Pack and Equipment
There are two basic pack types, internal and external frame. The internal frame pack has superseded the external frame as the most popular type, though both have their advantages.
One of the advantages of the internal frame, is if hiking through heavily vegetated areas it is less prone to 'snagging'. It will also tend to sit more comfortably on your back as it is more form fitting than the external frame type and will make for better balance. Being closer fitting, this of course will trap more body heat, which often is not a bad thing.
The external frame packs are wider and therefore easier to load gear into and then to access it. They will also sit 'cooler' on your back.

1. Don't haul unnecessary gear. Go through each piece of equipment and clothing before you start and determine whether it is really necessary or whether another item you are carrying can double for both tasks. e.g., one pot, cup, and a spoon should cover all your culinary utensil needs. Consider carrying a small multi-function knife such as the 'Swiss Army' knife rather than a heavier single blade. Clothing can double as a pillow etc. Consider the use of dehydrated foods as that will save weight. Bear in mind though, that they will require a water source to prepare them.
2. Lining your pack with a large plastic rubbish bin bag is a cheap and efficient way to help keep the contents dry. Pack covers have limited success in heavy rainfall, none in wet river crossings and are an extra piece of gear that you have to haul.
3. As a general rule, load your pack with the heaviest items towards the top and close to your back. This will lift the weight higher on your back and make for an easier load to balance and carry. Make sure that any items that may be needed in a hurry (foul weather clothing, gloves, medical kit, etc.) are easily accessible and not buried in your pack.
4. The weight from a heavily loaded pack can sometimes cause the adjustment of the shoulder straps to continuously 'slip', dropping the pack down your back - consider adding small strips of 'hook & loop' (velcro) tape to the ends of the straps and to a fixed non moving part of your pack, (e.g., waist belt or standing part of the strap) so that the ends of the straps can be easily 'locked' down holding them in the desired position.
5. Plastic soft drink bottles make excellent water bottles. They are cheap, extremely strong and almost weightless. When empty they can be flattened to take up less pack space - blowing into them will return them to normal shape.
An accessible way to carry a full 2 litre bottle, is to loop a cord noose around its neck, attaching the other end of the cord to one side of the pack and running it across the top of the pack with the bottle hanging on the opposite side. The bottle is secured from 'swinging' by a collar of 'hook & loop' (velcro) tape attached to the pack and secured around the lower part of the bottle.

Fire Lighting
It's good practice to carry an easy means of cooking such as a light camping stove along with fuel and source of ignition. This way you are not dependent on weather conditions and availability of natural fuel. There may be times when you have to build a fire from available material and there are several methods and means of starting fire, amongst them friction methods, but they all require time, a degree of skill and correct materials. However, here are a few easy 'sure fire' methods of getting results...
1. Carry a few rubber bands cut from old bicycle inner tubes. These can act as 'fire lighters' if kindling is scarce or is wet. They will burn for some time and can also double as 'elastic bands' if required.
2. Cotton balls impregnated with petroleum jelly make good fire starters.
3. Carry matches along with a strip of abrasive in a waterproof tubular plastic film canister.
4. Carry a candle stub - this will save matches and will burn for longer.
5. A small magnifying glass can be used for igniting tinder on sunny days.
6. Waterproof matches can be bought, or you can make your own by sealing conventional matches in layers of wax, in effect making miniature candles that will be waterproofed and also burn longer.
7. Small gas lighters are convenient and the spark from them may be of use even when empty of gas.
8. Always strike your match in cupped hands, facing into the wind and with the head of the match in a downward position.
9. Light your kindling on the windward side so that the flame is blown into the material.
10. Before starting your fire, gather and prepare enough fuel to keep it going.
11. If there is no small kindling available, kindling can be made by shaving a larger piece of timber or stick. i.e., use your knife to slice a series of small thin 'wings' on the surface of a larger stick. The thinner 'wings' will ignite easier and in turn ignite the larger body of the stick. This can be helpful if the available wood is a bit damp or too large for using as kindling.
12. Make sure your fire gets sufficient oxygen by not building it too densely. One method is to build a small platform of twigs an inch or so above the ground, supported at the edges. Load the platform with tinder material (pine needles, smaller twigs, dry moss) then build a pyramid or tepee of kindling sticks over and around this. Once the fire is established, larger fuel can be added.

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