Training and Safety last updated 20Feb12
10: Up-coming training activity - Tuesday 6 March
Paul Bowen is running an evening event 'Preparing for an overnight bushwalk' on Tuesday 6 March. The evening activity seeks to provide prospective overnight campers with information on bushwalking and overnight camping. The evening will start with a quick demonstration of backpack weight/volume and will be followed by a discussion on backpack contents. Seating is limited so please book a place. The venue will be advised after you have booked a seat. Contact Paul Bowen for further information.
Contact Paul for details or get yourself on the Short Notice Walks distribution list.
9: February 2012
TipS of the month
On a walk you may find party members have different maps of the same area. They may be different in scale (e.g. the ACT 1:100,000 special; 1:50,000) or different in edition (e.g. 1:25,000 1st edn or 2nd edn). When comparing locations on different maps, pay attention to map scale and datum.
TipS question of the month
Each month, a short navigation or safety question will be posed in the 'Training Trifles' column in it and repeated on this page. Send your answers to or ring 0417 436 877. Kudos to the first correct answer received by the 4th Wednesday of the month, in categories 'member < 5 years' and 'member > 5 years'.
Question of the month
Generally speaking, in the Southern Hemisphere, would you expect north and west facing slopes to be hotter and dryer (and therefore easier to traverse) than south and east facing slopes?
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Generally speaking, in the southern hemisphere, North and West facing slopes are hotter and dryer (and therefore easier to traverse) than south and east facing slopes. This is due to sunlight exposure. However, there are other factors (such as prevailing weather direction, recovery from bushfire) which also contribute to ease of going.
8: Up-coming training activities
Paul Bowen is running a beginners overnight trip to Blue Gum Creek 28-29 January. Contact Paul for details or get yourself on the Short Notice Walks distribution list.
Jeff Bennetts is running a map and compass training exercise on 11 February. Be quick to book.
January walk leaders are conducting a short navigation skills survey (responses in numbers, not names) for your committee.
7: December 2011
TipS of the month
An attack point is a feature that is relatively close to your target, but is more significant and easier to find. First navigate the easier leg to your attack point, then the short leg to your objective.
When moving on a compass bearing a similar technique can be used if a more distant object (eg. a prominent hill or saddle) is in the same direction. Look up and move towards the object, occasionally checking your direction using your compass.TipS question of the month
Each month, a short navigation or safety question will be posed in the 'Training Trifles' column in it and repeated on this page. Send your answers to or ring 0417 436 877. Kudos to the first randomly selected correct answer received by the 4th Wednesday of the month, in categories 'member < 5 years' and 'member > 5 years'.
Question of the month
Do you think it would be generally easier to navigate up a flowing creek system, or down? What about a subdividing spur?
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It's generally easier to navigate down a flowing creek system. Just follow the water flowing down. Imagine navigating up and you come to a creek junction with two close upper arms. Which one do you take? (You'd need to check a compass bearing to decide.)
It's generally easier to navigate up a spur system. Coming down a spur which subdivides may present a decision as to which spur to continue down.
6: Hotter days are on the way
Plan your walks with the weather in mind - rivers, high hills (temperature decreases with increased altitude), shaded forest rather than treeless valleys, swimming could be included. Consider starting earlier to avoid the heat of the day. Wear a broad-brimmed hat and collared shirt. Use sun screen. Ensure you and your party have adequate water. Schedule more drink breaks. Carry electrolyte replacement drink/powder. Know the signs of heat exhaustion and how to treat it. Postpone your walk if conditions are extreme.
5: November 2011
TipS of the month
You head on 90°M for 1.5km towards a hut built beside a north-south track. You reach the track, but see no hut. Do you turn left or right to reach it? If, instead, you set your compass on 85°M, on reaching the track you know you can confidently turn right to reach the hut. This is called aiming off.
Question of the month
What grid-magnetic angle would you use for walking in Namadgi National Park? Would this do for walking on the Bibbleman Track in WA?
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Magnetic North is 13.5° East of Grid North in Namadgi National Park. In parts of SW WA, MN is West of GN and the grid-magnetic angle varies across Australia. Congrats to PS who submitted the correct answer.
4: Mentors for new walk leaders
To complement the prospective new CBC Walk Leaders information night on 18 October 2011, a pilot scheme of mentors is being trialled. Attendees will be given the opportunity to contact an experienced club member who is willing to provide advice. If this pilot is successful, it will be extended.
3: Training calendar
Date
Event
6 Mar 12 Preparing for an overnight bushwalk - Paul Bowen Jul-Aug 12 Navigation Course - Rob and Jenny Horsfield TBA Overnight beginners trip - Mike Bremers _____________________________________________ 11 Feb 12 Map and compass training exercise - Jeff Bennetts. See December it for details 28-29 Jan 12 Beginners overnight trip to Blue Gum Creek - Paul Bowen
2: October 2011
TipS of the month
When navigating, walk parallel to a suitable linear feature such as a creek line or a fire trail to keep you going in your required direction. This is called a handrail.
Question of the month
The Borah ground on Quiltys Mountain in the Budawangs is located at GR45430092 and GR45330073 on the Endrick 1:25000 topographic map. How can the one location have two GRs?
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Every map is based on a datum, a mathematical surface that best fits the shape of the Earth. Australian maps are based on one of two datums: Australian Geodetic Datum (ADG) – defined in 1966 and best fitted the shape of the Earth in the Australian region only; and Geocentric Datum of Australia (GDA) – defined in 1994, and is based on a mathematical surface that best fits the shape of the Earth as a whole, with its origin at the Earth’s centre of mass. GDA has been used by mapping authorities since 2000. The datum is specified in the margin information on a topographic map. Strictly speaking, location coordinates expressed in latitude and longitude are based on ADG or GDA. Location coordinates used by bushwalkers and expressed in the Military Grid Reference System are based on the Australian Map Grid 66 (AMG) or Map Grid of Australia 94 (MGA).
GR45430092 (MGA94) = GR45330073 (AMG66)
Conversely, a location's GDA94 coordinates, expressed in ADG66 datum, will plot approximately 200 metres to the NE.
1: July 2011
Helicopter extraction of injured member
On Saturday 30 July a member of a CBC party broke his ankle whilst descending the east face of Johns Peak in the Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve. Contact was made with rescue services via mobile phone and a 10-figure MGRS location provided from a GPS (with no mobile phone service available, the normal procedure is to activate a PLB if immediate assistance is required). A helicopter winched extraction was made, as the regrowth vegetation at the site was extrememly dense. Remaining party members reached the Camel Back fire trail just on dark, after assisting the paramedic move the casualty 20 metres to the winch point. The member is recovering well.
A debrief was sought from the ACT Ambulance service (the incident controller). Procedures used on the day require no changes and CBC was praised for its general level of preparedness for accidents such as this and the safety equipment carried on bushwalks.
