Big Red Tour: How to bushwalk in the Australian Outback.

B I G R E D T O U R

How to bushwalk in the Australian Outback

WHERE TO GO

HOW TO DRESS
Exactly how should a gentleman (or a lady) dress for bushwalking?

EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT
When you bushwalk, you have to count on the possibility that you get lost or disoriented and might have to spend more time away from your camp than you would like to. I carried the following emergency equipment:
  Compass.
  GPS Navigator. Make sure you are familiar with how it works and do not depend on it solely. You need normal map reading and compass use skills as well. Navigators are not accurate enough in dense terrain.
  Maps. The only ones that are of any use are the detailed ones for bushwalking.
  Water in a sportsbottle.
  Some food for the daytrip, powerbars etc
  Extra powerbars that I never touched.
  Safetybox with:
  - Matches
  - Candles and firestarters
  - Magnifying glass
  - Water cleaning tablets (Micropur)
  - Condoms for fetching water (not for the use on sheilas)
  - Salt
  - Swiss army knife
  - Whistle
  - Pocket knife
  - Binoculars

What I didn't carry but at one point missed dearly when I got lost was a blanket to sleep on during the night. Children should carry a whistle around the neck. If they think they're lost, they should sit down right where they are and blow the whistle until they get help. Might be good for adults as well.
Water is the most important item to carry. You should never walk further away than the water supply you carry allows.

A good map and a compass are the two essential tools for finding your way in the bush. A GPS might be a help, but never depend on electronic gadgets.

SEEK LOCAL ADVICE
Always have a chat with the locals about the road conditions, it's one of their favourite subjects. If they tell you that you shouldn't go on a specific track, then don't. Mostly you're sent out on roads that are more rough than you could have imagined, so if they say No, they mean No.

MAPS
For bushwalking you need detailed maps. I had a look at the Auslig topographical maps and found them detailed enough for serious bushwalking. However, I never bought any, which I had to regret at some points when I was slightly lost.

PLANNING YOUR TRIP / WALK
With the help of the guide book(s), the map(s) and after seeking local advice, sit down and carefully plan your walk so you have a plan where to go. Before you start bushwalking, leave a message on your car about where you are going, how many people there are in your company and when you intend to be back.

COMPASSES
To be familiar with the use of the compass is the basis for all navigation. I used a Silva 27 Landmark sighting compass. It's small, but I find that it is very versatile. I used it a lot both when I bushwalked and when I drove on bush tracks.

GPS SATELLITE NAVIGATORS
GPS Satellite navigators work with a system of satellites that can give you an approximate position (within 50 metres). To be able to use that position you need a detailed map where you can find out where you are. It's of no help if the GPS gives you a position and all you can find out from the maps is that you are in western Queensland, which you probably allready knew.
  I found that GPS worked well on open plains when I was heading towards a position who's coordinates I already knew. The navigator figure out the position and gives you the course to the position you want to go to. From there you use the compass.
  If you are bushwalking, you can store waypoints in the navigator. Make sure to have a look around so you memorise the surroundings when you store the waypoint. As you walk back, ask the navigator for the previous waypoint and the compass course to it. Use the compass to find the way.
  Since the GPS system does not give you fine enough detail of where you are, it is of less use in dense vegetation. Satellite reception also deteriorates in woods. Never rely solely on the navigator.
  I found it most useful for finding my way back to my camps. Remember to store both the camp position and the first turn-off. The first turn-off is often the point you are trying to get back to.

IN THE BUSH
Some common sense should help you to avoid to get lost in the bush. First plan your trip and find out on the maps where you are going to drive or walk. As you progress, check out where you are. Bring enough water on a walk. Start walking back so you have enough time before dawn. Darkness comes fast in the bush.
If you drive on station land, there are often more station tracks than the ones marked on the map. Use your common sense. Follow the track that is in the right direction, use the compass. Check out natural landmarks like rivers, mountains etc and use them to go in the right direction. Sometimes people have erected improvised roadsigns. If you come to a crossing and someone has painted arrows to the right on a stone, well guess twice if you should go to the left or the right?

But sometimes, not even the obvious seems to help. :-)