Mount Talaga Bodas

Talaga Bodas Crater Natural Park region has an area of ​​23.85 hectares and located at an altitude of 1512 m above sea level. Sightseeing is a natural park with white water.

Soil stability and water absorption area is classified as moderate. Type of soil material is rocky sandstone soil. Talaga Bodas Crater environmental conditions quite well with the cleanliness and landscape that are classified as good, as evidenced by the absence of water pollution, soil, air and waste, it's just that there is still vandalism committed by visitors.

Administrative boundary of Talaga Bodas Crater region are as follows:

North: Village Sukahurip
West: Village Sindang Blooms

South: Village Tenjo Nagara

East: Village Tenjo Nagara

Talaga Bodas Crater Natural Park region located 8 km from the capital district Wananraja? 20 km from the town of Garut, and 83 km from Bandung. This area is managed by the West Java BKSDA II based on Ministerial Decree No: 98 / Kpts / UM / 1978, with the status of land ownership by the Ministry of Forestry.

Visitors who come to this Natural Park usually do tourist activity tracking, hiking, photography, picnic, or just a walk and refreshing course.

Accessibility
Accessibility to the Natural Park consists of lane highway that is good enough to grade the road district. To reach the location of natural park was able to use vehicles that pass through the road access in the form of public transportation by bus route: Garut-Cibatu, , Guntur-Sukawening terminal, and terminal point Guntur Perumnas Cempaka Indah, or can also use the traditional form of transportation equipment and wagon motorcycle taxi at the end of entrance road access. The visitors generally reach the site by bringing the two-wheeled vehicles (motorcycles).

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Mount Papandayan: Exotic place in Garut

Mount Papandayan is a complex stratovolcano, located in Garut Regency,  West Java, Indonesia. At the summit, there are four large crater, and it contains active fumarole fields. The 1772 eruption caused the northeast flank to collapse, producing a catastrophic debris avalanche that destroyed 40 villages and killed nearly 3000 people. It truncated the volcano into a broad shape with two peaks and a flat 1.1 km wide of Alun-Alun crater in the middle, making it look like a twin volcano. One of the peaks is called Papandayan and the other is Mount Puntang.

Since 1772, only small  phreatic eruptions had occurred prior to an explosive eruptions that began in November 2002.Mount Papandayan is a large composite volcano. It is constructed of alternating layers of lava and ash, and other fragmental volcanic rock debris formed by explosive eruptions over the past several hundred years. A large horseshoe-shape crater extended to the northeast resulting in an avalanche deposit consisted of intermixed volcanic debris and alternated rocks, with steep-sided crater walls. Numerous small vents within the crater, known as Kawah Mas, Kawah Baru, Kawah Nangklak, Kawah Manuk and many other with solfatras emitting smoke and hot fumes from its inner sides.

Exploring Papandayan's active crater offers you a very unusual experience.  A descent of rough lava and black ash is punctuated by bright yellow pockets of sulphur, while hissing acid rivulets and hot mud pools making outlandish belching noises compound the alien effects.

Kawah Mas on the "Golden Crater" is the Papandayan's 150 meter-wide central dome.  Here roaring fumaroles, sounding like jet engines exude scorhing vapor, and the residual heat from previous eruptions glows ominously in the volcano's interior.  It's a 20 minutes walk to the middle of the crater from the car park.

From the top you get a good view into Papandayan's acid-spewing throat.  Watch your step in this area; the ground is uneven and dotted with percolating mud pools.

After visiting this unique, you may feel like having a picnic in the fresh breeze.  Climb up the left side of Kawah Mas, if facing the road, where a 15 minutes walk leads up to a small paleau with a lovely view over the Garut plateau.

If you want to visit Mount Papandayan, please send email to us at dean.ghaaziy@gmail.com

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Bird Watching In Africa - The Ultimate Vacation

Although bird watching is an activity that can be done virtually anywhere on the planet, Africa remains one of the most popular destinations on the planet for a bird watch adventure. Specifically, there is a substantial portion of the tourism industry in Southern Africa that is meeting the needs of bird watching in Africa. Service providers recognize the needs and desires of bird enthusiasts and create safaris and adventures designed with the serious bird watcher in mind.

What Region is Best?

Bird Watching in Africa is also popular on the Eastern portion of the continent. The bulk of the tourism is in the South, but a larger number of species exist in the Eastern nations of Kenya and Tanzania than anywhere else. Boasting over 1300 species, bird watchers in Eastern Africa have the opportunity to see 15% of the world's bird population in one trip. While the number is not so striking in the South, it is still substantial at 920 species. This equates to about 10% of the world's known species.

One of the nations that makes up the Southern area is Botswana. There are several prime destinations within Botswana. One is Chobe National Park. Here bird watchers will find over 450 species of native African birds. Another popular bird watching destination in Botswana is the Okavango Delta. Striking wildlife displays can be seen here seasonally as tiger fish follow the migrating birds up river. A trip to the famous Victoria falls should be planned in when visiting Botswana as well.

When considering East Africa for bird watching, Kenya provides a diverse range of opportunities. From the Central Highlands, which are heavily forested, to the lower lying lakes region, Kenya is a haven for many of Eastern Africa's bird species. When considering Kenya, be sure to check out Aberdare National Park, Amboseli National Park, Lake Baringo, Lake Nakuru, Lake Bogoria, Mount Kenya National Park and the Kakamego Forest Reserve. Several of these parks also serve as the home to various species of primates that are sure to attract your attention as you keep your binoculars turned towards the trees searching for birds.

Make the Most of this Incredible Bird Watching Destination

If you are going to invest the time and money into a trip to go bird watching in Africa, you will want to make sure that you take plenty of time to prepare. Research the species that you may be encountering so that you don't have to spend all of your time leafing through guide books. Read reviews on guides and outfitters to ensure that you have the best possible experience that you can. Some services meet certain needs and interests and you want to make sure that you get the most out of your once in a lifetime investment.

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Your Guide To Mountain Survival

Why climb the mountain? Because it's there! North America's many mountainous regions hold a certain fascination for numerous people on vacation from around the world. But every year, thrill seekers are hurt and sometimes killed from accidents that have happened while traversing these mountains. Most of the time, if precautions are taken, you can keep you and your family safe.

If you are going to be traveling in the mountains, there are a few things to consider before you head out, to ensure you are safe should a problem arise. First, dress in layers. One of the main difficulties when traveling through higher altitudes is the huge variance in temperature that you will face. Should you be stranded in the mountains at night, it can become very cold. To avoid problems that come as a result of the weather, dress warmly but in layers that can be removed if it becomes too warm.

Before leaving, make sure that someone knows where you are heading, and when you expect to be back. This is crucial to your rescue if you should become lost. If there is someone expecting you to be back at a certain day and time and you do not return, a search party can begin. However, if no one knows where you are and when to expect you, then it may be weeks before they start looking.

One item that is indispensable on any outdoor excursion is a pocket knife. You can mark your trail by carving a notch ever few feet into a tree or a rock so that if you ever do get lost, you'll have a trail to follow back home. Marking your trail clearly is important, as sometimes it is all too easy to get turned around and end up walking in circles.

Always travel with a flashlight and extra batteries. Also, make sure you take waterproof matches along with you. A space blanket and a small tarp are essential to your survival in the mountain wilderness. Bring along some water purification tablets in case you should need to search for something to drink. A container that can hold water is also a must.

If you do find that you are lost in the mountains and do not know how to return to where you came from, the best thing to do is to stay where you are. If you move around, you will be harder to find when rescue comes. However, if you are near a stream and you feel you must keep moving, head downstream. This will take you towards the bottom of the mountain, which is usually closer to a road or town.

If you can find shelter where you are, stay put and get out of the elements. Leave a marker, like a brightly colored jacket or tarp, so that rescuers might find you. Then you need to get into shelter.

Stay away from any animals you might encounter. The animal you will be most likely to encounter is a bear. Whatever you do, do not surprise an unsuspecting bear! Catching a bear off guard is the reason for most bear attacks.

The most important thing if you become lost and need to survive is to stay hydrated. Having a source of water available at all times is key. Food can be easily found by observing the local wildlife to see where the animals might go to find nuts or berries. Out in the wild, you can live for up to three weeks without food, but you can only survive for three days without water.

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Getting Off Course: Things to Remember if Lost on a Hike

Many people think they know what to do if they get lost while camping or hiking yet hundreds each year wander off into the woods unprepared, finding that they do not have the tools that they need to survive in the wild. When you are going to be going off into the woods for a camping or hiking trip, even if you are only going a little ways away to gather firewood or explore a new trail, make sure that you have your survival kit on you in case you get lost.

Even the most attentive adult can find that they have wandered off the beaten trail, and finding your way back can be more difficult than you anticipate. Before you set off into the woods, make sure that you have a pack prepared with food like energy bars or trail mix to keep you moving, plenty of water, dry, protected matches, a space blanket to keep you warm and to signal for help during the day, an LED flashlight or LED lantern for use at night, a compass, and the best survival knife that you can find or afford.

You will want an LED flashlight instead of a regular flashlight for several reasons. For one thing, the LED flashlight, even a mini LED flashlight, will burn brighter than a traditional light, making you easier to spot. The LED light will also use less battery power, so that your flashlight lasts longer, and your bulb will burn for many times longer than a traditional bulb, meaning that you won’t have to remember to change bulbs out between trips.

You will need to start out with food and water, however if you are stuck in the wilds for very long, you will need to know how to catch and eat animals for food or how to find food naturally in your area. Local guides will be able to tell you which plants are good to eat and which are not, and will even be able to tell you what kinds of animals are prevalent in your area, increasing your chances of setting the right traps or of hunting the right spots. For these pursuits, you will need a survival knife or a folding pocket knife.

Survival knives are supposed to be able to handle just about anything that you need them to do, from sawing through branches that can be used to make a shelter to catching and cleaning animals for food or digging for roots. These knives can be simple small pocket knives as long as they get the job done, but keep in mind that skimping on your knife could mean skimping on the tool best suited to ensure your survival.

Once you realize that you are lost, it is time to stop moving. Rescuers will begin to look for you where you were last known to be, so wandering farther away could delay a successful rescue. If you know where civilization is, however, then take out your compass and make your way back to the road or the trail.

If you are waiting for help to arrive, lay out colorful clothing or your space blanket in an area that is easy to see from above so that rescuers can find you from the air. You will need to keep your food and water as long as possible, so start looking for food and water sources right away, and do not be shy about setting up camp by making a shelter and covering it with your bright clothing. You need to keep warm and dry in order to preserve your energy. Above all remember to stay calm, and you will find yourself safe in no time.

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5 Basic Safety Tips for Hikers

You probably don't think of hiking as being a dangerous activity and indeed ninety-nine percent of the time it's anything but dangerous and provides millions of people with a great deal of pleasure and often a sense of adventure. It's easy to forget however that you are often out in the wilderness and far away from civilization and so, when accidents do happen, even quite minor accidents can quickly become serious if you're not prepared.

Here are just a few basic safety tips to ensure that your hiking trips don't land you in trouble.

Tip No1 - Consider taking a partner of friend along.

If you're going for a short hike in a nearby area which is a well-traveled area with easy terrain then there's often no need to worry about heading out alone. However, if you are hiking through wild country, perhaps heavily forested areas with winding trails and steep canyons, then the possibility of getting lost or sustaining injury becomes very real and you should consider carefully whether or not you are wise to head out on your own.

Taking a partner along can have many advantages, especially if that partner is an experienced hiker.

At it's simplest 'two heads are better than one' and if you do get lost or run into difficulty you're much less likely to panic if you have somebody with you to help solve the problem. If you do sustain an injury then having somebody with you to administer first aid and, if necessary to go for help, can not only be useful, but can literally save your life.

Tip No 2 - Let somebody know where you're going.

As a novice hiker you should certainly stick to clearly marked and well traveled routes and should not start to stray from these routes and start 'exploring' until you have gained some experience and also had an opportunity to learn and practice the basics of map and compass work. However, it won't take you too long before you're ready to tackle some more adventurous hiking and, at that point, the possibility of getting lost or injured and needing help arises.

For this reason you should always tell somebody where you're going and when you expect to return so that they can send out a search party if you don't return as expected.

Tip No 3 - Take along some basic equipment.

While there's no need to take everything including the kitchen sink with you, it's a good idea to always carry a basic 'survival kit' with you and your local hiking club will be able to give you excellent advice on the sorts of items that this should include.

The sort of things we're talking about here might include matches and a lighter, a first aid kit, a good knife (something practical rather than a simply impressive one hundred gadget affair) and a flashlight.

It's also a good idea to have a map and compass with you and a fully-charged cell phone.

Tip No 4 - Take along some basic provisions.

Water or other fluids like sports drinks are clearly essential as you can lose a great deal of fluid even over a short period of time on a hot day. Dehydration can dramatically reduce your physical performance. You should remember however that water weighs about 8 lbs per gallon, so take enough but not too much.

If you're thinking about cutting down on the amount of water that you can carry and planning on drinking from local streams, then don't. Natural water sources may look inviting but they are often loaded with bacteria and can make you very sick very quickly.

Also take along enough food to last you. There's no pleasure in being hungry out on the trail but remember that you can last a lot longer without food than you can without water so, if it comes to a trade-off, carry more water and less food.

Tip No 5 - Use your common sense.

It's all too easy when you get out into the wilderness to get carried away with your own enthusiasm and try all sort of thing which, with hindsight, you quickly realize were just plain stupid. Mother Nature may be both beautiful and inviting, but she is also quite indifferent to your fate when you do something stupid

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What To Look For In A Camping Knife

When planning for a trip into the woods, there are many accessories that can make an adventure easier to enjoy. As you pack up the tent, gather snacks, food and drink, certain survival resources and tools will come in handy depending on the types of activities you wish to enjoy while roughing it in the wild. Sometimes overlooked during the packing of supplies, a camping knife allows individuals to perform a variety of tasks that range from survival to food preparation. Many considering the purchase of a camping knife should consider the following factors:

Type of Knife

There are two basic types of knife blades that a camper may choose to bring along: fixed or folding. Knives with a fixed blade are made from one solid piece of steel that is anchored to a handle. They come ready to use with a high level of durability and dependability. This type of knife works well to clean, skin or bone fish and also becomes of use when a campsite needs clearing of brush. A fixed knife also accompanies minor medical emergencies.

A folding blade is often referred to as a pocket knife and does not possess the same durability, but is convenient nonetheless. Some pocket knifes provide a camper with multiple blades, as well as additional contraptions, such as a variety of tools. A folding knife allows campers to complete woodworking projects, hunt, hike, perform first aid, and assist numerous camping tasks. The versatility and usefulness of a folding blade is also extended by its small, flexible, lightweight nature.

Purpose

During a camping trip, there are several different tasks that may arise. Whether it is preparing the fish you caught for dinner or opening a lukewarm beer, a camping knife can make life easier. For those seeking a multi-purpose knife for camping, they may want to side with a Swiss Army knife, which offers many different attached tools, such as scissors, locking Phillips screwdriver, universal hex wrench, tweezers, a corkscrew, and a bottle opener. For those looking for a study tool possessing a wealth of strength, a fixed camping knife should be selected.

Blade Length

To complete some of the most common camping tasks, a blade that measures 10 to 20 centimeters (or 4-8 inches) is often used. Sometimes a smaller blade will accommodate a camper in most of their situations.

Blade Thickness

Depending on the length of the knife, most camping selections offer a blade thickness of 3 to 6 millimeters (1/8 to 1/4 inch).

Blade Style (Material)

There are many different materials from which a blade is constructed from that can offer a wide-range of capabilities. Non-stainless blades are fashioned from carbon and alloy steels and offer a high level of toughness, but shows weakness towards rust. When two or more metals are used for the creation of a blade, it is called a Damascus. Although brittle, non-steels ceramic blades are non-corrosive. Titanium blades are also non-corrosive, as well as lighter than steel.

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Camping With Or Without A Remote Control In The Great Outdoors

While on a recent camping trip, I was outside my tent looking up at the brilliant stars in the night sky. The sound of hummingbirds had faded with the last light of the sun and was replaced with crickets cheering wind blown pine needles racing across the dirt to a final resting place. In the past, my evening's entertainment in the wild included a gathering of rabbits, a deer or two, maybe even a coyote howling in the distance, but now I had additional choices of entertainment. I could watch TVs glowing from RV windows. I could listen to a hard rock band blaring from someones stereo. Or even try to play name that tune with the rhythm and hum of a generator behind me in spot number seventy-two.

How did camping change for so many of us over the years? It has become a different world in the wild and getting harder to determine what type of campground you are headed to until you have your stakes in the ground. RV's are popular, and are changing the landscape of the wilderness. Whether you are a snow bird, a retiree or just a wanderer, they are great. They provide a home away from home and are still cheaper than motels. You may pay more in gas, but less in lodging and you are in the great outdoors along with your tv, stereo, shower and other accessories.

Years ago, campgrounds had more tent sites and a minority number of RV sites here and there. The scale is shifting and it's becoming more common to have a locale with 80 RV sites and 10 tent-only sites. More and more places don't allow tents at all. On a recent trip, I found tent sites that were overgrown with weeds while the RV sites were getting ruts from all the wheels rolling heavy loads over their spaces. One beautiful newly built state campground had closed down in less than a year because the water at the boat launch was too low. Brand new bathrooms, solar panels and picnic tables sat unused except by spiders. They were gated and blocked off in a paradise to the solace seeker instead of charging less money for a different kind of camper? One without a boat or jet ski.

When researching online for campgrounds, the lines of distinction are blurred if not lost. You may find RV Parks and hope they have a couple of tent sites off to the side of the pull throughs. You may find a cheap or even free campground at the end of a washboard road and hope that it can accommodate your wheel base. But many times you are in for a surprise as the sun goes down and you are a road coffee shy of alternatives. No matter the extent of research, things are different when you get in the wild. Forest and Park services suffer from budget cuts and their condition knowledge and maintenance is not always up to date. You may find varying classes of fees whether you have a rv, use hookups or just pound stakes. Many parks charge full price whether or not you need hookups and water.

Many state and national parks are cramming more spaces into smaller areas and charging more for them, some near $35 in 2007. You may pay a fee closer to a cheap motel and get less space to yourself. It may not be all wide open spaces. In a RV, you can close the windows. Out in your sleeping bag, you may feel like the person snoring in the space next door has rolled into your tent.

If you love camping, you need to keep getting out there in whatever way you may choose. It's just getting harder to get away from it all.

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Framing Materials Of Your Mountain Bike

The cost of a mountain bike frame is proportionate to its material, as well as the treatment that material has received. Currently, there are five types of material used in mountain bikes - high tensile steel, chromoly steel, aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber. Oversized diameters, heat treating, and butting are tubing material treatments that will increase the cost of a frame as well.

High tensile steel This is a very durable alloy that's found in lower priced mountain bikes. It offers a high carbon content which makes it less stiff than chromoly steel, so more materials are needed to make it stiff enough for bicycle frames, which will in turn make it that much heavier.

Relatively inexpensive to produce, you'll find this material in trail bikes, city bikes, and even entry level mountain bikes. There are some bikes that come with a chromoly seat tube, while the rest is high tensile steel.

Chromoly steel Short for steel alloy, chromoly is best described by its major additives - chromium and molybdenum. This is probably the most refined framing material, giving over 100 years of dependable service.

Depending on the type of heat treating and butting, you can find this material in bikes as low as 400 dollars all the way up to 1,500 and beyond. The chromoly steel material offers very good durability and a compliant ride characteristic.

Aluminum For the past 15 years, aluminum has been refined in pretty much the same way as chromoly. There have been various alloys developed, as well as heat treatment, oversizing, and butting. With dual suspension bikes, aluminum is the preferred material as it's the stiffest and most cost effective.

Aluminum is stiffer than chromoly, and therefore it will crack before chromoly. Of course, this depends on how you ride and how much abuse you give the frame. The advantages of aluminum is that the frame is very light and very stiff through oversizing or butting.

Titanium Even thought it's somewhat exotic, the prices for this material have come down over the last few years. Frames made of titanium remain expensive because it takes longer to weld the tubes to the frame.

Titanium is considered an alloy, normally mixed with small amounts of vanadium and aluminum to give it better weldability and ride characteristics. More compliant than chromoly, it offers better fatigue and corrosion properties.

The material you choose for your bike, all depends on where you ride and what style you use. Almost all materials will last you for years, as long as you take care of your bike and treat the frame with some respect.

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Buying A Mountain Bike

It can be a bit frustrating as well as time consuming when you buy a mountain bike. Below, you'll find some tips and things to be aware of before you lay down the cash and buy a mountain bike.

Determining your price

There is really no limit as to how much money you can spend on a new mountain bike. To help you keep your spending under control, you should figure out what your price range is and how much your willing to pay for a new bike. When you buy, you shouldn't buy from mass merchant stores such as Wal-Mart. You should instead support your local bike shop and get a much better bike and much better service.

Finding your style.

All mountain bikes are designed with several different riding styles and terrain types in mind. You'll need to figure out what type of riding you will be doing the most. Smooth riding, cross country racing, mountain cruising, or lift accessed downhill is something you need to figure out. Make sure that the bike you select fits your personal style and not that of the sale's staff.

Full suspension or hard tail.

If you can afford it, a full suspension mountain bike is always worth the purchase. A hard tail, without rear suspension, is much lighter weight and pedal more efficiently, although full suspensions offer more comfort and overall better control. You'll want to make that decision based on your price range, riding style, and the type of terrain you'll be riding on the most.

Finding your favorites.

Comparing mountain bikes component to component is nearly impossible, as there are far too many combinations available. The best way to go about doing this is finding a few components that are the most important to you and making sure the rest or the minimums fall within your price range. You can start with the fork then look at the wheels and rear derailleur.

Sales and seasons.

During the year, the prices of mountain bikes can fluctuate quite a bit. Spring through summer is the main buying season. If you can wait until the right price pops up, normally in the fall and winter, you can save a couple hundred dollars. Many bike shops will also offer discounts or other accessories if you buy from them.

Finding a good dealer.

Finding a good bike dealer is more important than finding the best price. You should always find a dealer that cares more about selling you a great bike than selling you a high priced one. A great dealer will have a clean repair shop and give you the impression that you can really trust them.

Test ride.

You should test ride as many bikes as you can within your price range and riding style. You'll find that some bikes will feel right, while others won't. The more bikes you can test drive, you better you'll understand what works and what doesn't.

Doing the research Product reviews and bike reviews are some of the best ways to find out about a mountain bikes reliability and overall performance. You should always look at what other owners and reviews think about a bike before you make that final purchase.

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Mountain Biking and Proper Clothing

Mountain biking in cold weather has always been a challenge. The problem is that you'll start out cold then warm up and break a sweat, making yourself wet. Then, when you travel downhill, the combination of wet skin and windchill will be quite chilling.

Below, you'll find a list of the cold weather clothing that will make winter riding less of a bone chilling experience.

Booties

In cold temperatures, your feet are the most vulnerable part of your anatomy. Pressure from pedaling will tend to cut off the circulation to your toes, which can put you at a risk of frostbite. In cold conditions, neoprene booties are a must have. They will zip over your shoes and even have a pattern in the sole where you can cut out a piece for cleats.

Gloves

There are several manufacturers that make "lobster gloves", a hybrid glove that separates your index finger and thumb from the rest of your hand. These gloves are warmer than regular gloves, and the distinct index finger will allow you to operate your shifting and brake levers.

In case your hands get cold, you should carry a pair of lightweight glove liners will you as well. If you have to stop to take care of a problem, the liners will protect your hands from the cold.

Glasses

Glasses that wraparound and provide maximum protection from the wind are best to wear in the winter. You can protect yourself from debris, as well as the cold.

Socks

You should wear heavy socks although not to heavy. A sock that is overly heavy will make your shoes tight, cut off circulation, even make your feet cold. You should try lightweight socks, as they will keep your feet warm without bulk. If you need an extra layer, try silk ski socks as they are very warm and also extra lightweight.

Underwear

Polypropylene is the best material here, as it is lightweight and best for colder temperatures.

Wind Protection
Moving air is the biggest cause for losing body heat. By having good wind protection you'll be able to vent perspiration while also protecting yourself from windchill. You should choose pants and a jacket based on durability, breathing, and price as these types of clothing can get very experience.

Helmet and Liners

Your head is very important, as you lose 50% of your body heat through your head. A helmet is designed to keep you cool in the summer, not warm in the winter. A fleece liner inside your helmet will keep your head and ears warm during winter riding.

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Hiking - 3 Essential First Aid Techniques For Any Hiker

Every hiker should have at least a basic knowledge of first aid and three of the most valuable skills that you can learn are carrying out CPR, performing the Heimlich maneuver and dealing with fractures.

This doesn't mean of course that you're likely to have to use these skills frequently and most hikers will never need to use them at all. Nonetheless, it's a good idea to be prepared because if you find yourself with a companion who is choking to death while you sit eating your evening meal by the campfire in the middle of nowhere, the Heimlich maneuver might just be a life saver.

CPR

Cardio-pulmonary Resuscitation is a technique used to re-start normal breathing and, while this is a fairly easy technique to learn, it is something that you need to learn at the hands of a skilled professional. There will almost certainly be classes available in your local area and your local hiking club will almost certainly either provide training for its members on a regular basis or have details of classes that you can attend. Such classes are normally quite short and are almost always free of charge.

If you find yourself with someone who is not breathing and you are able to do so you should call 911 or a local rescue team immediately and also shout loudly for help. You never know who is hiking on the trail near you and there might just be expert help close at hand.

Try to determine the cause of the problem. If the person concerned was swimming and needed to be dragged out of the water then you may need to clear water from their airway before you can start CPR. In this case, put them on their stomach and try to remove water by modest, short compression on the diaphragm, located above the stomach and below the chest.

Next, roll them onto their back and pinch the nose. Breath into the mouth, covering their mouth with yours and watching out of the corner of your eye for chest expansion. Then let go and tilt the body to allow for the expulsion of water. Repeat, giving two breaths of two seconds each.

If that has no effect, you should try chest compressions. Push down firmly along the sternum above the diaphragm. Repeat this five times, about once per second, and alternate between chest compressions and inflating their lungs.

The Heimlich maneuver

Food or other obstructions can interfere with breathing and the Heimlich maneuver is designed to remove foreign objects from the air passages.

Start by looking for obstructions in the throat which can be quickly and easily removed. If nothing is immediately visible then stand the person up and position yourself behind them. Put your arms around their body and grasp one wrist with the opposite hand so that the bone at the base of your thumb is against their body and just under the ribcage. Make sure that the person's head is tilted forward and down enabling gravity to work with you rather than against you.

Give a sharp, short, firm jerk inward against the diaphragm and repeat this several times if necessary watching for the object to dislodge. Be careful to insure that your hands are below the ribcage and pressing on the diaphragm and not the ribcage.

Bone fractures

Fractures can vary from a relatively minor and invisible toe break, which simply makes walking painful, to quite serious compound fractures and you should seriously consider taking a professional first aid course to enable you to deal with fractures. In advance of this, here are some general guidelines.

The most serious form of fracture is a compound fracture in which the bone is protruding from the skin. In this case, not only is the bone badly broken, but the rupture of the skin leaves an opening which is prone to infection.

Do not try to straighten the fracture but simply cover the wound with sterile gauze and get professional help as quickly as possible. If it is necessary to immobilize the limb, apply a splint to keep it at the same angle.

Get hold of a straight stick or use a piece of walking pole or other straight, rigid object and pad the splint well before wrapping it with an elastic roll bandage or medical tape. In the absence of supplies, look for a thin, strong vine to tie the splint to the limb and tie it firmly enough to hold it, but not so firmly that you cut off the blood supply to the limb.

In all cases, abandon your hike and seek professional medical help as quickly as possible

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