“SPEAK ONLY IF IT
IMPROVES ON THE SILENCE”
M GHANDI
DOING YOUR FIRST HIKE
It might have taken a few weeks of dedicated retail therapy, but you are now all geared up to go walkabout. If you are planning a group outing, arrange an informal meeting and identify a day or overnight hike in the immediate area that is agreeable to everyone. Utilize the get-together to discuss group responsibilities, assigning specific tasks to various members. Exchange phone numbers and decide on an easily identifiable meeting place.
A check list is the easiest way to make sure that group members are clear on their duties, permitting you to tick off specific tasks upon completion. If you plan to hike solo or with just one companion, all these tasks will be your responsibility and you need to be extra careful, as you will have no backup on the trail.
Short hike check list
Entry fees and permits: Is an entry fee required and are you able to pay at the start of the trail. Some hiking permits need to be procured from the offices of relevant authorities in another town or city.
Food: Take enough food for your planned meals, as well as sufficient emergency rations to last you through the night should you get lost.
Water: Take a minimum of 2lt’s per person per day, even if there are water points on the trail. The body’s water requirements vary, depending on the temperature and the level of exercise, but expect to drink 1lt for every hour spent on the trail.
Weather forecast: Get a weather forecast covering the duration of your hike and, if possible, find out what the weather was like during the week preceding your visit. This will help you contend with unexpected conditions when you arrive at your destination.
Clothing: Never trust the weather report completely and always take along a compact raincoat, cap or hat, thermal top and a space blanket just in case.
Shelter: You will need a sleeping bag and tent if there are no fixed shelters or caves at your overnight spot.
First aid: Pack an approved first aid kit covering all eventualities you may encounter along your route. Contents should be checked to make sure that no medical products are out of date.
Telephone: Take a mobile phone with you. Leave it switched off and in a waterproof bag. Make sure that everyone knows the pin number and passwords. Trails are not the place for telephone discussions; don’t spoil the serenity of nature for others by chatting on your cellphone.
Sun protection: Shielding yourself against the sun’s ultraviolet rays is imperative, so pack your sunblock, lip salve and protective clothing.
Emergency procedures: Plan beforehand what you will do in case of an emergency and ensure you have the necessary contact numbers on hand. Notify someone trustworthy of your estimated return time so they can contact the authorities if something goes wrong. In areas with rescue registers available; always fill them in and do so properly – your life might just depend on it!
Maps: Even if the route is well mark, carry a map of the area. Most short hikes do not need additional navigation aids.
Land access: Unless hiking on a designated trail, never assume you have access to a specific section of land. Contact the relevant local authority, land owner or regulatory body to find out about access requirements.
Extras: Items that can make a hike more memorable include cameras, binoculars and field guides, so take them at your own discretion. Don’t forget sunglasses, toilet paper and a spade or trowel.
Choosing your route
For the moment, you will be planning a day or overnight hike on a well-signposted route. This does not mean that you should not plan, as things can go wrong, even on a controlled trail. Choose your destination with your party’s weakest walker in mind, ascertaining that they are able to cope with the terrain, temperature and altitude expected along the way.
Assist those in the group who may be struggling to keep up. Never be too proud to turn back if you feel that you are personally not coping; continuing might endanger your life as well as the lives of others. In order to determine the grading of a trail, you must consider factors such as the length of the trail, its environmental character and your pack weight.
Trail environments
Vegetation is determined by altitude and rainfall, while the density of foliage along sections of your route may affect your speed of advance and ability to navigate. A short hike in an arid, flat environment will therefore be easier than a route through dense vegetation or one where you have to negotiate wetland marshes.
Remember that a change in weather conditions may completely alter an undemanding route in minutes: a downpour can send a raging flash-flood down a dry river bed; lightning from a storm makes rocky outcrops and ridges extremely unsafe; gale-force winds make high traverses dangerous. River crossings can become hazardous if the water level is too high; if possible wait for the water to subside to a safer level. If you absolutely have to cross, use your hiking poles or a stick to probe under the surface and to help stabilize yourself against the current. Always release your backpack’s hip-belt and chest strap, so that you can shrug off the pack if you should slip and fall.
Never attempt any obstacles if you are not entirely confident that you can cope with the consequences.
We as hikers, explorers, and
adventurers have the absolute duty to respect and protect our Wildernesses.
Nobody else will do it for us. Take ownership!
The End.
Safe Hiking.
References and Acknowledgements
From the book – Hiking, the essential guide to…. – J Marais
Photos – Willem Pelser
Compiled by Willem Pelser
