Bushwacking 101
Spring is an excellent time to practice all your acquired, fine tuned bushwhacking abilities. There are usually plenty of opportunities to present your current knowledge in trail finding and fine navigational skills. While you may think that there isn’t much to making trail or bushwhacking as we call it, there are
definitely some things, and techniques that can prove helpful and make your experience much more successful.
First of all we are assuming that the reason you are needing to take bushwhacking 101 is because there is a currently established trail that has become quite
overgrown and is difficult to find. Or that the trail on the map is marked with those lightly dotted lines indicating that there ‘should be’ a trail there, you just have to find it. We would never encourage using bushwhacking technique to blaze trails through uncharted territory; this would damage the precious environment and could result in unnecessary damage to the area. With that said… the Theory portion of Bushwhacking 101, please consider the following.
Why:
This is your first consideration, why do you need to go this way? Many a time we think that “this will be easy, we can just cut through here it will save us
time”. Truth of the matter is, bulk of the time it actually costs you time and energy. Bushwhacking can slow you down, because you have to take time to blaze a trail. You tend to slow also because you aren’t on pace with the regular trail. It costs in energy; there is much effort in route finding and trail blazing. Many times you find you have to back track and go a different way. So make sure you fully consider why you are considering forging a new trail.
Proper clothing:
Clothing is definitely an issue. Having the proper attire greatly affects your outcome. If you are wearing shorts, tank top or no shirt and sandals the markings left on your body will be far more than if you wear long sleeves, pants and boots. Even though it is a matter of pride to wear scars and bleed, it tends to hurt a little in the interim. Also the more clothing you can wear will also protect you from sharp edges, sticker bushes, stinging nettles, poisonous plants, bug bites, bee stings and ticks. If you don’t have a jacket or long shirt you can slip on for a little protection, make the other guy go first. However that may run into technique issues due to any bugs that may be released after the first person enters the brush (see technique).
Tools of the trade:
A map, a compass and a good stick, these are things you want to make sure you have with you. Sometimes a rope, headlamp and gloves also may become handy. You should always take a map with you no matter where you go. A compass is necessary in route finding, if you head off course due to tree traffic or
nettle congestion, you will be able to keep your heading to your destination point. Many think that using a compass is difficult, not so, its logic and easy, but you have to take a moment to learn. There are many good books out there that can help you to understand map and compass work very quickly and easily. I recommend a little green book by Bob & Mike Burns called Wilderness Navigation, very easy – READ IT! it will make life much easier.
Technique:
Who goes first? This is the first question I like to ask myself when I get to this point. Usually it comes down to rock-paper-scissors to figure out the victim.
Usually the first person battles spider webs, sticker bushes and low lying brush. The second person gets to experience airborne bug release and twigs in the face, but has the ease of no spider webs and less ground cover to trample through. Usually the last person has the ease and comfort of a new trail that is if your party is larger than small. If you have many in your party you need to consider the impact of the environment as well as where you are placed in line.
First person - When entering the brush make sure everyone sees just where you go in. Make sure that you are keeping a look out not only on things that can poke you in the eye but where you step. Many times there are underlying stream beds, mud, drop offs and animal poop that can make life a little less comfortable when you aren’t paying close attention. Take with you a stick or branch to knock down spider webs. Using a small leafy branch helps many times in moving aside sticker bushes and poison ivy with out having to touch the nasty plants you are treading.
Take turns, especially if the route you choose is long. The first person usually extends more energy than the last, so make sure you switch off, or you might be looking to perform "rescue" instead of "route finding" technique.
Route to take:
Four things at least to consider here. The answer to this should come from easy map consideration. So many times we make a new route when we didn’t have to. Like I said earlier, it may be quicker and easier to go around the area you are proposing to go through. Make sure you consider your terrain properly and the area you will be traveling in. Is there heavy brush, trees, ravine, or maybe a cliff you either would have to scale or fall off? This is a very important step for consideration. Don’t miss it! Too many people get into trouble because they don’t consider their route well enough. They end up at the bottom of a cliff
because they failed to make good judgment.
Next ask, where do you want to come out? If you go this way are you going to need to come back this way, if so do you need to leave some equipment in place so as to get out? Nothing is more frustrating that knowing you can get into someplace but not be able to get back up or down. Trapped! not a good place to be. Make sure that when you consider your route you take all necessary precautions as to your return as you do in going into the area. Safe returns are good returns, good returns means that Search and Rescue doesn’t have to work that day.
Is it safe? You need to consider the safety factor for not only yourself but those traveling with you. You may be able to safely traverse a nasty hillside or slide a ravine, but there maybe some in your party that are afraid of heights, things to consider. Also think if there is a chance you will run into bees. Are you prepared if someone with you or yourself has an allergy to bee stings?
Do you have kids with you? Remember that bushes are like monsters to children. Also many times kids are more susceptible to toxins and poisons in plants than an adult. Branches will hit much lower on a child and when they can’t see where they are going can cause trauma and panic, two things that can make your bushwhacking experience very unpleasant and even more difficult.
Caution: When we have been out in the wilderness for an extended period of time our good judgment and sense of direction can become altered and off even slightly. Make sure you don’t make hasty decisions that may cause harm to self or to others in your party.
The out come:
Where are you, did you come out where you intended? Are you in the same physical condition as when you started? Would you go back the same way, or can you? Did you learn anything about the route you choose? Make sure you note on your map where your return route will be. Many times the brush will start to recover while you are away, especially if you are gone for some time. If there are rocks lying around build a cairn or tag a tree so you know where to enter upon return.
Note: If you are ever to find markings or cairns set, never disturb them, they are most likely marking a spot or path to follow for someone else.
Now you have considered the theory part of Bushwhacking 101, now you need to test your hypothesis. Test yourself out and see if your skills are in need of tuning or alter of technique.
If you feel that you can add to any portion of our class by your tested techniques please enter them for consideration. Otherwise please be careful and considerate of nature. Life is too short not to have a good adventure.
definitely some things, and techniques that can prove helpful and make your experience much more successful.
First of all we are assuming that the reason you are needing to take bushwhacking 101 is because there is a currently established trail that has become quite
overgrown and is difficult to find. Or that the trail on the map is marked with those lightly dotted lines indicating that there ‘should be’ a trail there, you just have to find it. We would never encourage using bushwhacking technique to blaze trails through uncharted territory; this would damage the precious environment and could result in unnecessary damage to the area. With that said… the Theory portion of Bushwhacking 101, please consider the following.
Why:
This is your first consideration, why do you need to go this way? Many a time we think that “this will be easy, we can just cut through here it will save us
time”. Truth of the matter is, bulk of the time it actually costs you time and energy. Bushwhacking can slow you down, because you have to take time to blaze a trail. You tend to slow also because you aren’t on pace with the regular trail. It costs in energy; there is much effort in route finding and trail blazing. Many times you find you have to back track and go a different way. So make sure you fully consider why you are considering forging a new trail.
Proper clothing:
Clothing is definitely an issue. Having the proper attire greatly affects your outcome. If you are wearing shorts, tank top or no shirt and sandals the markings left on your body will be far more than if you wear long sleeves, pants and boots. Even though it is a matter of pride to wear scars and bleed, it tends to hurt a little in the interim. Also the more clothing you can wear will also protect you from sharp edges, sticker bushes, stinging nettles, poisonous plants, bug bites, bee stings and ticks. If you don’t have a jacket or long shirt you can slip on for a little protection, make the other guy go first. However that may run into technique issues due to any bugs that may be released after the first person enters the brush (see technique).
Tools of the trade:
A map, a compass and a good stick, these are things you want to make sure you have with you. Sometimes a rope, headlamp and gloves also may become handy. You should always take a map with you no matter where you go. A compass is necessary in route finding, if you head off course due to tree traffic or
nettle congestion, you will be able to keep your heading to your destination point. Many think that using a compass is difficult, not so, its logic and easy, but you have to take a moment to learn. There are many good books out there that can help you to understand map and compass work very quickly and easily. I recommend a little green book by Bob & Mike Burns called Wilderness Navigation, very easy – READ IT! it will make life much easier.
Technique:
Who goes first? This is the first question I like to ask myself when I get to this point. Usually it comes down to rock-paper-scissors to figure out the victim.
Usually the first person battles spider webs, sticker bushes and low lying brush. The second person gets to experience airborne bug release and twigs in the face, but has the ease of no spider webs and less ground cover to trample through. Usually the last person has the ease and comfort of a new trail that is if your party is larger than small. If you have many in your party you need to consider the impact of the environment as well as where you are placed in line.
First person - When entering the brush make sure everyone sees just where you go in. Make sure that you are keeping a look out not only on things that can poke you in the eye but where you step. Many times there are underlying stream beds, mud, drop offs and animal poop that can make life a little less comfortable when you aren’t paying close attention. Take with you a stick or branch to knock down spider webs. Using a small leafy branch helps many times in moving aside sticker bushes and poison ivy with out having to touch the nasty plants you are treading.
Take turns, especially if the route you choose is long. The first person usually extends more energy than the last, so make sure you switch off, or you might be looking to perform "rescue" instead of "route finding" technique.
Route to take:
Four things at least to consider here. The answer to this should come from easy map consideration. So many times we make a new route when we didn’t have to. Like I said earlier, it may be quicker and easier to go around the area you are proposing to go through. Make sure you consider your terrain properly and the area you will be traveling in. Is there heavy brush, trees, ravine, or maybe a cliff you either would have to scale or fall off? This is a very important step for consideration. Don’t miss it! Too many people get into trouble because they don’t consider their route well enough. They end up at the bottom of a cliff
because they failed to make good judgment.
Next ask, where do you want to come out? If you go this way are you going to need to come back this way, if so do you need to leave some equipment in place so as to get out? Nothing is more frustrating that knowing you can get into someplace but not be able to get back up or down. Trapped! not a good place to be. Make sure that when you consider your route you take all necessary precautions as to your return as you do in going into the area. Safe returns are good returns, good returns means that Search and Rescue doesn’t have to work that day.
Is it safe? You need to consider the safety factor for not only yourself but those traveling with you. You may be able to safely traverse a nasty hillside or slide a ravine, but there maybe some in your party that are afraid of heights, things to consider. Also think if there is a chance you will run into bees. Are you prepared if someone with you or yourself has an allergy to bee stings?
Do you have kids with you? Remember that bushes are like monsters to children. Also many times kids are more susceptible to toxins and poisons in plants than an adult. Branches will hit much lower on a child and when they can’t see where they are going can cause trauma and panic, two things that can make your bushwhacking experience very unpleasant and even more difficult.
Caution: When we have been out in the wilderness for an extended period of time our good judgment and sense of direction can become altered and off even slightly. Make sure you don’t make hasty decisions that may cause harm to self or to others in your party.
The out come:
Where are you, did you come out where you intended? Are you in the same physical condition as when you started? Would you go back the same way, or can you? Did you learn anything about the route you choose? Make sure you note on your map where your return route will be. Many times the brush will start to recover while you are away, especially if you are gone for some time. If there are rocks lying around build a cairn or tag a tree so you know where to enter upon return.
Note: If you are ever to find markings or cairns set, never disturb them, they are most likely marking a spot or path to follow for someone else.
Now you have considered the theory part of Bushwhacking 101, now you need to test your hypothesis. Test yourself out and see if your skills are in need of tuning or alter of technique.
If you feel that you can add to any portion of our class by your tested techniques please enter them for consideration. Otherwise please be careful and considerate of nature. Life is too short not to have a good adventure.
