Notes
for leaders and walkers
For
everyone
-
Thinking
of leading a walk?
-
Transport sharing costs - on our web
Noticeboard or current Walks programme (Close
the Noticeboard to return to this page)
- Check
our Useful
links page for transport and tide timetables, track/fire closures
or for walk ideas (Close
the window to return here)
For
walk participants
For
leaders
Thinking
of leading a walk for the first time?
Don’t
feel 100% confident?
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What
to do as a leader
Submitting
a walk for the programme
- Click
here to download a blank Walk Submission form to print and post (Pdf
36 Kb)
OR
Click
here to download the form as an editable Word document which can be
submitted by email (How
do I do this?)
- If your walk
is in a national park, click here
to check for track closures
- Check
the Walk grading guidelines. Note special guidelines for Membership
Qualifying walks.
Download
Walk grading guidelines (Close the window to
return here)
- In
the Description column, include any special features or difficulties
of the walk
- actual
distance
- special
terrain including off-track, creek crossings, large/steep ascents
and descents or exposure
-
for pack walks, a combination of grades/descriptions or the highest
grade of walk on the trip
- a
pace description e.g. 'slow pace', 'brisk pace' or 'experienced
walkers only' if you want that
- if
the walk is exploratory (this can only be in higher grades)
-
limits on numbers eg in national parks, wilderness areas or for
logistical reasons
- map
or book reference
- joint
walk details
- any
other special variations eg “Stops to look at views, flowers”
- In the Leader
column, put your preferred method of contact first or mark it as preferred.
- Submit your
walk/walks for the new season's programme using the Walk submission
form. (How
do I do this?)
or
For
a short notice walk, click
here to send an email to the SNW co-ordinator with details of
your walk. Send it in paragraph form, not as a table, in the body
of the email. See
the Walk Submission form or a programme for what to include.
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Leading
a simple walk
- Download
a Walk Report form for participants to read and sign. Fill in brief
walk details at the top.
Download
Walk Report form
- Check the Walk
notes for leaders. There are many points not covered in this checklist.
Download
Walk notes for leaders
- On the
walk
If someone leaves
the walk early, get them to sign off on the report form.
- After
the walk
Add a brief report/description (optional) at the bottom of the report
form. This can be typed into the body of the email instead (see below).
Send the form to the address on the form. Emailed copies are preferred,
pdf if possible.
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Extra
factors on walks
- Membership
Qualifying walks
If you are putting on a Membership Qualifying walk, click
here to check the special guidelines (Close the
guidelines window to return to this page).
- Number
of walkers
A minimum of four (4), including leader, is required for a Club walk.
If fewer than four, including leader, a walk, if continued, is not
an official Club activity. However, if a publicised but unofficial
walk is continued as a private walk it will still be covered by Bush
Club insurance.
- Trial
walks
If
you wish to do a recce for a walk, you will be covered by Bush Club
insurance if you notify the Walks Secretary by email beforehand and
have a total of at least 2 Bush Club members on the walk.
- Guests
If you accept guests on your walk, they must sign the Guest
Waiver form. This allows them to be regarded as temporary members.
The guest waiver form is page 2 of the Walk Report Form.
If there are more than 3 guests you'll need more forms.
- Abseiling
trips
Click
here to check the club's abseiling policy (Close
the window to return here)
For abseiling trips, you will need the Abseiling Report and Risks
Waiver form. (Click
here to download it)
You may want to send the first page to participants to pre-read before
the day of the walk.
- Accidents
on walks
If
there has been an accident, add a note in the appropriate space at
the bottom of the form.
Click
here to download an Incident Report Form if you need to submit
it later.
- Overseas
trips
Individual
forms need to be signed by all participants.
See
forms list for overseas forms (Close
the window to return here)
-
Walks
in State Forests
When
walking in state forests, it is important to be aware of the risk
posed by hunting activity. In NSW, current legislation permits licensed
hunters to access certain public lands, including state forests.
Accredited people can apply by email for a permit to hunt right
up to the day before.
We all need to be very aware of the risks to walkers. The situation
is of concern to the committee, and specific procedures to be followed
are currently being developed by the committee in consultation with
Forests NSW. As soon as these are finalised, they will be circulated
and also posted here.
In the meantime, if you plan to walk in a state forest you should
contact Forests NSW to enquire as to any risks or hazards, such
as approved hunting, hazard reduction burns, or other operational
activities.
You can find
a list of forests open to hunters at http://www.gamecouncil.nsw.gov.au/portal.asp?p=Aug06DPLupdate
(Close the window to return here)
You can also
obtain the name and contact number of the duty officer on the day.
If you are unsure of the region, call the West Pennant Hills office
on 1300 550 474. Be aware this procedure will mitigate the risk
to walkers, but does not provide full protection. It is important
to maintain constant vigilance and exercise great care.
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Personal
Locator Beacon
The club has now purchased a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) for use by
leaders on walks. The old EPIRB technology was turned off on February
1, 2009. The new technology is a significant improvement with higher
accuracy, longer battery life (7 years) and most importantly the ability
to identify the registered owner of the PLB. This feature means that
the Search & Rescue authority will attempt to contact the registered
owner and then the registered contacts as soon as the PLB is activated
to check if the user is indeed in the general vicinity of the spot where
the signal is detected. This should greatly reduce the 90% level of
false alarms under the EPIRB technology.
For information on the new system and excellent guidelines on when and
how to use the PLB see the
attached file (click here) which was prepared for users of the Bibbulmum
Track in WA. The key point is that it is to be used only in life threatening
situations.
The Training Officer Tony Hickson (see current walks programme for contact
details) will be custodian of the PLB. You can contact him at any time
to make arrangements to borrow it. When you borrow it you will need
to do the following:
- Pick it up
from Tony
- Contact the
3 Bush Club members who are the contacts for the rescue authority:
John Cooper, Graham Conden and Tony Hickson and advise them of your
planned route,dates and party members if known. This information will
be passed on the Search & Rescue people if and when it is requested.
- Return the
unit as soon as possible after the walk so it can be used by other
parties.
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