The Tramp to the Blue Range Hut product reviews

I was a bookworm when I was a lot younger and it was not uncommon for me to be found at the library always borrowing the maximum number of books I could possibly borrow, and I have passed this love of reading and books down to my children. One of my favourite types of books to read when I was about 8 or 9 years of age was the type of book where it had many different pathways and while reading further into the story, the reader got to choose how they thought the story should progress. My 10-year-old son has just started reading this kind of book and will happily reread the story using all the different pathway options that are possible.

When I saw this book available to review, I thought that my son would quite enjoy it, he likes to do large walks and has asked to do a large hike one day, so I thought this book might be helpful for him to learn some important skills and information in regard to doing a hike, including vital equipment to take with you. We both read the book, and on conclusion of our first read through we both ended up with different scenarios, one with a happy ending, and one with a person catching hypothermia. Throughout the book it is easy to follow the simple instructions to get to the page you need to once you have made your decision on your path.

The story shows that you need to be prepared for anything when setting out on a hike, no matter how long the hike is supposed to take, especially being prepared if the weather turns - this includes carrying a windproof and waterproof jacket, and several items of warm clothing in the event that things turn cold and wet, as we have seen with plenty of news stories it is not uncommon for someone to set off on a tramp, and then to be caught out by our unpredictable weather.

I think that this book is a great idea, it makes learning about the different aspects of safety and preparedness easy and in a fun way because the reader is in control of making the choices, however I found that if you did not go back and go thru all the different scenarios, you did miss out on some important facts, my son enjoyed this style as he went through and did each available option, but I can imagine this could be irritating for some, I look forward to reading more informative books like this in the future with my children.

I was keen to review The Tramp to the Blue Range Hut with Mr 14 as he has recently returned from a solo expedition into New Zealand's Pureora Forest Park; he spent 44 hours on his own, relying on experiences gained from prior, shorter trips into the bush, and what he had learned about bushcraft in his Outdoor Education classes. We read the book separately without prior consultation, and then met to discuss our evaluation. It was interesting that many of our conclusions and reactions were similar.

At first, we were both dubious about the way the story was presented. We were familiar with the original "Choose Your Own Adventure" series, so the Pick-A-Path format offered a similar experience where the reader has to decide the outcome. Mr 14 said he did not have the patience to read all the potential endings. His comment was that this format was more suited to younger readers who would have fun trying out all the possibilities. At his age, however, he was more interested in following the suggestion that appealed to him the most, and then moving on to another book. This would mean that he would not learn as much as he could since a large portion of the text would remain unread. Because he was reviewing the book, he did in fact go back during his second reading and test all the different endings; he confirmed that he had learned much more in this way.

Mr 14 thought the story was really well designed for under-twelves; although children of this age are unlikely to be wandering in the bush on their own, it would be useful for those on a family trip as they could contribute to the safety of the whole group. As for older children and teenagers, he felt that they would be more likely to read it and take on the important messages if it were told as a straightforward story. The safety information at the end of the book is useful; much of it is common sense, but it is good to have a checklist before embarking on a tramp. One thing he did find especially good was the way reference points were included to make navigating the story easy. Not only did the instruction to go to a certain page next point out the exact place where the story would pick up, but there were also pointers on the target page. For example, Page 30 has the header "From page 14..." while Page 14 tells the reader to turn to Page 30 if they choose to leave James and go to the hut for help. This navigation assistance makes it really easy for a younger child to find his way.

The story itself we felt was true to life. Mr 14's own experience has taught him the value of being prepared for the unexpected. Although Mark and James had not expected to spend much time in the open, the unpredictability of the climate meant that it was disastrous to omit the basics. Hypothermia is a very real risk in our mountains and forests and the inclusion of windproof and waterproof clothing plus the ability to construct a rough shelter from the elements are both givens. Mr 14 had a waterproof groundsheet, an Arctic sleeping bag, a tough fly to protect him from the weather, and thermal underwear. Mark and James had none of these; James did not even bring a raincoat! We liked the way the story emphasized the importance of preparation, and also the way that the weather can change without warning, leaving trampers stranded for hours without shelter. We appreciated that the story emphasised the importance of having at the very least a raincoat, and avoiding cotton garments as they are not warm enough.

We noted the comment about including a PLB (Personal Locator Beam). This is an excellent extra for a hiker to carry with him in case he gets lost. We also liked the recommendation (in one of the pathways) that Mark dress James in more warm clothing before leaving him to get help. Mr 14 said he could have used the pack itself as an extra insulating layer - most packs open out at least part way. A rubbish bag is a good emergency groundsheet too and can double as a container for wet and dirty clothing. Finally, Mr 14 thought they could have included something to make a fire - matches or a lighter, and firelighter bricks. A fire would have kept them warm and helped them to dry out. It would also serve to heat foil-wrapped food if desired. It would have dried the ground beneath it once the flames were extinguished, and the resulting smoke would have alerted rescuers once day broke. There are many bush areas where fires are forbidden, but if conditions are wet, the danger of fire spreading would be minimal.

So - our joint opinion is that this is a useful resource for children of primary and intermediate age. Not so much for secondary school level and beyond as the tone and style do not hold as much appeal for older children. However, Mr 14 thought that overall it achieved its aim of educating young people on the risks involved in tramping, especially in unknown areas, and might even inspire some youngsters to become involved in a local search and rescue team.