Trekking - Getting started

The idea of this section is to welcome newcomers into our sport with a brief summery of what is required to get you off on the right foot.

What actually is trekking?

The word trek or trekking can mean different things to different people but generally it involves walking with a backpack in some kind of a wilderness or off-the-beaten-track type of area. Trekking is often a form of exploration on foot where the participant is either solo or part of a group or team. The group/solo trekker sets out to follow a predetermined course of tracks or negotiable routes while taking in the cultures and scenery that the experience of the journey has to offer. The object of the game being to safely and successfully complete a pre determined circuit or arrive at a specific destination. For this reason some degree of navigational skill is required on the part of the participant, particularly if the participant is trekking solo. The length of a trek can be anywhere from a couple of hours to days or even weeks.
The word 'trekking' is a fairly general term but related disciplines include; hiking, bushwalking, tramping, hill walking, fell walking and backpacking. This site receives visitors from many different countries who often have their own terminology. For example, if you are from Australia you will no doubt be thinking in terms of bushwalking as you read this guide; For our American visitors it will be hiking; our New Zealand friends will refer to it as tramping and the Irish, British and Scottish love their hillwalking. As each country is unique, so too are the conditions in which you will trek, hike, tramp, bushwalk etc. Since it would be impossible to write a guide that encompasses all conditions and for the sake of simplicity, this website uses the more general term of 'trekking' where possible.
An experienced trekker is a person with a superior level of fitness and the necessary skills, confidence and ability to operate comfortably in a remote and often rugged outdoor environment.

Getting started

Trekking is an activity that you can start with only a minimal of gear and experience. If you have a National Park nearby, you have the perfect place to start. Most National Parks have walking tracks suitable for both beginners and experienced trekkers. It's just a matter of choosing a walk that you're comfortable with and as Nike would say, Just do it!
 

Get to know your own ability

Start off with a short walk on a well defined track early in the day. This will give you a chance to gauge your performance. It is tempting for an enthusiastic beginner to go that bit further too late in the day. If you leave no room for error you could find yourself in trouble very, very quickly. Always be observant of landmarks that you may need to refer back to if you become disoriented. If the track you have chosen is short and well defined you will have a much better chance of reorienting yourself. Before heading out evaluate the prevailing weather conditions and take the appropriate clothing and water for the conditions. See if there are guidebooks available for walks in your area.

The next level

It won't be long before you're busting to try something more challenging. As you venture into more challenging terrain so too will you need to increase your level of knowledge, fitness and skill. This is particularly important if you eventually plan to trek solo on multi-day adventures.