Building a Team
Going out on extended stay's in the wilderness with multiple people requires a little more than just jumping into ones vehicle and doing it. Being on the "Same Page" and knowing what our comrades are thinking and pre-planning decision's makes our expedition's more enjoyable as well as safer. I'd like to start with the First faze by going over a few key factors.
- As a Group What are we trying to Achieve, Experience & whats our Abilities?
- Group Chores & Shared Tasks
- Traveling Together, our options, & making / executing a plan
- Objectives/ Motivation: Who's the Group? Are we strangers to one another? Long time friends? Does everyone get along? Do they share the same outcome as we're looking for or Similar? Going from Leg to Leg, place to place each part of a backcountry trek, terrain can vary substantially,is everyone physically and mentally ready too dedicate themselves 110%? Whats the Mission and how urgent is it that we meet our Goal. How will these various issues affect decision making?
- Experience: How well do you know the area? What about the rest of the group? Does anybody out of the group have expertise in the terrain or area that your in? Are group members going to share whatever useful skills or talents they might know? Knowing what we don't know as a whole will this effect our plan?
- Skill/Fitness: People in the group travel back country pretty regularly or is this a new thing for them? Any pose as a risk physically or mentally? What is the level of fitness, technical skill, and how will that affect our ultimate decision?
- Shared Tasks/Responsibilities: Is there a Team Leader- or- is this a Group Run Adventure? Are the Chores among the group working out? Can we help others better or swapping chores. Is the group Verbally talking about what they see or asking any questions or challenging opinions? Understanding that the back country is dangerous & being in a dangerous environment they will have to make sure they manage their own Risks? If you can't, voice up!
"You control your own Risk by choosing when, where and how you travel." - Team Commitment: Are we all on the same page to traveling together and/or re-grouping at per-determined spots? Is the team committed to making choices together? Do we as a group have enough determination to get the weakest link through the toughest situation? Hearing all perspectives and listening to peoples concerns? Are our choices working for everyone in the group, or mostly everyone? Are people willing to stay behind and hold base camp, is there enough people to do so? Achieving consensus rather than a majority?
- Trip Factors: How hard is this trek going to be? Is the Terrain technical and going to be a challenging? How will the terrain, difficulty and commitment level of the trip affect how we do things and accepting possible risk?
- Environmental Factors: What are the weather Conditions? Are we in Elevation? Is wind, slope, melting conditions, avalanche conditions or other factors playing a roll in rout planning/ finding?
- Open Discussion between Team members: Having an open talk about all contributing factors from skill, risks, personal abilities, etc should be talked about as a whole group. "My home is Your Home" being tight with your group- brother's & sister's We know what Your packing. My point- knowing My pack as if it were yours. What tools are available to all of us? What choices do I have if something goes wrong? "Dude I left the Key in the rear Bumper".....getting to the car and having the ability to drive off are two separate accomplishments!
Team Medical Profiles:
- Name & Emergency Contact Information
- Medical Insurance Provider, if applicable
- Food & Drug Allergies
- Current or Recent Injuries, conditions or procedures
- Prescription Medications
- Other Relevant Physical or Mental Condition or limitation
Emergency Response Plan:
Accident's Happen, we need to act fast.........
Keeping Calm, Focus, Being Prepared, & Aware of our Surroundings, while taking on an injured team member-or-yourself can make a huge difference. Think about what's the worst that can happen, and plan for that as a self rescuing unit. Knowing everyone's background in C.R.P. or First Aid Certified/ Wilderness First Responder so if/ when something does go wrong somebody can take Control of that situation. Prior discussions should cover checklist items and how we respond.
Keeping Calm, Focus, Being Prepared, & Aware of our Surroundings, while taking on an injured team member-or-yourself can make a huge difference. Think about what's the worst that can happen, and plan for that as a self rescuing unit. Knowing everyone's background in C.R.P. or First Aid Certified/ Wilderness First Responder so if/ when something does go wrong somebody can take Control of that situation. Prior discussions should cover checklist items and how we respond.
Tour:
Estimating Time for Each Leg
|
Total Trip Time
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We have our team together, we know each others abilities, gear, & goals. Our trail awaits us.......
Leg
|
Start / End Elevation
8,460' -----9,630' 9,630'-----13,770' 13,770'-----6,412' |
Elevation difference
+1,170 gain +4,140 gain -7,358' loss |
Distance of leg
2 miles 8 miles 12 miles |
Est. time vs.Actual
1hr 20min vs. 1hr 30min (-10min) 4 hrs vs. 4hr 45min (-45min/ -55min) 6 hours vs. 4hr 16min +1hr43min ='s +48minutes (Night 1) 10hr31min + breaks Dear journal Long day...but the |
Plotting your course, reading the Topo map and understanding Time to Distance ratio's. Start time (planned for daily schedule + breaks), Keeping to schedule, with possible diversion's due to terrain, deteriorating conditions, factoring actual time to planned, Forecasting- and adjust if needed. Making our projected goal is an accomplishing feeling.
Terrain:
- Loose-The most common issue is Footing, Watching out for your fellow group members, traveling in a staggered formation to lessen the chance of falling rocks on ascents. Loose ground can let large rock tumble as they get more and more exposed or trees falling as there roots don't run deep enough to compensate the shifting terrain landscape.
- Solid- ideal for covering ground but add melt and some slope. Navigation across the backcountry in Yosemite. The open granite faces weathered by thousands of years of water- you might re-think getting across a stream that's flowing down a 40 degree slope into the valley floor. Finding Cracks and other features to cross safely rather than trying to get across might be more appropriate. Lead a rope to a lighter member in the party to cross and anchor while keeping heavier members as an anchor to assist if the person crosses falls.
- Wet- Keeping gear dry and moral up. It becomes a bit more of a chore as weather alters what we consider ideal conditions. Make the best of a situation. Stop and seek shelter if necessary. Pre gathering wood ahead of time or getting to the dry stuff with some effort for fire.
- Melting- Did we cross streams? Could they potentially flow higher than we can safely cross later? Or possibly make a route inaccessible? Is a warming trend going to trigger avalanches?
- Frozen- Does everyone have the proper gear to stay warm enough? Whats the coldest it's going to get? Will this hide any land marks or features that could potentially cause me misdirection?
- Elevation- Was time adjusted to compensate for elevation? Is anyone experiencing Altitude Sickness? Do we as a group need to re-course?
- Terrain : Features & checks are they leading to potential.....Situations. We need to think ahead and while we're in action. A realistic game plan that everyone can achieve will make route planning and execution a breeze
Navigation:
Planning- Where are we going, are we using land marks to get there or compass readings?
Calculation- How far is it? Is the trek gaining altitude, generally flat, or a decline?
Plan- What's the latest We can leave so we have enough time to get to our destination?
Chart- As experiences woodsmen we should log our daily hikes. Natural features, times, or any other pertinent info.
Rout finding- Using our surroundings and tools to safely navigate ground.
Scouting- sending a 2 person team that checks ahead with limited gear to conserve fuel, time, and the safety of your overall team. If separated having a game plan of "last camp or specified location" as a fall back location is advised.
Calculation- How far is it? Is the trek gaining altitude, generally flat, or a decline?
Plan- What's the latest We can leave so we have enough time to get to our destination?
Chart- As experiences woodsmen we should log our daily hikes. Natural features, times, or any other pertinent info.
Rout finding- Using our surroundings and tools to safely navigate ground.
Scouting- sending a 2 person team that checks ahead with limited gear to conserve fuel, time, and the safety of your overall team. If separated having a game plan of "last camp or specified location" as a fall back location is advised.