Club Activities

Walks Gradings

DAY WALKS

EASY - Gently undulating terrain. Mostly on formed tracks suited to most people.

EASY - MEDIUM - Gently undulating terrain, with some short climbs. A degree of fitness is required.

MEDIUM - Not necessarily on formed tracks. Some sustained climbs of 1 km or more. A degree of fitness is required.

MEDIUM - HARD - As per medium but includes rougher terrain. Experience as a walker is required.

HARD - Rougher terrain than medium - hard. Heavy scrub, rock scrambling with longer climbs and descents. Knowledge of map and compass is required. High degree of fitness required.

OVERNIGHT WALKS (BACK PACKS 2 DAYS +)

EASY - Undulating terrain, mostly on formed tracks suited to people with some experience of medium grade day walks.

MEDIUM - Involve a few larger ascents and descends, not necessarily on formed tracks. Suited to reasonably fit people experienced in overnight walking.

HARD - Similar to medium but with rougher terrain. Might include sections track of exposed to bad weather, and extended periods of scrub bashing. Suited to fit people with experience in bush skills. Map and compass reading is required.

As an initial guide to your fitness level, we suggest that you should be able to participate in a 10-15 km walk over gently undulating terrain, on formed tracks without significant difficulty (enjoying yourself of course).

Clothing

The clothes you wear depend on the weather. The one consistency is that whatever you wear it MUST be comfortable and appropriate. Some suggestions are as follows:-

• Sun Hat (wide brim)
• Long sleeve top
• Shorts or light weight pants
• Socks, woollen and or cotton
• Sturdy foot wear (walking Boots or runners if appropriate)

Winter

• Warm hat, gloves
• Warm top/thermals
• Pullover/fleece
• Long pants (NOT jeans)
• Socks, woollen and or cotton
• Boots (leather or light weight), runners (if appropriate)

Waterproof coat, waterproof pants, gloves and warm hat. An umbrella is optional. You never know how the day will turn out; the weather in Victoria is very fickle.

You must always be prepared for all seasons when walking, and the best ways to do this is to dress in layers i.e. to wear a number of thin tops and bottoms that you can easily add to or take off as the weather changes. The best place to find out what are classed as bushwalking 'layers' is to browse through one of the walking shops such as Outports, Paddy Palana, Katmandu, Bogong and Snowgum. Some of these stores give members of bushwalking clubs affiliated with the Federation of Bushwalking Clubs a 10% discount on most purchases. Membership cards must be shown at all times to obtain this discount.

Brightly coloured clothing, even if it is only your wet weather gear can be a safety measure. Make sure you are visible in the bush. Sunglasses are a must, they protect you against glare, dust and flicking branches.

If you are in any doubt about what to wear, ask your walk's leader.

Equipment

Car Camps

Car camps are weekend or long weekend activities, generally further away than day walk areas. They offer real camping experience in combination with day walks. Since the camp itself is stationary, its character falls midway between a day walk and a full backpack.

Backpacks

Light weight stoves are used whilst backpacking instead of open fires. Spirit stoves, such as a Trangier or gas stoves such as Gaz are usually carried.

Extended Tours

They require an ability to carry a greater pack weight, know how to pack for several week's camping, have knowledge of light weight food and be able to sustain and maintain a steady walking pace for up to two weeks. Some tours may require competence on snowshoes or skis, and very occasionally some rudimentary climbing ability may be called upon.

FOR ANY CLUB ACTIVITY
PLEASE REMEMBER, the walk's leader is your first source of advice regarding any standards, conditions or special requirements. Please heed their advice even if it does not appeal to you, they have the final say concerning their walk.

WATER
Keep water sources clean. If you must use soap or detergents, use a basin for your washing (of self or utensils etc.) and dispose of the waste water at least 50 m from any water source, preferably into sandy soil, so it can be filtered before re-entering the water system.

In Tasmania the required distance is 100 m (one of our members was quick to point out though, that moving back 100 m from almost any Tasmanian creek will leave you up to your knees in the neighbouring one!)

Whenever there is reasonable doubt about water quality. (i.e. the area is widely used or the flow rate is slow) the water should be thoroughly boiled before drinking.

Camp Sites

'Burn Bash and Bury' is no longer the catch phrase concerning material waste. Only one rule applies now 'Carry it all out again'. Once you have returned home, all of your rubbish can be disposed of properly.

First Aid

There will be occasions, such as in difficult terrain or on a longer tours, when a full first aid kit is necessary. In these circumstances the leader will advise members on the walk about what items should be carried in the group kit. The kit will be shared amongst the walkers and be more comprehensive in nature.

The Peninsula Bushwalking Club is very fortunate in having a history free from serious accident or injury. Some minor incidents have given cause for concern though, and it is exceedingly unwise to go anywhere unprepared. Pack your first aid kit where it can be quickly and easily reached.

We recommend that the following items be carried:-

1 x triangular bandage and safety pin
1 x medium wound dressing
1 x 8 cm or 10 cm elastic bandage
1 x waterproof sticking plaster
Assorted Band-Aids
Surgical gloves
Personal pain killers and medications as required
Gastrolyte powder or similar for cramps and dehydration
Betadine or Medipulv or both BUT water is usually sufficient Lip salve
Paxyl or Calistaflex or equivalent for bites, stings or burns
There are a number of items you should also consider such as:-

Pencil and paper - To be used for recording medical evidence, such as signs and symptoms or times of applications of restrictive bandages. Also useful for leaving information for searchers, should you become lost.
N.B. biro will run when wet so always use a pencil.
Toothache drops - oil of cloves or similar
Additional sterile dressings, roller bandages, gauze and lint
Packet of needles and thread.
Water purifying tablets, depending on the where the hike is going and for how long and in what season.

Have you had a tetanus shot recently? It is a good idea to keep these up to date.

All items should be packed in a waterproof container. Clearly the items you choose to carry will reflect to some degree the length of your walk and the remoteness of the area concerned

CAUTION: Many materials deteriorate over time. Before you set out, ensure everything is in good order, and in the right quantity.

Walk Leaders - Leadership

The leader must be aware of, and give approval for, anyone breaking away from the main party.

The leader can refuse to accept any person on a walk when it is considered that such a person is not properly equipped, is not capable of dealing with the terrain, or is not suitably fit physically or medically or mentally for that walk.

Ultimately the group travels at the pace of the slowest member. If you are uncertain about the fitness standard, equipment or any other feature of the walk, check with the leader for advice.

Booking for Club Activities

The second is that you MUST contact the leader well in advance if you are unable to attend, for whatever reason. Numbers are frequently important, leaders may have to cancel a walk if numbers are too small and car shuffles may no longer be feasible. Also leaders do not wish to spoil the walk for others while they wait for someone who is not going to attend, and who had no intention of attending. Non-attendance when your name is on the walking list is considered the height of bad manners.

If you find you are unable to join a walk, it is essential to ring the leader and let him or her know. It is a common courtesy, toward someone who has spent considerable time organising the walk on your behalf.

In remote areas a safe minimum applies, usually four persons, so that one person can remain with the injured person while two people walk out for help. On other occasions there may be a maximum number of people that can be safely accommodated at a camp site or in a sensitive area. Certain areas, such as Wilson's Promontory, now impose strict limits on party size. Numbers also have a direct affect on walking times.

Our rules stipulate that we only wait 15 minutes at the appointed starting place for stragglers. If you arrive latter than that, and the walk has commenced you must not attempt to follow on or catch up. It may seem simple enough to attempt to catch up but it can have, and in fact has had, serious and unfortunate results

Sign up sheets for the coming month's walks are set out at each Club meeting. Fill in your name, home telephone number, contact number for next of kin, whether you require a lift or can offer one, and whether you are a visitor. When you arrive at the nominated meeting place, you will be requested to sign the form to indicate your presence on the walk. If you are unable to book for the walk at the meeting you may do so by telephone. Please allow sufficient time in case of car shuffles or other organisations that are required for that particular walk.

If you indicate that you need a lift it is your responsibility to contact the walk's leader and request help to find a lift. It is not the responsibility of the leader to contact you about this. You will be required to pay your share of the fuel used.

If you indicate that you can give a lift, it is your responsibility to contact the walk's leader to find out who needs a lift. It is not the responsibility of the leader to contact you about this.

Bush walking is a fun recreation but you have to be responsible for yourself, the Club is there to help you enjoy yourself, not to act in loco parentsis.

Suggested Reading

Bushwalking and Mountain craft Leadership: Department of Sport and Recreation, 2nd edition - 1986.
Guide to Bushwalking and Camping: Paddy Pallin, 12th edition 1993.
Outdoor Companion: Q & J Chester, Simon & Schuster, 1991.

Leave your campsite either as you found it, or better. And remember the tread lightly campaign's watchwords:-

Take nothing but photographs Leave noting but foot prints.

We are pleased you have chosen bushwalking as a leisure activity, and trust that you will share with us the practice of minimal impact bushwalking, without which, Conservations tell us, we presently run the risk of 'loving our natural areas to death'. By walking softly, we may yet preserve the environment we most cherish.