Bushwalk Australia

This is where the fun begins - a survival scenario pitting daywalker against the sapping cold of a winter's night. In my daypack is the gear I carried when solo-climbing peaks in Marlborough's Richmond Range - wool beanie, polypro gloves, merino jumper, lightweight goretex jacket, water bladder, head-torch, sunnies, phone, foil survival bag, lollies and snackbars. At the time, I thought I was being ultra-careful.

But we're not here to bag peaks. That would risk adding to the endless rescues of hapless trampers, hunters and daywalkers.

We're here to survive.