Trekking & Camping

Peter Van Geit www.ChennaiTrekkers.org

Contents
Trekking trails Difficulty levels Must carry checklist Food Dos and dont-s Safety Camping & tenting Cooking & campfire Navigation Trek organization

Trekking trails

CTC mostly treks along streams inside valleys in mountain ranges

Presence of drinkable water (reduce weight) Presence of forest cover (tropical climate) Gradual slope (reduce climbing) Less dense vegetation (faster progress)

Climbing to mountain peaks

Use gradual slopes Side-streams, ridges

Difficulty levels

Terrain/trail factors that determine level

Climate tropical sun causes dehydration Presence of trail Vegetation density Ascent/descent Trek distance Trek duration ~ weight of food in backpack

Must carry checklist/1

Good shoes
Comfortable (breathable) outdoor shoes

Medium sized backpack

Carry food, water, extra dress, sleeping bag

Sleeping mat
Sleep comfortable/warm on forest ground Floating non-swimmers and backpacks

Blanket or sleeping bag

Higher altitudes, winter months

Must carry checklist/2

2-3 PET bottles, bowl, spoon

Carry water, eat food

LED torch
Night trekking, campsite

Extra set of clothes, sandals

Sleep dry/warm at night

Sun protection
Sunscreen, cap or towel

Plastic bags (monsoon)

Keep electronic items safe, clothes dry

Must carry - common

Navigation gear
Topographic maps, GPS, compass

Cooking gear
Aluminum pots Lighter/matchbox Gas stove/cylinders (monsoon)

Camping gear
Tarpaulin sheets, ropes

Safety
First aid kit, rope, talky-s

Food & water

4 specs - lightweight, compact, energetic, preservative

Fresh fruits Nuts & dry fruits Energy bars Breakfast - rusk/jam/pickle Lunch polli, parotta, chapatti, tepla Dinner noodles, soup Supplement - electrolyte or Glucon-D Streams are source of drinking water

Dos and dont-s/1

Be ON time! Do NOT litter! Volunteer! (many tasks to share) Silence! (do not disturb wildlife) Minimize weight! (backpack) Conserve drinking water!

Regular small sips continuous hydration Plan between water sources

Dos and dont-s/2

Use comfortable shoes

Avoid new ones, worn down ones

Use comfortable clothing, avoid bright colors Start with easy treks to assess self level
Many land up in trouble, delaying group

Climb uphill slow & steady

Many get exhausted, dehydrated while climbing uphill in tropical climate with backpack

Safety

Top three dangers - Water, Rocks, Wildlife Water

Silent killer, caution non-swimmers!

Rocks
Loose rocks while climbing

Wildlife
Snakes, scorpions, elephants, bees,

Stay with the group!

Maintain eye sight with person in front/back Periodic regrouping

Camping & tenting

Identify suitable campsite

Reasonable flat ground level Presence of nearby water source

Tenting (rain, wind, cold)

15 x 15 ft tarpaulin sheet (2kg) covers 10 Regular tent (4kg) covers 3 and costs 4.000Rs Weight/head - 100gr vs.1.3kg Use rocks, ropes, sticks to set up sheets in suitable shape

Cooking & campfire

Collect three rocks for cooking place

High (max heat above fire) Big, flat bottom (stability, weight large pot) Corner pointing inside (ventilation)

Cooking/campfire
Collect dry firewood Small, medium, large size Bigger trunk for campfire through night

Navigation

Maintain group unity

Identify lead, sweeper and middle man Regroup periodically, at diversions

Avoid steep, risky climbs Avoid dense vegetation, thorny bushes Be watchful around deep water Carefully plan between water sources Topo-graphic maps, GPS, compass

Trek organization
Fix location and date Prepare invite through Google Form Obtain forest permission if required Identify guide or GPS trail or navigate Own vehicles or book transportation? Advance payments for advance reservation Nearby trek - pick up points & timings Finalize headcount 2 days before start Finalize transportation Buy food