National parks and reserves, although blessed with all the
beauty and exciting locations for great memorable adventures,
can be very rugged places as well ,with no consideration for man
kind.Conditions may change from good to bad in a short time If
you intend to visit these locations it is important to be
prepared and also to act in a responsible manner to sustain this
great ecosystem for your own well being and generations to come.
.Some ideas would be; · have an experienced person/guide as part
of the party and possibly no less than three people so one can
stay and one can go for help if one of the party gets into
trouble. · don't plan activities beyond the physical capacity of
the "weakest link" with activities such as hiking/mountain
biking/,canoeing/climbing etc · if available ,contact the park
office regarding the condition of tracks and roads , the levels
of the rivers,fire bans,landslides etc [ if there is a fire ban
you may need to take a small gas stove or carry pre cooked foods
] · allow sufficient time to do every thing you set out to do so
you can get back before nightfall; [some days are longer than
others at different times of the year] · before departure , make
sure somebody not going with you knows where / when , you plan
to return and where you are going in case things go wrong ; and
don't forget to tell them all is good upon your safe return. ·
Carry extra food / water in case the excursion takes longer than
expected. · Carry at least; torches plenty lightweight food
plastic bags for rubbish water plus warmweather for the worst
weather possible rain coats/ poncho's first aid / insect
repellent / sunscreen space blanket compass/ map / gps matches /
lighter
The weather may change dramatically in a short time especially
in the alpine areas, so carry warm clothes even if it is nice
and sunny when you start off.
Should you choose to carry your mobile check to see if your
provider has coverage in the area otherwise this would be a
waste of time.
Supervise children closely for loose rocks,cliffs,dangerous
animals/plants,slippery rocks etc
Any fires should be completely extinguished to prevent a fire
outbreak that you or anybody else may not outrun......severe
penalties apply .
Keep to established tracks and respect fences and handrails
Don't encourage the local wildlife especially the bears;- in
case they make a late night gourmet rendezvous through your tent
; don't bury the food scraps as they will only dig them up
again.
If you decide to go swimming , never dive straight in , and
check for submerged rocks and logs and keep an eye out for
broken glass because if somebody cuts their foot open that will
be the end of your adventure
So there you have a rough guideline for a successful day trip;
so off you go and enjoy the great land that has been preserved
for you and generations to come !
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