Denmark Mountain Hikers Scheduling Meeting October 3, 2025, 7:30 am
A breakfast/scheduling meeting was held at the Denmark Congregational Church before our scheduled hike to Camp Pondicherry. John Patrick provided breakfast as about 20 hikers gathered on a chilly morning. After scheduling our hikes for the rest of the year, there was a short discussion about various topics.
1. SOLO Wilderness First Aid training and certification
This has always been offered every two years. Due to the cost, time involved (two full days in North Conway) and intensity of the training, some questioned whether a shorter first aid course could be offered instead. Dale Nelson offered to follow up on that topic with someone he knows at SOLO.
2. Hike Management
Different issues concerning the management of hikes were discussed.
– Hikes should be paused around 15 minutes into each hike to allow for layer adjustment to avoid overheating. Wearing too many layers and not removing them as you warm up while hiking can lead to hyperthermia (overheating) and heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
– There should be more hydration breaks with consideration for the slower hikers before continuing on the trail.
– Hikers were reminded that a good carbohydrate loaded supper the night before, and a good breakfast the morning of a hike is recommended for their optimal performance on the hike. Energy rich food and snacks and a liter of water for every 2 hours they are expected to be on the trail are also best to avoid difficulties. Hikers were also reminded of the list of ten essentials of hikes posted on the website.
– Hikers were reminded that cotton is not safe to wear on hikes. It stays wet and does not wick sweat away from the skin. It also loses its ability to trap air and insulate, thus not keeping you warm in colder temperatures. Especially in winter, it can lead to hypothermia.
– Jeff and Jacob will investigate re-instituting the health forms that we all should carry.
3. Schedule
The schedule through the end of the year was competed and will be posted on the website.
4. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 am and the hikers left for the day’s hike at Camp Pondicherry.
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