Bushwalking is not just a matter of ransacking the pantry, throwing things into a pack and then off to the nearest national park. With bushwalking, as with any activity, the more you know about it the better you will be at it, the more you will get out of it and the safer it will be. There are inherent dangers in putting yourself into any environment without the normal protection and comfort afforded by day to day living. Your greatest piece of equipment is not your satellite linked GPS but the knowledge and skill you have. There are several ways you can acquire these resources. You can learn from experience (Sometimes uncomfortable and painful.), you can learn by the experiences of others (Just ask them, they’ll tell you.), or you can read books like this about it. The best technique is, of course, a combination of all these. This is a book of tips and hints that have been compiled so as to make any foray into the bush a little easier. Peter Thomas has been bushwalking in Australia and overseas for over thirty years as a Scout, Venturer Scout, Rover, Venturer Scout Leader, Bushwalking Guide and a member of the Australian Army Reserve. He has done numerous extended bushwalks including the Australian Alps Walking Track, Wilsons Promontory, the Larapinta Trail, the Little Desert, the Great Ocean Walk, the Hume & Hovell Track, the Wilderness Coast, the Port Davey Track, and the Two Rivers track. He is currently a Bushwalking Instructor on the National Training Team of Scouts Australia.
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