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Bushwalking Manual

Bushwalking Manual

Information and guidelines for safe and enjoyable bushwalking in Australia. Published by Bushwalking Victoria.

  • Trip planning
    • Planning for enjoyment
    • Safety
      • Safety essentials
      • Other approaches to safety
      • Standards for outdoor activities
    • Extreme weather events and natural disasters
    • Forming a group
    • Bushwalking with children
    • Practical planning considerations
    • Route planning
    • Fuel reduction burns
    • Maps, guidebooks and other references
    • Trip emergency contact
    • Vehicle preparation
  • The trip
    • A good start
    • Practical navigation
      • Map and compass basics
      • Navigation techniques
      • Navigation in difficult conditions
      • Mobile phone navigation
      • Handheld GPS navigation
      • GPS sports watches
    • People, progress and conditions
    • Pace, rhythm and rest stops
    • Keeping the group together
    • Challenging conditions
      • Crossing creeks
      • Crossing rivers
      • Terrain
      • Wind, rain and snow
      • Walking in hot, dry conditions
    • Campsites, stoves and campfires
    • Snow camping
    • Bush huts
    • After the trip
  • Leadership
    • Leadership overview
    • Checklists for leaders
    • Bushwalking Leadership Training
  • Weather
    • Understanding the weather 
    • Thunderstorms
    • Lightning
  • Equipment & clothing
    • Stoves
    • Stove safety
    • Clothing
    • Footwear and gaiters
    • Packs
    • Tents
    • Sleeping mats
    • Sleeping bags
    • Knots
    • Walking poles
  • Food & water
    • Safe drinking water
    • Water treatment options
    • Food for bushwalking
    • Cooking
    • Food dumps
  • Emergencies
    • Emergency communications
      • Overview of emergency communications
      • Mobile phones
      • Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs)
      • Sat phones
      • Satellite trackers with SOS
      • Handheld CB radios
    • If you are lost
    • Group member lost
    • Emergency shelters
    • Bushfire
      • Planning – don’t be there
      • Be vigilant – get to a safe location
      • Last resort – surviving a bushfire
      • Bushfire smoke
    • First aid
    • Maintaining core temperature
    • Heat Illnesses
    • Cold illnesses
    • Cold water immersion
    • Snow blindness
    • Helicopter rescue
  • Environment
    • Environment and conservation
    • Minimal impact bushwalking
  • Related activities
    • Rogaining
    • Ski touring
    • Snowshoeing
  • State information
    • New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory
    • Northern Territory
    • Queensland
    • South Australia
    • Tasmania
    • Victoria
    • Western Australia
  • About
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Sitemap
    • Acknowledgements
      • BMLC manual acknowledgements
    • History
      • A short history of the BMTAB
        • BMLC graduates in numerical order
        • STLC graduates in numerical order
        • DWLC graduates in numerical order
        • BMLC graduates in alphabetical order
    • Governance
    • Scope
    • Feedback
    • Contact
    • Disclaimer – Use of this Manual

Month: March 2019

Posted on 29 Mar 20196 Nov 2020

Pace and Rhythm & Communication in the Group sections added

Pace and Rhythm & Communication in the Group pages have been added to The trip section.

Posted on 27 Mar 20196 Nov 2020

Trip planning section nearly complete

The prototype manual is now available for Bushwalking Victoria and bushwalking club members to provide feedback.

The Trip planning section has nearly been completed.

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Recent updates

  • Bushwalking with children page added
  • Crossing rivers and Snowshoeing pages added
  • Emergency shelters page added and map information updated
  • Food, cooking, stoves, stove safety and crossing creeks articles added
  • Heat and Cold illnesses and Walking in hot, dry conditions articles added

Archives

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  • September 2019 (2)
  • August 2019 (1)
  • July 2019 (1)
  • June 2019 (2)
  • April 2019 (1)
  • March 2019 (2)
  • Recent updates
  • Links
  • Resources
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
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Bushwalking Victoria acknowledges and thanks the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning for providing funding for the development of this manual.

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