Finding more trail leaders

[Drizit]

So in another topic the question of too many Indians and not enough cheifs was brought up. Some of the old AW trail leaders are moving on to other things and there seems to be a lack of people to take their place.

So the big question is, what's stopping you?

What is standing between you and being a trail leader?

Do you feel your truck isn't up to snuff? Easy fix, guide an easier trail.

Do you feel you don't have enough experience?
That's hard to gauge, I was asked to guide camp NL after 2 or 3 seasons of wheeling. Given I go a lot each season but it's more about attitude and attentiveness than anything.

Do you lack the confidence to take ownership of a situation and make it play out positively?
The secret is, if you sound like you know what you are talking about, most people will assume you do. (which gives you a time to figure out what's going on )

Do you just not want to?
OK fair enough, it's a valid answer.

There are some excellent experienceed leaders in this group, if you have any interest at all but arn't sure if you would be up to the task, or just want some pointers. I know I'd be more than happy to help you out and I'm sure they would as well. Perhaps if a small group is interested we can setup a trail guide seminar this summer to help give you the confidence you need.

[Miner]

I guess I fall into the first group. Our needs and how we spend our time has changed so our once capable off-road truck has been replaced by heavy hauler and mall crawler....and I have no plans to wheel it.

On trails I preferred to be at the front or the back. I'd encourage a number of the members here to step up to leading and think that the seminar is an excellent idea.

[Morpheus]

We had discussed an event where if you wanted to "learn the ropes" of being a trail guide, that we would set up a Saturday in an area with multiple obstacles, that spotting and whatnot could be taught.

This idea was to find something local, on private property, so it was not a matter of driving north for 2 hours to run a trail, it would be in like a field, with some trees, and or rocks, etc...

[Drizit]

We had discussed an event where if you wanted to "learn the ropes" of being a trail guide, that we would set up a Saturday in an area with multiple obstacles, that spotting and whatnot could be taught.

This idea was to find something local, on private property, so it was not a matter of driving north for 2 hours to run a trail, it would be in like a field, with some trees, and or rocks, etc...

I may be able to find something like that. I have to talk to the owner but as he's a landscapeer he's not around much right now. When it stops snowing I'll have a chat with him. It's just a sand pit but maby we can find some rocks around.

[Morpheus]

Sounds good.

My thoughts were a newbie run for trail guides.
Could also invite people from of4wd.

Want to get really crazy, and invite some of the vendors to show off recovery equipment...

[Bow_Tied]

This is a great idea. I support it.

I would like to suggest that there is more to being a trail leader than spotting. But I think we can address that too.

[Drizit]

Oh for sure, trail guide ground school followed by spotting

[Morpheus]

The point I think I was trying to make, is that you take newbie drivers down a trail, and show them the different things their truck can do.

Trail guide school would be the exact opposite, you go nowhere, you stay in the same field, stop a truck on an obstacle, get out and show people where they need to be watching their people.

Guiding isn't so much the trail, as it is the stuff you run into while you're out there.

[Miner]

I'd suggest Weakest Link if you can't find an appropriate filed/pit/quarry. Its short enough to walk it and run it over and over, and there's no trail just a string of obstacles. It could also be done at South Wind in the mud pit and on Razer.

[Snafu]

I partly led the trail at SW and can do it again. I wonder if we could use one of the shorter trails at SW for training.

[noey]

I'll help lead any trail, no problem.

[Bow_Tied]

I partly led the trail at SW and can do it again. I wonder if we could use one of the shorter trails at SW for training.

The very first trail you come to is easy and very short, but it does have a lot of tight turns *tough for a very long wheel base).

I'll help lead any trail, no problem.

[Morpheus]

I'd suggest Weakest Link if you can't find an appropriate filed/pit/quarry. Its short enough to walk it and run it over and over, and there's no trail just a string of obstacles. It could also be done at South Wind in the mud pit and on Razer.

I was thinking something a lot closer, something that most people could get to in an hour or less.