Gear List
You are likely to find wet and muddy conditions at Armstrong (depending on the weather, of course). Your team needs to be prepared. If you do not have the right gear, you will not be allowed to participate, and you'll be sent home.
Gear Required
The gear list provided is a guide only. It is meant to provide you with a framework for you to use so you can equip yourself appropriately for the hike ahead. It does not take into account your personal circumstances, nor does it allow for all the different team combinations possible, so you will need to adapt this list to suit your needs and preferences. However, there are some universal items that all participants must take and some rules that you must follow.
For example, you will need to ensure you have an appropriate number of tents to suit the team you are in.
Naturally every participant will need a very warm sleeping bag and a sleeping mat, both stored in plastic bags to ensure they don't get wet while you are hiking.
We recommend you have a cooked meal on Saturday night, so a stove and fuel will be required, as well as a billy or other method of cooking your food, plus utensils to eat with. There is also the option of having hot meals and/or hot drinks at other times on the hike if you want to plan your menu that way, so plan your fuel allocation appropriately.
You will need to hike with a minimum of 2 litres of water per person. Water stations will be provided at some stunts and the overnight campsite.
Stuff will get wet and muddy, so plenty of garbage bags to store stuff in will be handy.
You will need a first aid kit, both a personal type specific to you and either one or two team ones. Don't forget potentially life saving medicines like asthma puffers, antihistamines or other items if required.
A compass and map bag will be required (a map will be provided at check in), as will the ability to use the compass and read a map. A large zip lock bag is a good, cheap option for a beginners map bag. These items could be shared amongst the team.
You have to keep a Log Book as you hike, so a large zip lock bag and a pen might be handy... and don't forget to bring your Log Book.....
As this is a competition hike you will be expected to have two 5mtr lashing ropes per person and provide your own bandages etc for First Aid stunts etc.
At the end of the day, you have to carry whatever you bring so don't overdo it or your hike could be rather unpleasant. At the same time, everything you need to protect yourself from the elements, to eat, sleep and generally enjoy your hike is also entirely up to you to bring, so you need to pack appropriately. A good guide to work with is that your pack should be no more than 25% of your body weight, and preferably less than this. For example, if you weigh 67kgs, your pack should weigh no more than 16kgs. This should be easily achievable with some careful packing and gear selection.
Remember that the clothes and shoes you are wearing count as gear, so put some thought into what you choose. Are sneakers a wise choice for wet, muddy, hilly terrain? What about cotton based clothing (i.e. jeans, army pants) on a weekend when it's likely to be raining? Speaking of rain, what else might you wear....?
To participate in the Armstrong 500 as a Venturer it is a requirement to have earned your Venturing Skills Award so you should have some idea what hiking is all about and what constitutes appropriate gear, however this is a serious hike in some seriously hilly and muddy terrain, and if there is bad weather as well then your skills and equipment will be put to the test, so make sure that everything is up to speed.
Finally, remember the 5 Ps Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance, or to put it another way Be Prepared! Put the time and effort into preparing your gear and packing it well and you will have an awesome weekend.
If you have any questions, ask your Venturer Leader, your District VL or your District Adventurous Activity Leader for Bushwalking.
Download the gear list.
Continue to Transport.
