Thread: Rookie mistakes!

Originally Posted by GravelBen

Another one that seems pretty basic when you think about it but easy to get complacent and forget... always have your navigation tools (map+compass / GPS or both) with you when you go walkies, even if you're only planning a quick scout up the hill behind the hut. Even experienced people can stop paying attention to the terrain/weather at times, next thing you know its dark or clouded in and you aren't quite sure which way you should be going...

Mmm very true, especially in winter when getting caught out by how quickly the sun sets and darkness in valleys. Casually went to watch a sunset in the Richmond Ranges, climbed a hill 20 mins behind a hut - on way back down with the sun just set reflectors were hardly visible and bush was pretty thick! Pretty rookie but I had a wee torch on my cellphone to catch the reflectors so that worked out fine. Good to have some markers of some point I reckon - snap a few branches, make a few cairns in thicker bush if it's rough - that kinda thing.