Innehållsförteckning för December/January 2019 från Great Walks

60 th  Anniversary 60K challenge Dear Editor, could I pass on some news to the possibly many of your readers who have done their “Duke of Ed”. 2019 marks the 60th Anniversary of the award in Australia and almost a million people have participated in it. The outdoor challenges were my favourite award activity, and I still enjoy them, so I’m setting myself a challenge and thought some of you may be interested in joining me or doing something similar. My challenge will be to walk 60km, one for every year the award has been going, during Easter next year. I live in Hanging Rock, Mount Macedon Region, just north of Melbourne, and that’s where I’ll be walking. You’re welcome to join me, and can register interest by email,…

Leki is the world’s leading manufacturer of trekking and Nordic walking poles. For over 60 years, outdoor enthusiasts have appreciated the quality, value and technology that goes into each one of their products. The Khumbu AS SL pole ($209.99) (307gm/pole) features comfortable Aergon CorTec grips, Speed Lock adjustment system for hassle-free pole length adjustment and an antishock feature that’s gentle on your joints. More onfo visit: www.velovita.net.au Email your pics to: editor@greatwalks.com.au (Subject: Picture Perfect) Please supply an image file no smaller than 1MB. Also include a 50-word caption, your address and the type of camera used.…

Time: 5-7 days (we took 10 days which included a day off) Distance: 75km plus sidetrips Day 1: Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley. 3.5-5hr/10km. Side trip to Cradle Mountain (1545m) Day 2: Waterfall Valley to Windermere. 3hr/8km. Sidetrip to Lake Will (3km return). Day 3: Windermere to Pelion Plains. 5-7hr/17km. Day 4: Pelion Plains to Kia Ora Creek. 3hr/9km. Side trip Mount Ossa (1617m) 5km return. Day 5: Kia Ora Creek to Windy Ridge. 3-4hr/10km. Side trips to D’Alton, Ferguson and Hartnett falls (2km return each). Day 6: Windy Ridge to Narcissus River. 3hr/9km. Side trip to Pine Valley (8km return). From there you could also visit The Labyrinth and Acropolis but that will mean staying at Pine Valley Hut. Day 7: Narcissus River to Cynthia Bay. 5hr/17km. If you…

THE following insert appeared in The Mercury in November, 1929: Walking and Touring Club Ladies and Gentlemen interested in the formation of a Walking and Touring Club are invited to meet at the Reception Room, Town Hall, Hobart, at 8pm on Tuesday, 12th November. His Worship the Mayor has kindly consented to preside. E.T. Emmett, Convener Mr. E.T. Emmett, then aged 58, was the Director of the Government Tourist Bureau and, although arranging the holidays of others was his job, he was tireless in exploring all parts of Tasmania on foot. Closely associated with him in his walking pursuits was Jack Thwaites, then aged 27, and it can well be said that the Hobart Walking Club was the brain child of these two stalwart walkers. Mr. Emmett attended his last…

THINK you’d know how to handle yourself if the merde hit the fan while you were bushwalking? Maybe when you’re on your own? Here are twelve questions concerning personal survival in a wilderness situation. Study the question then select the best option from the list offered. Try to imagine yourself in the situation depicted. Assume you are alone and have a minimum of equipment, except where specified. The season is autumn. The days are warm and dry, but the nights are cold. Good luck! 1. You have strayed from your party along and are now lost. You have no special signalling equipment. The best way to attempt to contact your friends is to: a. call “help” loudly but in a low voice. b. yell or scream as loud as you…

Hayley Rochford Hayley is a traveller, teacher and mother of two strong daughters who loves hiking and connecting with nature. Stephen Warren Stephen is an avid multi-day bushwalker and enjoys experiencing Australia’s great outdoors whenever he can. Andrea Purnomo When she’s not writing, you can spot Andrea challenging herself on a mountain trail, overseas trek or partaking an adventure sport. Rosalind Bird Ros is a full-time mum and former graphic designer. She likes going on adventures, writing and hobby farming.…

The Sierra Trail is an ultra-lightweight (440gm/ $399.95) weatherproof men’s shell jacket with a very compact pack size. It is made of Texapore Ecophere – a soft, lightweight recycled fabric that is 100% waterproof and windproof, and extremely breathable. The Sierra Trail is ideal for outdoor activities in milder weather. And it also makes a good everyday jacket. Features include pit zips positioned on the back of the arm for improved freedom of movement. jack-wolfskin.com.au To enter, send us your best hiking yarn – 450 words plus three high quality images. Email: editor@greatwalks.com.au…

After the success of iconic walks like the Overland Track and the Three Capes Track Tasmania is throwing $20 million into finding the next big hit. They’re hunting for an iconic, multi-day, hut-based walk and they’re looking to Australia’s passionate bushwalkers to help them find it. We got the low-down from Jen Fry, Manager Visitor Strategy, Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. GRW: Why there’s a need for another Iconic Walk? Tasmania is renowned for magnificent bushwalking – from short strolls and day walks to long and difficult treks through a diverse range of environments. Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS) manages an extensive network of walking tracks across the state, including a number of world-class multi-day hikes. Survey data from walkers on two of our most popular multi-day walks –…

GODZILLA, Kawasaki, Tamagotchi, Sashimi… of all the things one associates with the weird and wonderful Land of the Rising Sun, hiking is not usually one of them. As a large and mountainous country you’d imagine Japan, which until 150 years ago was a feudal society of warlords and peasants, would have extensive opportunities for trekking. Indeed there are, although only a handful are known to outsiders and these are either sedate strolls between touristy villages or hardcore traverses of the high Alps. Until recently there was nothing in between. Enter … the Shin-etsu Trail. The ST was conceived in 2003 by a local man, Noriyoshi Kato, who had walked the Appalachian Trail in the US and was inspired to create something similar in his homeland. Like the AT, the ST…

Enjoy an abundance of wildlife, sculpted rock landscapes and dramatic coastlines on Park Trek’s five-day walking tour of Kangaroo Island. Stay at historic lighthouse accommodation and enjoy the amazing array of wildlife including kangaroos, wallabies, koalas, goannas, sea lions, fur seals and a myriad of birdlife. Visit the Remarkable Rocks at sunset, take a tour to see the gorgeous and playful sea lions at Seal Bay, admire magnificent Admirals arch and watch Australian and New Zealand fur seals frolicking in the rock pools below. Head underground and see the beautiful underground Kelly Hills Caves and marvel at the turquoise blue waters. Itinerary: • Day 1: 4km/2hr easy – Iron Hill Cove Hike in the Baudin Conservation Park • Day 2: 10km/4hr/easy – Hanson Bay Hike and 1km Admirals Arch •…

TWO days after arriving in Tasmania, I stood at the head of the Overland Track and eyed the gently winding trail that disappeared into layers of mountains. They were reassuring, those mountains, standing quietly in the distance. I gave my PLB a pat and hoped it would prove an unnecessary weight. Then I took my first steps and all my fears fell away. Everyone was in high spirits. Ethan (7) said it was the most exciting day of his life. The first camp was 10.5km away and in between sat the steepest climb of the trip. Five minutes later the light rain stopped and so did we, the first of an uncountable number of times, to strip off some gear. Just before the climb to Marions Lookout I pulled out…

For info on Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair NP and the Overland Track visit parks.tas.gov.au. The park is 155km from Hobart. A permit and entry fee is required to enter the park. The best time to walk is Nov-Apr but it’s also the most popular. All groups must be properly prepared and self-sufficient. During this time a track fee applies and booking is essential. Facilities: There are seven huts along the track with composting toilets and tent platforms but no bedding, stoves or food. Map: Tasmap 1: 100,000 Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair Map & Notes…

AS bushwalkers, we’re constantly putting our bodies, and our feet in particular, through terrain that the average city dweller can only imagine. With consistently uneven surfaces, steep ascents and descents, pack carrying and in all weather and conditions, we ask a lot of our bodies and often get a surprise when they start talking back. Although a bushwalker isn’t what most people would consider a traditional athlete, we often treat (or punish!) our bodies like they are. A few years ago, I realised that I needed a trustworthy support crew (just like during a race) of experts in various fields, who can offer advice, help treat and then plan, for long term enjoyment out on the track, to keep my joints, muscles and tendons from feeling like they needed a…

WA’S ICONIC BIBBULMUN Track has turned 20. It runs from Kalamunda, east of Perth to Albany and is 1,003km long. On September 13 1998, WA’s then Environment Minister Cheryl Edwardes cut a ribbon to signal the official opening of the last section of track. “The Bibbulmun Track is one of WA’s great natural tourist attractions,” the Minister said at the time. “While the track is enjoyed by thousands of people every year for picturesque short walks and weekend camps, to others it is one of the world’s great long distance adventures. The new, complete track will attract thousands of tourists, providing a significant boost to small towns and communities near the trail.” bibbulmuntrack.org.au OVER 200 EMERGENCY markers are being installed within the Grampians NP, Werribee Gorge State Park, Brisbane Ranges…

The Shin-etsu Trail runs for 80km along the border between Nagano and Niigata Prefectures, following the path of the Sekida Mountain ridge. The trail is closed during the winter season, however, all sections (1 –6) can be accessed starting from the end of June till early November. Spring (from mid-June to the end of July) and autumn (from mid-September to the end of October) are especially good times to walk. It takes 6 days to hike the course with accommodation, 5 days 4 nights with a tent. It takes about 2 hours from Tokyo to Iiyama (the closest station) by bullet train “Hokuriku Shinkansen”. At the end you can go to Kyoto and Osaka via Kanazawa by bullet train. For info on the Shin-etsu Trail visit rikistoursjapan.com.au…

• Have a good idea of the distance your kids are capable of walking in a day, keeping in mind that enthusiasm has a big impact on energy levels. • Be prepared to cover less distance at a slower pace than you would normally; no small challenge with all that weight on your back! • Have reasonable expectations. There are bound to be down times but handled carefully these will add to the sense of achievement. • Go on smaller hikes beforehand to thoroughly test gear and food. As a guide, we carried 18kg of food that included porridge, flour-mix to make bread, cheese, honey, and meals and snacks made using our own dehydrator. Water is plentiful along the track. Take a good-quality tent capable of withstanding heavy weather and…

TASMANIA may be famous for its iconic multi-day walks like the Overland Track but as these day walks attest you don’t have to disappear into the bush for multiple days to get a taste of pure Tassie wilderness. “THE MOST DISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF THE PARK IS THE DEVILS BACKBONE, A DOLERITE” Hartz Peak 12.5km return/4.5hr/medium-hard The Hartz Mountains have been a popular bushwalking destination since the early 1900s. The area, which covers 7250 hectares, was set aside as a scenic reserve in 1939 and proclaimed a national park in 1959, before finally being included in the World Heritage Area in 1989 to preserve its significant natural and cultural heritage. The most distinctive feature of the park is the Devils Backbone, a dolerite mountain range that runs north-south and is terminated…

When providing info and opinion on walking gear it’s only fair to provide you with the full picture. To properly test a backpack, for instance, requires long-term use in a wide variety of conditions. There aren’t enough months in the year to do this for every product, especially when you’re talking about a dozen pairs of boots. The key below lets you know where you stand. STOCK SHOT This is where we showcase what’s new in the market and tell you what the manufacturer claims the product does. Over time we’ll try to properly test it. GEAR GUIDE An experienced walker has reviewed a wide range of products and conducted limited testing. This is a guide, rather than a subjective test. TRACK TESTED We have worn it, walked with it…