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07/07/10 - Added some photos and reports...
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Information

FAQ and general information page.

This page contains answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the Mountain Devils. There is a lot of information, which may appear daunting to read through, contained on this website. Answers to the most commonly asked questions follow.

The Mountain Devils is a bushwalking/social club and a member of the Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW Inc. It is affiliated with the Campbelltown Catholic Club Collegians group of sporting and social clubs. The Mountain Devils goal is to enjoy the great Australian bush in the company of people who share a passion for its beauty. We also seek to provide wider opportunities for the creation of friendships by also conducting regular social activities.

Membership Fee Structure
From 1 July, 2007 the membership fees are:

• Single person $30 p.a.
• Couple $50 p.a.
• Pensioner $20 p.a. on production of a pension concession card.

The club financial year is from 1st July to 30th June. Any person/s joining after the 31st of December club membership fees are halved.

Guests/Temporary Membership
To assist in deciding if bushwalking is for you, The Mountain Devils allows guests to undertake two trial activities with the club (either bushwalks or social activities). For these events each guest will be granted temporary membership of the club, which entitles coverage by the club's insurance. After attending two activities guests are required to either join the Mountain Devils or cease participating in club activities.

Club Meetings
Club meetings are conducted on the first Monday of the month at the Campbelltown Catholic Club commencing at 7:30pm. Guests are welcome at our meetings and should contact a committee member for details. Link to map site with Catholic Club location.

Insurance
The Mountain Devils holds insurance through a scheme organised by the Confederation of Bushwalking Clubs NSW Inc. As there are limits to the benefits offered by this insurance individuals should consider their personal circumstances and assess any possible financial and/or personal impacts as there are risks attached when undertaking club activities.

Liability
Individuals participating in club activities should be aware that there are risks associated with these activities and they need to accept these risks. Bushwalking can be a strenuous activity conducted in hostile environments. The Mountain Devils Bushwalking and Social Club Inc, the Office Bearers of The Mountain Devils and the Activity Leader CANNOT accept responsibility for injuries sustained whilst participating in club activities. Participants are required to sign a waiver form prior to the commencement of each activity. Please remember this is a voluntary organisation.

Children
We regret to advise that any person under the age of 18(eighteen) years of age is not permitted to attend either bushwalks or social events. This decision was not taken lightly and is a result of compliance issues with child protection legislation.

Pets
The Mountain Devils does not permit pets on club activities.

Transport
Car-pooling is encouraged to help reduce the cost of getting to and returning from club activities. It also provides an opportunity to socialise before an activity.
The following is our standard method for calculating shared vehicle costs:
30¢ per kilometre + any parking and/or vehicle entry fees = total cost for the trip. Then divide this amount between all persons travelling in the vehicle equally (including the driver).
Passengers it is a good idea to have some small notes and coins with you as this makes paying your part of the transport costs at the end of the trip easier. Participants willing to offer transport should ensure their vehicle is fueled before arriving for the activity, this makes it a lot easier as we don't have to wait for someone to top up en route. Any additional fees, i.e. National Park entry fees should always be shared equally.
If transport is required by a participant they should not expect that it will be automatically available on the day, participants should consult with the Leader of the activity prior to the day if help is required. Car owners should also ensure their vehicle is road worthy and capable of completing the trip.

Weather
The Mountain Devils walk in all sorts of weather conditions, a bit of rain or cold doesn't stop us. But we don't walk when:

1. There are bushfires that affect or are in the area of a proposed walk/social event.
2. There are high winds forecast. This is especially the case if bushwalking in wooded areas.
3. There are storms predicted to occur in the area of a walk, particularly if thunderstorms are predicted.
4. There is the prospect of flooding as a result of rain periods.

We do trim our walking program back during the hotter months of Summer. During this time we generally reduce walk distances and gradings or have earlier start times.

Walking Speed
A bushwalking group should never walk faster than the slowest person. It is far safer for the group to slow down than for a slower walker to try and keep pace. Some bushwalking groups treat bushwalking almost as a race and seek to maintain high walking speeds throughout the walk. Not only is this risky for walkers but it can reduce the pleasure of the walk and being able to enjoy ourselves is one of the main reasons for bushwalking. We don't dawdle, we seek to maintain a safe and comfortable walking speed for all participants.

Your First Walk
If you have not been bushwalking before you may be surprised to learn how much equipment you may need for the walk. Have a read through the The Mountain Devils Walker guidelines (PDF file) and first four links in the Bushwalking section of our "Documents and Links" page. These documents contain useful information on what you need to know and consider when undertaking a bushwalk.If you are unsure of anything then feel free to contact either a Committee Member or the Leader for the walk/social event you may be considering.
Walk Leaders have the right to deny anyone participation in an activity if the Walk Leader does not consider the participant physically capable or properly equipped for the activity.
Even if you have been bushwalking before you should consider starting with easy or easy-medium walks. Bushwalking is a strenuous activity and even easy walks can require more effort than the "easy" grading indicates. In preparation for your first walk you should increase your physical activity levels by taking walks around your local area, as well as walking you may consider some Yoga, Tai-Chi or simple stretching exercises. The main thing to consider is the need to get your body moving again.

Why Are Some Walks For "Members Only"?
"Members Only" walks are firstly at the discretion of the walk leader. In general the nature of a walk determines if it is to be a "Members Only" walk. These types of walks can be exploratory (not been done by leader before), cover long distances, be technically challenging (off-trail navigation and route finding), physically strenuous or all of these and are only suitable for more experienced walkers.
Additionally, through walks at this higher level members get the opportunity to extend their capabilities and experiences. And graduating to this higher level has become an effective goal setting exercise for many of our members.

What time does the activity start?
Start times do vary and are set by the activity leader to best fit the activity. But the main reason we don't publish start times is it's extremely important that anyone considering participating in a club activity talk to the activity leader so they can be informed of and discuss the nature of the activity.

How To Book-In For A Walk/Social Activity.
It is essential to telephone the Activity Leader by mid-week (or earlier if advised in activity description) to book in for an activity. Limits on the number of attendees is at the discretion of the Activity Leader. If you leave it too late the activity may be fully subscribed or cancelled if not enough interest is shown. After booking mid-week you must call the Activity Leader the evening before to confirm your participation and be advised if any changes to the planned activity have occurred. Following the correct booking procedure is more than basic courtesy it is an important part of ensuring a successful activity.
PLEASE NOTE: The use of SMS or email is not generally considered an acceptable method for contacting the Activity Leader. It is essential to phone the Leader as they may have important information to pass onto participants about the activity.

Have We Missed Anything?
We hope that we have covered the most "frequently asked questions", if you are still unsure of anything then feel free to contact either a Committee Member or the Leader for the activity you are considering for further information.