Planning a route for a group involves variables that do not apply to planning for yourself. You are accounting for the capability of the least experienced person, building in time buffers, identifying bailout options, and making sure there is enough flexibility in the plan to respond to what the day actually delivers.
Start With the Group
The route needs to match the least capable person in your group, not the most capable. Before planning any specific route, be honest about the fitness, experience, and pace of everyone who is coming. An ambitious route that pushes the group beyond its capability is not a challenge, it is a risk management problem.
Plan in Time, Not Just Distance
A common mistake is planning in kilometres without accounting for terrain. Naismith's Rule gives a rough calculation: 5km per hour on flat ground, plus one hour for every 600m of ascent. For a group, add 25 to 50 percent to that estimate to account for rest stops, gear adjustments, and the pace of the slower members. Being conservative here means arriving on time rather than racing a deadline.
Identify Bailout Points
Before you go, identify points on the route where you can turn around or exit if the group is behind schedule, conditions deteriorate, or someone is struggling. These are not failures, they are good planning. A route with multiple bailout options is a better route than one that commits everyone to a single outcome.
Brief the Group on the Plan
Tell the group what the route involves before you start. The major features, approximate timing for each section, where the hard parts are, and where you will stop for water and rest. A group that understands the plan makes better decisions during the day than one that is following blindly.
Using the LogsKeptSimple Route Planner
The route planner in LogsKeptSimple lets you plot your planned route on a map, calculate distance and elevation, and generate a route card. You can save the route and use it as the basis for your activity plan and risk assessment. The planned route and the actual GPS track recorded during the activity can be compared afterwards to see where the plan and the reality differed.
