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TRIP DESCRIPTION AND DETAILS
ACTIVITY NAME: 2016 Grade 10 Sea to Sky Hiking trip
ACTIVITY DATES: Sept 13-17, 2016
DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTIVITY: Students will be hiking portions of the the Juan de Fuca trail and
camping along the way. The Juan de Fuca trail covers approximately 50 km of beaches and forests.
Some sections of the trail can be muddy and slippery. Some of the campsites are on the beach
while others are in treed areas. Hikers often see marine mammals such as seals and they
occasionally see bears.
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES: To introduce and develop specific outdoor skills including first aid,
cooking/menu planning, navigation, clothing/gear selection, environmental awareness/minimum
impact techniques, survival skills and hiking skills.
ACTIVITY PRE-REQUISITES: Students should be physically fit. This is an arduous hike.
TRANSPORTATION DETAILS: Students will be traveling to and from activities in a SMUS school
bus.
PROPOSED ITINERARY:
Day 1: Meet at Derby at 9:00 am. Prep session and gear check at Derby. Depart of trailhead.
Day 1-5: Hike sections of the Juan de Fuca trail.
Day 5: Pick up at trailhead at noon and return to Derby at ~ 3:30 pm
ACCOMMODATION: Students and guides will camping in tents at campsites along the Juan de Fuca
trail. The alternate trip locations are the San Juan Ridge, the Mt.Washington/Forbidden Plateau area
or Strathcona Park.
FOOD: Students should bring a lunch for day 1. A bag lunch will be provided for boarders.
STAFFING:
Instructors/Guides: SMUS hires two guides to lead students on this trip.
The lead guide has as a minimum:
- Wilderness First Aid Certification
- Extensive Guiding experience
- Experience Guiding in this location with similar groups
The Assistant Guide has, as a minimum:
- First Aid Certification
- Significant Guiding experience
- Significant familiarity with location and with similar groups
INSTRUCTOR/STUDENT RATIO: 1:6
EMERGENCY MEDICINE: Students should not be self-administering ANY medication, even if it is
part of their own regular routine, without discussing it first with the guides. Students with asthma,
severe allergies and medical conditions should bring a clearly labelled set of the appropriate
medication and discuss the treatment with the guides prior to the trip.
STUDENT EXPECTATIONS: This is a school-sponsored outing and school rules will apply.
Participants are expected to follow the guidelines set by the instructional staff. A failure to meet
these guidelines or a failure to follow school rules may result in the participant being removed from
the activity at their own expense.
EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT: The Leader-in charge is responsible for carrying the following: An
appropriate first aid kit, Cell phone or pre-established means to communicate with the school or
emergency services, Emergency Call Plan, Student Medical Information.
2. HIKING TRIP EQUIPMENT LIST
EQUIPMENT LIST: SMUS will provide or arrange for group gear such as tarps, tents, stoves and
cooking gear. We also have a large assortment of individual gear that we can lend to students.
Items marked with an @ can generally be borrowed from SMUS OED. That being said, please try to
borrow items from family and friends first. Items marked with an * can be purchased from the
Campus Shop.
CLOTHING (Synthetic or wool clothing only please. No cotton)
Rain coat @
Rain pants @
Warm jacket or puffball jacket @
Fleece sweater
Long-sleeve shirt (2)
T-shirts (1)
Hiking Pants
Shorts
Socks (4 pair)
Underwear (3)
OTHER EQUIPMENT (items with an * can be purchased at the Campus shop)
Hiking backpack (60-80 litres) @
Sleeping bag @
Foamie/Thermarest @
Toiletries (tooth brush, tooth paste...)
Sunscreen
Lip balm
Toque @
Baseball cap
Sun glasses
Camping Cup, bowl and spoon *
Headlamp *
Nalgene Water bottle *
Hiking boots @
Running shoes
Gaiters @
Hiking Pole (ski pole) @
DO NOT BRING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING: Knives, electronics, cell phones, MP3 players or
electronic games.
3. GENERAL OUTDOOR TRIP RISKS AND HAZARDS
Statistics from the outdoor industry indicate that on average 6% of outdoor program participants
are injured during trips and 5% of participants become ill. About ½ of those injuries/illnesses can be
treated in the field and the other ½ will require evacuation.
Minor injuries/illnesses occur frequently (on every trip). Typical examples include bumps, bruises,
seasonal allergies, minor blisters, scratches and sunburns. These types of injuries are generally
treated in the field and do not require additional medical treatment after the trip.
We also see a range of more significant injuries/illnesses although less frequently (every couple of
trips). Examples include major blisters, burns from cooking/stove use, flu, allergic reactions,
sprained ankles/knees, heat or cold injuries, concussions, cuts requiring stitches and dislocations.
In most cases, these students are evacuated from the trip and require additional medical treatment
when they get home.
Listed below are the hazards and risks associated with outdoor programs in general. In each case,
we have included measures taken to reduce the frequency and severity of an event.
ALLERGIES/INJURIES/ILLNESS: Guide First Aid certification. First Aid kit with lead guide/group.
Medical forms reviewed prior to trip. Emergency communication procedures in place to contact
EMS if needed. Prior to trip, parents asked about medical conditions, allergies and dietary
preferences.
ANIMALS: (bears, cougars, wolves, rodents, insects) No food in tents. Explanation about animal
avoidance and what to do in the event of an encounter with specific animals of concern.
COOKING/STOVE USE: Students provided with stove use lesson prior to operating stoves. An adult
will oversee all stove use (on-site supervision).
DARKNESS: Limited activity in darkness to avoid injuries. Students required to have a headlamp.
DROWNING: Adherence to SMUS Swimming policies and procedures. Supervision by
guides/instructors while on and near the water. Explanation of water hazard and boundaries if
needed.
DRUGS/ALCOHOL: Students made aware that school rules apply and that the safety implications
are significant in such a trip. Use of Drugs and Alcohol strictly prohibited and will result in
immediate removal from the trip.
EQUIPMENT FAILURE: Pre-trip equipment checks. Guides asked to report defective or damaged
equipment to facilitate repair or replacement.
FATIGUE: Proper hydration and nutrition throughout trip. Planned breaks during strenuous
activities. Regular checks by the guides.
FIRES: At the discretion of the guides/instructors and only in areas where fires are permitted.
Supervision by adults.
FOOT INJURIES: Students required to wear footwear that is appropriate for the activity taking place
and the location.
HORSEPLAY: Discussion with students about the complications of injuries in remote areas.
HOT, COLD and FOUL WEATHER: Guides aware of heat and cold related illnesses/injuries. Pre-trip
equipment checks. Proper hydration and nutrition during trip. Selection of activities, activity areas
and equipment to avoid weather related injuries. Review of long-term forecast prior to trip. Alternate
plans to accommodate inclement weather.
LOST STUDENT: Pre-trip discussion about what to do in the event of a lost student.
TRANSPORTATION: Students will be travelling in a school bus or a school van with a certified
driver. Drivers must have a license valid for the vehicle being driven and have had their driving
abstracts approved by the school.
4. ACTIVITY-SPECIFIC RISKS AND HAZARDS
BEARS: Group travel procedures/buddy system. Guides carry bear spray. Food stored in food
cache overnight.
COLD TEMPERATURES: Pre-trip equipment and clothing check. Proper nutrition and hydration
throughout trip. Discussion about techniques to stay warm. Regular checks by guides.
COMMUNICATION: Whistles carried by all instructors. Group travel procedures and communication
signals explained early in program. Procedures in place to access communication with
outside/EMS. Guides carry one or more of: Cell phone, Sat phone, Delorme InReach.
FATIGUE/EXHAUSTION: Route plan selected based on student fitness and ability. Regular food and
breaks. Regular checks by guides. Pre-trip gear check to assess pack weight.
FOOT/ANKLE INJURIES: Pre-trip boot check. Use of appropriate footwear. Students recommended
to use a hiking pole on trip.
NAVIGATIONS/ROUTE FINDING: Guides familiar with area. Maps easily accessible.
SLIPPERY ROCKS/BOARDWALKS: Hiking pole recommended. Pre-trip boot check. Reminder from
guides of the need for additional care on slippery sections/boardwalks.
TIDES/SURGE CHANNELS: Daily route plan and camp sites selected with consideration for tides
and surge channels. Additional direction and supervision when crossing surge channels.
WIND: Campsites selected with consideration for forecasted winds.
