INTRODUCTION
The Philippine wilderness may not be that hospitable to the foreign backpacker as well as to the locals, considering the state of the trail, location and number of participants. Knowing how to organize and behave with your group will make or break your trip. Basic know-how and common sense plays an important role in your survival in the wilderness.
Before setting out be sure that you are in good condition. Eat a heavy breakfast to ensure energy during most of the day and stop walking when there is plenty of daylight to set-up your first campsite. Following are warm-up and stretching techniques.
This is particularly important since this will loosen your muscles and therefore greatly reduce the chances of injury.
WARM-UP AND STRETCHING TECHNIQUES
The general warm-up should begin with ‘joint-manipulation,’ starting either from your toes and working your way up, or from your fingers and working your way down.
Make slow circular movements (both clockwise and counter-clockwise) until the joint moves smoothly. You should rotate the following (in the order given, or in the reverse order): 1. Fingers and knuckles 2. Wrists 3. Elbows 4. Shoulders 5. Neck 6. Trunk/waist 7. Hip 8. Leg 9. Knees 10. Ankles 11. Toes
After your general warm-up, you should engage in some slow, relaxed stretching.
Once again you should start from the top and work down (or from the bottom and work up) to stretch the following: 1. Forearms and wrists 2. Triceps 3. Neck 4. Chest 5. Sides (external oblique) 6. Back 7. Buttocks 8. Groin (adductors) 9. Thighs (quadriceps and abductors) 10. Hamstrings 11. Calves 12. Shin 13. Instep. Hold the stretched position for 5 seconds, at least.
MOVING OUT
“Keep an eye” on the mountain during the approach hike, studying it for climbing routes. The distant view reveals gross patterns of ridges, cliffs, as well as the average angle of inclination. As you get closer, you can get the general idea of the terrain, i.e.
fault lines, brand of cliffs and crevasses. Throughout the approach follow the old mountaineering dictum to "climb with your eyes." Keep on the lookout for alternative routes, possible water sources, emergency campsites, firewood and or anything that can be used in case an emergency arises. In short, be wary of your surroundings. The ideal distance between climbers is two (2) meters or seeing distance.
SIGNALING
Before setting out be sure that your group set rules for signaling. The following are the signals used by the PNU-Mountaineering Club when climbing. The signal for stopping is two (2) short whistle blasts; while signal to proceed is one (1) long whistle blast and these are the sole responsibility of the lead and tail men. The international mountaineering distress signal is 6 blast to a minute. To signal that aid is on the way, give 3 blast to a minute.
WALKING TECHNIQUES
The basic skill that is required for a mountaineer is walking. The oldest form of transportation ever used by man and it is the most indispensable technique the mountaineer will ever use. When walking into the wilderness the shortest distance between two points is not necessarily a straight line. The shortest distance for a mountaineer is the most easy and safe one. Also, before setting out, make sure that you are properly and thoroughly warmed-up, either by a 5minute jog-in-place or stretching techniques.
LACING TECHNIQUES
Following is an insight on how to lace your shoes properly for maximum comfort.
This was taken from University of Texas Lifetime Health Letter dated January 1995. For mountaineers or backpackers, all we know is that we have to lace our shoes the way we do it when we are in grade school. The way you lace your shoe can increase your foot comfort or relieve foot pain while walking. Proper lacing can also increases the lifespan of your shoes, according do the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society.
Tips for lacing:
o Loosen laces as you slip shoes on to reduce stress on eyelets and backs of shoes.
o Beginning at the toe end, tighten laces one pair of eyelets at a time to reduce eyelet stress and ensure uniform pressure.
o When buying new shoes, keep in mind that shoes with more eyelets make for easier adjustment (many better athletic shoes have two sets).
o Conventional crisscross lacing works best for most people. Alternative lacing patterns may be appropriate for specific types of feet or to ease some foot problems.
Carol Fray, M.D. associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Southern California, offers these suggestions (letter in parenthesis indicates illustration):
o Narrow feet: Consider using wide-set eyelets that bring the sides of the shoe more snugly across the top of the foot (a).
o Wide feet: Eyelets set closer to the tongue and set closer together add width to the lacing area (b).
o Narrow heel, wide forefoot: Consider using two laces for a custom fit (c).
The wide-set eyelets help snug up the heel, and the closer-set eyelets help adjust shoe width to the forefoot.
o Feet pain: For pain in specific areas of the foot, try skipping eyelets in the vicinity of the pain and tightening laces above and below the skipped eyelets (d).
o High arches: Lacing straight across between eyelets (instead of crisscrossing) can reduce or eliminate pressure points (e).
o Toe problems: For toe problems, including hammertoes, corns and painful toenails, insert laces so that one lace traverses diagonally across the length of the tongue, from toe to top (f). Pulling on the lace will raise the toe box to reduce pressure.
o Heel fit: The lacing pattern shown in illustration (g) can help prevent your heel from moving in the shoe and rubbing blisters. Laces are looped through each other before being tied.
PACING
Beginners often makes two mistakes in walking; they walk faster than they should or they walk slower than they could. Walking too fast is the most common mistake. This may be due to concerns of the long miles ahead or from a desire to perform well in front of the group and or companions. But why wear yourself out of the first mile of a 10-mile hike if the whole day happens to be available for that walk? Enjoy the walk, take your time and smell the flowers. Pacing varies from person to person. It also depends on the cardiovascular capacity of the person. A simple test may reveal that your pace is too fast if you cannot sustain it hour after hour. You’re going too fast.
The other mistake is walking too slowly. Your body might ache but they still have 10 miles in them; your lungs may be gasp but be able to go on gasping for 3 hours. A degree of suffering is inevitable on the way to becoming a good walker. Pacing also depends on the time of day and also the humidity. Walk slowly at the start, letting your body adjust to the demands to come. Then start striding out, using willpower to get through this period of increasing work until the body experiences it's second wind.
Physiologically, this means that the heart has stepped up is beat, the blood is circulating more rapidly and the muscles have loosened. Psychologically, the hiker feels happy and strong. Vary your pace depending on the trail. Plod slowly and methodically up steep
hills; as the grade lessens, pick up the tempo. Your pace will slow late in the day as fatigue sets in. Adrenaline may fuel short bursts of exertion, but there is no "third wind."
When in a group, the pace should follow the slowest member or person with the heaviest load. Do not lag anyone behind.
TRAIL PRACTICES
• When walking with a group, with any number of participants, walk in a single file to protect the side vegetation. Avoid overtaking. Stay on the trail even if it is muddy or rutted. Help save vegetation and prevent erosion by not cutting switchbacks. Make your rest breaks in resilient areas and guard against damaging stream banks. If you see something interesting, just look or take photographs of it instead of picking or collecting. Do light trail maintenance and remove litter as you pass by it. Leave the trail as you passed it. Remove cairns and flaggings unless they are already there; let others experience the adventure of route finding. If you need to mark you're route, remove the markers on your way down. Choose talus instead of fragile meadows for cross-country travel.
Always take the ridgelines for path finding and avoid water lines and gullies.
Water always takes the steepest route down the mountain. Do not step on obstacles; it might upset your balance. Avoid dislodging rocks.
• When walking uphill lean forward and place you foot flat on the ground before pushing the other foot forward and take small steps to conserve your strength.
Do not walk on your toes since this will cramp your legs readily.
• When you walk downhill, take small steps and move steadily. Lean backwards to take the strain off your knees and never lock them straight when placing you foot on the ground. Learn to dig with the heels or side of the foot first. Use a walking stick if necessary to relieve help relieve the strain off your knees.
• When walking on steep slopes, place your foot sideways and place the walking stick downhill for added support. Always look for support, hold on to roots or vines and make sure that these are sturdy and free of thorns.
REST STOPS
Depending on the terrain, weather and the capacity of the individual in a group, rest stops are determined. Some have rest stops of 5 minutes per 1-hour walk for flat terrain. A 5minute rest per 30-minute walk is advisable for ascending terrain while a 5-minute rest per 15-5-minute walk is recommended for steep terrain. Rest stops on descent will depend on the terrain but usually its 5 minutes per 1-hour descent. Do not sit or lie down at once during rest stops. Keep standing for 30 seconds before sitting to stabilize blood circulation. Take only sips of water. Drinking too much will induce an abrupt lowering of body temperature making it hard for you to maintain your pace again.
When trail-blazing, avoid indiscriminate cutting of vegetation. Keep trailblazing to a minimum to preserve the natural state of the wilderness. Make sure to inform the immediate person behind you of the obstacles and/or dangers encountered along the path. A lead man should be assigned if the group is unsure of the trail. Side trails not used should be closed to prevent others from taking it. Do this by blocking the path with sticks or branches. To make the path safer, cut sharp thorns and poisonous plants along the trail. Avoid littering. Pocket all candies and biscuit wrappers. Smoking on the trail and /or during short rest stops is strictly prohibited. It may cause forest fires. Flop belts and knots and shoelaces might become loose. It is the duty of the man behind to check if the man ahead of him has dropped anything on the trail. If lost, do not panic.
Try to assess your position and then take necessary steps to find the correct route.
When walking in cold weather, minimize the rest stops to prevent the body from cooling-off too fast.
DIFFICULT AREAS
One of the characteristics that backpacking offers is the challenge of overcoming differing obstacles due to bad weather or difficult terrain.
When walking up the mountain the temperature changes rapidly. It can be from a high temperature and humidity to cold temperatures and dry air. A cold wind easily dissipates body heat. When resting be sure to cover the head and neck to slow down the heat loss. The ground may also be cold, therefore sit on your backpack if possible.
The Philippine weather changes rapidly. One moment it’s sunny and in 30 minutes, a torrential rain is pouring in. Rains here are occasionally accompanied by lightning.
Therefore when climbing, especially at around 1,000 meters take these precautionary measures in avoiding lightning strikes. Some signs are apparent like the smell of ozone and the crack of thunder. Lightning usually looks for the shortest route it can make between the cloud and the ground. Therefore get off peaks and ridges as much as possible. Medium sized trees provide some protection if they are not hit first. When you are above tree lines, look for rocks that are taller than you do and stand several yards away from it. When lightning hits the ground it travels to a point of least resistance, therefore stay away from paths like:
1. Steep inclines; where the current travels more freely 2. Wet areas; since water is a good conductor
If you find yourself above the tree lines, look for big rocks that you can crouch on to (not the highest one) that is elevated and not connected to other rocks underneath. Do not go into a cave or a rock depression or even an overhang, since these places attract ground currents.
When crouching, the best position is to put your feet close together as possible.
Stand on something that can insulate you from the ground, like a sleeping bag, mattress or a coil of climbing rope, or even your backpack (without the metal frame). You need to
stay away from any metal objects like your external pack frame or mess kit. Being hit by lightning requires emergency first-aid procedures like shock, burns and if necessary, CPR.
TRAIL SIGNS
Trails signs are used to keep the next group to follow the persons lead. They are usually set-up by the first sweeper for the next group. They are placed in the middle of the trail for everyone to see. Rocks, pebbles and small branches are used for this.
CROSSING RIVERS
The Philippines, as a tropical country has numerous streams and rivers. Many are wide and deep and some are just streams. Considering the geography and weather conditions of the Philippines we do not have a lack of this natural feature.
Crossing them will depend on the physical feature of the river. It can also depend on the weather, since most of the shallow rivers here turn into raging rapids when rainfall hits. You may have the choice of using bridges. It may be a short distance and a waste of time, but at least you are dry. If there are no immediate bridges available, scout the river upstream and downstream to find a suitable shallow area to cross. You may find rocks to hop on to. This is just an option if the river or creek has small rocks or boulders to hop on to. But if it is knee deep, chances are there might not be enough rock to hop on to. Especially here, the rivers may be shallow but the rocks are covered with moss that the chance of slipping is inevitable. Accept the fact that your feet will get wet and also your boots.
If you are to cross a river, never go barefoot. There is a great possibility that you may step on sharp stones or bones and shell fragments. Wearing sport sandals is the best alternative. Aside from giving adequate protection to your feet, they also dry out relatively easy. Another alternative is the local rubber sandals or "tsinelas." They are much lighter than the sport sandals, dries out more readily, cheap and comes in various colors. One disadvantage is its unsturdiness. Sneakers are another alternative. Aside from giving better protection to your feet, it dries out longer. Many still wear their boots (fabric boots), since it provides much more protection to the feet and ankles if the water is too deep and the bottom cannot be seen. Before wearing your boots in the water, be sure to take off you socks. At least there is something dry to wear on the other side.
Preparation
When crossing a river be sure to pick the widest area, since a narrow channel is generally deeper. Look for a part of the river that is still and you can see the bottom. Do not go straight or perpendicular to the direction of flow. This will leave you more vulnerable to the current. Before wading into the water be sure that you take measures to protect your clothes dry in your backpack. Loosen all straps, sternal and waist belt of your backpack. This is done to easily discard your pack if you fall into the water. When
wading alone, use a pole to probe the bottom of the river. This will serve as your third leg and to maintain your balance during the crossing. Some use two poles to provide better stability. Always head downstream and in an angular direction. Place your foot sideways across the current and squarely on the riverbed.
MAPS
There are many types of maps. There are political maps, world maps, street maps, topographical maps, National park maps, Profile maps and others, each with a different purpose and use. For the outdoorsman a geographic or topographical, "topos", is the ideal type to use. It shows the supposed terrain of a particular locality as seen from above. It displays the hills, valleys, and mountains, rivers and also man-made structures that are represented by grids and contour lines. There are 2 types of topos;
the 15-minute map and the 7.5-minute map. A minute refers to a fraction of a degree and one minute is equal to 1/60 of a degree. Therefore, one inch on a 15-minute map is equal to one mile or 1.6 km on the ground. For the 7.5-minute map, a one-inch will equal 2/5 of a mile on the ground. The advantage of a 7.5-minute map is its more detailed picture of the land. Another type of map is the National Park map. These maps provides the traveler with general info about major hiking trails, as well as where to find campsites, foods, restrooms, good swimming and other activities but it does not provide enough detail for serious hiking. A profile map provides info such as the ups and downs of a trail, the mileage between important landmarks, and the steepness and length of climbs and descents. But profile maps are not topos. Instead of using contour lines these maps convey information on a graph that measures the elevation gained or lost per mile.
MAP READING
The worst time and place to learn how to read a map is when you realized that you’re lost in the middle of a remote wilderness. The best way to learn is to take a map with you when you’re on a well-marked trail. Start by identifying the map’s landmarks in the field such as mountain peaks or a river’s mouth. As with everything, the more you practice the better you’ll get to read the map.
The worst time and place to learn how to read a map is when you realized that you’re lost in the middle of a remote wilderness. The best way to learn is to take a map with you when you’re on a well-marked trail. Start by identifying the map’s landmarks in the field such as mountain peaks or a river’s mouth. As with everything, the more you practice the better you’ll get to read the map.