I loved Daisy's comments about getting the group to work together--that's a key for us as well. The faster you are on the trail, the more we'll ask you to carry the next day. It makes for a better trip. And yes, we practice this when it is just the two of us!

One think I don't see mentioned is that it helps to have one leader who is female. For all the good notes here about asking how people are feeling making sure that everyone is having fun, there are still some people (both male and female) who will open up to a woman in ways that they won't talk to a man--even a nice man like me!

Those quiet conversations off to the side of the trail can really make a difference about how things work!