Hike Safety

Warning: This page is intended to encourage discussion and thought around safely walking through the Australian bush. It is not complete nor will it ever be; your safety is something that you must manage at all times whilst walking.

GoHike.com.au, it's owners, contributors, or any other person are not responsible for your safety. You must check all route details prior to walking, and always take into account other local conditions.

If you come across something unsafe, please be careful. When you return, please try to document it on GoHike so that others can avoid it, too.

General Safety

Walking in the bush is a very satisfying thing to do, however it can be incredibly dangerous. The Australian wilderness is full of snakes and other nasty creatures, and the water supply ranges from raging rivers to areas that haven't seen fresh water for years. On top of that, there are plenty of steep hills and cliffs that are just waiting for you to slip up and fall down.

It is impossible for anybody to give you a checklist of things to do to remain safe, so it is up to you to look after your body and your belongings, and those of the people around you.

That said, there are a few things that you should keep in mind before leaving the safety of your base-camp (or home, or car):

• Never walk in the bush under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
• Always tell somebody where you are going
• If you are parking at the trailhead, leave a note on your dashboard with your name, route details, and estimated return date. Leave emergency contact details in case you aren't back by your due date.
• Always carry a suitable first aid kit
• Always carry more food and water than you think you need
• Never rely on water sources along the trail
• Be aware of your surroundings. Walk with your head up (it's the best way to see things, anyway!) and take a mental note of landmarks and other items
• Walk with a map, and know how to use it
• Never rely on a GPS or mobile phone as your sole "backup plan".
• Ensure others in your group know the plan, including where they're going on the map
• Ensure everybody in your group know where your map and first aid kit are stored.
• Always fill in log books on tracks that have them. These provide statistics to the keepers of the area but are also critical in emergency situations.

Walking Alone

Walking alone is one of the most dangerous things you can do. The risks are amplified because in case of an emergency such as a fall or snake bite there is nobody who can go and find help.

It isn't recommended that you walk by yourself. Always try to walk in a group of at least two or three people.

If you do decide to walk by yourself, you need to take some extra precautions:

• Make sure multiple people know where you're walking and when you'll be back.
• Make sure your non-walking contacts know how to get in touch with the park ranger, police, or other local authority if you don't return
• Make sure you know the route well, including places where you may be subject to river crossings, big falls, or other natural difficulties
• Tell the ranger or police of your plans, and tell them when you return
• Always fill in log books, and mention that you're in a party of one
• Carry an EPIRB or other personal notification device that does NOT rely on the mobile phone network. Know how it works.
• Carry a mobile phone, and if you have a signal send regular status updates to your non-walking contacts.
• Know how to use your first aid kit

First Aid

There are many first aid resources around, and you shoudl consult those for up to date information as recommendations change regularly.

At the very least you should know how to perform CPR, know how to deal with broken limbs (including neck and back injuries), how to control severe bleeding, and how to react to snake bite.

A standard first aid course through an organisation such as St Johns Ambulance (Victorian branch link provided) is recommended for all adults, regardless of how often you walk. If you spend very long periods of time out in the bush, or if you regularly walk by yourself, you should chat to St Johns or a similar organisation about bush first aid. St Johns run a course (which is expensive, but well-regarded) that focuses on Remote First Aid.

Always carry a suitable first aid kit. Band-aids are not a first-aid kit. The bare minimum you should consider carrying includes:

• Elastic bandages
• Non-elastic bandages
• Triangle sling bandages
• Wound dressings, including non-stick dressing
• Saline solution
• Painkillers

Water

Always carry more water than you think you will need - at least two litres of drinking water per day per person plus water required for cleaning and cooking.

Unless a ranger has confirmed on the day you depart that potable water is available in specific locations, never rely on water sources on your walk.

In hot weather you will need more water to drink. Make sure you don't drink less in cool weather though, as you will continue to perspire even though it is cold.

Soft drink, beer and wine aren't water. They are fine to drink at campsites (if you can be bothered carrying them!) but don't rely on caffienated or alcoholic drinks to keep your water supply up.

All water from the route including tank water or water taken from lakes and rivers should be treated in a manner suitable for your location. Even in the wildest of areas, rivers and streams contain dead animals and waste products. Treatment will vary by location, but an easy way to treat water that doesn't contain particles is to boil it for a few minutes - ensure you carry enough fuel for your stove.

Never go to the toilet in or near a water source.

Food

Always carry more food than you think you'll need.

For long walks, weight becomes an issue so dehydrated food becomes attractive. You should try cooking (and eating!) such food long before your walk to make sure you're comfortable with its taste and with the cooking process.

For walks of 2-4 days, a good guide is to carry a full extra days worth of food. You might need more for longer trips.

Don't forget snacks, tea or coffee (but not too much, it's a diuretic) and supper. Dessert in the bush is always nice if you can fit it in.

Ensure you carry enough kilojoules to keep up with your increased exertion levels whilst walking. Everybody in your group should know how to use your cooking equipment and how to prepare specialised or dehydrated foods.

Navigation

Never rely on online mapping sources, including Google Maps or GoHike route details. Obtain a proper map (such as the VicMap or equivilant) from government mapping agencies.

Maps are only useful if you know how to read them! Make sure you know your route in advance, including key landmarks along the route (and beyond the route - you should know, for example, if you are expecting to pass a hut marked on the map. If you reach the hut unintentionally, you need to stop and find your bearings).

GPS is a wonderful invention, but in many cases the maps may be out of date so you need to be careful when relying on a GPS device. Make sure you have fully charged batteries, and take replacement batteries. Know the limits of your device, including understanding the quality of maps in non-urban areas and understanding the battery life expectancy. Always be pessimistic when calculating battery needs!

To keep maps in good condition it can be useful to carry a photocopy instead. Just remember that photocopies are almost never as durable as the original map, and your photocopy won't cover the entire map - you should be carrying maps for areas beyond where you intend to walk, as there is a chance that's where you'll end up.