Lost on Stewart Island Part 1 of 3

Where do I start this one? A lot of this information is for preparation for outdoor activities. I am an experienced outdoorsman but am by no means an expert. One of my favourite sayings is “there is no such thing as a bad day in the mountains just bad gear”. That very saying holds true to many things in life. The jist of it is if you are prepared you can take on any challenge. So what are some of the things I do to prepare myself for the mountains,

have the right gear;

extra layers

toque and gloves (regardless the time of year)

proper outdoor clothes NO COTTON

enough food for an extra day or two, high calorie foods (this could be an entire blog) think the inner aisles in a grocery store. You want a combination of foods that are fresh along with dehydrated foods. You may not have the ability to cook where you are. 

                trail mix

                KD

                Pastas

                Rice

                Gummie bears                 

                Cheese

                Meat (pepperettes)

                Hot drinks (these can do a lot for morale)

It is important to know although unpleasant you can go longer without food than without water. You need to ensure you will have adequate amounts of water. You may want a water pump or purification tablets. Emergency blanket, whistle, good sturdy boots, map, compass, knife, torch, etc.. These are only some of the things I bring with me. It depends where in the world you are hiking/camping/tramping. You need to consider weather conditions, what are the risks where you are etc. Where I am hiking there is high possibilities of rain and hypothermia is a major killer. At least for once I do not have to worry about bears! You need to realize conditions where you are used to can and will be very different in other countries. I have now experienced hiking in Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, Nicaragua, Vietnam and New Zealand. Hiking in Canada is very different and has its own unique challenges compared to South East Asia. I have experienced hypothermia, dehydration, heat exhaustion, along with extreme weather conditions. Sometimes things go wrong and when they do you need to be prepared not just with the right gear but physically and mentally.

Do not go into the back country or engage in outdoor activities if you are already injured. If you get lost it is common to be afraid but you need to keep your wits about you. If you are lost keep yourself positive do not let self-doubt take over (I know this can be hard to do). You may need to think about back up plans depending on where you are, the time of year and other factors. You should tell people when you are going and when you are expected back, if there are log books in huts etc fill them out. You may want to talk to local police officers or local rangers, department of conservation etc.

Most importantly don’t forget a camera and a sense of adventure. There is a great big world out there once you leave your place from the mountains, the lakes, rivers, oceans, forests and the skies. Whether you are skiing, swimming, camping, hunting, hiking or any other outdoor activity just do a little research and planning before you go and you will really enjoy it.

See you on the trails,

Tuna Tom

PS the next 2 will talk about the hike itself