Members Activity Guide
With any group activity some rules and norms are necessary! Our formally scheduled activities generally involve a leader and a “sweep” who follows at the end of the group. On most hikes the leader and the sweep keep in touch using hand held GRS radios.
General Info For all Activities
You are welcome to participate in any of the great activities offered by the VOC. If you wish to participate in a club activity to “try it out”, you can join a club activity as a guest. To join as a guest, visit the Membership page and download the Guest form. Guests are required to pay a small fee and fill out a liability waiver. When you are a guest member, you are allowed to attend two VOC activities, after which you are expected to join the club.
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Leaders are volunteers who facilitate a VOC activity and are not trained outdoor activity program leaders. Many of our leaders are experienced outdoor recreationalists, but as a participant you are responsible for your own safety, equipment, food & water and navigation on any VOC activity.
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It is the responsibility of each individual to keep up with the pace of the average participant on any given activity. VOC Leaders may refuse to allow anybody in their activity if, in their opinion, the participant is inadequately equipped or physically unfit for the planned activity.
All members are expected to self-evaluate their own wellness and exposure risks (COVID, influenza, or other communicable illnesses) and avoid participation in VOC activities if a risk to others is likely. When uncertain, err on the side of caution when deciding to take part in a VOC activity.
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The VOC will respect the needs of members to exercise whatever safety precautions those individuals feel are necessary for themselves to take, such as wearing a face mask, practising social distancing, avoiding carpooling or even declining participation from some activities altogether.
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Please bring everything to make your outdoor experience enjoyable and safe. In bear country, consider carrying bear spray and know how to use it.
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VOC also recommends that all members carry easily accessible emergency contact information for use in case of emergency.
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Participants do not need to pre-register for an event UNLESS otherwise indicated on the calendar. This should occur no later than 7pm, two evenings before the event, or as noted on the calendar. Please notify the leader if you must cancel.
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The leader will state on the online calendar whether to meet in the regular meeting place, or at the trail head, or starting point for the cycling. Directions will usually be provided.
Carpooling is good for the environment, but it is at the member’s discretion to participate, or to wear a face mask if they wish.
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The Leader will mention the suggested carpool gratuity (posted on individual schedule sheets and on the club website) and which everybody is encouraged to pay. For insurance and legal purposes please pay when you return to your point of departure.
VOC can’t guarantee that ride sharing will be available for everyone who shows up for an activity.
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Please remain behind the leader and in front of the sweep. The leader will point out to the group who the sweep is.
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No smoking or alcohol consumption during a club hike or bike ride! Liabilities may apply to those starting a wildfire, even if accidental.
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If you’re unsure if you are strong enough for a particular activity, contact the leader to discuss. Some activities may be more leisurely and others require greater levels of fitness and this will be indicated on the calendar, along with the leader’s email/phone is listed on calendar. Generally routes start out easier in the spring and get more challenging as the season proceeds.
Hiking and Rambles
You need to bring everything to make your outdoor experience enjoyable and safe. This includes food, water, hiking poles, extra snacks, GPS, compass, map, personal first aid kit, electrolyte tablets in hot weather, sunscreen, insect repellent, etc. Bring sufficient clothing for mountain weather conditions. An alpine hike may leave Vernon in hot summer temperatures and encounter hail, rain or snow at the apex of the hike.
For hikes in remote areas consider bringing an “emergency” kit including space blankets, emergency snacks, headlamp, whistle, etc.
Suitable trail footwear must be worn which includes purpose-designed hiking boots or trail shoes, that provide full coverage of the foot (e.g. no open-toed sandals or flip flops allowed) and have an aggressive tread to provide traction in loose soil as well as in wet, muddy or snowy conditions, all of which may be encountered during typical VOC activities.
Always inform the leader or sweep when leaving the trail for a "nature call" or for any other reason. It is a good practice to leave your pack on the trail to remind everyone someone is temporarily “missing”. In bear country take your bear spray with you.
If for any reason you do get separated from the group, stay put; an individual is much easier to find if he or she refrains from wandering off.
Cycling
For Cycling information please see the Cycling Calendar.