Tips on Equipment The right equipment is half the battle

You need to start your hike with enough water. You can also fill your canteens with water from streams. It is a well known fact that spring water found during mountain hikes is very clean. If the water happens to be murky, just filter it! To do this, pour sand, pebbles and crushed charcoal into a handkerchief-lined sock. The water is much clearer after passing through the sock. But be careful, this method doesn’t neces­sarily remove all bacteria and germs. Remember one other thing as well: Take water only from a flowing stream – the faster the stream, the cleaner the water. You should avoid standing water at all costs. Bacteria and germs love to congregate here!

The lighter, the better. The weight of your packed rucksack should not exceed 25 percent of your body­weight. If you are hiking through flat terrain, your ruck­sack’s centre of gravity should be on your shoulders. In steep terrain, it will be a bit lower down your back.

The items you should definitely have in your backpack:

Next to your water bottle, your supplies are the most important thing in your rucksack. This food will reju­venate you once your battery begins to run down and your steps grow shorter. This is when it’s time to take a break. Have a drink, stretch your legs and shake your arms. If that doesn’t help or your stomach is rumbling, then you need to refuel. The most suitable snacks are bananas, dried fruits or nuts. Even biscuits or dextrose can help you recharge.

This small bottle can help with just about anything, fits into any rucksack and is your ideal tour companion. A drop of this oil reduces any inflam­mation caused by minor injuries, athlete’s foot or insect bites. Its aroma masks odours, so you can use it for washing on long tours. Be careful – don’t let it get into your eyes because it burns! If you become ill when hiking, dilute a drop of tea tree oil with some water and drink it. Even gargling it helps – e.g. if you have an inflam­mation of the gums or a sore throat.