Staying Safe and Healthy on the TrailWear comfortable, broken-in footwear. If you feel a hot spot, stop & take off your boots. Put your feet into cold water if you can. Wicking inner socks may help prevent blisters. Bring Leukoplast or Elastoplast bandages, duct tape & any other blister first aid products you like, just in case. If you do get a blister, using a sterile needle, prick the blister a few times. Drain without touching the fluid or holes. Seal with liquid Betadine and, when dry, place some tape over it. We usually use duct tape — it's inexpensive and seems to stay as well as anything else.
We’ve never had much trouble with mosquitoes on coastal hikes. You may get the odd sandfly bite — they itch so do your best not to get bitten if they are about. Wasps might be a pest, particularly February - March. If allergic, bring a sting kit. Some recommend antihistamine cream/tablets for wasps. Bed bugs were reported at Whariwharangi Hut in 2005 but this is not a typical problem. You should expect & plan for rain. A few tips:
Many thin layers are lighter & warmer than 1 thick garment If you get chilled, climb into your sleeping bag. Cuddle-up. Do anything you can to warm-up if there's a chance of hypothermia. Light fleece garments are warm, even when wet, & they dry quickly. If tenting, consider bringing tarp(s) & plenty of tie-up ropes. Protect yourself from the elements while cooking dinner. (Tarp-tying is a much underrated art & science, particularly in high wind.) Bring a backpack cover — you'll be glad you did if it starts to pour. Waterproof EVERYTHING inside your pack. Plastic bags are OK but they rip. Waterproof stuffsacs are only slightly heavier and far more reliable. Consider making yourself a sit pad (of light closed cell foam). Wipe it with a bandana & you’ll have a dry, clean spot to sit — rather than a wet bum. Bring extra plastic bags & ziplocs. Double-bag vulnerable valuables such as cameras. Some hikers thrive on a long tramp while others wear down quickly. To survive & thrive, most importantly, avoid getting sick. Be sure that standards of hygiene are maintained. Faecal contamination of any kind is the easiest way to get sick. Be sure to put alcohol-based antibacterial gel on your hands throughout the day, particularly before you stick your hands into a bag of GORP. Brush your teeth with good water. Proper food and safe, sufficient water is essential. Carry water from hut to hut. Hut water should be safe but expect no guarantee from the DOC. Most campgrounds have water but it will need to be boiled or treated. Some water sources are stained a tea colour due to leached tannin. (We keep hearing this is not a hazard but the water looks unappealing.) For the prudently-cautious, you have a choice of water treatment methods:
We recommend you invest in a good purifier — the Katadyn is a favourite though we've had good luck with many other units. Make sure your purifier is well maintained. They need frequent cleaning. |
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