Make sure you plan your trip before answering the call of the wilderness, writes
Juliette Sivertsen.
Boyle River, Canterbury. School camp. Those words alone are enough to strike fear in the hearts of many teenagers.
It was my first time doing an overnight tramp, hiking to a campsite, pitching a tent and spending a night in the wilderness. I’d also crossed a river that day for the first time in my life and I never warmed up afterwards.
I didn’t come from a camping family so the natural know-how that my peers seemed to have was completely lost on me.
I slept over a rocky lump under my tent, and ate dehydrated peas boiled in river water for dinner.
At 13, I was also terrified of long drops, especially at night with all the creepy-crawlies lurking in dark corners, magnified by my torchlight.
I didn’t sleep or eat much that night and the whole experience left such a scar that I vowed never to go on another overnight tramp again in my life. I decided, quite fairly, I was ‘‘bad’’ at camping.
Many years later, armed with the right knowledge and understanding the importance of proper planning, the wilderness began to call and I realised my experience as a naive teen was down to a lack of preparation, rather than because I was bad at it. After all, failing to plan is planning to fail, as my year 9 teacher drilled into my memory.
Mountain Safety Council operations manager Nathan Watson said his No 1 tip for beginner trampers is to set yourself up for success.
‘‘Probably one of the most important aspects of planning and preparing is choosing a trip that’s suitable for you and your group because there are heaps of options out there, but how do you know it’s the right one?
‘‘And how do you decide between different options that might be appropriate?’’
More often than not, people look for recommendations from people they trust, such as family and friends, which is one of the best places to start, Watson said.
‘‘Don’t try and pick something too long. Go for quality over quantity because if it’s one of your first trips you’re going to be learning a lot of stuff as you go, picking up tips and tricks. And if you’ve got a big distance to travel or lots of challenging terrain, you’re going to have to be learning all of that stuff as you also have to tick off quite a lot of kilometres.
‘‘Keep it shorter, keep it sweet and don’t underestimate the importance of picking a suitable option.’’
The average person is likely to travel about three to four kilometres per hour, so beginners should aim for about four to five hours of hiking. Once you’ve included breaks, lunch stops and sorting out any issues with your gear, that can add up to a solid eight-hour day.
‘‘You can always get to the hut or campsite and do other stuff, set up your camp and go for an explore,’’ Watson said. ‘‘Don’t get too caught up in the distance and the challenge; think about the whole trip as an adventure, and the excitement doesn’t stop when you get to your accommodation.’’
Choosing the right gear
One of the most important aspects of a tramp that can determine whether you walk away with good memories or bad, is your gear.
Starting with footwear, opt for simple but sturdy boots at first with good ankle support and tread. And remember – don’t go out in them for the first time on your hike.
‘‘Blisters would easily be the most common frustrating ailment that people experience, so definitely wear your boots in, and if you think you might blister, tape them up,’’ Watson said.
‘‘It can’t be understated, as lots of beginner trampers will come back frustrated and in a lot of pain for something as simple as a blister.’’
Then it’s about choosing layers that you can easily remove or add – and keep those layers at the top of your back so they are easily accessible when required.