CMC Members' Basic Responsibilities
You are responsible for acquainting yourself with the nature of any CMC activity you participate in and for making certain that it is within your capability and experience.
You are responsible for your own safety. You must be physically and mentally prepared for the activity. You must be properly clothed and equipped, including your own water and food. You must not go ahead of the trip leader, or drop behind the "rear leader" (a person designated by the trip leader to keep the group together).
Stay with your group during the trip, from beginning to end. If you need to stop during a trip, tell your leader. If the group is moving too fast for you to keep up, tell the leader and work out a solution. Don't fall behind the rear leader of your group. If you should get separated from your group, stay where you are. Yell or use a whistle to signal your location.
Most of the time, the leader prefers to be in front. If the leader has given you permission to go ahead, wait for the leader at designated points and look back to check on your group. Make sure that the group is in sight. Remember, the leader may take an alternate route, need to turn the group back because of bad weather, or need your assistance if an emergency arises.
Expect your trip to take all day. With the exception of very short hikes with short driving distances to the trailhead, most CMC hikes are all-day events. Don't make inflexible plans for the afternoon of a trip. If you have an evening event that you must attend, it's usually best to call to cancel the trip to avoid unexpected delays from traffic, weather, a slow trip pace, injury, etc.
If you have a medical condition that could cause problems during a trip (for example, anaphylactic reaction to bee stings, or epilepsy, etc.), please advise the hike leader so that the leader will be better able to help if trouble arises. If you need special first aid care for a possible personal medical condition (such as special medicine for anaphylactic shock), please take along the appropriate first aid gear and advise your trip leader.
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Meeting Places and Carpooling
All trips officially start and end at the trailhead. The CMC encourages carpooling, but it is voluntary. Most Denver Group leaders select certain well-known meeting places for carpooling. Contact the trip leader if you have any questions. (If you prefer to meet at the trailhead, you must advise the trip leader in advance.) The CMC does not assume responsibility for transportation of participants to and from the parking lot to the trailhead.
The Denver Group allows drivers to charge each passenger up to ten cents per mile to defray expenses. (The actual customary rate may differ slightly for other Groups.) Estimated round-trip mileage is usually in the trip description, but actual mileage is determined by the driver's odometer. If you plan on being a passenger in a carpool, please bring small bills to pay the driver. If you have a long drive back to town, consider bringing a change of clothes and footwear. Drivers always appreciate your bringing a plastic bag to store your dirty boots and gear for the drive home.
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Fees, Guests, Children, and Dogs
CMC trips are free to members unless otherwise noted. Schools, overnight trips, and seminars often require a fee. Payment is required at registration. Make checks payable to the CMC or to the CMC Group as appropriate - not the individual leader - with the activity name written on the check. Refund policies for schools and other activities may vary and will usually involve a processing charge. Call the school director or activity organizer if you have questions.
We encourage guests and potential new members to go on CMC information hikes. Guests and new members are also allowed on other trips, but only with advance permission of the leader. Guests may go on trips at no charge, but are limited to two trips. Guests on trips must sign a release of liability.
Some hikes - especially hikes by the Colorado Wilderness Kids Group - are specially designated for children and families. On Denver Group hikes, children under 14 years old are only allowed with permission of the leader; use good judgment and seek permission well in advance.
Dogs are not permitted on CMC hikes unless so stated in the trip description. There are often several "Doggie Hikes" listed in Activity Schedules specially intended for canine companionship; check the current Activity Schedule for details. If you are unsure whether a dog is permitted on a trip, check with the leader well in advance.
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Prohibited Items
Firearms, radios ("boom boxes," personal receivers, etc.; not including two-way transmitters used only for emergencies), and alcoholic beverages are prohibited on all CMC trips. Please limit cellphone use out of consideration for your fellow hikers. Campfires are strongly discouraged except in emergency situations.
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A Note About Risk
When you joined the CMC you signed a release and liability waiver. This waiver underscores the fact that participation in CMC activities can potentially be dangerous. It is the responsibility of each participant to assess the risks involved and take full, individual responsibility for controlling those risks.
The waiver is intended to protect our volunteer leaders, as well as our Club and its assets, from the threat of lawsuits from members or guests. By signing the waiver, you agree to take responsibility for your own actions within the CMC. The CMC is an organization of volunteers who share their mountaineering skills and their love for the Colorado mountains; it is not a guide service.
The waiver is part of the CMC's overall risk management strategy. If you lead a trip or teach a school for the CMC and an accident occurs, you are protected from lawsuits by the waiver as well as by the Colorado Volunteer Service Act. Other aspects of our risk management strategy include careful attention to safety standards; courses and training; and liability insurance covering the CMC and trip leaders. If you have any questions about the CMC's risk management efforts, contact the CMC Executive Director.
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