REDLAND
BUSHWALKERS
Incorporated.
Abseiling - techniques for descending
vertical cliff faces using harnesses, ropes and safety equipment.
Base camp - a camp based in one
location, eg: a camping area with vehicle access. Small easy walks may be
done during the day, but breakfast and dinner will be held at camp.
Sleeping is also done at the base camp. Most camps will access to toilets,
showers, drinking water and facilities such as public phones and supplies.
Bouldering - see
rock scrambling
Bush bash -push through scrub (see
scunge).
Bushcraft - a general term for
knowledge that helps you survive in the bush.
Canyoning - abseiling through canyons
and down waterfalls. Usually involves a high proportion of swimming.
Compass - a device used for finding
directions aligned with the Earth's magnetic field. A floating needle points to the north and south magnetic
poles.
Contour Line - the lines on
a topographic map that show the relief or elevation of features.
Day Walk - a bushwalk that runs for an
entire day, or part of a day. Lunch is typically held on the walk
somewhere, usually at a scenic location. Walk duration can vary from a
couple of hours to a full eight or nine hours. Shorter day walks may have
lunch on returning to the vehicles.
De
EPIRB (Emergency Positioning Radio
Indicating Beacon) - a compact,
buoyant, self contained radio transmitter which continuously emits a distinctive
radio signal to a satellite for at least 48 hours when activated. It allows rescuers to find you.
FOR EMERGENCY USE ONLY.
FMR - Federation
Mountain Rescue - an independent rescue organisation borne from the Australian Federation of Bushwalkers.
Gaiters - external
protective coverings for the boots, ankles and lower legs.
Geographical poles - the north and
south poles.
Global Positioning System (GPS) - gives
an accurate position of your location on the Earth's surface from the
information provided by satellites. Position
is expressed in terms of degrees, minutes, seconds (°, ', '')
Longitude is expressed first, either east or west of the Greenwich
meridian, then latitude; either north or south of the equator.
Graded track walking - formed
walking tracks. ie: national parks.
Grid north - is the direction that all
topographic maps are aligned with. It's
purpose is to adjust for the difference, when transferring the curvature of the
Earth to a two dimensional plane. True
North and grid north and so close, they are considered the same direction.
Latitude - equally
spaced lines of navigation running east to west around the earth. Parallel to the equator.
Longitude - are
navigational lines on the earth running north to south (pole to pole).
They are closest together at the poles, and widest at the equator.
Magnetic bearing - a
directional bearing made using a compass.
Magnetic north - is the direction that
the magnetic needle on the compass points.
Due to the tilt of the Earth, the magnetic poles do not align with the
geographical poles. Currently the
North Magnetic pole is 11 degrees to the East.
Magnetic variation needs to be taken into account when working with maps.
Magnetic variation - the
difference between true/grid north and magnetic north.
Map grid - the horizontal and vertical
lines on the map. The vertical
lines run north to south as the top of the map is always north.
Map Scale - details
how large an area the map covers. The
larger the scale the more the map covers. Eg.
1:10,000 - 1 cm on the map equals 10,000 cm in the field (100 metres).
1:50,000 - 1 cm on the map equals 50,000 cm in the field or 500 metres.
Minute - Navigational
term. 1/60th of a degree.
One minute of latitude equals 1 nautical mile, which is 1860 metres.
Represented as '
North Star - a
star used to find north in the northern hemisphere.
THIS STAR IS NOT VISIBLE IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.
Off track walking - following
no formed tracks, using navigational skills
Orientating the map - rotating the map
so that grid north on the map aligns with true north in the field.
Pack Halling - Using ropes to lift
packs up vertical sections
Precipitous - like a precipice,
dangerously hard
Queensland Federation of Bushwalkers - a
Queensland branch of the organisation that certifies and regulates the official
bushwalking industry.
Rock climbing - techniques used to
climb vertical cliff faces using harnesses, ropes and safety equipment
Rock hopping - technical walking
through dry and wet creek beds. Small
rocks to step on or over.
Rock scrambling - a
walking technique that requires good balance and the use of hands and feet to
cross small boulders and general rocky areas.
Rogaine - similar to orienteering.
You navigate to find points on a map in a set period of time, and obtain
a score
S&T - Safety
and Training
Scroggan - mixture of fruit, nuts and
lollies mixed in one bag to nibble as walking along
Scunge - vegetation undergrowth.
Off track walking through heavy scrub, requires pushing aside of
vegetation
Second - Navigational
term. 1/60th of a minute.
Represented as ". One
second equals 31 metres.
Southern Cross - a
southern hemisphere constellation used to find true south at night
Through Walk - long distance, multiple
day walks where you walk, camp at night then walk again the next day.
Unlike a base camp, which have no real restrictions on equipment, equipment for
a through walk is restricted to what you can carry. These walks are often
in rugged terrain and can cover forty to fifty kilometres in a weekend, so
fitness and experience is essential.
Topographical map - a
map that primarily shows feature elevation. Also shows roads, tracks,
settlements and vegetation types.
True north - the direction that points
to the geographical north pole. See
grid north, magnetic north
Vertically challenging - steep
and needs technical skills, is challenging
Walk leader - person in charge of an
activity, who is responsible for the groups safety