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Tips for backpackers and explorers

Emergency Tip If treking to remote regions, always take along a pea whistle and several emergency rocket flares. If you do get into serious trouble, sound several loud blasts on the whistle, paced a few seconds apart, before launching a flare. Then, as the flare descends, repeat the whistle blasts in loud SOS format, three short, three long and three short blasts in that order. Listen for responses. Wait as long as reasonably possible before launching further flares.

First Aid Kit Always take a good quality emergency outdoor first aid kit.

Rucksack Lightweight but sturdy with alloy frame and sufficient pockets. Balance the kg capacity with the duration of your trek. Waterproof it before setting off and also put plastic bin liners or plastic bags in all compartments to ensure all contents remain dry.
It is a good idea to take some spare liners too.

Tent Lightweight but sturdy. Get one that you can erect in just a few minutes, four or five at most. The best kind require the outer tent erected first so the inner stays dry in rain. Make sure it has space for all of your gear and you. A built-in cooking windbreak area is useful, but the tent should not weigh more than a few pounds. Take along a tear repair kit too, plus a small tube of sealant.

Sleeping bag An all round rating good to withstand temperatures of minus 15 provides a good investment. Make sure you have a stuff sack for it. Take good bed rolls too. Heat reflecting types are available for extreme cold conditions. Always remember mountains can be killers.

Clothing

Boots   Above all, comfortable and waterproof with good grips. It is worth investing up to £150 or more in some good mountain boots if you want to enjoy your walking. The grip design should be such as to allow you to stand on steeply sloping wet or mossy rock without slipping. Go to a specialist mountaineering store, not a regular shoe shop. Take a tin of good quality waterproofing wax (not dubbin) along and rub wax well in every night before turning in.

Waterproofs Jacket with hood and leggings should be 100% waterproof, with ankle and wrist ties and lightweight enough to roll and pack in a small pocket of your rucksack.

Gloves  Might sound obvious but make sure they are waterproof! Nothing worse than soggy cold gloves.

Socks Take lots of pairs of good quality, knee high walking socks from a good camping shop. Your feets are your best friends on the mountains, treat 'em like Royalty.

General Don't overdo it. Take proper clothing for the time of year.

Equipment

• Compass - a reliable compass that you can use with a map.
• Whistle - always carry a pea whistle around your neck for emergencies
• Maps - get good detailed maps and a waterproof map holder
• Billy cans, lightweight cutlery kits
• If taking a gas cooker also take a caked fuel burner.
• Waterbottle + plastic cups. Water purifying tablets - choose these carefully from speciality suppliers.
• Emergency lightweight hi-tec survival blanket [packs in a 6x6-inch envelope]
• Torch. Sturdy, lightweight such as Maglite, spare batteries and bulbs. The Maglite can be unscrewed to act as a lamp hung from the roof of the tent.
• Camping knife - you can't do better than an original full Swiss army model on a chord to your belt
• Waterproof matches in addition to a windproof lighter
• If taking a mobile telephone, don't rely on it. Always ensure you have the above items as well.
• Line all compartments of your rucksack with bin-liners/plastic bags

Food

Always take more than enough supplies. High protein mountaineering food packs are ideal, and always take along some bars of Kendal Cake - a highly nutritious survival addition. Take along several hi-glucose tablet packs too and some quick-cook oats.

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