Innehållsförteckning för February/March 2017 från Great Walks

Coast with the most Seeing the picture of the Great Ocean Walk (GOW) on the cover of your Oct-Nov 2016 edition brought back some very happy memories for me. My wife and I walked the GOW in July and our starting point was a night staying at the Cape Otway lighthouse. I would recommend this as an excellent overnight stay for those doing the walk, it has a tremendous sense of history and the views from the top of the Lighthouse are absolutely magnificent. Keep up the good work. Mark Newton, via email Ticked off Just received the latest magazine, good as ever! Also been looking at the website, where I read the article about ticks. One of my tasks as a volunteer with the Bibbulmun Track Foundation is to…

Featuring Marmot’s most comfortable waterproof/breathable coating technology, the men’s PreCip is seam-taped, waterproof and breathable. NanoPro’s microporous structure allows for air exchange to help shed excess moisture vapour without compromising the waterproofness or windproofness of the garment. Angle-Wing Movement allows uninhibited motion. PitZips and Pack Pockets round out the features of this high-value weather-tested jacket. RRP: $199.95. Website: www.marmotnz.co.nz To enter, send us your best hiking yarn – 450 words plus three high quality images. Email: editor@greatwalks.com.au…

EXPERTS are warning hikers about the reality of tick-borne illnesses. Bushland and long grasses are ideal environments for ticks, and left untreated, tick-borne illnesses can cause issues with cognitive impairment, eyesight, mobility, and can lead to chronic illness. Great Walks spoke to Dr Mualla McManus (above), director of the Karl McManus Foundation and infectious disease researcher about the situation. GRW: What does the tick do to the body? Illness can be caused by a number of different pathogens carried by ticks, including Borrelia, Ehrlichia and many other types of bacteria and viruses. These pathogens attack the human immune system causing flu-like symptoms, tiredness, muscle aches, stiff neck, cognitive impairment and sensitivity to light and sound. GRW: How likely is it that someone will experience these symptoms after a bite? Not…

Mount Baw Baw is 120km (around 2.5hr drive) east of Melbourne’s CBD. There are two approaches to the mountain: the tourist route via Noojee and Icy Creek with many bends, and the less windy, dirt South Face Road via Erica. Baw Baw Village Accommodation There are a range of on-mountain accommodation options, such as traditional lodges, self-contained apartments and ‘flashpacker’ style accommodation. For more info visit mountbawbaw.com.au or phone 03 5165 1136. Vehicle Tip If you own a diesel vehicle and the weather forecast is predicting low temperatures, make sure you fill up with alpine diesel, or “winter mix diesel”, closer to the mountain. Alpine diesel has a lower freezing point and additives to stop the fuel system waxing up.…

Besides the Lycian Way, Turkey’s other great long-distance walk is the 650km/25-30 day Evliya Çelebi Way. The trail crosses some of the most varied and spectacular landscape in Turkey, visiting villages off the beaten track as well as passing through towns and cities of great historical importance. It follows rivers, goat paths and paved roads from the Roman and Ottoman empires. Evliya (1611–1682) was a courtier of the Ottoman sultan who loved to travel. For 40 years he crisscrossed the empire and beyond, from Vienna to Tabriz, from the Sea of Azov to Sudan, officially on state business, but mostly out of curiosity. He recorded his experiences in a travelogue called the ‘Seyahatname’ (Book of Travel), which is composed of 10 volumes and thousands of pages written in Ottoman Turkish,…

HOW did you spend 2016? It’s a simple enough question. Did you spend it working? Spend it dreaming? Spend it worrying? Spend it with loved ones? Did you spend it well? It’s an interesting turn of phrase, but when you think about the commodification of everything else in our lives, then truly our most valuable asset isn’t our home, car or other toys, it is our time. It’s the one thing that money can’t buy, no matter how much you have and yet for something so valuable, we often treat it with little respect. With Christmas still fresh in our minds, where the retail gods call us to worship at the altar of mass consumerism, where gift giving is less of a pleasure and more of a pressure, what if…

Start your hike early Not everyone likes to wake up early, and your trip doesn’t have to feel like work; just find a balance between how much sleep you need and minimising your exposure to afternoon heat. Get organised in camp with gear to facilitate a quicker morning departure – eating breakfast and packing up doesn’t have to take two hours. Cover up The more of your body you can shield from the sun, the happier you’ll be. Loose-fitting long sleeves and pants paired with a wide-brimmed hat will do wonders on a summer hike. Remember to shield your eyes with some UV-blocking sunnies and lather that sunscreen on every exposed part of your body – especially if you’re hiking at altitude. The sun is stronger up there and you’ll…

 “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain “WE’RE NOT MOTIVATED TO EXERCISE. ADVENTURE CAN HELP US.” THIS time last year, Suzie, a working mother of two, was obese and miserable. Today, she’s a trim, fit powerhouse of health and vitality who’s a heroine in her community. She’s just returned from the adventure of her dreams: trekking to Machu Picchu on Peru’s iconic Inca Trail. Suzie lost over 50kg and rediscovered life by using her bucket list adventure challenge to motivate her off the couch and into nature. While her weight loss…

Katherine Ziesing Katherine is a Canberra based journalist who likes to see more of the places she visits than just the airport and hotel. David O’Reilly David is a nutritionist and strength coach who holds a Master of Human Nutrition. Visit: mountainfoundry.com.au Miranda Herron Journalist, walker, cyclist Miranda is alway on the lookout the next adventure whether it’s in the urban jungle or far from the masses. Darren Edwards Darren founder of www.trailhiking.com.au is an outdoor enthusiast who’s goal is to promote the many benefits of hiking.…

A new Victorian walk – The Great Gold Walk – has been launched, taking hikers between goldfields towns located mainly along Victoria’s Great Dividing Range and passing through some great and varied landscapes and heritage sites. Jeff Floyd (above), former CEO of Parks Victoria and Tourism Victoria and the developer of The Great Gold Walk, has a passion for long distance walking. He resolved in 2013 to build a walk to rival the great long walks in the UK, Europe and the US. “Over the last 20 years government agencies and many volunteers have worked hard to build a continuous trail along the range,” he told Great Walks. “What was needed was an attractive route linking the gold-era towns, a quality guidebook suitable for the average walker, and an accommodation…

For info on Noosa Tourism go to visitnoosa.com.au; for the Noosa Trail Network visit noosa.qld.gov.au/noosa-trail-network Other contacts Peppers Noosa Resort & Villas Stay in either the apartment style or villa style accommodation for an eco-premium accommodation experience. Nestled within Noosa NP with a private lookout and direct access into the national park, it is also 500m away from the shops, restaurants and main beach. www.peppers.com.au/noosa Tropical Treks Guided Bush Walks and Tours Tropical Treks offer small and personalised guided tours for bushwalking, bird-watching and wildlife experience, providing interpretive and sensory adventures. Operating in Cooloola, Woondum, Tewantin, and Noosa NP for full to half day tours, Tropical Treks do not operate on the Noosa Trail Network. www.tropicaltreks.com.au The Discovery Group A multi-award winning leader in eco-tourism, The Discovery Group offers unique…

The Israel National Trail is a hiking path inaugurated in 1995. The trail crosses the entire country of Israel – its northern end is at Dan, near the Lebanese border in the far north of the country, and it extends to Eilat at the southernmost tip of Israel on the Red Sea, a length of 1100km. The trail is marked with three stripes (white, blue and orange), and takes an average of 45-60 days to complete. It does not enter hot spots like the Golan Heights or the West Bank. The Israel National Trail has been listed in National Geographic’s 20 most “epic trails.” It is described as a trail that “delves into the grand scale of biblical landscapes as well as the everyday lives of the locals”.…

SELF-GUIDED WALKING TOURS, SINCE 1993. Following clearly marked paths that have been used for centuries, the Hidden Italy self-guided walks give the independent walker the chance to discover a side of Italy that other people only read about, from the Alps to Sicily, and everywhere between. No shuttles or buses, these itineraries are continuous walks, taking you from A to B, through some of the most spectacular countryside in Europe. All you have to do is get up in the morning, pull on your boots and enjoy the walk – we’ll look after the rest…no one knows Italy like we do. For full details or to order a copy of our brochure, go to www.hiddenitaly.com.au .…

Hi, I’ve currently over the last year, when free from work, hiked from Kalamunda to Donnelly River Village sections of the Bibbulmun Track, recently just hitting the half way mark. Something I have noticed is that I come across fire pits that are still smouldering. I’ve spoked to the Bibbulmun Track Foundation and they said it seems to be an on going problem. I suggested maybe they educate hikers with better signage in the huts about correct procedures for putting out camp fires. I was wondering if in one of your issues you could show some correct procedures so we can spread the message a little further. Last thing we need is another big bushfire especially when hiking in thick forest. CJ Jamieson, via GRW Facebook page Thanks for your…

1 Blue Mountains Best Bushwalks 3rd edition This popular guide for walking in the Blue Mountains is in its 3rd edition, with 66 walks from Duck Hole near Glenbrook to Mount York at Mount Victoria, and further afield to Jenolan Caves, Wollangambe and the Glow Worm Tunnel at Newnes. There’s handy information about the towns, notes about the mountains environment and history, and plenty of photos and maps. Plus, the ‘Walks At A Glance’ table gives information such as times, distances, the right weather and highlights for each track, so you can choose walks that appeal and/or suit the conditions. RRP: $29 Web: woodslane.com.au Guide book giveaway! We have copies of Blue Mountains Best Bushwalks to give away to the first five people who email editor@…

The seam-taped, waterproof and breathable women’s Marmot PreCip jacket is designed to fit a woman’s figure. Now featuring Marmot’s most comfortable waterproof/breathable coating technology. NanoPro’s superior microporous structure is dynamically air permeable, allowing for air exchange to help shed excess moisture vapor without compromising the waterproofness or windproofness of the garment. Angle-Wing Movement allows uninhibited motion. RRP: $199.95. Website: www.marmotnz.co.nz To enter, send us your best hiking yarn – 450 words plus three high quality images. Email: editor@greatwalks.  com.au…

Helinox TL Series walking poles are fixed length, ultra-lightweight, ultra-compact, strong and reliable. (The TLA130 model adds a limited amount of length adjustment.) Through the use of DAC TH72M alloy and clever design, the TL Series – available in a choice of several model sizes to suit different body heights – is a big step forward in walking pole technology. These poles are suited for general day walking carrying a light pack. Weight: 152-184gm per pole. Online price: $156; TLA130 – $188 per pair. Website: www.helinox.com.au Email your pics to: editor@greatwalks.com.au (Subject: Picture Perfect) Try to supply an image file no smaller than 1MB. Also include a 50-word caption, your address and the type of camera you used.…

Sunday Afternoons Adventure Hat This 85gm hat is engineered for FUNctional sun protection: smart fabrics, customisable sizing and a sun-conscious design. Features include a 20cm neck cape with lift-up tab and ventilating mesh side panels. Available in S (51–53.5CM, available in cream only), M (53.5–58.5cm) and L (58.5–63.5cm). RRP: $49.95 Web: seatosummit.com.au Mountains Designs Multi Short These women’s active hiking shorts are designed to keep you in the outdoors for longer, with the versatile 4-way stretch fabric that also wicks moisture away. They also feature a removable belt with snap buckle and secure zip pockets. RRP: $119.95 Web: mountaindesigns.com KÜHL Airspeed LS Shirt Available in men’s and women’s, the Airspeed dries quickly, has UPF 30 sun protection and wicks moisture. The technical knit mesh panels on the back…

Please follow all fire safety information during total fire bans Only light fires in designated fireplaces and ensure you completely extinguish all fires before leaving an area or sleeping If you’re camping off the beaten track, use a fuel stove. If you do need to light a fire, please remove the top layer of soil before making the fire. Keep the fire small and ensure you put the fire out thoroughly, scatter the ashes, and replace the top layer of soil. Campfires should not be used as a rubbish incinerator; fire doesn’t destroy aluminium foil, and plastics release toxic gases when burned. Dead wood provides valuable habitat for native animals, so please don’t break branches or collect fallen timber for fires. More info: nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/safety/ camping-safety…

1 This was the winner of our December comp. The theme was ‘summer sojourns’. 2 A lot of our Facebook friends agreed with this cartoon. 3 A Kiwi traveller says she was detained in Kazakhstan after being told by airport authorities that NZ was a state of Australia and therefore her Kiwi passport was fake. Ummmm... 4 Looks like this kid doesn’t appreciate a good joke! 5 Our story on off-the-beaten track destinations in Chile proved a hit. 6 Fireflies in the Blue Mountains? Who would have thunk it? 7 This guy visited all of America’s 413 national parks in one long trip. You legend. 8 Our guide to trekking in Nepal with kids gave many Great Walks families food for thought. 9 Everyone loved this sign found somewhere in…