Venturing into Nature for Holiday Fun?
As the holiday season approaches, New Zealand Police and the NZ Mountain Safety Council are predicting a high number of people will visit Aotearoa's outdoors. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience, they have shared some top safety tips for exploring Aotearoa's tracks this summer.
- Choose Tracks According to Weather and Abilities It's crucial to pick tracks that match the weather and the abilities of everyone in your group. This ensures you do not attempt routes beyond your skill level or in unsafe conditions.
- Check the Weather Forecast Before you go, check the weather forecast carefully. Be prepared to change plans if needed, as weather can change rapidly.
- Avoid Alpine Routes Avoid alpine routes unless everyone is fully equipped and experienced. Alpine areas require special gear and skills due to harsher conditions and higher risks.
- Pack Warm Clothing and Extra Food Even in summer, conditions in backcountry areas can still be cold and challenging. Pack warm clothing and extra food accordingly.
- Share Your Plans Share your plans with a trusted contact and take a way to summon help, such as a distress beacon or means to communicate in emergencies.
- Be Prepared with the Right Gear Be prepared with the right gear and know how to use it, especially if going into higher-risk or avalanche-prone areas.
- Hike with a Buddy or Group Hiking with a buddy or group can provide safety and mutual support.
In addition to these tips, it's important to protect your cell phone from weather and damage when exploring the outdoors. Police recommend carrying more than one form of communication for help or updates. If cellphone coverage is not available, consider utilizing marine or mountain radio.
For more outdoor safety information, visit the NZ Mountain Safety Council's website. They offer tips, interactive gear lists, personalized trip plans, and track alerts through their Plan My Walk app and website. If you have specific queries, you can contact the NZ Mountain Safety Council or New Zealand Police via their respective websites.
Remember to take care of yourself and others, eat, drink, rest, and make decisions together. Have a safe and enjoyable summer exploring Aotearoa's beautiful outdoors!
[1] MSC's Plan My Walk app and website: https://www.msc.org.nz/plan-my-walk/ [2] NZ Mountain Safety Council's website: https://www.mountainsafety.org.nz/ [3] New Zealand Police: https://www.police.govt.nz/ [4] Register a distress beacon: https://www.eperb.co.nz/register/ [5] Utilize marine or mountain radio: https://www.radiocommunications.govt.nz/services/maritime-services/vhf-radio-services/
- Protect Your Devices from the Elements To stay connected during your outdoor adventures, ensure you protect your cell phone and any communication devices from the elements.
- Carry Multiple Communication Methods For help or updates, carry more than one method of communication, such as a distress beacon, marine or mountain radio, in case cellphone coverage is not available.
