Hiking Alone

[GPSGuided]

Thanks Empty. I got your earlier drift now.

[SethC]

Thanks everyone for the reply's! I will take all that has been said in mind. I have decided to start out with an easy overnighter first and build to some harder multi-day ones.

[Tortoise]

Thanks everyone for the reply's! I will take all that has been said in mind. I have decided to start out with an easy overnighter first and build to some harder multi-day ones.

Sounds very sensible, Seth!

A problem I had with the survey - it needed another option - it depends! - on the prepareness of the walker, appropriate choice of walk etc etc. I wouldn't say 'No, it's not safe', when I do it myself! But I also wouldn't say 'Yes it is', without plenty of qualifications, as raised by others.

The reality of what it can be like to have a significant injury was brought closer to home last weekend, when I badly sprained my ankle. It was only 2+ hours from the car, but that was plenty. (I haven't been able to walk on it since the day after, even though it's not broken. ) It was good to be with other people when it happened, who provided moral and practical support, kindly carrying my pack for me etc. I reckon I've got enough experience etc now to have coped with it, but throw in rain, cold, lack of anywhere within cooee to pitch my tent, fading light etc, I don't reckon I would have made good decisions in my early years of walking.

[perfectlydark]

Sounds good seth, sensible way to go

[stry]

For the record GPS I was actually agreeing with you - sorry if it didn't seem that way. As you say, it is all relative.

To expand on this topic further let's remember that we are talking about the Australian bush here. There are no lions, no tigers and no grizzly bears, no Somali pirates, no Al Quaeda training camps or unexploded landmines that we know of and Ivan Milat is safely behind bars. We are very fortunate in this country to enjoy such a safe environment in which to recreate.

Yes there are some risks and yes occasionally, very occasionally some ill prepared nong makes the headlines because he has gone up the wrong gully and has to hit the emergency button (or if he doesn't hit the news his so-called mates post a youtube video about it) or someone less fortunate has a genuine medical emergency and has to be air lifted out but for most us, responsible planning and preparedness mitigates these risks to the point where they are rarely a concern.

It is interesting that many comments suggest the purchase of a PLB as the first requirement. I would caution against the concept of outsourcing ones safety and would suggest that if we are to venture into the bush we all need to be prepared to be personally responsible. PLB is a new term to me. I knew them as EPIRB's where the E stood for EMERGENCY. It seems to me that with the broader availability of these items there is a risk amongst some users to 'pull the rip cord before they have even exited the plane'. It would be of a concern to all of us if the illegitimate use of personal rescue devices put such a drain on emergency resources that the "Honourable Member for Not Wasting Any More Money of Nutty Bushwalkers" was forced to dictate that none of us could enter the bush without having a bell around our necks.

The young OP's question is very brief and does not elaborate on his unstated concerns so it is hard provide direct advice. Is he worried about getting lost, frightened of snakes or does he have an underlying medical condition? Who knows? The fact that he has asked for some advice suggests that he is not a nong and considers what he does. Again he doesn't state what experience he has and, if he has none then my advice would be to get some before you go into the bush alone. Conversely if he has had plenty of experience then a solo walk along a well traveled and signposted route like the Six Foot Track or parts of The Great North Walk would be a pretty safe thing to do.

But the message is always, be prepared, be aware, be responsible.

Excellent post. In particular para 3, with which I agree without reservation.

Having the means to request assistance and having conditions which enable such assistance to reach you can be two very different things.

[neilmny]

{quote] It is interesting that many comments suggest the purchase of a PLB as the first requirement. I would caution against the concept of outsourcing ones safety and would suggest that if we are to venture into the bush we all need to be prepared to be personally responsible. PLB is a new term to me. I knew them as EPIRB's where the E stood for EMERGENCY. It seems to me that with the broader availability of these items there is a risk amongst some users to 'pull the rip cord before they have even exited the plane'. It would be of a concern to all of us if the illegitimate use of personal rescue devices put such a drain on emergency resources that the "Honourable Member for Not Wasting Any More Money of Nutty Bushwalkers" was forced to dictate that none of us could enter the bush without having a bell around our necks.{/quote}

An EPIRB is for maritime use a PLB is for land use.
I can't see how having a PLB is outsourcing safety as a PLB provides no safety at all just the ability
to alert emergency services in a perceived emergency.
Safety comes from preparedness, behaviour and choices in times of risk.
It would be interesting to know what percentage of emergency calls come from PLB's as
opposed mobile phones.

[Empty]

You make a valid point Neil and thanks for setting me straight about the difference between EPIRB and PLB. Allow me to express my point another way by suggesting that the over reliance on technology can reduce the margin for safety among some people. Note that I said some people, so it is not a sweeping statement.

My reasoning is that there may be a risk among some users to think that they can forgo their usual caution because they have in their hands technology that they believe they can rely on when all else fails.

As a Victorian you may recall a number of incidents not so long ago wherein some drivers travelling between Melbourne and Mildura using their sat navs for guidance ended up being diverted into Hattah KULKYNE NP. Some of those people had to be rescued and amongst those were one or two suffering the effects of dehydration.

Now I ask you, how far along a red, dusty, corrugated road do you need to travel before you realise that it is probably not the route between two major cities? What level of stupidity does one need to subscribe to in order to continue driving until your tongue swells with thirst?

When the media got hold of this I remember all the attention being directed to the unreliability of google (or was it Apple) maps putting peoples lives in danger. I do not remember any focus being put on the actions of drivers or any suggestion that they were responsible for their plight.

If people are going to rely on technology to the point where they suspend common sense and personal responsibility then accidents will happen.

[neilmny]

Completely agree Empty. Primarily due care must be taken and common sense applied.
With regard to the PLB's if I recall correctly AMSA stipulates that all other avenues of communicating
with emergency services should be tried before triggering the beacon. It would be a huge waste to set off a PLB
if a phone call to 000 can be made and of course a 000 phone operator can determine the real need of the situation.

[Gadgetgeek]

I agree Empty, although there is no helping some people. So I'd rather those people have a way to get help quickly instead of ground based SAR teams at risk in a protracted search. I agree that it makes sense that one should have figured out they were on the wrong road, but I've been on roads that have seemed to be the wrong one and were, and vise versa. Although on long drives, I navigate fuel stop to fuel stop, a habit I picked up crossing the canadian prairies. I have a bit of a fuel shortage paranoia. So for me, it takes about an hour to turn back, unless its really bad.

But for a rookie hiker who wants to learn, I feel its a responsible move to have as many bail out plans as possible. hard to learn stuff when you're dead. And hard to teach others lessons.

[walk2wineries]

Great discussion and I am grateful to Seth for starting it. Hope he enjoys his hikes.
I may even be inspired to do some overnighters alone! Like other respondents, I often walk alone because I'm off duty when others are working, or I'm travelling alone.
What you can do is going to depend on where you are and financial resources - and probably a 16 yr old is more constrained by the latter than those of us who've been earning for a few years, but I offer some of my alternatives.
i) Favourite - supported walks, don't carry a tent. For some walks such as the 6-foot track these are actually good value by the time you add up the costs of tranport or shuttles. Life's an Adventure offer a cheap alternative (carry your own tent/sleeping bag) for hikers thinking of DIY who would like some company first time out.
ii)Bed n Breakfast - again a good option if one is travelling light and hasn't gear, and remember Youth Hostels -there is one on the Sydney RNP walk (isn't there? was it repaired after fire damage?) and there are others in odd places. Look at the latest GreatNorthWalk guidebook for into about BnB weekend walks. Sydney Coastal Path. I was lucky enough to be at lamington NP when O'Reilly's had a special DBB on - walk from BinnaBurra, stay overnight, walk back - they provided a packed lunch too! You can book into the 6-foot lodge for a night on the SIx Foot Track.
iii) The GNW has great sections which can be done as day walks between train stations
iv) I have even been known to catch a taxi out to the start of a walk (Bibbulman from Collie for example; 10km taxi, 20km walk, good buy!) or after one. Hepburn Spa to Daylesford is a lovely walk; its actually C-shaped so its only a 5km road walk (or taxi if its winter and dark already...) back to starting point. ANd I think there is a "Beach Hopper" bus running from Dunsborough if you want to do the Cape to Cape....
v) if its anxiety at home - consider options (some of those above) which take you to or near a phone booth at half time. RNP, some of the GNW, in Tas maybe Springlawn to Greens Beach, some of the gdr

I do carry a PLB though. If one looks at injuries/death to hikers compared with, say, holidaying elsewhere, looks pretty safe to me. And one only has to listen to the mandatory briefings from the flight attendents about using a lifejacket (hmm - flying Perth to Alice Springs, that's gunna be handy!) to realise that there's other things that are a bigger waste of time. Today's useless information - looking at cost vs lives saved, life jackets on commercial aircraft are about the most expensive "safety" items in the world.

[greyhairwalker]

This has been an interesting subject, I posted a reply earlier about rules I had made for myself over the years.
Thinking back to my younger years, (I'm now 70) when in my early 20's, naïve, foolish and a bit reckless I guess. I would go off walking alone in isolated areas, sometimes wearing thongs, not telling anyone where I was going, probably not even carrying water if the walk was only for a few hours. Somehow by good luck I guess, never got myself into trouble and always found my way back. Even on a overnight hike, only carried the basics. I certainly would not recommend to any one now that this is OK. As one gets older, one becomes much more aware of the risks, what can go wrong etc. and takes precautions to minimise them. looking back now, I realise how foolish and stupid my actions were and how easily I could have got myself into big trouble, but it was fun.
,

[Jag]

Not in high summer . Find a track through a state ( not Belango ) forest or nat park . Wait until there has been a period of rain so that water will be available .

Lastly be very careful of being seen entering a trail eg from a highway either to begin or in transit . Always watch to see if you have been followed. 16 year old boys can be negatively opportunistically spotted as much as young women .

[GPSGuided]

Lastly be very careful of being seen entering a trail eg from a highway either to begin or in transit . Always watch to see if you have been followed. 16 year old boys can be negatively opportunistically spotted as much as young women .

Can't discount this suggestion but it saddens me to see how our society has changed. Or are people just more alert and defensive to a perpetual threat?

[Jag]

I think we are now recognising that boys are at a similar risk as we have always known girls to be. That is the difference imo.

I put it that male heterosexual predators hunt single but because of added strength of boys it takes 2 adults in homosexual attacks.

Not wanting to scare young hikers but some of the spots nearer to road access are the more dangerous. Also do not hitch hike .

[walkon]

Hi everyone, i am a 16 year old in NSW. I am wanting to hike alone for 1 or 2 nights. Do you think this is advisable?
Thanks

If you are sensible kid, keep to the tracks and minimize risks to begin with go for it. Life is about getting out there and living it to learn and grow. In this age of mass media is mass fear. Don't let this hysteria impede your life

[tazrich]

totally agree with walkon, Jessica Wattson was only 16 when she sailed solo around the world.