Ventana GLS Leaders Section

Guidelines for Hike Write Ups
Wondering about that magical formula for outing write ups? Never fear! This step-by-step guide will help you prepare fabulous, enticing write ups.

What should my write up include?

• Event's name, date, time, location and where to meet
• Outing rating (using our nifty number-letter-number system)
  
• Leader names and contact information
  
• Any fees or gear required, e.g. parking fees at State Parks, flashlights for night hikes
• RSVP information, if one is expected
  
• Carpool information, if applicable
  
• Brief description of the event

An effective write up gives the reader a feel for the hike's location and difficulty, without overwhelming him or her with too many details (such as a "hill by hill, turn by turn" account).

What happens to the write up once I turn it in?
Your write will appear in the Ventana GLS newsletter, Get OUT! and on our Web site. Our outings chair will also be happy to make your listing available to The Ventana, the Ventana Chapter's newsletter. Please note that The Ventana is published on a different schedule than Get OUT! and so you will need to turn in those write ups significantly earlier.

You might also want to submit your write ups to Loma Prieta GLS's outings chair for inclusion in their newsletter, The Wild Side, and their Web site.

How should it look?
For Get Out!, The Wild Side, and their web equivalents, please use the following format:

Line 1: Day of week, Date, Time
Line 2: EVENT TITLE (in capital letters)
Line 3: Event Rating

A few sentence description of event, list of any special equipment or fees, names of leaders and their contact information.

Example:

Wednesday, October 9, 5:30 PM
WEEKNIGHT TRAINING HIKE: UPPER WILDER / GRAY WHALE
Rating: 2A2
Join Wen and Marcia in one of our favorite hiking spots. Upper Wilder Ranch is "the other side of Wilder," quieter and a little less traveled than the area near the main entrance. We'll walk 5-6 miles, with a few hundred feet of elevation loss/gain. Wear boots or sturdy sneakers with tread. Bring water, a snack, and a flashlight (it's likely we will return in the dark, so check those batteries). Meet at the trailhead off Empire Grade Road. Contact leaders for directions. Leaders: Marcia Quackenbush (quam@etr.org), Wen Minkoff (wen@qbabe.com).

Short description of outing, including level* and leader information**.

Example:

GLS Hike: Upper Wilder
Easy 5-mile hike with a few hundred feet of elevation gain. Wear boots or sturdy sneakers. Bring water, a snack, and a flashlight. Meet at the trailhead off Empire Grade Road. Contact leaders for directions. Leaders: Marcia Quackenbush, 555-5555, e-mail: quam@etr.org; Wen Minkoff, 555-5555, e-mail: wen@qbabe.com.

* The Ventana rating system is as follows: Walk: 2-5 miles, leisurely pace Easy: no more than 5 miles a day; slight elevation gain, easy pace. Moderate: 5-10 miles a day; up to 2,000 ft. elevation gain; 1-2/1/2 mph, boots and better than average fitness required. Strenuous: Distance variable; may involve off-trail hiking; demanding pace; for experienced hikers in good condition only.

**Leader information should follow the following formula: Leader: Dorothy Dyke, 555-5555, e-mail: awesomehikeleader@woohoo.com