Якщо ви остаточно утвердилися в своєму бажанні сходити в самостійний похід в гори, то непогано б знати, які знання і навички для цього вам можуть стати в нагоді.
In the previous article "What You Need to Know on a Hike", we tried to clarify what solo hikes in the Carpathians are and why they might be necessary for you. If after reading the material you have firmly decided to go on a solo hike in the mountains, it would be good to know what knowledge and skills may come in handy. This is what we will discuss today.
Skills for a Solo Hike in the Mountains
First of all, you should clearly understand that hiking life is significantly different from your usual daily routine, and many skills that you masterfully possess will not be needed there, while completely different ones will be required. The situation is further complicated by the fact that in a solo hike, you will have no one to ask for help or advice. You will have to rely solely on your own strength, and any unlearned lesson can turn out to be quite painful.
The ability to set up a shelter, cook food, and navigate using a map is not some secret knowledge hidden from humanity, but it has one important feature that I would like to emphasize.
All the knowledge and skills you need must be acquired and tested in practical conditions before you head out on the route!
This means that you can read numerous thick survival books, you can be considered the most knowledgeable expert on the local tourist forum, but as long as your knowledge has not been tested in field conditions, you cannot go on a solo hike! Otherwise, you might end up in a situation similar to that of the hero of the film "Into the Wild", who perished because he confused pictures in the plant guide.
It turns out an interesting situation that you cannot go on a hike without experience, and experience can only be gained in a hike. The only correct conclusion is that you can and should start gaining experience only as part of a group. Only this way can you acquire all the necessary skills without risking your health and life. Of course, you are already set on solo wanderings through the mountains and thickets, and it may not be so easy to force yourself to join a group of often completely unfamiliar people who are much more experienced and will teach you and possibly (oh, gods!) even command you! But this is unavoidable if, of course, you have a head on your shoulders.
Find a group that is going on an interesting route and join them. Join the local tourist community. Look for experienced acquaintances or relatives who will take you with them.
Now that we have clarified where and how to acquire the necessary survival skills, let's proceed to their list. So, for your first solo hike, you will need to know and be able to do the following.
- Choosing equipment: gear, clothing, and tools for the hike. This is a vast topic and includes many things, starting from choosing a tent, burner, fork-spoon, and ending with selecting the optimal clothing set. Remember that even such a small detail as a sole that has come unstuck on the trail can become a significant inconvenience on the hike!
- Packing and organizing your belongings. Properly packing a backpack is not that difficult, especially if you have seen how it is done.
- Developing a route. Here you will need skills in working with maps, searching for reports from other hikers, and the ability to correctly compare natural features and your own strength.
- Equipment for camping and overnight stays. Choosing the optimal camping spot, finding water, setting up a tent, protection from rain and cold.
- Starting a fire. Do you think that gas or gasoline solves all problems? What about the case when the canisters are already empty or the matches got wet, and you forgot to take a lighter? As an option, you need to make a hiking stove yourself.
- Cooking food. You can, of course, settle for another porridge and sandwiches, but it is still advisable to learn how to cook soup, borscht, pilaf, stew, and so on.
- Safety techniques. In a solo hike, there will be no one to warn you against a reckless step or hasty decision, so you will have to take care of this yourself. This must be done very carefully, as any bravado in a solo hike can have extremely dangerous consequences.
- Navigation. One of the most important skills. If you are not just wandering but want to reach a specific point on a specific route, you will need to learn how to work with GPS (not a smartphone), paper maps, and a compass.
- Medicine. As a rule, this area remains unclaimed, but if needed, it is better to be well-prepared. Assemble a first aid kit for the most common ailments and clearly know which pill is for headaches and which is for stomachaches.
Чи вважаєте, що в цьому списку чогось не вистачає? Вносьте свої доповнення в коментарях. А в наступній статті ми поговоримо про те, які конкретно речі і обладнання вам необхідно підготувати для одиночного походу.
References used: https://lifehacker.ru/2014/09/15/odin...
