"About Walks and what to take"

Types of walks:
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The club provides a wide range of activities, walks and socials.
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• Day Walks
  Involve walks which depart on a Saturday or Sunday morning and return late the same day.
• Base Camps
  Weekend trips, normally leaving on Friday night with camp being set up that night. Note that all food, utensils, etc must be taken by the walkers. Ensure you check with the walk leader for any additional items. Please don't try to bring everything including the kitchen sink.
• Through Walks
  Also weekend trips, usually departing on Friday night to arrive at the start of the walk. You will carry full gear (tent, stove, fuel, sleeping bag, water etc.) for the whole weekend and return on the Sunday afternoon/night.
• Extended Trips
  Occasionally organised by club members and usually last at least a week.
• Socials
  Provide an opportunity to meet other members. The social activities organised by the club range from weekends away to social walks, dinner and movie nights, coffee nights and other various social functions.
• Training
  Provided by FMR or one of our club members.

Walks Grading:
Walks vary in difficulty and cater for a range of abilities. We try to ensure that at least one walk per month (often the second weekend after the meeting) is suitable for beginners. We also encourage new members to try several easier walks before attempting harder trips.

The club uses a grading system for all it's walks and Participants should ensure a walk is within their capabilities by referring to the following grades.

 

N.B. If an outing is considered particularly hard, please don't be offended if some trip leaders refuse nominations from newer members, since it is necessary for trip leaders to be confident about the abilities of party members. Trip costs: Passengers share driver petrol costs. Petrol costs for each trip are usually advised in the previous month's newsletter. National Park and forestry camping fees also apply for overnight trips. On some trips it is necessary to pay these fees at the time of nomination.

Responsility:

Club activities are a co-operative effort, and participants take responsibility for their own safety just as they would on privately organised trips.  All members and visitors take part in activities at their own risk, and need to use care, common sense and judgement.

Walking etiquette:

1. Be 10-15minuntes early and consider others waiting for you to turn up. If you are unable to attend for some unforeseen reason, please telephone the Leader and cancel your nomination as soon as possible.

2. All reasonable directions by the Trip Leader should be followed. If you wish to leave the main party, it is common courtesy to explain and seek the Leader's agreement.

Rubbish in the bush:

The motto if you carry it in, you can carry it out applies to all areas we visit, all containers and packaging should always be carried out. Fruit such as oranges are nice to eat on a walk but their peels take a very long time to decompose and therefore should be carried back.

Minimum Impact Bushwalking:

Our general aim is to leave the areas we visit undisturbed, as close to their pristine condition as possible.

Take nothing but photographs ----- leave nothing but footprints.

"What gear do I need to take on a walk or camp"
 

Each walker should be relatively self-sufficient, without relying unduly on others in the party.

Day walks

• Clothing. Most bushwalkers prefer shorts and a loose shirt. Long pants are suitable if they are sufficiently loose not to impede movement. Jeans are usually too tight.
• Day pack 
• Good running shoes or walking boots. (enclosed footwear)
• Hat (a wide brim for open areas; army "giggle" hats usually suffice in forested areas).
• Water bottle (at least 2 litres; larger in some circumstances).
• Lunch (usually sandwiches).
• Snack food (chocolate, nuts, fruit, dried fruit, lollies. tea, coffee, etc.).
• Sunscreen.
• Insect repellent.
• Rain Jacket or wet weather gear.
• Pullover/other warm clothing for winter trips and many summer trips in mountain areas.
• Personal items: e.g. toilet paper, camera.  

Some of the following additional items could also be considered for Day Walks.

 Walking Pole, First aid kit, torch, whistle, pen and paper, matches or lighter, map and compass in a waterproof map case or clear plastic bag, GPS or Mobile, Ultra-light emergency (space) blanket, Spare bootlaces.

Some ideas for a First Aid Kit.

Handkerchief, Small sharp knife, Paracetamol, Bandaids, Crepe bandage, Blister pads (e.g. Dr Scholl or Spenco brands)

First Aid leaflet or booklet that gives a quick guide for handling injuries or emergencies, Disposable latex gloves,

Mini resuscitation shield, Tweezers.

Additional gear for basecamps

• Camping gear ( a tent with a floor. groundsheet, tent poles and pegs, sleeping bag with inner sheet, chair, gas light )
• Food (most meals you have at home can be prepared on a base camp) and esky
• Cooking and eating utensils may include cutlery, a cup. plate, bowl, can opener. billy, frying pan, and if possible a gas stove.

 For a through walk in SE Queensland, the following items should be added: 

Tent, groundsheet and sleeping mat if camping, Sleeping bag and sheet bag, Pillow (or use makeshift material)

Stove and fuel, Cooking and eating utensils, Tea towel

An extended supply of food (about 700g per person per day)

Water disinfection tablets or filter, Rubbish bag, Towel, Toiletries, Pegless clothes line

A change of clothes, Footwear for when walking boots are removed, Ultra-light emergency (space) blanket

Hexamine tablets or rubber bands for emergency fire lighting, Perhaps an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)

All rubbish, food scraps, containers and packaging should always be carried out with you and taken home or to a council provided disposal bin.