Glenorchy Gazette NOVEMBER 2021 15
Community News
App or map – How to Not Get Lost in the Bush Jo Cordell-Cooper
HOW do you know where to go in the bush? Are you using maps, or apps or books or blogs? I’ve always preferred using paper maps when I’m out hiking. I grew up using little more than ‘orienting the map’, meaning you line up your map with the terrain and obvious landmarks. This doesn’t work at all at night or when the fog rolls in. Also, when you’re in unfamiliar territory with a plethora of tracks, you can think you are on one particular track and instead find you are on a different track close by. I’ve been interested in testing various apps that are essentially a digital form of a map with
pinpoint accuracy as to where you are. There are advantages and disadvantages of using maps as well as apps. Assuming you know how to ‘orient your map’, there is a great social connection that comes with chatting with hiking buddies over where you are, how far there is to go or how steep it is going to be. The disadvantage is that the map might be old and the track has shifted, or the weather might roll in and obscure your landmarks. Those experienced in using a compass have an additional set of skills to navigate to the desired destination. Most of us don’t have this level of skill. Paper maps are best in fair weather or on clearly marked paths. In comparison, apps
precisely pinpoint your location, but if you are in new terrain or on a mountain bike trail, the trail might not be uploaded into the app. However, you will know where you are, and you will not need to move far to establish whether you are moving in the right direction. The disadvantage is obvious – mobile phones can go flat, so if you are using apps be sure to carry an additional battery for your device and turn it off when your direction is clear to save energy. Three apps I regularly use are MapMy Run, Gaia GPS, and Trailforks. Whenever heading out, it’s a good idea to do a little research on the trail. Blogs and books are often excellent sources of information, but it’s
important to check the date of publication to avoid getting outdated information. There are plenty of Facebook groups such as Bushwalking Tasmania Social Group that have enthusiastic recreational hikers willing to share their expertise and opinions on every track imaginable in Tasmania. Just be sure to mention what level of fitness and experience you have when taking advice, as not all hikers have the same opinion on what is hard and what is easy. *Jo Cordell-Cooper owns and operates award-winning Jo CC Holistic PT. To download free hiking fitness resources, go to www.jocc.com.au/ hiking or make contact jo@jocc.com.au.
Jo Cordell-Cooper.
The time is now for women aged over 65 WHEN founder and head of health education Peta Titter
WHEN board chairman David Bailey speaks at the launch of the Over 65 Project.
WOMEN aged 65 and over can help put a brake on aging, thanks to a new, free program aimed at providing practical help to this at-risk group. The Women’s Health and Education Network (WHEN) launched its new Over 65s Project last month, in conjunction with Seniors Week (11 – 17 October). A not-for-profit organisation founded in Hobart in 2017, WHEN’s mission is to help women of all ages improve their health so they can have
the best possible quality of life. WHEN provides easy-to-access, evidencebased information about women’s health, at all stages of life – including youth, pregnancy, postnatal, pre-menopause and menopause, and over 65. Based on feedback from focus groups of women aged over 65 all around Tasmania, WHEN’s Over 65s Project aims to help women thrive as they age, giving them the
power and confidence to make informed decisions about how they move and use their bodies. The chances of a woman aged 65 or over being rushed to hospital after a fall are higher than those of any other gender or age group. Additionally, one in three women suffer from incontinence. But WHEN founder Peta Titter said women can help reduce their risk. “Hormonal and other physiological changes
as we age are inevitable – every woman knows that,” she said. “But many women don’t know they can manage these changes and can lessen the downsides of aging such as the risk of incontinence and falling. “The key is information, and that’s where WHEN can help.’’ For more details about the Women’s Health and Education Network and its Over 65 Project, go to www.when.org.au
