Trip Group Separation

Nature Trail recognises that an inherent risk of a trip is a group separation scenario.

This is when one or more Trip Participants for whatever reason become(s) separated from the Trip Leader and the rest of the Trip Group, and so risks becoming lost, and in which further risk being compounded, such as becoming benighted, and worse.

Nature Trail treats this risk scenario very seriously, particularly for two reasons.

  1. The likelihood is high, without adequate planning and monitoring
  2. The consequences can be disruptive to the point of mid-trip cancellation, and  can quickly escalate to becoming an incident, a declared emergency, the lost individual(s) becoming benighted, and the scenario deteriorating to becoming life threatening.

No trip warrants this developing.

Trip Group Separation can occur during the delivery of any Tour Type and any Trip Version.  It can be whilst on a Hiking Route, Transport Route, or Trek Route.

A key contribution factor to this risk is that usually only the Trip Leader has a map of the trip (Hiking Tour/Trek Route, and Transport Route) and is usually the only member of the Trip Group familiar with the given Trip Route and having the necessary navigational skills and equipment.  So each Trip Participant therefore relies upon the Trip Leader to deliver the Trip to specifications (on route and schedule) as planned.

Nature Trail has proactively compiled a comprehensive, yet straightforward set of protocols to mitigate this risk and also to appropriately respond in the event of such a Trip Group Separation scenario.

As we periodically research real life scenarios elsewhere, we review our protocols to further mitigate such risk scenario as best we can.

A. Our Risk Mitigation Measures:

  1. Each Trip Group is required to stay together throughout a given trip, with each participant required to take personal responsibility for ensuring they stay closely with the Trip Group and not deviate away.   This is for reasons of safety and for reliable and successful trip delivery.
  2. The Trip Leader and any member of the Trip Group is responsibly required to informally monitor group cohesion on an ongoing basis during Trip Delivery to help mitigate the risk of a Group separation scenario
  3. At each Transport Rendezvous and Track Junction of a Trip, the Trip Leader is required to regroup with all members of Trip Group in order to maintain group cohesion and avoid group separation risk.
  4. Each Trip Participant (including the Trip Leader) is supplied with a disposable whistle with lanyard (at no charge).  At Trip Start Location each is tied by the Trip Leader securely to the day pack shoulder strap of each Trip Participant to enable safe and ready usage (NOTE: Each Trip Participant is required to carry a kitted day pack, either their own, else compulsorily hired from Nature Trail)
  5. The Trip Leader leads The trip Group from the front at all times (road and track)
  6. Spacing between each Trip Participant for safety is required to be about 3 metres along a track (to avoid the risk of branches whipping faces)
  7. Should a Trip Participant wish to pause or deviate enroute for any reason, that Trip Participant is to notify the Trip Group by blowing one short blast on his/her whistle, being a signal for all members of the Trip Group to pause and regroup to discuss.  (By Road: when travelling by vehicle, a UHF call is transmitted to the other vehicles, then the vehicles safely pull over at a parking location safely well off the road and to regroup and discuss).
  8. When a Trip Participant has lost sight of the group member in front for more than about 30 seconds, the Trip Participant blows two short blasts on his/her whistle, which is a signal for all members of the Trip Group to pause and regroup. (By Road: when travelling by vehicle, a UHF call is transmitted to the other vehicles, then the vehicles safely pull over at a parking location safely well off the road and to regroup and discuss).
  9. The Trip Leader delegates a specific Trip Participant to be Tail Monitor as the trailing member along the trail to be tasked to monitor group cohesion and if any perceived delays or separation, the Tail Monitor is to blow three short blasts on whistle to alert the Trip Group.  The Trip Leader rotates this delegation throughout the trip.
  10. If a Trip Participant loses sight of any group members in front or behind for more than about 30 seconds, the Trip Participant blows three short blasts on his/her whistle, which is a signal for all members of the Trip Group to pause and regroup. (By Road: when travelling by vehicle, a UHF call is transmitted to the other vehicles, then the vehicles safely pull over at a parking location safely well off the road and work out where they each are located and how best to regroup)
  11. The above protocols are emphasised in point form in the Trip Leader’s Safety Briefing at Trip Start Location and Hike Start Location as contextually appropriate.

B. Our Response Measures:

Despite Nature Trail’s best efforts to mitigate such risk, in the unfortunate event of a Trip Group Separation scenario occurring during Trip Delivery of a Nature Trail Trip, Nature Trail has compiled the following response measures with a view to restore normal operations and mitigate the risk of worsening possible consequences.

  1. The Trip Leader and any member of the Trip Group is required to alert the Trip Group of any perceived Group Separation at any time during Trip Delivery.
  2. If a Trip Participant loses sight of any group member in front or behind for more than about 30 seconds, the Trip Participant is to blow three short blasts on his/her whistle as a signal to the Trip Group to immediately pause and regroup. (By Road: when travelling by vehicle, a UHF call is transmitted to the other vehicles, then the vehicles safely pull over at a parking location safely well off the road and work out where they each are located and how best to regroup)
  3. A Trip Participant, who upon losing sight of the Trip Group, is required within about 30 seconds to blow three short blasts on his/her whistle, then to immediately stay put in situ next to the track. (By Road: when travelling by vehicle, a UHF call is transmitted to the other vehicles, then the signalling vehicle is to safely pull over at a parking location safely well off the road and communicate with the other vehicles to work out where they each are located and how best to regroup)
  4. Upon hearing three short blasts of a whistle, the Trip Leader and any member of the Trip Group is to pause and regroup.
  5. Nature Trail’s predefined whistle signal blast number meanings are:
    • 3 whistle blasts:  An Emergency
    • 2 whistle blasts:  A perceived Group Separation risk, so all members to pause and regroup
    • 1 whistle blast:  Trip Group to all pause and regroup for any reason

Upon regrouping and a Trip Participant(s) is not accounted for, the Trip Leader is to declare a Trip Incident and to immediately suspend the Trip to instead command a Group Separation Response.  Trip Group members are then require to concentrate and comply with the Trip Leader’s Incident directives.

Nature trail’s response principle to incidents and emergencies such as these is to stay put in situ on track, and not to push on forward, nor to backtrack, nor to engage in search and rescue activity, and certainly not to further separate.  Rescue is entrusted with Emergency Services.

Otherwise, in the unfortunate event of a Trip Group Separation scenario, Nature Trail delegates sole discretion to its Trip Leader to appropriately interpret the situation and to respond accordingly in the best safety interests of a the Trip Group under his/her care.

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This webpage updated 5th December 2022.