Plan your hike like your life depends on it. Because it does

Don’t make your next hike your last

I’ve been bushwalking most of my life and I still prepare for every hike as if it truly matters. Because it does. There is no experience quite like immersing yourself in Australia’s rugged and remote landscapes. The beauty is real. The remoteness is real. And so are the risks.

I’ve seen the desperation of family and friends waiting for news of someone missing on a bushwalk. I’ve witnessed firsthand the skill and professionalism of emergency crews responding to life and death situations. I love hiking, bushwalking, trekking, whatever label you prefer. So do more Australians every year. But if we head out ill-prepared, we do not just put ourselves at risk. We put rescuers, volunteers and other hikers at risk as well.

You would not hand your car keys to someone who has never driven. You would not attempt to scuba dive without training. Yet many people head into remote environments without basic information, planning or essential equipment.

Search and rescue operations occur regularly across Australia, particularly during peak hiking seasons. Too often they involve preventable situations: poor planning, underestimated terrain, insufficient water, no navigation tools, or an over-reliance on a mobile phone.

Here are just a few emergencies and tragedies

All from late 2020:

• Victoria – four deaths in four months
• Mount Augustus, WA – three deaths in three days
• Bluff Knoll, WA – multiple rescues, even after calls for hikers to take safety more seriously
• Bungonia National Park, NSW – 17 bushwalkers rescued
• Bald Head, WA – multiple rescues and deaths
• Lerderderg Gorge, VIC – crews searching for two missing parties located a third
• Leven Canyon, TAS – a group rescued after being ill-equipped
• Queenstown, TAS – a hiker rescued after losing their phone containing maps

In 2019, SES Queensland volunteers completed more than 11,600 hours on land search, special and vertical rescue operations. That represents an enormous commitment of time, skill and risk.

I deeply respect our professional and volunteer emergency services. But many incidents are avoidable. What is necessary is personal responsibility.

Over the years, while organising hikes for one of the nation’s largest hiking communities, I have seen situations that highlight how easily things can go wrong. These include:

• No navigation aids – no map, compass or GPS
• Relying solely on smartphones for navigation despite limited coverage and battery life
• Inappropriate footwear such as thongs
• Wearing denim jeans on full-day hikes
• Carrying minimal water with no understanding of likely needs
• No warm layer despite cold and wet conditions
• No tent fly on an alpine winter hike
• Heading out on multi-day hikes with broken backpacks
• No stove on overnight hikes

Sometimes this comes from inexperience rather than carelessness. But the outcome can be the same.

Planning is the key to your survival in the Australian bush

If you love to explore, pause and consider the challenge ahead. Prepare for the worst. Walk safely. Leave no trace. Never assume conditions will be kind simply because the forecast looks favourable.

Stay on marked tracks unless you have the skills and navigation experience for off-track travel. Environmental damage aside, leaving the track increases your risk significantly.

The gear you carry will vary depending on whether you are heading out for two hours or two weeks. The principle does not change: plan.

You do not need hours of preparation for every walk, but you do need deliberate thought. Consider the length, terrain, remoteness, weather and group capability. Planning time should increase as risk increases.

Here are the basics

• Consider carefully before hiking alone in remote or high-risk environments unless you have the skills and communication systems to manage it
• Assess the fitness, medical conditions, experience and judgement of your group
• Select an appropriate hike grade. One is easy. Five requires advanced skills and fitness
• Research your hike using current maps and credible sources. A geo-tagged photo on social media is not research
• Estimate how long the hike will take based on distance, terrain, elevation and group pace
• Learn how to read a map and use a compass and carry them
• Understand your environment, season and specific risks
• Think through realistic emergency scenarios, from minor injury to serious incident
• Know how to contact emergency services in your region
• Do not rely solely on your smartphone for navigation or communication
• Carry essential survival items
• Check current weather forecasts but prepare for change
• Hydration needs vary with temperature, terrain and effort. Many hikers underestimate how much water they require
• Pack extra food, water and clothing appropriate to the environment
• Postpone or abort your hike if severe conditions increase risk
• Leave a copy of your hike plan and map with a reliable contact and notify them when you return. Use a trip intentions form
• If you have a personal locator beacon (PLB), ensure it is registered with AMSA and only activate it in genuine emergencies
• Consider whether additional communication aids such as satellite devices are appropriate for your hike

Ask the hard question

When I plan a hike, I ask myself: what are the realistic failure points here? How could this situation deteriorate?

If my phone went flat, would I still know where I am? If the weather turned, would I cope? If the leader was injured, could the group function?

These are not dramatic questions. They are practical ones.

Do not assume the most experienced person in the group will always be available or capable. Everyone should understand the plan.

If things do not go to plan

• Stop and remain calm. Panic leads to poor decisions
• If separated, call out and wait rather than moving blindly
• Attempt to retrace your steps carefully
• Use your map and compass to orient yourself
• If unsure of your location, stay where you are
• If in a group, stay together
• If you have mobile reception, call 000 and ask for police
• If you have a satellite communication device, use it appropriately
• Make yourself visible to rescuers using bright clothing or equipment
• If your life is at risk, activate your PLB
• Prioritise shelter and warmth while remaining visible
• Locate water only if safe to do so

In November 2021, while assisting in a search and rescue as an SES volunteer, I lost my footing and was seriously injured. I spent two days in hospital. The missing hikers were located safely. I share this because rescue is not abstract. Real people are involved. Real risk is involved.

Be aware of your limitations. Build your skills progressively. Join a club if you are new to bushwalking. Learn from others.

However you choose to explore, plan carefully. Your next hike should not depend on luck.

SES Walk Warning

In early November 2021 I was involved in a search and rescue of missing hikers as an SES volunteer. While searching I was badly injured and required hospital treatment. The hikers were located safely. This experience reinforced my belief that preparation protects not only your life, but the lives of those who may come to help you.

Images of SES volunteers and FRS firefighters training courtesy of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.