A few things you can do to hike safely
All hikers should be armed with sufficient health, self-care and hike safety knowledge to avoid encountering unnecessary problems in the bush. Before venturing off the beaten track, it is important to ensure you are well prepared with a hike safety plan and are carrying the correct safety equipment for all possible emergency situations. We all need to consider hiking safety and plan in advance a suitable route, clothing, equipment and food for our hiking party. Planning also ensures that we are aware of the skills of the group, potential difficulties or hazards and the accepted courses of action if and when problems arise. The following hiking safety articles outline steps you can take to ensure you and your hiking party return safely from every hike.
Carry personal identification
No CommentsWhen planning a hike, most most of us think about the things we need to take such as backpack, boots, clothing, feed and water. But a lot don’t think about protecting themselves in case of...
Facts about snake bites
5 CommentsSnakes are not naturally aggressive and always prefer to retreat. They will only attack humans if hurt or provoked – most bites occur when people try to kill or capture snakes. If you come across...
First aid kit
1 CommentEven if you are going for a short hike, there is always a small possibility you could break a limb, cut yourself or get bitten by insects or snakes, so you need to be prepared...
Foot care & blister prevention
20 CommentsBlistered feet, pain and suffering through each step is not the way you want to remember your adventure. Foot care & blister prevention is far better than cure take steps to avoid blisters and enjoy...
Foot care & blister treatment
2 CommentsWhat’s your approach to blister treatment? Do you prefer to cover your blisters or let the air get to them? What kind of antiseptic do you use, if any? What’s your go-to treatment to take...
Getting lost
15 CommentsPlan your hike like your life depends on it – because it does. Correct planning, and the right navigation aids, will help you avoid getting lost. What do you do if you can’t find your...
Hike survival kit
No CommentsI personally carry and highly recommend that you always have a personal survival kit, even on day hikes. Your survival kit should contain all the necessary items for survival in the widerness.
How to build a survival shelter
3 CommentsWhen lost in the bush, most people panic through fear they will run out of food. Did you know you can survive three weeks without food provided you have water and shelter? Knowing how to...
How to prevent common hiking injuries
No CommentsWith a few tips on how to prevent and treat common hiking injuries, you can keep doing what you love and hiking towards your goal. Some hiking injuries are preventable; others are easily treatable on...
How to spot and treat heat exhaustion
No CommentsMany hikers, backpackers, and climbers who are participating in activities in the desert, high temperatures, and high humidity levels will be more susceptible to heat exhaustion.
How to spot and treat mild dehydration
3 CommentsDehydration occurs when you don’t have enough fluids in your body. If severe, dehydration can cause serious problems. If you suspect you are (or someone else is) dehydrated, stop, get out of the heat and...
Hypothermia and cold weather injuries
No CommentsHypothermia and Cold Weather Injuries can occur any time that cool (not necessarily cold), wet and windy conditions are prevalent.
Keeping pesky blood suckers at bay
No CommentsInsect repellents help in keeping pesky blood suckers at bay. They prevent and control the outbreak of insect-borne diseases such as Malaria, Yellow Fever, Dengue Fever, Bubonic Plague and West Nile Fever.
Keeping your hiking group together
6 CommentsLeading a hike is not always as simple as strapping on your pack and expecting the rest of the group to follow. There are different levels of fitness, capabilities, experience, skills, personalities and pace of...
Leave a map
21 CommentsAre you planning a hike, going somewhere remote or where the weather can be extreme and terrain challenging? It’s important to tell other people about your trip and leave a map, so they can contact...
Leaving the trail – Leave a sign
8 CommentsWhen you leave an item on the trail at the point where you left, others know where you left the trail and will have a better chance of finding you.
Let someone know before you go
1 CommentHere’s some information and safety tips to help you plan your hike. Let someone know before you go and always leave a trip intention form with someone who can raise the alarm if you do...
Make an early start
1 CommentHike as much as possible of each day’s distance in the cool hours of morning (or evening). Summer afternoons are typically hotter in Australia and the heat will amplify your fatigue and increase your changes...
Overhydration and Hyponatremia
No CommentsFatal hyponatremia in hikers is rare, but it has claimed the lives of some. Overhydration should be something that all hikers are aware of and take seriously but it’s important to keep the risk of...
Personal Locator Beacons – Be prepared for your next adventure
3 CommentsBefore venturing off the beaten track, it is important to ensure you are well prepared with a hike safety plan and are carrying the correct safety equipment for all possible emergency situations.
Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)
2 CommentsAre you prepared if your become lost or injured and your life is in danger when hiking in the Australian bush? What is the Difference Between an EPIRB, ELT and PLB?
Plan to survive your hike
No CommentsThere are many specialist skills that set outdoor professionals apart from the rest of us. We don’t all have to be experts to be safe in the bush. Make sure you prepare before stepping foot...
Plan your hike like your life depends on it – because it does
No CommentsIt’s an alarming fact, in Australia there’s at least one bush rescue every day. Plan your hike so you and your group make it out safely. Don’t put your life, or the lives of others...
Rule of Threes and survival priorities
No CommentsThe rule of threes allows you to prepare for emergencies and determine decision-making in case of injury or danger posed by the environment.
Satellite Communicators Compared
No CommentsThere are dozens of options for portable satellite communicators so which one is right for you? Iv’e checked out some of the most popular ones for hiking, bushwalking and trail running; the Garmin inReach, SPOT...
Signalling for help when lost or injured on a hike
2 CommentsIf you ever find yourself needing help, knowing the different ways you can signal for help and choosing the most appropriate ones for the circumstances can be the difference between life and death.
Stretching
No CommentsStretching before, during and after a hike is often something that people overlook. Whatever your beliefs, don’t start or end a hike without paying attention to your muscles.
Swollen hands
9 CommentsSwelling can be caused by several factors, but the most common causes are gravity and the way the body distributes heat during exercise. The problem is not serious and will go away soon after you...
Taste testing food
3 CommentsThe Aussie bush contains a bounty of wild edible plants that runs into the thousands, ranging from starchy seeds and tangy fruits to mushrooms, tubers, leaves and seaweed. However, knowing how to identify edible plants...
Ten tips for wilderness first aiders
No CommentsYou or a hiking buddy get hurt. Sit back, relax and call 000. It wont be long before help arrives. The reality is, help could be hours or days away before a recovery team can...
The Ten Essentials
1 CommentThe Ten Essentials are survival items that hiking and Scouting organisations recommend for safe travel in the bush. However, personal preferences and differences in conditions may dictate otherwise and with experience most adventurers add and subtract from the list depending on the...
Think before you TREK
No CommentsNSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is encouraging all park visitors planning a remote adventure or multi-day walk this year to Think Before You TREK.
Track Closed: Is it still OK to hike?
No CommentsWhile some of us may still think it is OK to drive along a closed road, open a locked gate, enter a closed park or walking track, it is not! This blasé attitude places people...
Treating five common bushwalking injuries
No CommentsWant to know how to prevent and treat some of the common injuries and problems that may occur when you’re out on the trail? Here’s some advice from Rich Hungerford, a Senior Survival and Bushcraft...
Trekking at high altitude
5 CommentsTrekking at high altitude can be intimidating. If you have been considering one of these adventures for a while, you have probably heard all the horror stories already. Here’s some of the most common mistakes...
Walk Safe
No CommentsThe underlying philosophy is that to WALK SAFE means to be armed with sufficient knowledge to avoid encountering unnecessary problems in the bush. It means to plan in advance a suitable route, clothing, equipment and...
Water and hydration
2 CommentsI recommend not starting a hike that takes you more than a kilometre from the trail head without a bottle of water along. It’s recommended you have at least one litre with you and try...
Water purification methods
3 CommentsThere are a handful of water purification methods available, and after reading this article, you’ll understand the pros and cons of each method. But remember, you stake your life on your water sources, so never...
Water: One of the top 5 priorities in a survival situation
3 CommentsWater, warmth, signals, shelter and food are the top 5 priorities in a survival situation, according to survival expert Bob Cooper. Regardless of where you are in the wilderness, water is your most valuable commodity.
