So you want to lead?

Just a little bit about becoming a leader and leading for DUHWS…

What’s going to be covered:

• Why lead?• Extra Kit• Planning• Navigation

• What’s expected of a leader• Dealing with Emergencies

Why lead?

• You like being outdoors and want to give others the opportunity to enjoy the hills.

• You want to develop your own mountain skills.• You want to plan your own routes and take

opportunities to go places.• Leaders only pay £5!!!• Looks fantastic on your CV• Lets you get more involved in the Society

Extra Kit

• As well as your own personal Kit, as a leader you’re expected to carry:– Spare Layer/Spare Hat, gloves etc– Group Shelter– First Aid Kit– Map, compass and Map Case– Spare food and extra drink (500ml)– Watch and Head torch

Planning!

• Destinations are chosen by the exec before the year starts although suggestions are welcome!

• Route Planning takes place at the DSU every Wednesday at 1.15pm.

Things to consider…• Your own experience-what terrain are you comfortable

enough on to help others across? Are you happy leading a scramble? Can you confidently navigate away from paths?

• Familiarity-do you already know the area, or is it completely new? Speak to those who know it if you need to!

• Weather – rain, wind, visibility, future forecasts, pressure

• Daylight hours-nobody likes night navving under pressure!

• Escape routes-is there a quick way down or will you be committed to completing the route?

Preparation

• Route planning – exists so we can make sure enough groups go out and potential hazards are identified.

• Weather :– www.bbc.co.uk/weather– www.mwis.org.uk– www.metoffice.gov.uk

Navigation

• Maps– 1:25000, 1:40000, 1:50000– Grid references• “Along the Corridor and Up the

Stairs”

– Symbology– Bearings– If you get lost…

096

756

SymbologyHEALTH WARNING:Right of Way ≠ Path

Bearings

A few simple stages:-Line up Direction Arrow with where you’re going-Turn the Orientating Arrow to North-Add 2 degrees for ‘Grid to Mag Add’-And hey-presto! You’ve taken yourself a bearing…

BearingsGrid to mag – add

Mag to grid – get rid

3D VisualisationScafell

Valley

Lingmell

• Attack points and aiming off: Taking a bearing off a certain point

• Handrailing• Ticking Off/Catch Points

Navigating Skills

Stream Meeting

Steep Ground

Ground drops away to left

SUMMIT!

HazardsPotential Hazards:Steep Ground, Scree/Rockfall, Water, Dealing with Hazards :• Alternative routes?• Make sure your group understands

any dangers but act positive and confident

• Plan how you will support your group over the obstacle e.g. order of group members.

• Take it slow/steady and think about yours and group’s movement

• Always be prepared to turn back

Staying on track...

• A few strategies:– If in poor visibility take bearings off summits or

features (walls, rivers, boundaries don’t count!)– Create a mental picture of what you will see

before you travel the ground• TIP: if the weather is poor, go through shorter legs in

your mind and if the ground does something you don’t expect, rethink.

– Use your compass to take a slope aspect if you’ve come off a ridge line/feature

Timings

– Using Naismith’s rule you set a speed (4 km/h) then add 1 minute for each contour

• Eg. 28km long route with 1350m of ascent, travelling at 5km/h => 5hr 40mins for distance + 2hr 15mins for height => 7hr 55mins total

-Or, being able to estimate your own pace. This requires some practice and experience, but is generally more accurate.• Plus need to allow for breaks and photostops,

layer changes etc….

Pacing• Personal skill which requires practise.• 100m – counting every other foot = 55-70

paces• Vary your pace for uphill (more) and downhill

sections (less)• Bear in mind how the terrain will affect your paces.• Use with bearings/timings

If you’re momentarily misplaced...

I say old chap, how do you

work this damn thing?

Once you’ve found a recognisable feature go to it, or infer your position from it (bearings).

If it’s misty then slope aspect/recently passed features will give you a clue, as will keeping

moving/retracing your steps.

Within that radius are there any features you can see? (Go uphill and have a look!)

Find where you last knew where you were, and from timing work out the furthest from there you could

possibly be.

Don’t alarm your group.

What’s expected of a leader

• Group skills• Good Navigation

• Situation Management

Group Skills

-Introduce yourself and the aims of the day at the start of the walk-Talk to everyone in the group and be enthusiastic and interested!-Let them know where you are and where you are going-Keep an eye on everyone, particularly identifying anyone who is less happy, or struggling-Be confident and positive

What constitutes an emergency?- Injury of someone in your group- Injury of someone not in your group- Getting lost- Being more than 2 hours late

In the event of an emergency...

In the event of an emergency...

•Stay calm, confident and positive.•Be reassuring but also realistic with your group.

•If you are going to be late or you are lost:• Do your utmost to try and contact someone from

the society.• After 2 hours Mountain Rescue will have to be

contacted as per the constitution.

In the event of an emergency...•If it is a true emergency (i.e injury of your group or someone not in your group):

• Ring 999 and ask for Police: Mountain Rescue• Ring someone from the society until you get a message through• Use the emergency equipment!• Make lots of noise and (if dark) use torches to attract attention• If you have no phone reception you may have to consider splitting the

group or leaving the casualty. Sometimes it is worth trying to get to a summit for improved reception, however this can waste vital time and energy for nothing as signal will not be guaranteed.

•If someone is injured:• Depending of the seriousness or situation of the casualty, first check the

casualty is ok.• Don’t focus all your attention on the casualty...remember the rest of your

group!• Give members of the group tasks to keep them occupied.

GUARD AGAINST HYPOTHERMIA!• This is the greatest danger in an emergency situation!

Prevent by: keeping out of the wind, layer up, group shelter for shared warmth, food and hot drinks, insulate from ground, moving.

Danger signs: Mild: shivering, pale skin, lethargy, confusion, disorientation, slurred/mumbling speech Treat by: Gently rewarm using above methods and get moving graduallySevere: shivering stops, cold to touch, rigid muscles, drowsiness, leading to unconsciousness and eventually death.Treat by: DO NOT MOVE OR GIVE FOOD/DRINK! Shelter, body heat and seek medical help!

How to get involved…

1.Talk to the Exec or other Walk Leaders2.Pop along to Route Planning

3.Practice Walk – you can do as many of these as you like! (within reason!)

4.Assessment Walk – these will usually take place in the Lake District or other suitable

terrain

Any Questions?