Off-track Bushwalking: Systems for Self Reliance

drainierpope
4 days ago
3 min read

In this guide, I will discuss tools and concepts important for embarking on an offtrack adventure (especially alone). These ideas and tools will enable you to become a better outdoors-person. I encourage you to internalise the concept of self-agency. You should avoid being solely reliant on another person, in the context of hiking, you may become separated from that person, their tools might fail them, or they might lack competency. Similarly, don’t treat this text or other texts as gospel.

"Your Safety is Your Responsibility!”

Quoting Petr from Beast Runners (great article) [1]

1. Navigation

Before GPS became available for everyone in the late 1980s, a map and compass was the only way. Next came dedicated handheld GPS units, and then shortly afterwards smartphones became awesome. Nowadays, a smartphone with offline topographic maps downloaded is the ideal solution for many outdoor adventurers!

Pros and cons of using a phone for navigation:

Pros	Cons
Ultralight - you are already bringing it	Limited battery
Cheap - you probably already own one	Fragile
Large screen size	Most don’t have satellite communication (they need cell service)
Other functions with cell service (e.g., weather, bush fire hotspots)

Consider the two scenarios relevant to section 2: Redundancy and backup plans.

You are in an area without cell coverage – which is typical of remote areas – and you have an emergency.
You are in a remote area and your phone dies / breaks / is lost.

1.1. Recommended TOPO map apps

Free and user friendly option (IOS and Android):
Organic Maps [2]: Free and open source. The provided topo maps are not the highest resolution. Allows GPX track input and has other offline navigation capabilities.
Advanced Android users (some geekery required!)
AlpineQuest: Offtrack Explorer [3]. It is a once off $30 payment. In my opinion,
AlpineQuest is the best offering available and also the best value. Unfortunately android only.

2. Redundancy and backup plans

In order to overcome the shortcomings of smartphones, I will now introduce the second concept: Redundancy and backup plans.

2.1. PLBs (Personal locator beacons) and Satellite communicators

If you are on your own, or embarking on a fairly committing trip into the bush you should have a PLB or satellite communicator.

This will enables you to signal for help in areas where there isn’t cell coverage or in the case where your phone breaks or

is lost. There are plenty of options, the most simple being a PLB (personal locator beacon).

They are a satellite communication device that sends a basic help signal with your

coordinates to the relevant authorities. These devices are typically a once-off payment.

More capable devices (in addition to the same SOS signal) can offer:

Two way satellite messaging so you can send and receive information from friends and rescuers.
Live tracking, which means the device will broadcast your location at intervals which can be seen by whoever you have given access to the tracking.

Note; these satellite communication devices often have a subscription service for the extra features described.

2.2. Other backup systems

Powerbank (and cables!), headtorch, a smart friend, clothing/shelter (if the weather goes bad), first aid kit, extra food and water, good fitness.

Also consider a backup navigation system, such as a smart watch with topographic map downloaded (australia.osm.garmin-opentopo-latin1.zip from [4]), or a paper map and compass.

3. Limitations

Be aware that when you are at the bottom of cliff faces, or in a gorge with vertical walls around you, the accuracy of GPS positioning can be bad. Devices need line of sight to the open sky (where the satellites are) in order to accurately triangulate a location. Take this into consideration regarding emergency GPS devices such as PLBs or satellite messengers.