Necessary Skills

  1. Map reading
  2. Navigation
  3. Use compass
  4. Route planning
  5. Leave no trace
  6. How to find water
    1. follow animals to find water in the bush
    2. Dunes trap rain water
    3. look for game trails or prints
  7. Stretching
    1. Quadriceps
    2. Standing hip
    3. Inner thigh
    4. Hamstring
    5. Calf
    6. Shoulder rolls
    7. Standing chest to back stretch
  8. How to light a campfire
    1. fire pit setup
      1. 10m away from campsite
      2. check for overhanging branches
      3. dig a pit of about 10-15cm deep
      4. surround the fire pit with rocks
      5. find dry wood : tinder/kindling/fuel wood
    2. Teepee build
      1. build a teepee of kindling around a small fist sized bunch of tinder
      2. add more wood to the downwind side
      3. keep space between for the wood to breathe
      4. place big fuel wood around the edge of the teepee
      5. light the fire by standing upwind
      6. keep adding tinder as necessary
      7. keep adding kindling till the fuel wood is ablaze
    3. Light your fire
  9. How to lace up hiking boots
  10. How to load your pack
  11. Trail etiquette
  12. How to choose a campsite
  13. How to keep your energy up
  14. How to keep yourself warm
  15. How to spot and treat heat exhaustion
  16. How to spot and treat hypothermia/dehydration
    1. mild to moderate symptoms
    2. severe symptoms
    3. skin test
    4. urine check
    5. Prevention
  17. Predicting the weather by the clouds
  18. Hiking in hills
  19. River crossing techniques
  20. Hiking on scree
  21. Boulder hopping
  22. Trekking at high altitude
  23. Hiking on sand
    1. stick to the water-line or just above the water-line
    2. stick to wet sand
    3. go slow – every step sinks or slips back
    4. carefully place each step – slips can be dangerous
  24. Hiking on snow
    1. travel on firm snow – reduce risk of avalanches
    2. look ahead to spot hazardous transition zones
    3. kick steps in snow
    4. old footsteps can be icy
    5. use crampons, ice axes and rope teams
    6. self-arrest techniques
  25. How to make your hike more comfortable
    1. sleep well
    2. eat well
    3. pack light
    4. support your back
    5. stay connected
    6. stay hydrated
    7. have a first aid kit
    8. take sun protection