Base Camps & Pack Carries
Leading Multi Day Events
This module assumes you are familiar with previous topics. It covers additional considerations for extended activities. Content is presented in two sections:
- Base Camps where participants stay in one place in tents or roofed accommodation and walk each day
- Pack Carries, usually in more remote locations, where participants carry all of their requirements and walk between camp sites
- Note: Some remote and walk-in Base Camps can be as complex as Pack Carries to lead and require very similar skills
Base Camps
Resources
For group sessions
PowerPoint presentation
Slides: Base Camps (PPT, 1.4MB)
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Presenters' notes
Presenting the topic: Base Camps (PDF, 118KB)
Note: you may customise the material to reflect your particular club circumstances, with permission from and acknowledgement of Bushwalking Victoria.
For participants and individual leaders
Printed information
Handbook: Base Camps (PDF, 418KB)
Summary of Additional Considerations for Base Camps (PDF, 93KB)
Summary of Additional Considerations for Base Camps
- Choose an area you are interested in and for which you can source good information
- For smaller groups you can lead one walk per day yourself, so all walkers should be capable of completing walks at the advertised level
- For larger groups there could be 2 or 3 walks per day (if you have extra leaders) at different levels
- Single lodge with communal eating area
- Cabins, vans or tents in a caravan park
- Participants find their own accommodation within a regional town
- Bush camp
- Payments, including deposits; rules for refunds
- Transport to the base location
- Daily transport to walks
- Food: shared communal or individual, within base location or eat out
- Participants need clear direction on all aspects of the event
- Follow checklist in handbook
- Try not to confuse with multiple emails that get lost in a crowded in-box
- Daily weather checks
- Daily walks program
- Maps, directions to walk starts
- Room allocation, shared duties
- Possible pre-departure meeting and post event get-together
Pack Carries
Resources
For group sessions
-
PowerPoint presentation
Slides: Pack Carries (PPT, 584KB)
Slides: Advanced Leadership (PPT, 837KB)
Slides: Advanced Navigation (PPT, 1.3Mb)
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Presenters' notes
Presenting the topic: Pack Carries (PDF, 102KB)
Class activity: Route planning (PDF, 184KB)
Note: you may customise the material to reflect your particular club circumstances, with permission from and acknowledgement of Bushwalking Victoria.
For participants and individual leaders
Printed information
Handbook: Pack Carries (PDF, 273KB) includes advice on weight to carry, food for energy and selection of gear
Handbook: Advanced Leadership (PDF, 266KB) has guidance for managing a multi-day walk and monitoring day to day progress
Handbook: Advanced Navigation (PDF, 340KB) specifically covers navigation in remote areas
Summary of Additional Information for Pack Carries (PDF, 97KB)
Bushwalking Manual online reference
While the online Bushwalking Manual is designed to suit all lengths and levels of walks, much of the content is specifically relevant to extended walking in remote areas. All participants on pack carries should be encouraged to refer to this resource. Prospective leaders should take particular note.
Planning
Group selection and size
Practical planning considerations gives advice for longer events in more isolated conditions
Logistical considerations: vehicle preparation, necessary permits, food drops
Equipment and clothing: make sure participants are informed and prepared
Route planning
Important checklist
On the trip
Bush huts: etiquette and fire safety
Campsites
Extra considerations for group management on an extended trip
Remote emergency management
Navigation in difficult conditions
Choosing the appropriate emergency communication device
Personal Locator Beacons
Satellite phones
Emergency shelters
Helicopter rescues
Fire
Useful external links
St John Ambulance Western Australia has a very clear first aid guide for snakebite
Summary of Additional Considerations for Pack Carries
- Choose a location to suit your group
- For the less experienced, stay within 1 or 2 days of cars or other transport
- Plan very remote trips for experienced walkers only
- Make sure you have good information about the planned location including forecast weather, fires, floods, track conditions, creek and river crossings
- Plan daily route and timing, rest stops and camp sites
- Organise transport to and from the walk, hut or campsite bookings, food drops
- Ensure water supply
- Ensure everyone understands requirements for equipment and clothing
- Check participants will carry adequate and appropriate food and water
- For inexperienced walkers, consider a trial pack weighing at a pre-departure briefing
- A multi-day walk in a remote area requires strong navigational skills with both map and compass and GPS
- Be confident to manage people who may be hot, tired, cold, wet or in difficult situations
- Check your club policy regarding use of a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) and the registered club emergency contact
- Have plans for escape routes or turnback strategies in case of emergency
- It is highly recommended there is at least one person in the party who is qualified in first aid
Key Points
- Only lead a multi-day walk event if you have had experience as a leader of day walks and as a participant on multi-day events.
- Make your first event fairly simple, or go as a deputy for a more experienced leader on a larger event.
- Consider sharing the organisational load, particularly for a base camp, by having one person planning the walk(s) and another dealing with logistics such as accommodation, transport and meals.
- All of the important points about planning, risk management, conducting the walk etc also apply to multi-day events, but with extra considerations.