Do not permit the rolling of stones down declivities.
On the conduct of mountaineering parties, Professor William Morris Davis writes, in “Excursions around Aix-les-Bains”:
“Do not make high mountain ascents alone.… Excursions are best made in small parties of three or five. If a large party sets out, it should be divided into squads of ten or fewer members. Those who wish to make the excursion without stopping should join a separate squad from those who wish to stop frequently for photographing or sketching.
“Each squad should, if possible, have an experienced leader; he should make a list of the members, head the line of march on narrow paths, and set the proper pace, slow for ascents, faster for descents; a shrill whistle will aid in summoning his party together. A marshal should follow in the rear to round up the stragglers. Before setting out on a long mountain walk, place the members of each squad in a circle land let each member take note of his two neighbors, one on his right, one on his left, for whose presence he is to be responsible whenever the march begins after a halt: each member will thus be looked for by two others. Once on the road, keep together; those who wander away from their squad cause vexatious delays. The marshal’s report, ‘All present and ready to start,’ is especially important when a descent begins. If a member wishes to leave his squad after low ground is reached, he should so report to his leader.”
Mr. Albert Handy[7] notes another matter, in the following pleasant and sagacious comment upon walking parties:
“A writer on walking has suggested that tramping parties should usually consist of but two or three persons. Having in mind a much hackneyed quotation concerning the trend of a young man’s fancy in the spring, and the fact that it seems to have the same trend in the summer, autumn, and winter, I can conceive circumstances in which two would be an ideal number—out of consideration, primarily, not for the two, but for the remainder of the party. But I set down here another precept worthy of commendation: ‘twosing’ should be sternly frowned upon. In the first place, two ‘twosers’ are apt to get ‘lost’—this in direct proportion to their interest in each other—that is, separated from the rest of the party; and time and tempers are likewise lost, permanently, very likely, in the effort to retrieve the wanderers; while if they happen to be carrying all the lunch, tragic possibilities present themselves.”
Instruction about walking—about posture, gait, clothing, and the like—may be afforded in talks before groups of pedestrians, or (often with better effect) individually, by the group leader. Needless criticism and officiousness will, of course, be avoided; it will suffice to provoke and then to answer questions.
Contributions to the literature of pedestrianism will take the form of description of particular regions in those respects of interest to pedestrians; it will include descriptions of particular walks, and maps.
Clubs are invited to relate themselves to the League of Walkers ([page 137]), which in publishing such material will of necessity give preference to what is to be commended to widest interest.