How to Keep Track Of Riders in Your Group?

[golfsnownut]

We often ride in somewhat large group between 4 to 10. Yes it can be PITA or blessings either way. Unfortunately, most of us cannot hear or speak (deaf/hearing impaired) so we cannot rely on radio or walkie talkies communications.... We usually have same leader and tail rider and always regroup at EVERY JUNCTIONS and wait for tail rider to show up and gives a thumb up signal. Both riders are responsible with rider counts. During riding, we often take a quick glance at rider behind if she/he is following or not....
Two years ago, I was riding with group of 7 in back country at Big Horns and we all got seperated while playing in meadows and trees but they all regrouped except me however I did not panicked so I went back to last known spot before group got seperated and waited like about 20 minutes until they came back.

 

[sdobbs20]

have not ridden in a group of more than 3 for quite a few years now. normally it's just my dad and i, and maybe our buddy that goes with us a lot of the time.

in order to stay together, we normally try to:

keep an eye on one another at all times, on trail and playing.
do not wander off to a new area until you communicate with the others that you are doing so.
if you do become separated, like others said, go back to last spot where you had them in your sight.
do not become patient, it takes tough, maybe someone had to take a layer off, got stuck...anything is possible, remember...?

i think the most important thing to do is that when the leader comes to an intersection, they weight until everyone shows up, so no one takes the wrong trail.

 

[Oregongirl]

Oh Frick tell me about it! It seems everytime we go out to ride someone wants to ride with us and before you know it, we have a sh*t load. And then I got to lead this group around the mountain, and some are like kids in a candy store. Frustrating.... ok done complaining.

LMAO!! Foxy - if you weren't such a great leader then you wouldn't have this little problem.

The buddy system works GREAT in big groups. Clear signals about when you're stopping to play in an area and when it's time to re-group to head out to the next area.

People ride without radios?! WTH????

 

[ZRman31]

I often discuss this with my group. There are one or two guys that just can't get it into there head that they need to keep visual contact or point in the direction they are heading or whatever. Now you see then, then they are gone. Last year at lionshead we lost someone for nearly an hour and we had no idea what to do. We looked everywhere and we had no idea what had happened. Come of find out we had gotten stuck BAD in a cluster of trees and was hidden from view.

I don't like when i lose the group, and i don't like having to track anyone down. I try to use my head and stay somewhat close to the rest of the crew, and at least tell them what i plan on doing. This is one of the reason i like the valleys in IP so much. Its so easy to see the group, wave for help, and its my kinda riding.