There are many groups that organize hikes for anyone who wants to hike. Some do it in an interest group to earn a little money while pursuing their passion for hiking. There are also professional outfitters, travel agencies that focus on organized hikes.
Things generally go smoothly and without incident on most hikes. However, when things go wrong externally, it can be catastrophic.
But what could really go wrong?
There are accidents of people slipping off a cliff and falling to their death, people dying because they underestimated the severity of high altitude, or simply through bad luck encountering a flash flood and being carried away.
I like to emphasize that safety is of the utmost importance on every hike and should be the primary consideration in how you choose your hike organizer. Likewise, your organizer should prioritize your safety as the most important aspect.
I’ve been both an organizer and participant on many trips, and here are four tips for choosing the right trekking organizer. This is especially useful if you are a beginner hiker or have participated in thru-hikes and are considering doing more serious hikes.
1) Know if the organizer is an interest group or a professional outfitter
I generally find that interest groups place less importance on safety than professional outfitters. The interest group guide to the participant ratio is also much higher.
I once joined a one-man interest group for a supposedly simple day hike in Malaysia for a group of 15 people. It turned out that our route was totally destroyed and we had to find a new route to the waterfall. While the leader was busy finding the route, many participants were left to fend for themselves, walking on difficult and sometimes slightly dangerous trails that were right next to a cliff.
My friends and I ended up guiding the participants to navigate more difficult terrain. Although nothing happened during the trip, we can’t deny the fact that things could go wrong in such circumstances, especially when so many participants are first-time hikers and the guide was too busy finding the route to monitor them.
I find that a good ratio is 1 guide for every 5 to 7 people on a trip. For any larger group, you would need at least 2 people, so 1 guide could be at the front leading and the other at the back to look after the slower participants.
If you are completely new to hiking, I highly recommend going with someone who is experienced in hiking or if you know the organizer will have someone who has time to guide you.
2) Understand the hiking location and its risks
A simple Google search will tell you what the terrain is like and if there have been any previous accidents. Do your homework and assess whether you and/or your organizer are equipped to handle it.
Most hikes in Malaysia have low accident risks (except Bukit Tabur and a few others). For high-risk locations, it stands to reason that a newbie should not join an interest group run by a one-man show.
Motion sickness at altitude can be fatal. If you’ve never hiked terrain above 3,000m and are considering doing one, take it easy for the first few days and see how your body adapts to the new environment.
3) Check if your organizer knows how to react in an emergency
This is especially important for serious hikes like multi-day trips or high-altitude treks in the Himalayas.
Analyze possible circumstances and your organizer’s ability to handle them. For example, if you break your leg in the mountains, does the organizer know how to get you down or at least who to call for help? If you suffer from altitude sickness, does your guide know the symptoms, provide immediate help, and be prepared to be evacuated?
A good indicator would be to ask your organizer about the risks associated with the trip and how he plans to manage them. You need to be assured that they have a risk management plan in place. At a minimum, they should ask about your health, medical history, and emergency contact information.
4) Ask for references
Last but not least, consider asking your organizer for references from previous clients. This gives you the opportunity to get real advice from people, about their experiences with the organizer. On the other hand, if you don’t really feel like talking to strangers, you can always look for reviews online. Check Facebook or TripAdvisor groups for recommendations from other hikers to narrow down the trip organizer’s selection.
The mountains will always be there. If you can’t see it today, you can always see it another day. Think about your safety and don’t underestimate the dangers associated with the outdoors.
