Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Do hikers in the same group have to hike together?

As for the second point, to clarify, our groups was not a group of random hikers but was a group of hikers bounded by a non-profit organization's safety policies including hike as a group. Further, I had the permits (leader).

Even for those who do not hike with such an organization, "tart as a group, hike as a group, end as a group" is important for safety. I have attended the search and rescue's safety seminar. They emphasized the important of it.

In your first reply under this thread, you wrote "On the other hand, many search and rescue operations involve a hiker left behind by others. It is really bad form to separate, when the one(s) left behind are less experienced, and can get into trouble -- off trail, in the dark, etc. Do not leave slower ones to descend on their own! Bearing that in mind, have a safety plan in place; make sure everyone in the group knows where they are, where they are going, and what they should do in case you don't meet up again at the agreed/planned on time and place." I believe that you pointed out an excellent point.