Can’t read a map or use a first aid kit: Australians lack hiking skills, survey shows

Many hikers overestimate their ability and underestimate the terrain, one expert said. Photograph: Oreolife/Alamy

Australians’ outdoorsy reputation may not be earned when it comes to survival skills, according to a new survey.

Just one in three Australians know how to deal with getting lost, while two in three Australians entirely reconsider going on trail walks due to safety concerns, according to research commissioned by popular hiking app AllTrails.