Oregon Nordic Club
Santiam Alpine Club

November: Schedule a meeting of past and potential backpack leaders.  Schedule the backpacker potluck (usually late January) reserve a location, submit a notice to the Bulletin. 

At the meeting, work out a tentative list of backpack dates and destinations for the coming year.  Also determine dates for the beginner backpack class and beginner backpack and identify the instructors and leaders for those two events.  It is important to find a date for the class that does not conflict with climb school.  The backpack class has generally lasted from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  It is a good idea to have two or three presenters to split up the topics and give different perspectives on choice of gear.  Be sure to reserve the Den for the backpack class. 

After the meeting, contact other possible leaders and ask for dates and destinations.  Between this meeting and the first week of January, the backpack schedule needs to be finalized. 

Try to space out the backpacks more or less evenly during May, June, July, August and September.  It is ideal to have a choice of trips, both in terms of length and difficulty. 

January:  Submit the “final” backpack schedule (dates, location, leader’s name) to the Council member in charge of the Prospectus.  Keep in mind that trips can be changed, cancelled and added. 

Submit the final backpack schedule to the Chemeketan webmaster. 

Plan the potluck.  The Morningside Methodist Church hall has been used often.  It is inexpensive and has complete kitchen equipment.  It has never seemed necessary to pre-assign certain parts of the potluck alphabetically.  The club provides coffee, tea, juice, paper plates, etc.  Print copies of the backpack schedule to take to the potluck.  It has been customary to keep the backpack schedule a surprise until this time. 

Have a jar for donations at the door to defray the cost of hall rental ($2 per person).  Following dinner it has been customary for the backpack leaders to give a short description of the upcoming trips.  This gives people a chance to ask questions and also to sign-up.  A slide show (Powerpoint presentation?) of an exotic adventure is good for the closing entertainment.  There is a lot of travel and photographic talent in the Club. 

Following the Potluck:  Make a report of the prior year’s backpack activity at the Chemeketan annual meeting including the number of backpacks and the number of participants. 

Make sure that backpack leaders send in Bulletin notices both before and after the trips, and have them send you the sign-up sheets. 

Backpacker E-mail List: The backpacker e-mail list is a good way to notify people of added trips, or send reminders of trips that are not yet full. 

Chemeketan Website: Send changes in the schedule to the webmaster.

Responsibilities of the Trip Leader:

The Chemeketan Bulletin editors have made the process of submitting announcements very easy.  Go to the Chemeketans.org website.  Click on the Forms link, and then find the on-line version of the Activity Information form. 

If you do not want to submit your announcement electronically, please ask me to mail you the forms. 

If you submit your announcement by the first of March, for example, it will appear in the April Bulletin.  The April Bulletin might work for May backpacks, particularly later in the month, but it is better to give people more notice. 

Before the trip: Obtain any necessary permits (wilderness permit, trail pass).  I like to call the local ranger and ask for maps, brochures, and pamphlets of interest.  The ranger should also be aware of current trail conditions and unusual problems (bridges out, for example). 

Screen people who sign up.  Make sure everyone is aware of the level of difficulty and has the skills and experience to do the trip.  If you don’t know someone, ask if she/he has backpacked with other Chemeketans.  As someone you know who is going on the trip to function as a co-leader. 

Pre-trip meetings are often a good way to decide on drivers and meet everyone.  Make sure all drivers have trailhead maps. 

At the trailhead: Have members sign the member sheet.  Non-members, Chemeketan guests, must read and sign the Release from Liability sheet.  Both these forms are available on the website at the Forms link. 

Make sure that more than one person has a trail map.  The leader needs to carry first aid and make sure everyone has adequate gear to suit the conditions. 

After the trip: Make sure drivers are reimbursed for mileage.  Send the signup sheets to the Backpack chair and an Activity Report (We-Were-There) to the Bulletin editor.  This form is on-line also.  Then, start planning the next one.

Activity information is provided to members in The Chemeketan our monthly bulletin. To receive a complimentary two-month subscription to The Chemeketan and for more information about membership, contact the Membership Secretary.