How To: Bushwhack!
At some point you will have to bushwhack to find some hidden gems and it can be very strenuous if you don't know these simple tips:
Look for game trails
Game trails are paths that animals use to get around the woods. They can be hard to follow visually, but will usually keep you away from thorns and other obstacles.
Survival Tip! -Two main rules of self-rescue are to find water to drink and to follow water to find civilization. Animals usually take the same route time and time again to their water source. Follow game trails heading downhill to find access to water.
Ridge Line
In certain areas it's smart to stay atop the ridge lines where the vegetation is less dense.
Bushwhack (v): traveling/hiking through dense growth by cutting through branches and bushes;(n): it is also a term used by hikers to describe a very strenuous, obstacle ridden trail with brush, branches and/or bushes etc.
The trail was abandoned so we had to bushwhack for three miles.
-Urban Dictionary
Not aero-dynamic, but brush-dynamic
Remove all the loose items hanging off your pack or around your neck and store them in the pack. Bush whacking is much easier when you're not having to fight the tree limbs over who keeps the camera you're wearing.
GPSr
Is not difficult to get turned around while avoiding trees and other obstacles. Use your GPSr to set waypoints and keep watch of your"tracks" to ensure you're still heading in the right direction or to get you back to civilization.
Tip! -You should also have a compass and topographic map of the area in your pack should your GPSr becomes damaged or dies. See: How To: 3 Must have Navigatioinal tools.
In Groups
Hiking is always fun with family and friends, but when one of them gets whacked by a spring loaded tree limb you just let loose, the mood might change. Be sure that every body stays at least a trek pole distance away from the person in front of them to avoid these nature slaps.
And let's not leave them behind either. On a well marked trail it's not rude to let everybody go at their own pace and catch up at intersections or landmarks, but when bush whacking, you want to be sure to stick with the slowest hiker. Try and keep visual contact with the person in front of you. If you're in the lead, make sure that the person following lets you know when he's losing that contact.
-Nathan Tennison
