There is a plain fact to be had at the start of any discussion on solo hiking in Australia: bushwalking in the remote is no ordinary day walk with the crowd thinned out. One misstep can become an emergency when you have heat, distance, unreliable mobile service, rough tracks and weather that does not stand still. You want your outback preparation to be sound so as to have options should things go pear-shaped.
I am Cassian Hughes. My time working outdoors has shown me the only safety advice worth having is what you can put to use when you are hot, tired, covered in dust and perhaps a touch overconfident. What follows is a guide to solo and remote trail safety in Australia for the walker who is prepared and knows his limits, as opposed to one who would like to put them to the test in some city sneakers out in the Pilbara. For a focused example, see the solo Larapinta trail guide.
The Case for Preparation on Remote Trails
You will be patient enough for it, but the outback will not condone a casual approach to planning. Even a well-marked path will take you over exposed rock, through spinifex and dry creek beds to country where you could be days from help.
Most of the danger comes from the run of the mill problem that is left to fester: not enough water, a turn missed, daylight lost, or underestimating a climb in the extreme of the heat. The idea of solo hiking safety is to limit how many of those can happen at once.
Be Clear on Your Limits
Your route should be commensurate with your experience in carrying a pack and your tolerance for the heat, to say nothing of your fitness and way-finding ability. A trek that was fine in cooler climes will be hard going once the mercury is up, the track is gone and your water is putting on a few kilos.
Save the discovery that your boots chafe or your knee has a mind of its own on the downhill for a shorter outing; do not make the remote trails the place to find out. Get to know your gear before you set off on a multi-day affair.
Get to Know Where You Are
The Red Centre, Top End and the Pilbara have very different conditions. Roads and creek crossings may be out due to wet season rain, then the dry season will give you cool mornings and then a good deal of heat. Cyclones are a factor in the north from November to April and you will need to heed local warnings and park closures.
Before you head out look at the national parks, fire restrictions, access and road reports. Make sure you have seen the Bureau of Meteorology’s official warnings for Australia and any Aboriginal land requirements.
Route Planning
Do not think a line on an offline GPS map makes for a safe route. Factor in where you can put in a stop without taking on risk, your transport, daylight and water points. Put it in writing. If the plan is incomprehensible without a phone with signal and battery, it is no plan at all.
An Itinerary That Works
Note down where you are starting and returning from, your vehicle, side trips and camps. Use names anyone would recognise for a campsite, gorge or junction. On something like the Larapinta Trail you should have in mind which sections to drop if the body or the water says “not today”.
Then there is the matter of getting around. You might require a shuttle or taxi transfer, or a private vehicle. See if you can park and whether the access road calls for high clearance. A one-way walk may mean a return transfer is booked in advance. Fuel is part of the equation on the Gibb River Road or when coming off the Stuart Highway.
Let Someone Know
Put your trip plan, vehicle and emergency details in front of a contact you trust. Do not just tell them you are off hiking in the vicinity of Alice. Give them the track and the time by which they should get in touch with the authorities if you are not back.
Come to an understanding as to what is overdue. A late message is one thing, but if a check-in is missed the agreed upon course of action should be taken. And let your contact know when you have made it off the trail safely so as not to have them mounting a search because you put the phone away for a meat pie.
Communication And Navigation
For the solo hiker there is no better safety device than a Personal Locator Beacon in good standing, in those places where you can count on no phone service to be of any use. While a PLB will put out an emergency alert via satellite, it is not a substitute for having your route and water sorted and making sound decisions.
Where the subscription and service are in place a satellite messenger like the Garmin inReach will do two-way tracking and messaging. Make sure you know how to operate it prior to departure and have it to hand, not stowed at the bottom of your pack. And keep it charged.
Two Forms Of Navigation
Have a paper map and compass as well as offline GPS maps on a handheld or your phone. Be sure to download them while you are still in mobile range and that they account for the whole route down to the access road and any escape tracks you might need.
A blue dot is no guide if you do not know the terrain. Electronic navigation becomes difficult in poor visibility and rain on a touchscreen; screens and batteries have a way of failing. Put in some time checking yourself at junctions and marking your progress so you can turn back before you are in a panic.
An Honest Appraisal Of Coverage
Do not be fooled by a phone with one bar at the trailhead, in two days’ time it may have nothing to show. Reception from a ridgeline is something of a luxury, not your plan for an emergency. When you can put the phone on flight mode, do so, and shield it from the heat along with any power bank you are carrying. As for your satellite device, test it outside with an unobstructed view of the sky since a canyon wall or thick undergrowth will block the signal.
Water, Food And Shelter
This is what remote hiking safety comes down to. Do the sums on what you will require given the pace, terrain, temperature and distance, then put aside a reserve in case of delay or to aid someone else or because you have lost your way. A source marked on the map is not to be taken for granted as being there or fit to drink. Water treatment has its limits and will not make water appear out of nowhere, but take the equipment with you when called for.
Some Reserve That Is Of Use
Put water in containers you can easily check and disperse the weight in the pack. Note on your paper map which points are dependable and which are dry or seasonal. If your plans hinge on a single creek or tank you would do well to think again rather than trust the information is up to date.
Food should be of a kind you can put away even if you are in no state of mind for it. Emergency rations with a long shelf life are wise. Gummy bears will give you a hit of carbohydrates but they are no meal and in a hot pack will be a colourful mess. Have proper food and salt and enough calories for a day that goes slower than intended.
Weather Proofing
Take a warm layer, a hat with a brim, sunglasses and some light long clothing. In the north a storm is on you in short order and after a hot day the Red Centre nights can be cold. An emergency shelter, headlamp and space blanket will see you through an unscheduled night without too much misery.
Forecasts should be checked before you set off and whenever coverage allows. Cyclone warnings or flash flooding and bushfire closures can render a route unsafe. There is no harm in a trip plan coming to an end before the hike is on.
| Planning Area | What To Confirm | Where People Go Wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Route | The terrain, junctions, exit points and distance | Rock and sand and steep ground will slow you |
| Water | Your reserve and treatment and reliable sources | Seasonal creeks and tanks can be found dry |
| Weather | Closures, wind, cold and storms | Walking in the height of the heat or a late start |
| Communication | Your PLB, check-in and satellite messenger | To suppose the mobile will hold up |
| Transport | Fuel, shuttle, parking and the way back | Being left far from the vehicle with no lift |
A First Aid Kit For Remote Country
The kit you carry should be suited to the route and not just something plucked from a shop. It must be small and one you are accustomed to using to deal with an injury until help is at hand. Out in the country a first aid job is to prevent a minor thing from scuppering the trip. Dehydration, blisters and sprains will affect your ability to get about safely.
Treatments for the usual problems
Cover The Likely Problems
Stock pain relief you can use, antiseptic, dressings, elastic bandages, wound closure strips, blister treatment and gloves, not to mention any medication of your own. If there is a chance of encountering snakes a pressure immobilisation bandage is in order, provided you have made yourself familiar with the technique.
Where the law allows, have on hand a whistle, headlamp and a lighter or some other waterproof means of starting a fire. Also pack repair tape, a power bank or spare batteries and a compact emergency shelter. And in a waterproof form, put down any personal information like medication, medical conditions or allergies.
Stop Early
Do not hesitate to put an end to the day at the first instance of confusion, poor coordination, a bad headache, vomiting or chest pain, or if you are having trouble breathing or show signs of heat illness. One can be dehydrated to the point where it clouds one’s judgement before the full extent of being unwell is apparent; do not put off stopping for dramatic symptoms.
An injury calls for making the area secure and tending to it with first aid. Conserve what water and warmth there is and if necessary set off your PLB or satellite messenger. There is no point in moving about blindly and complicating a rescue. On occasion the most courageous thing to do is to sit and press the button.
Dealing With Outback Wildlife
For the most part wildlife will want to be left alone and have no desire to feature in your holiday footage. Make sure food is put away properly and you are not in an animal’s way. Encounters turn risky when people get up close to take a photo or feed them or otherwise startle them.
Whether it is a matter of snake or crocodile safety or conduct around dingoes, it all comes down to heeding the advice and signs and being aware of your surroundings.
Lessen The Risk From Snakes
Be mindful of where you put your hands and feet in long grass or near rocks and fallen timber. A torch is advisable after dark. Stick to the marked path as much as is practical and make use of good gaiters if the season and ground warrant it. Resist the urge to step over something you cannot see past or prod into holes.
In the event of a bite, put some distance between yourself and the snake and do not try to catch it. Remain still, put on a pressure immobilisation bandage along the limb and over the site of the bite and make contact by emergency communications. Do not cut, wash or suck the wound.
Crocwise And Dingo-Aware
Heed Crocwise and the local signage in crocodile country. Refrain from wading or swimming unless you are in an area that is managed for safety and keep clear of the water’s edge, particularly at dawn and dusk and where the banks are muddy or on floodplains.
With dingoes, secure your rubbish and food and never offer them anything. Should one come towards you, do not run but hold your position. When in company, have the children stay close and abide by the park rules. Alone, let the dingo know you are there without making an issue of it.
Rough Terrain And The Heat
The heat will do more than make you uncomfortable, it will alter your balance, pace and ability to decide. Get an early start, make the most of the shade and drink often, leaving the exposed stretches for the cooler hours of the day.
Then there is the matter of rough terrain which has a way of causing delays. What would be a short hop on flat ground can consume time over steep gullies, spinifex or loose rock when you are lugging a full pack.
Adapt To The Conditions
Take it at a conservative pace with breaks for navigation and provisions. Put sunscreen on and cover up, and nip hot spots in the bud before they are blisters. If the weather is against you, curtail the day instead of seeing out the itinerary you had in mind. In the face of a storm, extreme heat or bushfire risk, the best course may be to put off the walk. Check with the authorities before making a long drive to the trailhead in case the national park has shut down a road or section.
Know Your Company
A solo hike is for those with the experience to navigate and deal with minor injuries and make cool-headed decisions under duress while carrying their own water. It is not for a novice on a first remote outing or anyone whose fitness and gear have not been tried and tested, or who is mending from an injury.
Let the beginner have a go at a well-marked walk in a populated locale and from there move on to an overnight with someone of ability. One does not win anything by learning every lesson the hard way.
When Things Go Awry
Upon realising you are lost, cease moving. To put in a random direction is to waste energy and daylight and make your tracks less legible. Consult your compass, paper map and offline GPS to fix your last known position. If you are not sure you can retrace your steps, remain where you are barring an immediate hazard.
Follow A Simple Emergency Sequence
- Stop, take stock of the weather, daylight, shelter, water and any injuries, and breathe.
- Only make your way back to where you were last known to be in a safe and sure manner.
- If there is shade or shelter at hand, go to it but do not put much distance between yourself and your position.
- Should you require help, put in a call on your satellite messenger or Personal Locator Beacon.
- Put on some bright clothing, use a whistle or torch to signal, or put down a marker of some kind so as to be seen.
- Once night falls, keep warm and ration your water; heed what emergency services tell you.
Dealing with an Overdue Return
Contact your person of trust without delay if you are running behind yet in no danger. Do not let others fill in the blanks if you have to alter course, update the trip plan.
When one is after someone who has not come back, rely on the trip plan and get in touch with the authorities. There is no point in venturing into the back of beyond unprepared and without local counsel; that is no way to conduct a rescue and risks making two of you missing.
A Quick Bush Checklist
While you have the means to do so in the shade and with your wits about you, go over the basics before you head out. This will forestall the kind of oversights that lead to trouble for want of a little forethought.
- See that the route is in order, along with access roads, permits, the weather and any closures.
- Leave a trip plan with a trusted contact, one that spells out what to do should you be overdue.
- Have your water all figured out with some to spare, and rations for an emergency.
- Your PLB or satellite messenger ought to be registered, in charge and put to the test.
- Pack the offline and paper GPS maps, a compass, a first aid kit complete with a pressure immobilisation bandage, a headlamp and something for shelter.
- You would have tried your boots and solo gear on a short walk by now.
- And confirm the details on fuel, parking and how you are getting back.
FAQ: The Solo Outback Walker
I put together these answers for the sort of things I am asked by those setting off on their own in Australia. They are as practical as they come, though you will want to defer to official instructions and what the locality dictates.
The most effective safety device?
For a solo walker in remote country a Personal Locator Beacon is usually paramount since it can raise an alert in the absence of mobile signal. A satellite messenger is good for two-way comms but like any device it is only as good as its battery and the user.
What is with hikers and Vaseline?
A smidge of petroleum jelly will see to friction in certain shoes and stop the rubbing. It does not excuse poor foot care, a hot spot left to fester or ill-fitting boots. Apply too much and you have slippery feet, so try it before you are out in the field.
Tips for hiking alone?
Start early when it is hot, have enough water, a PLB and two ways to navigate. Make your trip plan known and turn back if the going gets unsafe. Have your emergency gear to hand and use your daylight and energy to make the right calls.
Why gummy bears?
They are easy to carry and a source of quick carbs for a hard climb or when you are running low. But in an Australian summer they have a habit of turning to a sticky mess and are no replacement for water or a proper meal.
Is the Larapinta for a beginner on his own?
There are parts of the Larapinta that are remote and exacting, with few services and conditions in flux. An able beginner might tackle a well-supported section with some preparation but the whole trail is a serious proposition, not a casual affair.
Do your homework on a solo guide to the Larapinta. Weigh up your fitness and transport against what the park says. Look at the camping and access requirements and the state of the sections before you put your name to it.
Respect the Bush
Thorough, if dull, preparation is what makes a solo hike worthwhile. Plan your water with restraint, be courteous to wildlife and ensure someone is on hand to act if you do not show up.
The outback is not in the market for theatrics, it wants sound judgement and the equipment to match. Know when to put it behind you if things change. Make the sensible decision while you can and you will have options down the line.
