Section 6 - Planning a Walk/Hike
OUR HIKE RATINGS
We have our own Escaping Your Comfort Zone hike ratings. The reason for this is that we frequently find that hike ratings published by other organisations are not specific enough for participants to truly know what to expect, and know whether a hike is suitable with them. The other issue we find with external hike descriptions is that the definition of "beginner" is not clear. Many times "beginner" assumes a certain level of general fitness or stamina, without allowing for participants who are starting from a sedentary lifestyle.
First Steps (FS) – Max Distance 3km
MUST BE WHEELCHAIR FRIENDLY. These walks are specifically intended for those who want to get out into nature, but have physical or health matters that may limit movement (chronic pain, return from injury, people who might be exercising for the first time, people who may need to be close to bathrooms and/or people who may have vulnerabilities that require emotional support). All of our hikes are body positive, but these walks have an even stronger emphasis on this. Open only to participants who specifically need trails like this. We ask leaders who plan these hikes to contact participants prior to the event. (Please contact Richelle or Sarah before planning one of these hikes)
Australian Walking Track Grading* – 1
Slow & Steady (S&S) – Max Distance 7kms
These hikes are beginner friendly, for those without specific mobility concerns, and always paced at the slowest in the group, to ensure no one is left behind. These hikes usually take between 1.5-2.5hrs to complete, and are usually 3.5-5kms (max 7kms). The trails may be compacted gravel, or dirt, with some stairs, short hills, or small obstacles. Note: we do not list the length of these hikes in kms, as, from experience, many beginners are put off at the prospect of xxkms, when in reality, it is absolutely achievable for all beginners. However, if participants ask for the distance we do tell them.
Australian Walking Track Grading* – 1/2
More Challenging (MC) – Max Distance 15km
These hikes are designed to present more of a challenge than the Slow & Steady, but with the same body positive message, and the same “walk at the pace of the slowest person” approach. Some bush walking experience is recommended. Tracks may have short steep hill sections a rough surface and many steps. There may be more than 200m of ascent. More Challenging (MC) hikes will specifically list the distance and terrain in the description. This may also include overnight hikes (contact Richelle or Sarah when planning overnight hikes)
Australian Walking Track Grading* – 3
More Challenging Plus (MC+) - Max distance – 20km
Previous bushwalking experience is required for these hikes. Participants must have joined us on another hike before attempting these hikes, or should contact the leader, so we can be sure the hike is right for the participant. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. Directional signage may be limited, and trails may be remote, or in alpine areas. This also includes overnight hikes. (Please contact Richelle or Sarah before planning one of these hikes)
Australian Walking Track Grading* – 3-4
*For reference, we have also listed the Australian Walking Track Grading values for each hike as a guide. We have added more detail to our own ratings above, but some of our participants may find it helpful to see the AWT grades as well. In March 2011 the Council of Bushwalking Australia endorsed the Australian Walking Track Grading System, a voluntary walking track standard. The Australian Walking Track Grading System is a nationally consistent system to grade the level of difficulty of the track walking experience and then to clearly communicate that information to walkers.
Where to Lead your Hike
Sometimes the most daunting obstacle for posting a hike is deciding where you want to take people. However when you are just starting out, the best place to take people on a hike is the locations you already know and feel comfortable with.
Here’s a basic database of some of our most popular walks in Victoria. Feel free to add any of your own to help other leaders!
Choose the focus or type of area for your walk:
- Aim to include a point of interest, examples: a waterfall, a lookout, a lake circumnavigation, autumn leaves, a trestle bridge, or a cool canyon.
- Walks don’t need to be in the bush, urban walks are great fun, and generally easy. Walk along a coast path, around a lake, or past areas of street art.
- It adds to interest if you can incorporate lunch or a coffee afterwards, this increases the level of social interaction between participants
Hike Planning Checklist
There are a multitude of things to consider when planning a hike - to keep things simple and easy to remember we have developed the acronym R.A.C.E
R - rating & reccie
Its is important to consider the hike rating and the ability levels of the people who are attending the hike. If you are using someone else's trail map you may find a rating on them that is not accurate. It is really important that you do a reccie prior to advertising the hike to make sure that the rating on the event notice is correct and not false advertising, A reccie is also a good opportunity to check the distance too. See next module for how to do a reccie.
A - amenities
Make sure when you do your reccie that you consider what facilities are available. These can include but are not limited to:
Car parking - are there sufficient car parks for a group, is access to the car park available to a 2WD, does the car park have lighting?
Toilets - are toilets at your starting point or within the first 10 minutes of walking, do the toilets auto lock after hours. We have had a situation where there was a narrow escape from a group being locked into toilets for the night due to an auto locking system.
Cafes - Is there a spot near by where your group can enjoy refreshments after your adventures
Picnic Tables - Is there picnic tables or a gazebo for a pre/post hike picnic? Or even a fireplace if you want to have a fire?
C - conditions
Conditions are crucial to communicate to potential participants. This manages their expectations when they are making the choice to book onto a hike. Things to take into account here include:
Distance - how long is your walk? THis combined with surface and elevation will determine how long a hike might take. 5km on the flat will be much quicker than a 5km hike with 200m elevation.
Surface - is it likely to be slippery after / during rain, is it uneven, is rock scrambling involved, will hiking poles be needed?
Elevation - are there steep sections or is it a slow and steady undulating climb?
Weather - it is important to consider how the weather will impact your hike. For example you don't want to be walking in a forested area where there is a possibility of trees falling in windy conditions
E - emergencies
When you do your reccie take into consideration vehicle access points, take note of emergency markers, what exit opportunities are there in the event of a medical or environmental emergency
Completing a reccie hike
A reccie is a reconnaissance hike. It involves going out to check the hike before you advertise it.
We do this because there is often a very big difference between finding a walk on the internet and reading peoples reviews and actually experiencing it!. There may be walks where a recce is not required - this includes out and back rail trails, beach walks, urban trails or trails that you are already familiar with.
When heading out on a recce we recommend taking someone with you - if this is not possible ALWAYS let someone know where you are planning to walk and what time you plan to be back. (Cairn is a great app for this - see resources section for details)
ALWAYS make sure that you have plenty of water with you and some snacks
Remember the RACE acronym – Rating, Amenities, Conditions, Emergencies. Take notes that may assist you (eg. steep hill climb /rest spots/places to fill up water bottles/ turn-around point if you need to cut walk short etc)
Evaluate the walk and consider possible variations.
Let Someone Know Before You Go (and get back)
“Let someone know before you go”; is an oft repeated, albeit simplistic slogan, a pointer to a critical safety step in planning any trip. This section explains why it is so important.
Think of the scenario where you are leading a group of 8 participants in a local National Park. You don't think to let anyone specifically know where you are going, because you have a large group, and you are not remote, and you can all help each other. But what about if the whole group finds themselves in an emergency situation with no phone reception? Stuck in a bushfire? Bogged? Tree down over the only exit road? Midweek so few others in the Park? So many scenarios.
This process is to ensure the safety of you and your group.
Who should you tell?
Each leader will have a Crew Support who oversees the leaders in their area. This is the person you tell. This person will also be able to access emergency contact details for all participants. Crew Support can also nominate an assistant to help with this task.
West Melbourne - Kylie Mills
Northern Melb/Goldfields - Belinda Girotto
SE Melb/Mornington - Sarah Wilson
East/Inner Melb - Jess Carpenter
Geelong - Jess Mil
Gippsland - Jessica Leigh
Interstate (Canberra, Sydney, Newcastle) - Tina Newsome
What should you tell your Crew Support?
Where you are leading the hike, who is attending, their medical conditions, whether you expect to have mobile service and which carpark you are starting from (this information should all be available within the event description)
What is your expected return time. And an "emergency" return time (if you expect to return by 2pm, but know you might get delayed by picnicing, chatting, or taking longer than expected, your emergency return time may be 5pm, this is the "raise the alarm if you havent heard from me" time)
As soon as you have completed the hike and participants have left, advise your crew support that the hike has been completed safely
Your phone number/contact details
Your Vehicle: model, type, colour, registration, where parked
Crew Support Role
Contact emergency services if the leader does not notify the Crew Support of the safe return by the nominated time (having first made every effort to contact the group.)
Provide full details of the group and the trip to emergency services (checklist below). In the event of the leader ringing 000, once the specific emergency has been communicated, the leader can direct emergency services to the Crew Support for details of the group and trip. This saves the leader time in a situation where they have their hands full and conserves their phone battery.
Arrange for other assistance if the leader advises of a problem that does not require emergency services, e.g. a bogged car. Again, much easier than the leader trying to do so with poor phone signal and limited battery life.
Keep partners/family members informed:
of any delays or changes of plan to the trip.
as a reassuring point of contact, importantly avoiding the possibility of anxious family members directly contacting emergency services unnecessarily.
What kind of hikes do you need to do this for?
Letting your Crew Support is recommended for all trips, but is essential for:
any More Challenging or More Challenging + trip
a trip in an area with no or limited mobile phone coverage
A trip by a larger group in an area with good access and certain mobile phone coverage, may have less need for letting your Crew Support know.
A phone, personal locator beacon (PLB) or a tracker are not alternatives to letting your Crew Support person know.
No emergency communication device is fail safe. Mobile phones do not always work. See "Emergency Communications" for more information.
Other Scenarios where Crew Support might be required
While leaders should have access to the printed copy of each of their participants Emergency Contact Form (in the tops of their packs), there may be a scenario where a leader needs to contact their Crew Support to access this information online.
Gear list for hike leaders
Depending on the type of hike you are doing you may required more equipment. As an EYCZ leader we expect that you will be carrying the following as a minimum regardless of where you are walking - we also ask each of your participants also carry the minimum:
Your own personal Emergency Contact Details and Medical Information (in a zip lock bag in the top of your backpack)
First Aid Kit including emergency blanket and snake bandage
Extra Water
Extra snacks
Extra Jumper
Torch
Hiking poles (they may not be necessary for you to use but can come in very handy in an emergency or if you have someone in your group who is struggling)
Fully charged Mobile phone with first aid app, emergency app, and maps app that works off line
In addition to these items we strongly recommend that you also include in your pack
Whistle
Shelter (small lightweight tarp, shower curtain or similar)
Sunscreen
Zip lock bag for waste
Hand sanitiser
Rain jacket / poncho
Battery pack to charge your mobile phone
Accessibility, children and dogs
When you are planning your hike, consider whether it is appropriate for those with accessibility needs, children or dogs.
Accessibility
When you are planning a hike, you may want to choose a hike that is accessible for someone using a mobility device (wheelchair, frame, cane etc). If you want to do this, you need to consider all areas, including carpark access, toilet access, and every section of the walk. Make this clear in your walk description if the hike is suitable for those with accessibility needs. This is crucial for anyone planning First Steps walks.
Children
You may want to welcome people to bring their children on hikes. If you want to do this, you must ensure that you have a Volunteer Working With Children Check (available for free online). You also need to know that our personal accident insurance does not cover children UNDER 12 (participants are made aware of this when signing up), however they are still welcome to attend.
Consider the type of hike you are doing. If its rough terrain, or complex, you may want to not allow kids, or make it kids over 12. Sometimes I will put in the hike description "kids welcome if they are able to hike for 2hrs without complaint". We need to balance the need for creating a relaxing space for participants, with being able to include those parents who cant get childcare.
You may want to plan hikes that specifically welcome parents with prams and toddlers, keep in mind the pace of these will often be very slow, so make it clear in your hike description. For any hikes that include kids, we will never leave any participant behind, so if nappies need changing, or feeds are required, the whole group will stop and wait. Weekday hikes during school hours are great for this.
Dogs
Allowing participants to bring dogs can often make the experience less daunting for some participants, as having their dog can help with social anxieties, and have a calming influence on them. A dog is also a great icebreaker for conversation, when the focus is on the dog ,rather than the person.
You need to check that dogs are permitted in the area where you are hiking. Dogs are not allowed in any National Parks, and other parks have various rules, so please check this before allowing dogs.
Dogs must be on short leads at all times, and must be well behaved. Be mindful that beginner participants may not feel comfortable if a dog is getting in their way, and may be a trip hazard. Ensure plenty of space between participants. We also ask that participants bring no more than 2 dogs (unless there are others in the group willing to take dog walking responsibilities for extras). Be mindful if you are going to a café afterwards, or having a picnic, that dog owners are cognizant that they will need to ensure their dog is catered for in this scenario.
Cancelling or changing a hike/walk
Sometimes we need to cancel or change hikes, so give participants as much warning as possible. Here’s a few circumstances:
Weather
The BOM app (iPhone / Google Play) is the best resource for weather, as it shows you a radar. Safety is paramount, and if certain weather makes you feel uncomfortable, it is your decision to cancel. If in doubt, ask Sarah or Richelle.
Total Fire Ban – do not hike on these days unless in a built up coastal area (eg. Ocean Grove beach)
Temperature over 30 degrees – where this is forecast, do not hike on these day, unless its an early morning or late evening hike, check with Sarah or Richelle if in doubt.
Thunderstorms and lightning – cancel if forecast
High winds over 40km/hr forecast, in a treed area.
Heavy rain – rain itself is no reason to cancel, as its often fun, but keep in mind that participants need to drive potentially flooded roads to get there. If its supposed to be heavy rain, combined with high winds, then cancel.
Air Quality - Where there a high risk of dust, smoke, other allergens, or an alert for thunderstorm asthma in the area, you need to notify participants that there may be air quality issues (its up to them whether this affects them). Consider shortening a hike if you come across air quality issues during a hike. A great app to use for this is Air Visual (Google Play, iPhone)
Leader Illness/Injury
If you are ill, or are injured, in the first instance, if possible, put a post up in the Leaders Crew FB group to see if another leader can take your spot. If another leader is able to substitute for you, please ensure they are either familiar with the hike, or you give them a full briefing. If they are leading without doing their own reccy, it needs to be a simple, S&S hike.
If you can't find a substitute leader, please give your participants as much notice as possible about the cancellation.
**Instructions for updating Groups.Place to be inserted here once system is confirmed**
Ultra Last Minute Cancellations
Sometimes things happen that are beyond your control on the day of the hike. Your car might break down on the way, you may get food poisoning, or have a family emergency. We ask you do what you can to contact your participants, keeping in mind they may be driving etc, but if you cannot contact them, please phone your Crew Support person, or Richelle or Sarah.