will gather at the trailhead where the Hike Leader will give details on what to expect along the way and ask for a volunteer or assign a person to take the sweep position  (see Sweep definition below).  The hikers will stay in a group positioned between the Hike Leader in the lead and the Sweep at the end.  The Hike Leader though, may request an individual to venture off to check out trail conditions.  On occasions, a hike may be divided into groups because of the length or difficulty of a trail.  The Hike Leader will assign another Leader or Hiker to lead the other group.  The groups will maintain communications using UHF radios.  At no time will any individual or group be allowed to venture off from a hike group without permission of the Hike Leader or without a UHF radio.  The Hike Leader is the final arbiter for any situations developing during a hike.

SWEEP POSITION:

Any hiker may volunteer or be assigned to take up the Sweep position during the hike.  The Sweep is the last or trailing person of the hiking group.  The Sweep is to be considered monitor for the Hike Leader.  He/she is in a better position to observe the progress of the hike group and advise the Leader about the pace of the group, to call for a break, or inform the Leader of any situation requiring attention.  Communications between the Leader and Sweep will be via lightweight two-way radios supplied by the Hike Leader.  Those who have performed Sweep positions will be eligible to participate in training hikes when Hike Leaders explore new trails.

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