Prior to the Day of the Hike
l. Scout the hike area.  This should be done if at all possible prior to putting the hike in the schedule, unless you know the area already, or are using a published guide. 
2. If you are unable to do a scheduled hike, do your best to find a replacement leader.  If you are unable to find one, let the coordinator for the hike schedule know (weekend coordinator, Mon.-Tues.-Wed. coordinator, so forth), and if you cannot reach that person, contact the president.  If no leader can be found, someone should at least go to the starting point  to inform those who appear for the hike the nature of the situation. 
3. Plan for possible emergencies:
- Bring a first aid kit.
- Carry what water/food/clothing you need, plus a little extra.
- Know the best 'bail outs' along your route.
- Know the emergency phone numbers for the park where you are hiking.
- Bring a cell phone, if possible, especially on the longer hikes.  It has been important in the past that others have cell phones as well, since not all cell phones get a signal in all places and if someone needs to go for help, communication between him/her and the main group is helpful. 
- Consider CPR/First Aid training or take a review course.     
- Bring an extra whistle (possibly for sweep).
-
Day of the Hike
l. Be sure to bring sign-up sheet, first aid kit, and maps with you, beyond the usual things needed for hiking  (See #3 above).
2. Arrive at the starting point at least 15 minutes before time (half an hour is preferable). 
At  Starting  Point
l.  Have people sign up on the waiver form.  If they are new to the club, they should be urged to read the  form.  If they are not members, they are to sign the back of the form and should be urged to read it.   
2. At the published starting time, hold a circle, at which you should  introduce yourself and what town you are from and each person in turn  should do the same around the circle.  Then describe the day's activity, including its level of difficulty.  Urge people who are not capable or feeling well enough to complete the entire hike to not continue.     
3. If you discover that there have been serious delays on the highways getting there, it would be good to wait 5 or 10 minutes before starting the circle. 
4. If you can determine that a participant is  unprepared for the nature of the day's activity, you should urge them to  not participate and do so in the hearing of at least one other person..  Lack of preparation might include inadequate clothing or shoes or water.  If possible,  suggest an alternative walk they might safely do on their own. 
5. Find someone either before the circle or during it to be sweep.  Ask that no one walk behind the sweep or in front of the leader without their permission since they are not then on the hike.  Participants should be informed that if they are leaving the hike, they must let the leader or at least the sweep know. 
6. Count participants and check that your count matches  the sign-in sheet.
7. Sweep Duties:  The Sweep should have a map and know how to use it, stay behind the last hiker, let the leader know that things are okay when a stop is made at trail junctions and let the leader know privately if any hikers appear to be having difficulties.  The Sweep should keep the  hiker in front of him in sight.
 8. If someone appears with a dog, inform them that dogs are not allowed by the club's bylaws. 

During the Hike
l. Start at the pace indicated in the schedule for the hike, but check frequently, especially at the beginning, to be sure everyone is keeping up and there are no wide gaps in the line between hikers (a wide gap would mean the hiker behind cannot see the hiker in front of him/her).  If you are going too fast for the particular group present that day, you should slow down so the group is basically together.
2. Within the first 10 min. of the hike, check to be sure that there isn't someone totally incapable of continuing on the hike.  Ask someone to return to the parking lot with that person or, if no one volunteers, walk back to the parking lot with the entire group.                   
3. There should be separations as needed, especially 10-15 minutes before the end of the hike.     
4. At every spot during the day where you turn onto a differently blazed trail, you should stop and wait for the entire group to be together so everyone makes the turn. 
5. At appropriate times during the day, stop for a water break or a shedding break.   
6.  Choose a place for lunch which is the best available in the area:  one that is not as likely to have a lot of bugs and will have good seating (logs or rocks). A place with a view is nice. Lunch should be at approximately noon, but if it is necessary to have lunch quite a bit later in order to have a good spot, have a snack break at about 11:30.  Five minutes before the end of lunch, give a 5 minute call. 
7.  At lunch see if the sweep wishes to be replaced. 
8.  Count occasionally to make sure no one is missing 
9.  Check in regularly with your sweep. 
10.  Be conscious of the weather and flexible enough to shorten a hike when necessary (for example, the   possibility of lightning on a ridge).
11. Bushwhacking:  Some parks request that there be no bushwhacking (usually for environmental reasons) and we should honor that request.  In other areas, remember that if an accident occurs during a bushwhacking segment of the hike it may not be possible for emergency crews to locate you. 
12. In case of an accident, you as leader decide what needs to be done.  If the injured person needs professional help, designate a group to go for help (include someone who knows where the accident occurred and how to return).  If they can have a cell phone, it might be of use.  Those best qualified to help should stay with the injured person.  If the injury is less serious, assist the person in walking out.  Do not immediately call park rangers or 911 for a minor problem that you and the group can handle on your own. 

After the Hike
l. If possible hang around to make sure everyone is able to get their car started and leave the parking area.  Help people with directions, if necessary.         .   
2. Mail the sign-in sheet to the president of UCHC.
3. If an accident (even minor) occurred during the hike, record that information on the sign-in sheet with the name of the person involved.   If it was a major accident involving rangers and/or police, a full report on a separate sheet of paper should be mailed to the president with the sign-in sheet as soon as possible.  If medical help was offered and the victim refused, that should be noted.  If this information can be sent by e-mail to the president, it would facilitate dealing with the insurance company.  Otherwise an immediate phone call to the president is called for, in addition to the written report. 

Most Important:  Have a great day and enjoy yourself!!  These directions try to cover all the possible problems that might, but almost never, arise.  Relax and provide a wonderful hike for all your hiking friends.