[Paddlewise] Group Dynamics, and Leaving the Slower Behind.

As a hiker and paddler, and having been involved with Scouting for a looong
time, splitting up the group has always been an issue.

Going no faster than the slowest member is difficult, if not impossible.  It
detracts greatly from the enjoyment of the faster members, and not being
able to establish ones' natural speed and rhythm actually seems to make the
hike or paddle more tiring, not less.  Having the fast ones pestering the
slow to speed up doesn't make for a pleasant trip, either.  

Teaching and tuning as you go helps a lot.  Is that kid at the back so slow
because he is slow, or because his boots hurt his feet?  Is he afraid to sit
closer to the side of the canoe, so his paddle is hardly able to dip in the
water?  I have spent hours tuning packs and boots and strokes, and showing
simple little tricks and hints that make things easier.  Being on the small
side myself, I have noticed that my personal methods, whether it be hiking
or paddling, work well for young folk and women. I have learned to keep up
with the big guys, but not by doing things their way! 

But when all is said and done, there will still be the fast and the slow.
The best compromise I have found is what I call the half hour rule. Every
half hour, the bunch at the front stop and wait for the rest.  Depending on
conditions, (bad weather, rough terrain, etc.) this could be reduced to 10
or 15 minutes or nothing at all.  It is also a good idea to set clear
landmarks as designated stopping points, when situations such a Ralph's
shipping lane crossing come up.  

It is the group leader's responsibility to set these conditions at the
beginning of the trip.  If there is no group leader as such, then someone
should suggest it, and get the consensus of the group.  Those who do not
wish to abide by this practice can do as they wish, as long as they realize
the rest of the group doesn't feel any more responsible for them than they
do for the rest of the group.  

This isn't perfect, but it seems to work.

It also seems to allow for natural group dynamics.  It is natural for a
large group to split into a smaller "pods" of 2 - 5, partly because it is
hard to carry on a conversation with more than this.  There just isn't room
in the vicinity to get more into earshot! 


Rob.

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