The most important thing is to tell someone where you’re going. In some national parks you are required to notify Park Headquarters of your itinerary in advance, especially if you’re traveling in the back country or in little-used areas. Some trailheads have a voluntary sign-in box where you can record the time of departure and expected time of return. When available, obtain a map or brochure of the trail(s) in the region, as they provide direction and allow you the opportunity to support the ongoing maintenance of the trails system.
It is also important to choose a trail that is appropriate to the fitness level of everyone in your group. That doesn’t mean everyone has to walk at the same pace, but since groups tend to spread out, it is a good idea to have an experienced walker to act as your "sweeper" – the last person in line to ensure no one gets left behind or wanders off alone to check out that interesting bird call.
You should have an emergency plan in place before you go. What happens if someone breaks an ankle, for instance? On a short walk along a smooth trail, it might be relatively easy to help an injured walker get back to the trailhead. But a short walk through rough terrain would be much tougher. Before you start, check out cell phone coverage in the hiking area. Many trails in this province do not have cell phone coverage.
Here is a check list of some things you should bring. Not everyone in the group needs to carry the full list. Items can be shared to reduce the load, although most items, except for water, are light-weight.
For the shorter community walk and hikes, you should bring:
- Camera
- High energy snacks
- Water
- Map
- Wind/waterproof shell
- Sunglasses
- Cell phone
For those longer trails, in addition to the above, you should bring:
- Waterproof matches
- Compass, topographical map, trail map, and/or a GPS
- Flashlight
- Extra clothing
- Swiss Army knife
- First Aid kit
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- A few feet of strong string
- Emergency foil blanket
- Candle
As mentioned above, cell phone coverage might not be available. And what happens if you forget extra batteries for the GPS? Like that old Boy Scout motto says: Be Prepared.
In just a few years, the Geographic Positioning Unit (GPS) unit has gone from geek to chic. Simply put, the GPS is becoming a must. It allows you to find your way around the planet by using a hand-held device hardly bigger than a cell phone that picks up signals from orbiting satellites and displays a location on an electronic map.
Geocaching is one of the most popular ways to have fun with GPS. It’s a treasure hunt game. A traveller can hide a cache at a secret location, and other hikers and walkers have to find it by pinpointing its location using GPS. A cache can be anything, but the prize is usually a small, waterproof container with a log book, a passport-like stamp, and a few toys. Those who find it – usually by decoding a simple clue and then following the GPS coordinates – sign the log book and write down a code in their own log book to prove they’ve been there.
So, where do you find information about geocaches? There are many websites devoted to the “sport,” including www.geocaching.com. Here in Atlantic Canada we have www.atlanticgeocaching.com, which provides a good introduction to using the GPS. You will have to register in order to use the main features on these sites.