Event Hosting Tips

You're a Host, Not a Guide

Our outings are shared experiences, not professionally guided events. As a host, your job is to bring the group together, set the tone, and keep the day organized — not to assume responsibility for everyone's safety. Every participant is responsible for their own preparedness and decisions. With that in mind, a thoughtful host makes a world of difference. These tips will help.

Plan the Event Well

Communicate Difficulty Honestly

The single most important thing you can do is set accurate expectations. People choose events based on the difficulty rating, so rate it honestly — it's far better to under-promise than to surprise someone three miles in.

• Use the difficulty ratings consistently (Easy, Easy-to-Moderate, Moderate, and up) and describe what that means for this event: total mileage, elevation gain, terrain, and expected pace.
• Call out anything that raises the bar — exposure, scrambling, river crossings, a fast pace, or a long day.
• If you're not sure someone is ready, invite them to ask you questions in the event discussion before signing up (you get an email when they post). A quick conversation prevents a hard day on the trail.

Keep a Headcount & a Roster

• Know who's coming. Keep a list of participants and a way to reach them before the event.
• Do a headcount at the trailhead, again at key junctions, and before you head back. It's easy to lose track when a group spreads out.
• Note any relevant info people share — an emergency contact, a medical condition, or that it's their first hike with us.
• Never leave the trailhead until everyone who signed in is accounted for at the end.

Put Safety First

• At the trailhead, give a quick briefing: the route, the plan, the turn-around time, and what to do if someone gets separated.
• Do a gear check — make sure folks have water, layers, and the essentials for the day. (Point new members to our What To Bring On A Hike checklist.)
• Carry a basic first-aid kit and know the bail-out points along the route.
• Watch the weather and the group's energy. There's no shame in turning around — the mountain will still be there next time.

Set a Welcoming Pace

• Hike at a pace the whole group can sustain — not the speed of the fastest person.
• Designate a sweep at the back so no one is ever hiking alone or feeling left behind.
• Regroup at junctions, viewpoints, and after climbs. Build in rest, snack, and photo breaks.
• Keep the group together; a long, strung-out line is how people get lost or take a wrong turn.

Make It Inclusive

• Greet everyone, learn names, and introduce newcomers to the group. A friendly welcome is what brings people back.
• Check in with quieter folks and anyone hiking solo for the first time.
• Be patient and encouraging — everyone has a learning curve, and we were all new once.
• Foster the easy-going, supportive vibe GO is known for. You set the tone.

Have an Emergency Plan

• Tell someone not on the event your route and expected return time.
• Know the local emergency number and the nearest access point or trailhead for help.
• Keep participants' emergency contacts with you for the day.
• If something goes wrong, stay calm, keep the group together, and make decisions deliberately. Knowing the bail-out options ahead of time makes this far easier.