Tools to help you navigate in the bush
Map and compass spring to mind at the mention of navigation tools, but they’re not the only tools out there. Technological advances in GPS devices and mobile phones means that more people have access to navigation tools than ever before. All have their pros and cons, and it’s worth bearing them in mind when selecting what tools to take on a walk.
Navigating in the bush
Navigation is the art of getting from one place to another. It’s about making a plan around how to get from place A to place B, and then actually getting from A to B.
While navigation may seem like a big and scary topic, everyone can navigate! Think about it: every morning you get up, navigate from the bedroom to the bathroom and then out the front door. Navigating in the bush is the same, it’s just a little more complex. Learning to navigate around your house just means learning a few routes and remembering them. But in the bush, navigation involves working out and following a new route each time, and the landmarks are unfamiliar. There’s also more pressure to get it right on a bushwalk because getting lost in the bush is a bigger deal than getting lost in your hallway!
Navigation is a skill acquired by experience, study, and observation. It takes a long time to master. When starting out, it’s easy to be wrong. Unfortunately, the only way to get better is to persevere and keep on going! Navigation is a fun skill to learn, and many bushwalkers find that learning to navigate gives them a whole new appreciation of the landscape.
This article has not yet been written, however, we have compiled extensive learning material for on-track navigation skills. Many of these skills overlap into on-track navigation such as taking bearings, planning a route and recognising key features. We hope you enjoy working through this material first.
Some helpful links to get started
NSW has some fantastic canoeing and kayaking spots. Even Sydney, a city of more than 4 million people, is surrounded by plenty of options for flatwater kayakers.
Here are some great resources to build up your paddling skills:
http://www.rivercanoeclub.org/flatwater-skills
http://www.rivercanoeclub.org/sites/default/files/policy/RiverCanoeClubCompetencies2013.pdf
http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/index.php/homepage/basic-skills
http://www.nswseakayaker.asn.au/index.php/homepage/about-the-club/paddler-grading-system
Happy canoeing and kayaking!
Some helpful links to get started
NSW is blessed with an amazing number of canyons, that is, narrow cuttings through rocks formed by running water. Around Sydney, canyons are typically ‘slot’ canyons. Slot canyons are surrounded by high walls of rock, and limited light reaches the water in the bottom.
Canyoning is the activity of following a watercourse through a canyon. It usually involves bushwalking to an upper section of the watercourse, following the water for a while, then exiting via a bushwalking route at the bottom. Often, canyoning involves scrambling, swimming, abseiling, jumping, balancing, climbing and anything else required to travel downstream. Some canyons have well-worn tracks to get in; others are accessed purely by off-track navigation.
Canyoning is a fun activity but requires a significant amount of technical knowledge and skills.
Find out more here:
http://ozultimate.com/canyoning/
http://climbingadventures.com.au/canyoning-blue-mountains/canyoning-courses
Happy canyoning!
P.s. Did you know that people go ‘kanyaking’ on Reunion Island? It’s a mixture of kayaking and canyoning!
Some helpful links to get started
Abseiling or ‘rappelling’ is a fun activity where you use ropes to make your way from the top of a cliff or steep incline to the bottom. It’s done in areas where it’s impossible to make your way safely down by foot. Taken to its extreme, abseilers can rig up multiple ropes one after the other and descend cliffs that are several hundreds of metres high.
Abseiling is a technical skill that takes time to learn and requires specific gear also.
Find out more from these links:
http://climbingadventures.com.au/abseiling-blue-mountains/abseiling-courses
http://ozultimate.com/canyoning/abseiling/
Some helpful links to get started
Camping is always great fun for everyone. It’s a way of getting out of the city, relaxing, spending time with good friends and enjoying some delicious treats.
NSW has many camping spots to choose from. We certainly are spoilt!
Here are some websites with general information to get started:
http://www.gocampingaustralia.com/
http://www.outbackcrossing.com.au/Camping/Camping_Tips_and_Hints.shtml
http://wikicamps.com.au/
Happy camping!
