Northern Territory Parks reminds Larapinta Trail hikers of need for safety planning

Northern Territory Parks is reminding hikers of the need to carry personal location devices and be well prepared when they head into the outback after two recent rescues.

Following the rescues, NT Senior Director for Parks and Wildlife Operations Chris Day advised that even the most experienced hikers could get into trouble, so it was important to be prepared.

As reported by the ABC, Day stated "it starts well before you get on the walk, that's the key. It's planning and preparation.

"It's not just about knowing your route. It's knowing your own capability. It's knowing that you've got the right equipment."

Day recommended all hikers or people adventuring into the outback carry a personal locator beacon (PLB) so rescuers could easily find them in an emergency, noting "number one is that communication device, the personal locator beacon, or increasingly these days these messaging devices, which both have the ability to raise an alarm."

Image: Hikers on the Larapinta Trail. Credit: Northern Territory Parks.