Recently, I was asked, “Can you give me some advice for getting into tramping?” What a great question! Of course, I was more than happy to…. but it got me thinking: What might be useful? Where to start?
Here are 10 tips that apply to any trip.
- Choose the track that’s right for you. You want something that’ll stretch you, but that’s well within reach. The aim is to enjoy yourself and, hopefully, return wanting more!
- Your boots are your best friend. Your boots should provide you with comfort and confidence. Break them in before setting off on your trip.
- Always tell people your plans. Where are you going? When do you expect to be out? When should your emergency contacts raise the alarm if they haven’t heard from you? The Mountains Safety Council’s Plan My Walk is a good way to develop and share your plans.
- Sign every Hut Book. Every hut has an intentions book (“hut book”). Always fill this in, even if just passing through. The book is not simply a visitor’s book—it is the first place that Search and Rescue turn when carrying out a rescue operation.
- Emergency. Always take a PLB (personal locator beacon) and know how to activate it.
- Track conditions. Always check the Department of Conservation website for track updates.
- Weather. Always look at the forecasts and keep in mind these are a “best guess” rather than a certainty. This is particularly true in mountain regions, where weather is notoriously difficult to predict. No one service will be right, and you may have to synthesise and interpret several models for a general picture (I currently prefer NIWA and MetVuw). Also, “fine” doesn’t mean “calm.” Above the bush line, I would think twice about heading out in a base wind speed of >30-35km/h.
- Navigation. Download NZ Topo Maps onto your phone. This is the NZ Topo 50 that Search and Rescue uses, and you also use it to give you a GPS as to where you are.
- Be confident but cautious. Go at your own pace and take your time—you’re there to enjoy yourself. There’s no need to rush, and you’ll expend too much energy if you do. Look at track signs and note the walking times on them. When you get to the destination check in with yourself, “How long did that take me compared to the stated time?” Use the track time as a measurement rather than a goal.
- Soft skills: Intuition, decisions and communication. If something doesn’t “feel right”, for whatever reason, it’s time to back off. This holds true at all times, even if you’re with others. Open communication is key, so that everyone can safely voice their concerns and collectively figure out how to proceed.
There’s much more to it—and I’ve talked about gear and food elsewhere. But, for those of you just getting into tramping, that’s probably enough for now.
Now, get tramping, and have fun out there!