Small Things Don’t Stay Small
A practical field guide to recognising early warning signs before small issues escalate.
Most hiking incidents don’t begin with a dramatic mistake. They begin small, often unnoticed breakdowns that quietly place pressure on other parts of the system.
Small Things Don’t Stay Small focuses on those early signals. It highlights subtle changes in pace, attention, hydration and decision-making that are easy to miss until situations become harder to manage.
Designed for real Australian conditions, this guide helps you recognise system strain early and respond before problems compound.
Get the guide
Paperback and Kindle editions available at Amazon →
eBook edition available at Kobo →
If you want to go deeper, explore the full Hiking Australia volumes →
What this guide does
- Highlights early warning signs most hikers overlook
- Shows how small issues begin to compound
- Helps you recognise system strain before it escalates
- Shifts focus from what to carry to what to notice
This is not a checklist.
It is a way of noticing what is already happening around you.
Who it is for
Anyone interested in how incidents actually develop
Hikers who want to improve on-trail awareness
Bushwalkers moving beyond basic safety advice
Group participants who want to recognise early warning signs
Where this fits
Most hikers don’t miss the obvious.
They miss the small things.
A slight change in pace.
A moment of uncertainty that gets ignored.
A delay that feels manageable at the time.
These are the points where incidents begin to form.
Recognising the small things is the first step.
Understanding how they interact is what prevents escalation.
For more, visit this guide on the Hiking Safety Systems Framework →
Publication Details
First edition
First release 2026
Author: Darren Edwards
Published by Trail Hiking Australia
Melbourne, Australia
All material on this website and in associated downloadable publications is protected by copyright and may not be reproduced, republished, or redistributed without prior written permission from Darren Edwards. For full details, please refer to the Terms of Use, Copyright and Title of Ownership information.
