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1. Mountaineering (including hillwalking, climbing and rambling) is an activity with a danger of personal injury or death. Participants should be aware of and accept these risks. People who take part in our Club activities do so at their own risk and are responsible for their own actions and involvement. If you apply to join the Club you agree that you wish to take part in the activities despite these risks.
2. The Club does not insure members or committee members and does not carry its own public liability insurance. Members should consider obtaining their own insurance and/or should consider the insurance that they can rely upon by virtue of their membership of Mountaineering Ireland.
3. Glenwalk is affiliated to Mountaineering Ireland, which is the national governing body for the hillwalking and mountaineering in Ireland. When members join Glenwalk they also join Mountaineering Ireland and have a separate contract and relationship with Mountaineering Ireland. Please refer to Section D below for details about a Glenwalk’s member’s relationship with Mountaineering Ireland and the insurance benefits which Mountaineering Ireland offers its member, including Glenwalk members.
4. A leader is a member appointed by the Club or a group of members on a walk to organise and manage the walk on behalf of the Club. All members have a duty of responsibility towards the leader and the group as a whole. This means that each member must not do anything to undermine the authority of the leader nor the safety of the group.
5. Listen carefully at the walk start to the address and instructions given by the leader where the walks are described. It is each member’s individual responsibility to should select a walk that matches your ability and fitness level on the day. If in doubt err on the side of caution.
6. It is irresponsible to go on a walk if you are unwell or injured. If you are not in a fit enough condition to do a walk you must not take part. If you start a walk it is a representation to the Club that you are physically fit and there is no health or other reason why you should not participate in the walk that you have chosen.
7. Insofar as is possible the group should stay reasonably close together while walking.
8. If a walker insists on leaving their group during a walk they must inform the leader. It is vital that the walker later contacts the leader on their safe arrival back at the walk start or in the pub. Failure to do so could entail calling out Mountain Rescue. (Tel.: 112)
9. If a walker is unable to continue for whatever reason then the walker must tell the leader and explain to the leader the reason for being unable to continue, the leader will appoint someone of sufficient ability and properly equipped with map etc. to return with them to the walk start.
10. Any independent decision to leave the group (i.e. not a decision agreed to by the leader) is the walker’s own decision and the Club is not responsible for anything that happens to the walker upon leaving the group.
11. A walker must leave the walk if requested to do so by the leader. The leader will appoint someone to accompany them if the leader deems it necessary, e.g. if a considerable distance has been covered since the walk start.
12. If a walker wishes to stop (e.g. to put on leggings etc.) while the main group is walking they must inform the leader or back marker. The back marker is a member that the leader appoints to walk at the very back of the group to keep the group together and he or she carries out that role on behalf of the Club. The leader will then decide if it is necessary/appropriate to stop the group.
13. Walkers must follow all reasonable instructions from the leader or back marker. Bear in mind that the leaders and or back markers are all volunteers and should be respected as such.
14. The leader has the right to refuse anyone who is not adequately equipped (see next point) or anyone who in the leader's opinion is unfit to walk from joining the walk and he makes that decision on behalf of the Club. The leader has the right to extend, curtail or alter the route from that described at the walk start. The leader sets the pace of the hike and walkers are expected to follow this pace, assuming that the pace set is reasonable for the walk level.
15. It is each member’s individual responsibility to ensure that he or she is adequately equipped having regards to the walk planned and also the environmental conditions, i.e. sturdy boots with ankle support, raingear, hat, gloves, scarf, hot drink (an unbreakable flask is advisable) and appropriate food. Members are also recommended to use gaiters, a balaclava and a walking stick, and to bring or wear a spare fleece. Please see Section D.18 below
16. A walker is responsible for keeping their own property safe on a walk or travelling to a walk.
17. All walkers should have a torch with a battery, a back up battery and spare bulb.
18. All walkers should have a whistle, which should be used to attract attention. Bear in mind that whistles can only be heard over a short distance.
19. Whistle: 6 blasts per minute in rapid succession indicates distress, 3 per minute to respond.
20. All walkers should have a backpack with adequate food and drink for a day on the hills.|
21. It is recommended that walkers purchase an Ordnance Survey (OS) map Sheet 56 (laminated) of the Discovery Series. It will be useful for finding the walk start.
22. All walkers should learn how to read a 6 figure OS grid reference number. Most of the walk starting points are given as grid references.
23. All walkers should have a watch and should also familiarise themselves with the latest weather forecast.
24. All walkers should bring a mobile phone with them, preferably with GPS. Phones should have "ICE" contacts with details of who to phone in the case of an emergency.
25. Note that in an emergency a Text Message/SMS may get through where a phone call won't.
Car Pooling.
26. The Club encourages car pooling, both to protect the enviroment and also because parking at walk starts is often limited and can become very congested.
27. Details of our car pool meeting points are detailed in the the Update Email and are also available on the Web. Only in exceptional circumstances should a driver arrive at the Walk Start alone.
28. As far as possible members undertaking a walk of a certain level should travel together (e.g. if you are a driver and intend doing the Medium Slow walk, those you give a lift to should also be doing the
same walk - otherwise it can be messy if people go on different walks and end up getting back to the start point at different times.)
29. Space permitting, aim to have 4 people in every car (i.e. the driver and three passengers)
30. Please bring a change of footwear so that you are not getting into someones car with a pair of wet muddy boots! Note that it is safer to leave your valuables at the car pool.
31. When back in the pub, as a gesture of thanks it is suggested that those who have availed of a lift offer their driver a drink.
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