Mountain Craft: Round 2!

After the first round, I was eager to sign up for the next one as soon as possible. The instructors were just superb considering how tiny the course expenses were.

What I learnt this time round.

1. Waterproof Everything!

Remember how we bagged everything in all kinds of plastic bags in AYP?

Well, the instructors here took it to another level. They used immersion-class dry-bags for everything (except the tent and water)! First Aid Kit, sleeping bag, mat, food, emergency rations, map. Everything was color coded and could be pulled out in an instant. That was pro.

Maybe one could even swim across rivers with that setup.

2. Hydrate, eat on the way there.

Courses are a bit different. They are really rushed. I didn't know this the first time. I arrived at the meeting point in a hurry, carrying my brunch that should have been in my belly by then. We were so busy doing mapwork and leading, I didn't get to touch it until late afternoon.

Always be comfy.

3. Reduce base-weight! (shelter, cookset, sleeping bag, mat, rucksack = your base weight.)

These are your heaviest items. Try to cut these down.

If you know how to camp without a tent, but you will be very dependent on campsite selection.  

4. Reduce weight further by only bringing calorie-dense food.

Rice is great, if you are great at cooking it! Foil-packed instants are great too!

Vegetables take up lots of weight but don't give much calories.

Preserved meats are safer than fresh meat. My group risked food poisoning by bringing minced meat, which was frozen in a bag for a whole day.

Can food is pretty heavy for what nutrition it contains. It was actually banned on the course. On a multi-day trip, they would just be too heavy.

5. There are whistles, and WHISTLES!!! Have the latter.

Use a storm whistle. In fact, get any whistle so loud you ears will ring.

Which brings me to this question - Do people really care, let alone come to your rescue if you blow your whistle, use your distress signal or start a big smokin' signal fire? I haven't come to a satisfactory answer from anybody, but I'm guessing...nope. Most people will ignore you if they can. (Personally, I would go check it out to satisfy my curiosity.) I mean, who uses a whistle when you have a phone?

The only time it may be useful would be when there is someone looking for you, or expecting it. Like a lifeguard, or survivor waiting for rescue.

6. Always use a tent footprint.

Footprints will protect the tent floor from abrasion, water and everything else. 

Footprints will also improve comfort and insulation.

You can make your own footprint out of sheet plastics.

7. Don't bother boiling water.

I don't know...maybe it's caught on now, but campers in Hong Kong are also starting to not boil their water.

I've seen people use iodine, chlorine bleach, other chemical treatments*, and UV. I'm thinking about a filter, just because they are less prone to failure than UV or chemicals, can remove some organic pollutants and leave no nasty tastes.

http://www.aquamira.com/consumer/aquamira-water-treatment-drops/choose-right

8. It's not about the gear.

Gear is important, but don't get carried away. 

Have everything you require, and stop there. 

I did all the camping in a HKD99 2-person tent. It worked fine and I slept well, with 3 other guys.

My backpack is 10 years old and everything still works great. I proudly carried it among the Ospreys, Mountain Wolfs and Deuters. 

My sleeping bag is equally old. It's served me well everywhere and I have no plans to change it unless there is a revolutionary new tech.

My trekking poles are also ancient. They work fine and I would have no hard feelings if I dropped them off the hillside.

Be one with nature, and let nothing be in your way.

End. 

I took this course with another group. This group put less emphasis on navigation skills, and far greater emphasis on equipment, technique, cooking, camping and leadership. I came away with the skill to make some very tasty camp meals (2 dish + 1 soup + non-burnt rice + dessert), pitch a tent in until 10 min, practiced making first-aid scenario decisions quickly and the desire to do more backpacking.