That is the only reasonable answer to your question. I am slowly organizing a separate club, inside the Hiking Group. Not sure who is in charge there...You guys, or my Mom. She reads the Bulletin Board regularly, and I am in deep trouble now. Plus my sister stopped in at the Campfire after many people had left and heard a few stories about the afternoons hike. So between her and you and my Mom, I will solve this once and for all. I have already spoke with a couple of the pretty regular hikers and they have suggested having what is called a "Sweeper". This person is as familiar with the hiking route as the Leader, No comment there please, and is ALWAYS the last person in line down the trail. This way there is always someone in the front of the group and always someone at the end of the group.
When we start to get over 25 people at a hike, it gets very difficult to keep a pace and everyone together. This is fine for most cases, since we stop and look at various plant and animal life and the group, Re=groups at this pauses on the trail. The problem comes in when the Leader is not at the head of the group and then stops for a viewing, or that takes place further back in the pack. Then the separation in the group as a whole gets very wide. This has been something new recently this year, with the number of people turning out for hikes has increased drastically. Growing pains I guess. Good ones though.
So that will be the new way out on each hike. A Leader always at the head of the group, and a Sweeper always taking up the rear of the group.One last change as well....the Hiking Cell phone will not be left back at our starting point. It will go on 2 hours before we are to meet for a Hike, and stay on and with ME for the entire afternoon. Any further suggestions, and I am soooooooooooo open for further suggestions an making each hike the best it can be for every single person attending.
Thanks Gang, and everyone who participates here at Hiking Michigan,
Rob
PS: I have 4 short range Walkie-Talkies that may start to get used between the Leaders and Sweepers on the hikes. Short range meaning under three miles.