Tips for a newcomer

Certain items are pretty obvious: Sturdy, comfortable boots and pack, if no hut then a decent tent, food and water, etc. Perhaps one could just touch on a little detail for each of these.

Then there are all the other points to be considered eg ablutions. What are the rules (if any) regarding this? As a matter of fact general hygiene on longer trips, any tips?

What about food and cooking? How much 'kitchenware' do you lug along? And on that note what about lights: gas or electric?

What safety measures can one take in terms of first aid kits? When does it become to much? And if there is an accident of some sort and you're in a very remote area with no cell reception, what then?

What is the ideal 'hike time' per day? I read somewhere that most like to start between 6-7am and stop at say 3pm and get ready for the night. Is this the norm?

I realise many if these things are down to personal experience and preferences, but it won't hurt to get others opinions.

Thanks in advance.

Those links are great! Thanks.

Perhaps one could sticky them for other beginners...

Haha, this should be interesting to see a few opnions fly!

Boots - waterproof waterproof waterproof (Is there such a thing????)
Pack - tough SA pack, rather go a little heavey than too light and rip it up.
Tent - read previous thread
Food - Breakfast: Jungle energy bars, Lunch: Crackers, biltong, cheese (Blue), Supper: Pasta sauce mix cook. (NB no 2 minute noodles!!!), Snacks: Glucose stuff, died fruit.
Water - Bottle and Bladder (Amount depends on hike and time of year, never take a chance, always aim to have 1L when you finish!)NB hydrate more than you would normally want to.

Dig a hole for all your business!!! and Cover it!!! No Compromise! (Keiths is a mess because of this!) Use waterless soap. Do not leave any toilet paper above ground.

MSR for cooking. (But the old gas stove will also do) Lights - Head lamps (BD or Petzl)(I take a cheap small light in case the BD dies.)

Medical - Bandage, Anti Inflamitories, Sched 5 painkillers, Anti Alergic stuff, Disprin, Climbing tape (2m), Strong disinfectant, Special stuff for blisters?, Bactroban, Matches, lip ice, suntan lotion, rehydrate x 3, glucose x3, safety blanket x no persons. (Might have forgoten a few things)

Time - Yes you about right for a beginer. (We often hike at night, done 20hrs before, depends on those going)

Above all pack super light and get good shoes!!! Throw away all the trash, stick to what you will really need, over 5 days only have 2 pairs of clothes total. Use gaitors, buy something really nice to walk in. You must have complete confidnce in your shoes, if they break your in deep trouble if you a few days away from home.

In the berg stay on your guard, read the security stuff twice, make camp late, if in doubt keep hiking until you know you are safe.

Kitchen stuff: I have an old pot, 4 spoons and four mugs. Why take anything more.

Hope that helps, I'm sure most people will disagree on at least one point.

Frosty Ice wrote:

Food - Breakfast: Jungle energy bars, Lunch: Crackers, biltong, cheese (Blue), Supper: Pasta sauce mix cook. (NB no 2 minute noodles!!!), Snacks: Glucose stuff, died fruit.

Curious: why no 2 minute noodle?

With regards food, here is a good thread for interesting types of food to eat whilst hiking: www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/8-drakensberg-hiking/1328-refavorite-hiking-meal.html#1328

Hiking poles are very useful, and I swear by them.

Hiking at night, is an amazing experience perhaps best left to when you have a bit more experience, however, come to think of it - my first overnight trip started with a night hike to below one tree hill in the Cathedral area. If the route is unknown, and the path indistinct, then it can be a pain when you get lost and it also wastes time.

I remember a night trip that ST² and i did up to Sleeping Beauty Cave in the Garden Castle area, an area that we were unfamiliar with. The path at one point, almost doubles back on itself before it climbs a big hill. However there is also a path that goes off to the river that looked well used, hence the problem. We spent 20 min battling through throtchy bamboo thickets and wild asparagus before we realized that this could not possible be the right path, and had to turn around and head back the way we had come. And we are pretty experienced, the problem at night is that yo can only se as afar as your headlight beam.

@ Serious Tribe. Dare I add that this was not the ONLY night hike we spent thrashing around.
I remember attempt number ?? at Hilton Pass !!
[There will undoubtedly be a flurry of suggestions as to what brand of GPS is best - Thanks - West is best, from where I live !]

@ FROSTYICE - Can I hike with you? That way I wont have to carry A spoon or A mug (or am i misunderstanding you?)
I am also glad that there is someone else out there who takes 1 set of rags to walk in and one set to sleep in.
Although I have the utmost respect for those who appear to have a newly ironed pair of rags for each day of A 4/5 DAY

Personally, the only advice I now have is - Don't forget TOILET PAPER - It is amazing what you loose by way of bartering

Keep it coming. This should be interesting. I like ClimbyKels idea of a GEAR thread..
(mentioned somewhere else on the site - I can't remember where)

@ST² Also the hike into keith bush camp, if you recall going up and down and scaring the smugglers into hiding along the side of the path. So that makes three slightly longer than intended night trips in. Not bad considering that we have done a lot of night hikes in.

Also I only take one smallish pot, ST² takes the other, he eats out of his pot, and I eat out of mine. Therefore no need for plates. I also only take a spoon, and use my leatherman for the knife.

When you are carrying 8kg of camera gear you have to get by with less other gear.

Thats got to hurt, 8kg of camera gear!!!

Yep it sure does.

I was at one stage carrying a tripod of about 2.5kg a pro 35mm body with two lenses and a separate flash, and a pentax 67 medium format (mf) body and one lens.

I have though managed to drop the weight a bit now that i have gone digital, but only bceause i don't have the mf system any longer. Fortunately when i start to go cross eyed, i can get st² to carry a few things.