Leader Materials and Guidance

This page contains information and forms for DPS trip leaders. You can click on the
highlighted items to download the relevant forms, get URLs and further information.

Before the Outing

The first activity is to periodically review the following Sierra Club requirements to ensure that you meet the Leader requirements: These sites may require the use of the user name: clubhouse and the password: explore to gain access to the site or page.
1. Policies: Leader Standards for all Outings Leaders: http://clubhouse.sierraclub.org/outings/policy/requirements.asp
2. Policies: Leader Standards for all Outings Leaders: Policy Update Requirement: http://angeles.sierraclub.org/ltc/
3. Four Year Year leading at rating requirement: http://clubhouse.sierraclub.org/outings/policy/requirements.asp.
4. Information for Angeles Chapter Outings Leaders - A Supplement to OLT 101: Angeles Chapter OLT-101 Supplement.
5. a. First Aid requirements: C, I and M rated outings: http://clubhouse.sierraclub.org/outings/policy/requirements.asp.
5. b. First Aid requirements: M-R and E: http://clubhouse.sierraclub.org/outings/policy/mountaineering.asp.

Any questions about the content of the above requirements should be referred to the DPS Outings Chair. If there is a conflict between the information contained below and in the internet links listed above, the material at the above linked site will govern.

Prepare a write-up following the Schedule format for the Schedule, Sage and DPS Website and send it to the Outings Chair of the sponsoring entity(ies). If your name is not listed in the last Schedule, please include the Leader Information for Schedule.

One or more of the following sites may require the use of the user name: clubhouse and the password: explore to gain access to the site or page.

For restricted mountaineering outings (roped climbing and snow travel (ice axe or crampons), include the non-training version of the MOC Application Form for a the outing. Every other year include an updated Leader Resume. The Section Outings Chair will forward your application to the Chair of the Mountaineering Oversight Committee for approval. After approval your trip will be listed on the MOC website.

Fill the forms out electronically and e-mail them to the Section Outings Chair. Note that the many of the forms on this website are available in Word format (doc) which you can fill out electronically. The original forms may be available in the non-editable Adobe Acrobat format (pdf) which you have to print out, fill out and mail. The source of many of these files is at http://clubhouse.sierraclub.org/outings/forms/.

The national Sierra Club office has prepared provider/vendor listings for (1) basic first aid, (2) CPR, (3) Wilderness First Aid/Responder courses and (4) web-based first aid training courses. This material is current as of May 2008. The purpose of this list is to let Sierra Club Leaders know what first-aid training is available, not to endorse any of these providers. This material is available in the Sierra Club Clubhouse site.

Apply for wilderness permits and any other land agency permits needed for the Outing (see below).

The National Park Service has established a permit requirement for day hiking and overnight outings in Death Valley National Park. The required permit consists of two documents that the Outings Leader must have in his or her possession while in the Park. This permit process is in addition to any required Wilderness Permits.
The first document is a Special Use Permit 2008 which is free and can be downloaded as needed.
The second document is the specific outing approval document issued by the Special Park Uses Coordinator in Death Valley National Park. This hard copy approval document can be obtained from the Special Park Uses Coordinator by completing and submitting to the Coordinator a one page Supplemental Activity Application which is free and can be downloaded as needed. Send the downloaded and completed hard copy of the Supplemental Activity Application to: Special Park Uses Coordinator, Death Valley National Park, P.O. Box 579, Death Valley, CA 92328, Fax: 760-786-3246
The routes and outings dates contained in the Supplemental Activity Application MUST be approved by Death Valley National Park thirty (30) days in advance of your trip departure.  Submit the Supplemental Activity Application as soon as possible.
Once you receive written approval for your outing by the Special Park Uses Coordinator, be sure to download the Special Use Permit 2008 and carry both documents with you at all times while in Death Valley National Park.

Prepare a trip sheet if it is an outing with pre-trip screening and e-mail it to the participants.

For restricted mountaineering outings, get two (2) copies of the Participant Medical Form from each participant including the leaders. Take one copy on the outing, keep the other one at home. From a review of the medical information you have to decide to accept or deny a trip participant. If you are not in the medical profession you may need the advice from the participants doctor or the Sierra Club's Medical Advisory Committee. But start this process as soon as possible since present experience has shown that the response from MAC is very slow. Limited help can also be found from the Medical FAQs.

At the Outing

Use the proper Sign-In Sheet and Liablity Waiver form. Restricted outings require use of the mountaineering version of the form with a column for the Sierra Club member number.

Carry the Incident Report Form, Emergency Response-Patient Report Form (at least two, one to go out with the runner getting help or with the patient if help can be summoned by cell phone), Refusal of First Aid form (any sheet of paper will do), Minor Release Form if needed, and one copy of the Participant Medical Form if it is a restricted mountaineering outing (one form per person on the trip, filled out and signed). Fill out the forms as needed. If there is an injury or illness leading to evacuation of the patient, include a copy of the Emergency Response-Patient Report Form and Medical Form (if it is a mountaineering restricted outing) with the patient to aid medical personnel. Remember, on the Emergency Response-Patient Report Form, if you do not understand what information is being asked for, just put "do not understand."

After the Outing

If there has been a life-threatening injury/emergency or death, call the National Club immediately at 1-888-OUTINGS (888-688-4647) and follow up with the Angeles Chapter Safety Committee Chair. Procedures are described in Reporting an Incident. Submit all the paperwork as soon as possible. Follow the instructions on the forms about whom to send what. For less serious incidents, you do not need to call National, but submit the Incident Report Form right away to National, the Safety Committee Chair, and Section Outings Chair. Make sure to keep a completed copy any submitted forms for your records. Send also a copy of the Emergency Response-Patient Report if applicable to each of the above entities.

For restricted mountaineering outings, leaders must send the Sign-In Sheet and Liability Waiver form and one copy of each of the Participant Medical Forms to the DPS Outings Chair. The foregoing material will be will be forwarded to and retained by the Sierra Club national office for a period of seven years. The Sierra Club is not bound by HIPAA privacy laws. The second copy of the Participant Medical Form is to be destroyed by the leader and not retained for any purpose.

Write an article about the outing for the DPS Sage, DPS Website and perhaps the Southern Sierran.

If you lose money on wilderness reservations or have other legitimate reimbursable trip expenses, contact the DPS Treasurer.

Reminder

The Mountaineering Oversight Committee requires that Helmets must be worn on restricted outings for all rock climbing and descending and for snow travel when ice axes are necessary. Helmets are advised on non-restricted trips involving 3rd class rock not usually climbed roped or any travel where rock fall is a concern. The MOC Mountaineering Policy should be reviewed.

Miscellaneous - New Leader "M" Ratings

The Outings Management Committee approved in 2008 the creation of new M-rock and M-snow ratings besides the traditional full M. Below are the new M ratings and requirements.

M rating: Qualified to lead all currently-defined M-level outings, rock, snow or rock and snow combined
M-rock rating: Qualified to lead all currently-defined M-rated outings where M-level rock travel (but no M-level snow travel) is required
M-snow rating: Qualified to lead all currently-defined M-rated outings where M-level snow travel (but no M-level rock travel) is required

Training and certification for the new M-rock [snow] rating will be based on current standards for the M-rating, including:
1. Be an I-rated leader (or see below for new leader candidates and O-rated leaders)
2. Pass an M rock or snow technical check-off
3. Provide evidence in a climbing resume of experience on an appropriate number of rock [snow] experience trips at Class 3 or higher to reach provisional status, as assessed by the Provisional Lead Committee of LTC
4. For M-rock: lead a provisional outing including at least 100 feet of 3rd class rock climbing
5. For M-snow: lead a provisional outing consisting of at least 400 feet of elevation gain on a snow slope between 25 and 35 degrees and requiring the use of an ice axe
6. Complete an M-level written exam.

The requirements for the full M rating (both rock and snow) remain the same.