Northern Hiking and Backpacking

Brief message from your Northern Hikes Subchair
Mountain hiking is best enjoyed when you are properly equipped and have the appropriate skills to safely travel from trail head to summit and back. Such know-how can be learned by participating in the activities offered by the Chapter’s Northern Hikes program. Throughout the year numerous trips and classes are conducted for beginner, intermediate, and experienced hikers. People new to hiking can greatly benefit from the Step-by-Step series of entry level trips and instruction. For more information, contact Ed Poyer (EdPoyer@gmail.com) or any of the mountain hike leaders.

Sign up early for trips that involve an overnight stay.
Each of our outdoor activity committees that are involved with overnight trips may or may not have restrictions relative to signing up just prior to the trip. Also, each trip notice may include details concerning any advance registration requirements. As a general policy, it's important to sign up early for trips that involve an overnight stay. Leaders have to reserve spaces at motels or AMC facilities months ahead of time and put down cash deposits. They need to know how many people will be on the trip in time to cancel reservations if the trip does not fill. Therefore, it's recommended to communicate with the leader at least a month before an overnight trip, if possible. Quite often these trips cannot accept more people in the last 2 weeks because of the need for lodging reservations.

Leadership Requirements

NARRAGANSETT CHAPTER
BACKPACKING & NORTHERN HIKES (BNH) SUBCOMMITTEE
GUIDELINES FOR LEADER QUALIFICATIONS
Adopted October 18, 2007

To lead a Backpacking & Northern Hike, the leaders must be approved for leadership by the BNH Leadership Committee.

There are four leader classification levels:

Summer Below Treeline Leaders are restricted to below treeline hikes during summer season, defined as Memorial Day weekend through Columbus Day weekend. The below treeline distinction excludes the Presidentials from Eisenhower to Madison, the Franconia Ridge from Little Haystack to Lafayette, Mt. Moosilauke, the Bond Ridge, Owl’s Head, the Kathadin massif, Mt. Mansfield and the Adirondack High Peaks (Marcy et al). The below treeline distinction also excludes overnight trips to Lakes of the Clouds, Madison, Greenleaf or Galehead AMC huts, and Gray Knob and Crag Camp RMC cabins.

Three Season Leaders are restricted to April through November, only when no winter conditions are expected.

Four Season Below Treeline Leaders are restricted during winter to below treeline areas as listed above. Mt Monadnock is also restricted in winter.

Four Season Leaders may lead trips any time, any where the BNH Subcommittee has jurisdiction.

For any given candidate, specific qualifications may be waived by the BNH Leadership Committee in light of the individual’s overall skill, experience and training.

Qualifications common to all levels to become or remain as a BNH Leader for any level:

Applicant is a current, adult member of the AMC.
Applicant demonstrates a working knowledge of the policies, standard practices & protocols of the AMC and of the regulations of the land management agencies involved, including Leave No Trace guidelines.
Applicant consistently demonstrates common sense & good judgment in the eyes of the committee, including awareness of his/her own condition & limitations, that of the group, and awareness of the environment & changing circumstances of the trip.
Applicant demonstrates relevant outdoors, leadership and interpersonal skills, abilities and stamina above that required by a participant at the relevant level.
Prior to co-leading a trip at any given level, the applicant must have successfully participated in BNH approved trips at that level, led by at least two different leaders, in a variety of conditions, or otherwise demonstrated the necessary competencies.
While not a requirement, leadership candidates are encouraged to select an experienced BNH leader as a mentor to assist them in their leadership development.
The overall AMC Leadership Requirements and Guidelines will apply to all our leaders.

Summer Below Treeline: In order to co-lead:

Meets the qualifications common to all levels.
Demonstrates hiking skills & basic map & compass skills.
Successfully completed Wilderness First Aid training.

Three Season: In order to co-lead:

Successfully completed some formal leadership training program.
Successfully led BNH-approved Summer Below Treeline hikes, including at least one novice / beginner level trip.

Four Season Below Treeline: Prior to co-leading:

Demonstrates four season hiking skills, including crampon & snowshoe skills.
Demonstrates proficiency in map & compass & off trail navigation skills, including nighttime navigation.
Successfully completed an advanced formal leadership training program, such as MLS.
Be formally trained in handling cold weather injuries.
Demonstrated ability to use and teach proper crampon technique.
Successfully led at least three (3) BNH approvedthree season hikes, including at least one novice / beginner level trip and one above treeline.

Four Season Prior to co-leading:

Demonstrates four season backpacking skills, including melting snow, & setting up a winter camp.
Holds current certification in Wilderness First Aid.
Demonstrates ability to use proper ice axe technique.
Successfully led at least three (3) BNH approved Four Season Below Treeline hikes, including at least one novice / beginner level trip.

To be approved as a leader at any level by the BNH Leadership Committee, the applicant must:

Successfully co-lead at least three (3) BNH approved activities at the target level, led by at least two different BNH Leaders.
Obtain recommendation for leadership at the target level from both BNH leaders to the BNH sub chair.