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Key to activities

Rating system

The type of rating system in an event listing depends on whether it is a hike or walk, ski tour, or backpack trip.

Hike and walk ratings consist of a number-letter code indicating length and uphill climbing.

Grade	Elevation Gain
1    Up to 6 miles     2    6–10 miles     3    10–15 miles     4    15–20 miles     5    over 20 miles	A    Up to 1000 ft B    1000 to 2000 ft. C    2000 to 3000 ft D    Over 3000 ft E    Over 3500 ft

So a hike rated 2B means that the distance covered will be from 6 to 10 miles and the total elevation gain will be between 1000 and 2000 ft. A Mini-hike is 4 miles or less and has an elevation gain of 500 ft or less.

Ski tours are rated by the ability required.

• Beginner - Learning fundamentals of skiing. Instruction in Nordic skiing is available at the Sierra Club's Clair Tappaan Lodge, P.O. Box 36, Norden, CA 95724, (530) 426-3632. Good quality Nordic rentals are available.
• Advanced Beginner - Moderate skiing ability on gentle terrain. Trips are typically 3-7 miles and 500 feet of climb per day.
• Intermediate - Must climb and descend moderately difficult slopes with a pack under mixed snow conditions and be competent with climbing aids. Snow camping ability may be necessary. Typically 7-10 miles and 1,000 feet of climb per day.
• Advanced Intermediate - Able to climb and descend steeper slopes. Trips may be 10-15 miles and 2,000 feet of climb per day.
• Advanced Winter mountaineering - Must be able to climb and descend all types of terrain, including peak ascents/descents, and handle all snow conditions with an overnight pack. Trips may be longer than 15 miles and over 2,000 feet of climb per day.
• Expert - Very solid double black diamond downhill skiers with multi-day snow camping experience, Level 1 avalanche skills, crampon and ice axe snow climbing experience, and rudimentary rock climbing skills (Class 3). Trips emphasize skiing steep mountain slopes and couloirs.

Backpack ratings consist of a number-letter code indicating length, elevation gain, and difficulty.

So a trip rated 1B3 means that the most strenuous day will be as much as six miles of hiking, 1000 ft. of climb, and over strenuous to difficult cross-country terrain.

Guidelines for participation in chapter activities

Safe and successful outings, compatible with Sierra Club policies, involve the basic requirements below. Beyond these, your questions about equipment, difficulty, trailhead directions, and other details should go to the event or trip leader. Some sections have additional requirements which are described in their web pages: Backcountry Skiing, Backpacking, and Snow Camping.

• Liability waiver
  When an outing takes participants into an area in which emergency care is not immediately available, you will need to sign a liability waiver. To read a copy of the waiver prior to the outing, please look at the online version. Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian or bring an individual liability waiver.
• Comfort and safety
  Safe and enjoyable trips are best assured through proper preparation and equipment, and by observing the leader’s instructions. Respect the leaders and their assistants. They are in charge and are authorized to determine participants’ qualifications, adequacy of equipment, routes to be followed, and special precautions. The leader may dismiss from the trip anyone whose behavior is disruptive or dangerous, and may also bar anyone who has recently behaved like this. All participants must stay with the group unless other arrangements are approved by the leader or a designated assistant. If a person leaves the group, s/he is no longer a participant on the trip.
• Fire safety
  Smoking is never permissible while hiking, nor in areas of dry grass or brush. Smoking is permitted only during group stops and in accordance with limitations established by the leader. You may build fires or use stoves only where designated by the leader. Except in established camps, fire sites must be completely dismantled and all evidence of camping must be completely eliminated.
• Respect for flora and fauna
  Hikers should stay on established hiking trails, and should minimize hiking cross-country. Do not cut across switchbacks. Do not disturb animals, pick flowers, or damage other wildlife. Keep soap away from lakes and streams. Carry out all your garbage and dispose of it only in designated receptacles.
• Courtesy
  Be on time at the meeting place , adequately prepared so as not to delay the group. Leaders cannot be expected to wait for latecomers. No guns or radios of any kind are allowed; nor dogs, unless the trip is explicitly designated a “canine hike.” Cell phones should only be used in case of emergency. Sierra Club outings are intended to promote enjoyment of the natural scene, not to replicate the urban one.
• Problem resolution
  Should you have an outing-related concern that you have not been able to address with the relevant leader, please contact the chair of the appropriate activity section or regional group, the Activities Committee Ombudsman, Tom Chesterman; or the Activities Chair, Steve Bakaley.

Transportation to activities

Public Transit

The Sierra Club encourages the use of public transit to access Club activities. Events in our Calendar Listings include transit information where possible. See www.transitinfo.org or call 817-1717 from any area code in the Bay Area. This is a 24-hour information line for BART, Golden Gate Transit, and all other Bay Area transit agencies. When you call, be prepared to follow the spoken prompts for the details you need. Many buses have bicycle racks to help cyclists reach otherwise inaccessible locales.

Carpools

We encourage ride-sharing, but the Sierra Club cannot be responsible for organizing carpools. The Sierra Club does not have insurance for carpooling arrangements and assumes no liability for them. Carpooling, ride sharing, or anything similar is strictly a private arrangement among the participants, who assume all risks associated with this travel. Carpool locations, where applicable, are described in the event listing, but we cannot guarantee that drivers or riders will be available. Where practical, leaders will provide the names of drivers and ride-seekers to one another, to make private arrangements. Riders and drivers are of course expected to behave with courtesy, and riders are asked to share expenses. Financial arrangements are the responsibility of carpool participants. It is best to settle them before departure.

Trailheads

For detailed information on the location of the most popular places from which outings start, see the Trailheads page maintained by the Hiking section.

Activities cancellation

Chapter activities will go as scheduled if possible. Call the leader if in doubt.

Our activities are usually held rain or shine unless the listing specifies "Rain Cancels". However, leaders may change the plan because of weather or trail conditions, or sometimes even cancel the hike.

In hot, dry summer weather, open space areas may be closed due to fire danger. Leaders may have to cancel or change scheduled activities. To find out about possible fire closures, call after 2 pm the day before. The Marin County Fire Department public-service hotline at (415) 499-7191 covers parks in Marin County. The East Bay Regional Parks Fire Department at (510) 881-1833 covers the East Bay Regional Parks.

Weather in the hike area may well be different from your local conditions.