Trek at Ganginenipalem

Date: 9th August 2009 (Sunday)
Time : 7:55am
Starting Point: Railway Station
Must Have -
* Good Shoes
* Back Pack consisting of 3 Litres of Water
Energy Snack (i.e Lentil Soup Toor or Blackgram or Masoor Dal, Fruits, Nuts and Seeds, Sweet Potato, Curd Rice, Rolled Oats (or) Flattened Rice Atukulu, Whole-wheat Pasta or Chapathi, Atukulu, sprouts)
* Daily Physical Exercise
Route: Catch Bhadhrachlam Road Passenger at 7:55am on Platform No.:8 with Rs.5/- Ticket and board on the last compartment along with the co-trekkers and get down at gangineni. The trek starts from there, out Co-trekker Mr.Ramdas will guide your through.
Contact: Mr.Ramdas 9490877839

The Trekking Pole Advantage

Beginner's are often unsure of the advantages of using trekking poles. In fact, many trekkers never feel the need for poles until they first use them. Few avid hikers, and especially backpackers, leave home without them--and for good reason. Trekking poles help reduce leg strain, help establish pace and help maintain balance.
Reduce Leg Strain

A good beginner set of trekking poles
Trekking poles reduce the stress on your legs and especially your knees. If you have a previous knee injury or are prone to stiff knees, trekking poles can save you from discomfort since they reduce the weight and impact to your knees during a hike or backpacking trip. You will find poles especially helpful during inclines and declines. While hiking uphill, trekking poles give you added strength to push up the hill. Your arms absorb some of the strain to assist your legs when climbing. On downhill trails, you can use trekking poles to reduce the impact on your knee joints as you descend. If you suffer from knee pain, you'll agree that downhill is harder on your knees than uphill. Trekking poles help reduce this strain. By distributing the weight, you are less likely to injure or strain your knees and legs.

Establish Pace
Using trekking poles helps you more readily establish a pace during your hike or backpacking trip. The rhythm of using the poles in coordination with your stride helps your whole body get into a set pace. Your breathing also becomes steady and controlled as you settle into a steady pace. Many people find they can hike much longer times or distances when using trekking poles than they would without them. If you have struggled with walking, hiking, or backpacking at a steady pace, give trekking poles a try. You will subconsciously settle into a pace when you coordinate your poles and stride. If you are new to trekking poles, you might notice a slight adjustment period, but before long you will establish a pace without even thinking about it.

Maintain Balance
Trekking poles help maintain balance for water crossings
Trekking poles give you four points of contact instead of just two. When traversing rugged terrain, water crossings, or slick surfaces, trekking poles help you maintain your balance and prevent slips, trips and falls. If you are hiking a trail with water crossings, poles can help you walk safely across the water without falling. You can use the poles to test the stability of rocks before you step onto them. If you are carrying a backpack, trekking poles are particularly helpful to keep your balance. Your heavy pack can shift your center of weight back, but trekking poles reestablish your center of gravity forward, to a more balanced and comfortable position.

Endless Miscellaneous Uses
Trekking poles can be used for an endless number of additional purposes, including protection from animals, erecting a temporary shelter, hanging clothes or shoes to dry on, fishing pole, and just about anything else you can dream up. When hiking with a dog, you can use trekking poles to gently prod your dog forward if he stops to sniff a little too long. Trekking poles can be used to make sure no critters, like snakes, are hiding under rocks or in a pile of leaves before getting too close.

Get Trekking Poles a Try
Huge selection of styles and prices.
Trekking poles don't have to cost you a fortune. If you are unsure of the benefits of trekking poles, try out a less expensive set before deciding if you want to upgrade your poles. A decent first pair of trekking poles can cost less than Rs.1500. If you decide to upgrade your trekking poles later, you might chose a great set that costs closer to Rs.5000, though you can spend more if you choose to do so. Trekking poles make a great addition to your outdoor gear, whether you are on a day hike or a week long backpacking trip.

Best is the bamboo stick to start with which is in the nature, that costs you nothing.

Signaling Techniques for Wilderness Survival

Few things are more frightening than the possibility of being lost in the wilderness with no means of communication. Whether trapped in a dense forest or barren dessert, it is often difficult for rescue teams to locate people who are lost without some sort of sign. Knowing your options for signaling techniques for wilderness survival may mean the difference between life and death.

Fire
The most common signaling device is fire. Smoke and fire can be seen for miles, making this a highly useful tool. Fire and smoke are also useful in nearly any terrain. This makes lighters and matches a pivotal part of any adventurer's arsenal. To get a fire started, use your surroundings. Use any brush, extra clothing or other flammable materials you can find. At night focus on building three fires either in a triangle or in a row about 25 meters apart. This is an international distress signal. During the day focus more on the smoke. If your car is nearby, remove a tire and light it on fire. The black billowing smoke can be seen very well from a distance, and the fire can last for hours upon hours. If there is no car, try throwing some moist elements onto your fire without squelching it. This will create a lighter smoke but should still attract attention.

Mirrors
When an air rescue has been dispersed, mirrors can be an excellent tool. Consider packing a compact mirror in your gear bag. If you do not have a small mirror and are stranded with your car nearby, break off one of the car mirrors. Once you have a mirror, it is a waiting game. When a low-flying plane flies near, angle the mirror to catch the sunlight and reflect it up toward the cockpit of the plane. Move the mirror around slightly to avoid blinding the pilot. Ideally, this will alert the pilot to your position.

Lights
At night there are few things more telling than a flash of light to let people know where you are If possible, always carry a flashlight with extra batteries. Other signaling devices include flares, tracer gun ammunition and strobe lights. These tools work well when lost at night but can also be used during the day when an airplane approaches. However, flares and ammunition should never be fired directly at a plane.

Messages
One of the most traditional signaling techniques for wilderness survival involves creating large messages that allow a plane to see that you are in danger. Whether in the desert, snow or dense forest it is almost always possible to work your way toward a large empty area where you can make your message. Use colors that contrast with the terrain to spell out S.O.S., or create a geometric shape that is likely to attract attention. Use dark twigs, light brush or extra clothing to create the desired effect. Try to make your message several times bigger than yourself to ensure it is easily seen.

Audio Signals
When a ground rescue is under way or other people may be nearby, it is important to carry a whistle or other audio signaling device such as a gun or bell. In lush forest or when taking cover this can be particularly important. These loud signals can carry much farther than a human voice. These signaling techniques for wilderness survival enable people to find you more quickly with less effort.