Scouting Hints and Tips - Hiking
Allow a general speed of four kilometers per hour when hiking with a day sack or light rucksack.
Always carry a bivvi bag for emergency use.
Be careful of metal objects affecting your compass when using it - belt buckles and metal gates can cause havoc!
Powder your feet and socks before starting a long trek.
Look after your boots and they will give you many years of service. Always clean them after use, and never allow the leather to dry out during storage.
Keep your emergency matches in a waterproof container such as a film canister. Tear off the side of the matchbox and put it in the container if the box will not fit.
Never forget matches. You can never have enough matches because you'll find that the wind and wet wood will always be working against you.
An easy alternative to matches is a Zippo cigarette lighter: It won't get wet, lasts a while, and is always handy.
Dip the heads of your emergency matches in candle wax to make sure they are dry.
Wrap your spare torch batteries in food film - it keeps them dry, together and stops them shorting out.
Place all your spare clothes inside strong plastic bags inside your rucksack / daysack. In fact, everything that must not get wet should be protected in plastic bags inside your sack.
Wear many thin layers of clothing to keep warm, rather than one thick garment.
Always have a hat with you as most of the heat lost by the body is through the head.
Make sure your gloves have long thick wrists. A second major source of heat loss is the wrists where the blood vessels come close to the surface.
When walking in groups, choose and walk with a 'buddy'. That way should you or he/she become separated from the group, the alarm can quickly be raised.
Always carry a pack of cards with you. If you ever get lost, sit down and play Patience. Within minutes, someone will look over your shoulder and say, "Put the red seven on the black eight"!
At night, avoid switching on your torch once your eyes are used to the light, so you do not lose your 'night vision'. When the moon is full, and the sky is clear, there is enough light to read by! Try it.
When map reading at night, close one eye before switching on the torch, and keep it closed. That way you will only lose your night vision in one eye.
A (UK) mnemonic to help you remember to add or subtract magnetic deviations:
"Grid to Mag, you Add,
Mag to Grid, get Rid"
When hiking in wet ground, put your first pair of socks on, then a plastic bag, then the second pair of socks. This way your feet stay warm and dryish even when your boots are soaked.
If you found these hints and tips useful, please send us yours
DISCLAMER: These hints are provided for information only. We do not accept responsibility for any loss or damage to person or property by anyone using these tips.
Allow a general speed of four kilometers per hour when hiking with a day sack or light rucksack.
Always carry a bivvi bag for emergency use.
Be careful of metal objects affecting your compass when using it - belt buckles and metal gates can cause havoc!
Powder your feet and socks before starting a long trek.
Look after your boots and they will give you many years of service. Always clean them after use, and never allow the leather to dry out during storage.
Keep your emergency matches in a waterproof container such as a film canister. Tear off the side of the matchbox and put it in the container if the box will not fit.
Never forget matches. You can never have enough matches because you'll find that the wind and wet wood will always be working against you.
An easy alternative to matches is a Zippo cigarette lighter: It won't get wet, lasts a while, and is always handy.
Dip the heads of your emergency matches in candle wax to make sure they are dry.
Wrap your spare torch batteries in food film - it keeps them dry, together and stops them shorting out.
Place all your spare clothes inside strong plastic bags inside your rucksack / daysack. In fact, everything that must not get wet should be protected in plastic bags inside your sack.
Wear many thin layers of clothing to keep warm, rather than one thick garment.
Always have a hat with you as most of the heat lost by the body is through the head.
Make sure your gloves have long thick wrists. A second major source of heat loss is the wrists where the blood vessels come close to the surface.
When walking in groups, choose and walk with a 'buddy'. That way should you or he/she become separated from the group, the alarm can quickly be raised.
Always carry a pack of cards with you. If you ever get lost, sit down and play Patience. Within minutes, someone will look over your shoulder and say, "Put the red seven on the black eight"!
At night, avoid switching on your torch once your eyes are used to the light, so you do not lose your 'night vision'. When the moon is full, and the sky is clear, there is enough light to read by! Try it.
When map reading at night, close one eye before switching on the torch, and keep it closed. That way you will only lose your night vision in one eye.
A (UK) mnemonic to help you remember to add or subtract magnetic deviations:
"Grid to Mag, you Add,
Mag to Grid, get Rid"
When hiking in wet ground, put your first pair of socks on, then a plastic bag, then the second pair of socks. This way your feet stay warm and dryish even when your boots are soaked.
If you found these hints and tips useful, please send us yours
DISCLAMER: These hints are provided for information only. We do not accept responsibility for any loss or damage to person or property by anyone using these tips.