Great Walks offers her 10 must-have items for a day walk
Before you head off for that fabulous day walk you’ve been dreaming about or even that spontaneous burst of hiking enthusiasm whilst on a country drive, here are ten must-haves to ensure you have a great day out – and a safe day!
Day Pack
If you’re new to hiking, any sturdy small backpack, big enough to hold everything will do the trick. If you’re looking to buy a new one, a 15-25 litre capacity is good - even better if it has a hip belt. (See pg66 for some of the best day packs on the market)
Water
The amount of water you take will depend on a number of things, so make sure you do a bit of research first. Think about the weather forecast, how hard the walk is going to be and if you can collect (and treat) water from creeks and rivers along the way. For example: in cooler temps 1.5-2 litres may be enough, whereas on hot days or places where you can’t pick it up, you may need 3-5 litres.
Food
We’re going to be making our bodies work during our day walk, even if it’s not very strenuous, so we’re going to need to keep topping up our fuel stores. Snacks such as muesli bars or trail mix provide good slow-release energy, along with lunch of a wrap and fillings (choose something appropriate to the temps that won’t spoil) and of course, chocolate or snakes for that burst of energy to get up the big hills! It doesn’t hurt to throw in a little bit extra in case of delays.
Map and compass
We can’t always rely on signposts, Google maps or well-formed tracks to show us the way, so grab the relevant map for the area and plan out your route beforehand. Better still, grab a compass and get clued up on how to navigate with a topographic map to really add depth and understanding to your adventure.
First Aid Kit and Emergency Kit
Accidents can happen to even the most experienced and fit bushwalkers, whilst something as small as a blister can ruin the whole day. Grab a good first aid kit (or build your own), making sure it has at least some good wound and blister treatments, a snake or compression bandage, emergency blanket and some basic painkillers. Things like a fire-lighting kit, emergency whistle and a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) could be considered an essential extension to your kit. Oh! And by doing a first aid course you’ll know how to use it!
Torch
Things can run a bit late on a walk for a whole bunch of reasons. Maybe you just couldn’t pull yourself away from the magic views at lunch, took a wrong turn, underestimated the time it would take or got a blister. Either way, throwing a torch in your bag gives you that bit of confidence that you can still find your way back after sunset. It’s also a good signalling device if you get lost!
Raincoat
Legendary explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes summed it up perfectly. ‘There is no bad weather only inappropriate clothing.’ Don’t let a forecast of rain stop your outdoor adventuring (unless of course it’s apocalyptic!). Walking in wet weather brings a different sense of nature and wild places. The smells of the bush and sounds of running water, teamed with misty or moody skies can make a familiar place seem brand new. (See last issue for a comprehensive review of outer shell jackets)
Warm Layer
Even the best meteorologist can get it wrong sometimes and having something warm you can put on (like a fleece jacket) is a great idea. It’s surprising how quickly you cool down once you stop for a break, even more so if you’ve been working up a sweat. So even in summer, I’ll still have something in the backpack… just in case.
Sun Protection
Year round our southern hemisphere sun can be pretty serious, even more so when hiking or trekking in the mountains, so grab a hat and slap on that sunscreen.
Your Brain
Even though it’s extremely difficult to leave behind, make sure that you turn it on and put it to good use. With a good amount of food and water, this absolute must-have will keep you making smart choices throughout your day walk. Tell someone where you’re going (and when you get back), wisely estimate your fitness and ability and be flexible if things go wrong with a good sense of humour.
Words_Caro Ryan lotsafreshair.com