A note from Michelle Herbison:

I’m a journalist currently living in Torquay on Victoria’s coast. During my spare time I write for my blog, Cutting Corners, about life, adventure, cooking and other various hobbies I have. I like doing things on the cheap, saving money and appreciating the little things. Getting into hiking around our area appealed to these values of mine.

My first hiking experience was on a year nine outdoor education camp somewhere near the King Valley in Victoria. It was an exhausting, action-packed week in which we seemingly didn’t stop to rest anytime during the four days. We hiked all day, arrived at our campsite, set up our tents, got dinner cooking, washed our dishes and suddenly it was time for bed. In the morning we got up early, packed up, and did it all again. After a similar hike around Wilson’s Prom the following year I decided hiking was great fun but too complicated to organise and too exhausting to undertake. I went backpacking and trekking with porters in India and Peru, but it was a while before I was brave enough to start trying multi-day hikes independently.

A couple of years ago my partner and I did a few day walks during our travels around the state and decided to get into proper hiking. The Mount Difficult trip in this post is only the second overnight trip we’ve undertaken on our own. I’m sure we still have plenty to learn but we’re loving the journey.

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Whoever gave Mount Difficult its name was certainly not being ironic. I found this out the hard way on an Easter trip around the well-trodden Northern Grampians route to Briggs Bluff. We picked this trip because it’s a two-day loop, the first on the list of Grampians overnight hikes from Parks Victoria. Admittedly, my partner and I are fairly new to independent hiking but we like to think we’re fairly fit. The trip up and down to the summit of Mount Difficult from Troopers Creek campground is more than what I’d call a hike – it’s a treacherous scramble and steep climb over rocks – much more of a strategic challenge than a mere walking trip.

We set off at just after 10am from Troopers Creek campground into the quiet, mild mizzle (our highly technical term for a cross between mist and drizzle). Both of us were carrying full packs (65L and 75L), weighed down with enough water for the full two days and one night – nearly 10L in total.

The first 15 minutes or so of the walk was a steady, gradual uphill through bushland but before we really felt warmed up, suddenly we hit the rocky outcrop and the challenge began. It took us about three hours to get to Mount Difficult campsite and it was a solid three hours of unexpectedly tough pain and struggle. Scrambling up and over rocks and boulders with my massive, heavy pack on my back was made even trickier with my shorter-than-average legs and a face full of mizzle.

Don’t get me wrong, the scenery is absolutely amazing. It is totally awe-inspiring to be up close and personal with these massive rock faces that are such an unusual and special sight in Victoria. I think the clambering over them would be an even more enjoyable experience with a smaller pack on a challenging five or six hour daytrip.

Probably due to the dreary weather, we managed to get by the whole of our first day without seeing another person, which was really quite nice. For our first two hours of walking we were still among the trees but just when we made it high enough to catch a view, the clouds cleared and we could see an expanse of forest with paddocks beyond. Another thing I will say at this point is the track is really very well-marked, with yellow arrows strategically placed at basically every spot you might wonder whether you’re going the right way.

When we arrived at Mount Difficult campsite a little sign gave us a brief overview of what our options were but we were super glad we’d bought the proper Northern Grampians walking map from Brambuk – the national park and cultural centre in Halls Gap. I reckon if we hadn’t had done a double-check we could easily have found ourselves going entirely the wrong way.

As a general guideline, if you’re doing the two-day trip, you want to go right(ish) at Mount Difficult which involves a brief rock scramble before descending into the Wartook Basin. The downhill was sometimes gradual and sometimes quite steep, taking us about 45 minutes. It was interesting to see the landscape change to bushes and long grass, and it was nice to be on a less rocky path. We were ready for a late lunch by the time we reached Long Point West Hiker Campsite. We enjoyed a burrito wrap, a sachet of tuna, half a carrot, a handful of beef jerky and some Gatorade each before setting off again.

After this, we had our first stable straight run in the whole day. 4WD tracks took us to Long Point East Hiker Campsite via two creek crossings which would have gotten us wet if there had been more recent rain. We then went up the hill on the other side of the valley, back up the Mount Difficult range. This time the uphill was much easier but still rocky. It was a nice forest walk for the afternoon and I felt like I could get myself into that nice hiking relaxed rhythm. Later on when we were getting higher up, the full-on rocks showed their faces again and we had some more challenging gorge scrambles and traversing of rock walls.

When we reached the intersection where a right turn heads to Briggs Bluff and a left turn returns to Mount Difficult, well, that’s where we went a bit wrong. I’m going to blame the long day of walking for both of our momentary brain lapses, but it’s probably not a great excuse. Basically, the little metal map on the track tells you where you are and where the track is, but not where the campsite is. Somehow, without thinking we needed to double-check on the map, both of us remembered the campsite was left. It was right. So we ended up walking an hour or so back in the direction of Mount Difficult, away from our destination of Briggs Bluff, before we realised something might be wrong.

The area is basically a massive rock face on a slight angle with lots of rock puddles – no dirt or sand, no cleared spaces, very few trees. During this hour both of us knew we were close to the campsite but neither were quite sure just how close. It didn’t seem to make sense – we were on rocks. Where could we pitch a tent? It must be over that hill over there. No, not this hill – maybe the next one? Not quite? It must be soon…

Both of us had absolutely had enough by this point. We’d been going for about seven hours, we were hungry and cold and tired and our ankles hurt from walking sideways on rocks for too long. It was about 5.45pm and overcast, ominous conditions. A quick check of the map told us we were definitely mistaken and had taken the wrong turn. Our hearts sank. Then it quickly dawned on me that we’d done more walking than we needed to for the first day. My heart un-sank.

Although we missed the opportunity to check out the lookout at Briggs Bluff, the further we walked now the less we’d have to do tomorrow. This gave me hope. We decided to give up on Briggs Bluff and its ugly diagonal rock faces so continued on, hastily, towards Mount Difficult campsite, hoping to get there before dark. Soon the track turned back from rock to earth and we started looking out for clearings beside the track to use for emergency landings. It didn’t take long until we found one, and we were so glad!

After a quick inspection of the site we downed packs and got moving. One of us set to work putting up the tent and the other got dinner cooking. When everything was sorted and we realised we still had an hour or so of semi-sunlight left in the day, we sat back and realised we’d really struck gold with our little illegitimate campsite.

We really didn’t plan to stay off the beaten track but considered this a critical situation that was justifiable so we just relaxed and enjoyed the evening. It really was quite nice to be completely isolated and alone. Our site was a clearing just big enough to fit our little two-man tent, with a track continuing to a lovely clifftop ledge – our own private balcony with a fabulous view. This was an awe-inspiring, if chilly, spot for dinner, breakfast, and the next morning’s tent pack-up. We could see much of the North-West Grampians, paddocks beyond, Mount Stapylton and even (we think) the lights of Horsham in the distance.

We deduced that this area was about halfway between Briggs Bluff and Mount Difficult campsites, at probably 700m elevation. Of course in mountain terms, this isn’t very high at all but I felt a significant difference in the coldness of the night and the time it took for our water to boil for dinner. Maybe it was just the wind! As soon as dark struck, probably about 8pm at that time of year, I suddenly became extremely tired and cold and ended up going straight to bed in all my clothes and leaving them on all night.

I worried I’d have some pretty serious pain in my joints and tendons after all that rock scrambling but the next day I woke up surprisingly energised and without any significant pain. After a quick breakfast of cereal bars and scroggin, we packed our stuff and said goodbye to our miracle campsite. The walk to Mount Difficult campsite was straight and easy. Since we had the extra time on our hands, we didn’t hesitate for a moment about taking the extra route to the top of the mountain.

I can’t believe I would have reconsidered this part of the walk if it was slightly later in the day. The view is amazing and it’s totally worth it – no matter what! It’s quite hard to tell from the tree-ridden Mount Difficult campsite that the summit really does offer an awesome 360 degree view of the area. It’s a fairly short hike up the rock to the triangulation station and huge cairn signifying the top. We spent a bit of time marvelling at the view, getting giddy from the height and took some silly photos of ourselves. Lake Wartook is an awesome sight from above but it wasn’t until after the trip that we realised why there wasn’t anyone using the expansive, still waters for recreational pursuits like paddling or water-skiing. It’s a reservoir. Alright, question answered.

From here, we needed to descend the challenging part of the route which we climbed up at the start of the first day. Going down is of course much easier, but less of a cardio buzz and more of a stress for the joints. While it took us three hours to come up this part, puffing and panting, the downhill took a leisurely two hours and three-quarters including a lunch break. I was pleasantly surprised by this part of the route the second time around – I think it shocked me a bit on the first day, so it was nice to find that it wasn’t as tricky as I thought it might be to come back down. We made it back to Troopers Creek campsite where we’d left our car at a fairly early 2pm.

Overall the trip was definitely top-heavy in that we did too much on the first day and not enough on the second. However, if we’d have followed the map properly this wouldn’t have been such an issue. Looking at the route throughout the day on the first day (when our brains were still functioning) we were really amazed at just how much ground we were expected to cover in the first day, especially considering it was much less on the second day. We were amazed to find that we went up, down, up and across a mountain range all in one day. The Parks Victoria information sheet we were initially guided by suggested the first day would take between six and seven hours. In all our other (admittedly limited) hiking and day-walking experience, we have found we usually take half to three-quarters of the suggested time. That day we walked for eight hours. This gives you at least a hint of an idea as to why this place is named Mount Difficult.

After experiencing the trails and analysing the route, it became apparent to us that there are various other options in terms of routes to take and that it would be possible to complete most of this trip while avoiding the challenging climb between Troopers Creek and Mount Difficult. This is something I would consider next time, although I am kind of excited by the challenge of those rocks and I certainly don’t want them to beat me. Mount Difficult is certainly what its name suggests – difficult. But it was equally as challenging, amazing and enjoyable.

Below is a guide on thinking about the Socks you might be looking to chose depending on seasons, Its by Hi-Tec Sports, I’m sure for most of you they need no introduction, but for those who don’t recognise they’re a forerunner in the Hiking Boots industry. So thanks to Mike over at Hi-Tec, we’ve got an instructional and some considerations on what boots and socks you might want to consider looking at.

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A Guide

When it comes to hiking, your choice of footwear is probably one of the more mundane details.  However, making the wrong decision can mean the difference between enjoying your excursion into the countryside and counting down the miles Kilometers as you hobble around your planned route.  In order to ensure the comfort of your feet you must select the right shoes or boots and also the right hiking socks to complement them.  In both instances, your choice should be guided by two considerations: the weather conditions and terrain you’ll encounter.

Hot conditions

If you are hiking in especially hot weather it could be that a standard pair of hiking boots will cause overheating.  In such cases it can be wise to opt for hiking shoes that finish below the ankle and allow for the air to circulate around your feet.  This, of course, means less support to the foot and ankle area, meaning they may not be suitable if your route involves some rough terrain. It’s a trade-off you’ll have to decide upon depending on your individual circumstances.

The lower rim allows for a low-cut sock to be worn without the need to worry about rubbing occurring, whilst further improving ventilation.  If you plan on wearing some lightweight low-cut socks, be sure to get specialist hiking ones that offer additional padding and support. (We’ll go into more detail as to why this is important later on in this post.)

Normal conditions

Where the weather is moderate, typically during the spring and autumn months, standard hiking boots are the norm.  They will help to add some warmth to your feet and offer suitable support for most terrain.

In terms of walking socks, you will require a mid-weight pair, which stretches up to around the mid-calf area to protect against any water or mud splashes.  The increased thickness of the material will help to keep your feet warm and also add some extra cushioning.

Cold conditions or extreme terrain

If you are hiking during the colder months and wearing normal walking boots then there are thicker socks out there that will help to provide additional insulation.  These will often be marketed as ‘mountaineering socks’, rather than hiking socks.

This type of sock is also suited for when you require mountaineering boots for the most demanding terrain.  The extra thickness of the socks provides welcome padding to counter the rigidity of mountaineering boots.

Finding a good pair of socks

Irrespective of whether you require lightweight hiking socks for the hottest conditions, or extra-thick socks for winter excursions, there are four key elements that you should look for.

• With any item of clothing you will always do your best to get the perfect fit.  This is especially important when it comes to hiking socks, as a pair that doesn’t quite fit can mean extra friction.  Over the course of a long hike this friction can result in discomfort and possibly even blisters.
• It is possible to buy hiking socks that are designed to be unisex, or that are intended for use by men or women only.  The key difference between men’s and women’s hiking socks is that the latter are narrower in keeping with the female’s anatomy.  Unisex ones will take the middle ground and so are suitable for both men and women.  Try to avoid socks that are specifically designed for the opposite sex, as they are likely to cause discomfort.
• The fibres used to make technical hiking socks are very advanced in order to deliver maximum comfort and performance.  Many of these materials have been engineered by individual manufacturers and copyrighted as part of their brand.  As a result, it can be a little bewildering as to which materials are best suited to your needs.  All you really need to look for here are materials that are both wicking, to take moisture away from your skin and that are breathable to prevent overheating.
• Specialist walking socks should provide padding and support in the right areas of your feet, specifically the forefoot, heel, ball of your foot and toes.  These are the parts of your feet that will encounter the most contact with the inside of shoes or boots, thus requiring extra protection.

Sponsored by Hi-Tec Sports, specialists in both mens and womens walking socks.

Recent bushfires around Victoria have stymied my plans to go to the Alpine region and climb Mt Feathertop this Australia day long weekend, but it did bring to the forefront of my mind that there are resources out there people should be using during the summer months.

Most of the states now have a Mobile APP that you can download, I’m not going to provide links because they’re are too many platforms and states and the page will be full of links.

However I will provide URLS for those unfamiliar here are a couple of current bushfire location resources you should know about. Have a good safe long weekend everybody.

All states:

LandGate – http://firewatch.landgate.wa.gov.au

Geoscience Australia – http://sentinel.ga.gov.au/acres/sentinel/index.shtml

VIC:

Country Fire Authority VIC – http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au

NSW:

Rural fire service NSW – http://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/dsp_content.cfm?cat_id=683

QLD:

Rural fire service QLD – http://www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au/map.html

North Australia fire information –  http://www.firenorth.org.au/nafi2/

SA:

Country Fire Service SA – http://www.cfs.sa.gov.au/site/news_media/current_incidents.jsp

NT:

North Australia fire information - http://www.firenorth.org.au/nafi2/

WA:

Landgate – http://firewatch.landgate.wa.gov.au

Tas:

Tasmania Fire Service – http://www.fire.tas.gov.au/Show?pageId=colCurrentBushfires

ACT:

Emergency Services Agency – http://esa.act.gov.au

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Langi Ghiran is a mountain 14 kilometres east of Ararat in Victoria, Australia, and is home to the Djab Wurrung people who have lived on this land for tens of thousands of years. Major Thomas Mitchell climbed Mt Langi Ghiran during his 1836 ‘Australia Felix’ expedition. Langi Ghiran (Lar-Ne-Jeering) is Djab Wurrung language meaning ‘home of the Black Cockatoo’.

Day 1:

It was 12:00 when we set out, later than planned, so instead of starting from Langi Ghiran Camground, Dad and I got dropped off outside the Langi Ghiran reservoir, so we could walk the short distance to the start of Easter Creek Track, the start of our climb.

Signage on Easter Creek Track. Danger!

Easter Creek Track rises slowly but consistently, with a few steep pinches. Beware of loose sand on the granite, because it makes it slippery in places. After following Easter Creek Track for around 4 km we found a cairn to the left of the track that indicated a trail to the summit. The trail is just a footpad that is barely visible through the dense undergrowth, and after walking a very short distance, you get to an old campsite and from there the trail seems to disappear.

Cairn on Easter creek track

To get to the summit from here we had to work our way through large granite boulders and push through thick scrub. In sections it required some pack hauling, and walking poles were of no use, because we needed hands and knees to clamber up steep rocky outcrops. After scrambling around for what seemed like an eternity, we finally stood upon the highest boulder, at an altitude of 950 metres. The weather was clear and the summit provided good views of the Challicum Hills wind farm and the Grampians to the West as Wedge-Tailed Eagles circled the sky above.  After a few minutes, we headed down out of the wind and found a nice spot to boil some water on the Trangia for lunch and a cuppa.

Challicum Hills wind farm from summit of Mt Langi Ghiran

After lunch we shouldered the packs again and navigated back to the cairn on Easter Creek Track. Our plan was to walk until Easter Creek Track ran out and find our way through the bush to a place called Hidden Lagoon from there. The track was taking us further from our goal so we decided to head cross country. The going was tough and we had to push through 5-foot tall sword-grass hiding sharp rocks and slippery logs beneath and Dad lost his footing multiple times. After about a kilometre, we noticed a clearing ahead of us that looked like a meteor crater. It was Hidden Lagoon and it was full after recent rains. This is where we were to camp overnight.

Hidden Lagoon full of water.

We found a clear spot by the lagoon but soon we were being eaten alive by Mosquitoes and there were lots of Leeches in the area so we kept moving and eventually came across a nice spot to pitch our tents next to Lagoon Track. We finished pitching our tents and started organising a freeze-dried meal for tea. We took advantage of a hole supposedly made by a Wild Pig, to make a small campfire and we kept ourselves entertained until 9:00 by keeping the fire alive and then it was time to hit the sack.

Water boiling on the Trangia stove.

DAY 2:

I awoke at 6:00 to find the campsite full of fog, and barely any condensation on the inside of my tent (both pleasant surprises). I got breakfast cooking on the Trangia,  Uncle Toby’s oats for me and VitaBrits for Dad. After breakfast we took down our tents, packed up all our gear and put out the fire. We were on the move by 8:01. We walked along Lagoon Track for a couple of kilometres and saw some of the largest Kangaroos we had ever seen. One Kangaroo (perhaps the largest of them all), just stood there and eyed us off as we rounded a bend.

Forest near Hidden Lagoon in early morning light.

We arrived at an intersection where Lagoon Track and Link Track meet and battled our way through the vegetation and towards Mount Gorrin from there. There are no tracks on Mount Gorrin. Dad had studied the contours on a topographic map to allow us to assault Mount Gorrin where it’s least steep, but that didn’t make navigating around large boulders and tors any easier and we had to fight impenetrable undergrowth. We soon picked up a Kangaroo trail that would lead us in the right direction so we followed it up the mountain until it ran out, not far from the summit, but with many boulders to traverse.

Beads of water on a spider’s web.

We trudged around the obstacles until we got to a boulder that was far too steep to climb with full packs (about 15 kilograms in each) and there was no way around it. We made the decision to leave our packs there to allow us to clamber up the boulder and continue upwards. It wasn’t far to the summit but Dad was concerned that we wouldn’t be able to relocate our packs so he waited within sight of the packs while I continued up to the summit alone. From the summit there was a beautiful view of Langi Ghiran in the mist and I was so dazzled by the sight that I forgot to take a photo, something I regret now.

I found my way back to Dad and I took over pack-watching duty while he went up for his moment on the summit. As I stood there I was dumbfounded by the beauty of the landscape around me and I felt like I was the only person on earth.

Soon Dad and I found our packs again and searched around in circles for the Kangaroo trail that we had followed earlier. After five or so minutes, we found it again, and began to descend the mountain. Halfway down, my shoulders needed a rest and I was hungry, so we had lunch, despite it being far too early. We fried pita bread on the Trangia frypan and spread cream cheese over it, which made for a tasty meal.

We strapped on our packs and walked off Mount Gorrin to a smaller neighbouring peak that is nameless. We were halfway down a ridge when we noticed a track a couple of kilometres away on ground level. We soon found a game trail that we think was either Pig or Deer, judging by the hoof-prints in the mud. We slogged down the mountain and finally stumbled upon the track that we had seen from the mountain, Langi Ghiran Track, a rather flat track designed for 2WD so it was well formed. It went on for a couple of kilometres before we reached the end of our walk, the Western Highway, where we were greeted by our car and the rest of the family.

Langi Ghiran is a beautiful state park that not many people know about. It is a ‘hidden gem’ that provides many beautiful and wild walks for those who are lucky enough to visit this amazing area.

Notes: Day 1- 7 km, Day 2- 8.7 km, Total= 15.7 km. There is no water at Langi Ghiran, byo water (Hidden Lagoon water clear but not flowing, unsafe to drink except maybe when treated). Off track walking is permitted in the park. Take a GPS, but also a map and compass (never rely completely on a GPS). Walk is not a circuit, requires car shuffling or pick up at end of walk.

By Sam

 Day 3:

I woke up at around 0630 to a brisk, overcast morning.  The night was peaceful and very quiet, just the sounds of the waves breaking the shore over the hill.   It was a very nice way to leave this world into the land of Nod. It was cloudy but it had the feeling that it was going to be a hot day so the plan was to get away as early as I could before the really hot weather come about. I tried the creek water again but it hadn’t improved overnight, it was still yellow in colour and still had that plastic, greasy taste to it.  Still it was better than nothing – I think.  I boiled it again, just to make sure and made porridge and coffee with it for breakfast.  The coffee was ok but the beauty of coffee is, if you make it strong enough, it will kill any taste.

Breakfast – it was nicer than it looks despite the creek water

I broke camp and packed up, leaving at around 0830 for a long walk along the beach again to the start of the track which would take me to Little Oberon Bay, Norman Point (the peak of the mountain before me) and then to Tidal River and home.  Once I found the track it was relatively easy to follow and a slight uphill grade made the decision to leave early a good one.  It was still quiet with only a few birds singing in the distance.

 Leaving Oberon Bay for Tidal River

Not long into the walk and without notice, a small wallaby about a metre and a half high leapt out onto the track about 5 metres in front of me.  I don’t know who got the biggest fright, me or him!!  He didn’t like the look of me I guess as he soon took off up the track and headed into the bush. I kept the drinking of the creek water to a minimum as it really was bad and planned to make a cup of tea when I reached Norman Point, about 4-5 kms ahead.  The track meandered along the edge of the mountain allowing some awesome views of the ocean and bay  to be had.  There was some quite spectacular stuff for most of the way.

Oberon Bay from half way up the mount

I arrived at Little Oberon Bay, mistaking it for Norman Point.  It just didn’t look right until I consulted the trusty map.  The track here goes along the beach and can easily be lost and it was quite a scramble to get up the dune to find it again.  I had a bit of a breather here and found a sand borne riverlet on the beach.  It was small but flowing and the water tasted so sweet.  Never had I tasted something so nice.  My creek water was down to about ¼ of a bottle but I kept that as I now knew it was relatively safe.  I filled my other 2 bottles with the new river water and headed off again.

 Little Oberon Bay and the tasty river

Finally I arrived at Norman Point after a very steep climb up granite steps and a stony track.  It damn near killed me!  I dropped my pack off at the edge of the track and laid down for a good ten minutes catching my breath and relaxing a little.  I was sweating like a pig – it was hot, no shade, no wind save a very minor gossamer breeze that would at times gently pass by – and it felt good. I got my faculties back together and pulled the cuppa gear out, set up the stove and made the best cup of tea I have had in a long while.  Having plenty of water now and being only a few kilometres from Tidal River, I felt I could afford to splash out and make a full cup instead of the usual rationed half cup.  Even my mum never made a cup of tea as nice as this one was!!  I boiled the rest of the river water up just to be on the safe side

View from Norman Point – just makes you want to go diving…

I walked the 300 metres down to Norman Point Lookout but it really wasn’t worth the trip, not a lot to see and certainly nothing that couldn’t be seen from where I was before.    Break time over, it was back to the track. I stood still for a few minutes before I headed off and just listened.  There wasn’t a sound.  No noise, no wind, no clouds, just me and a thin mist on the mountain.  Perfect.

I left the top of Norman Point, feeling good that it was primarily all downhill from here.  I met quite a few people going the other way towards Little Oberon Bay, at one stage it was like Bourke Street!

Now,  this type of place and this time of year, one expects a lot of tourists and this being a touristy place, one should expect a lot of them – and there were a lot of them.  But it annoys me no end when people put themselves into bad situations by either sheer stupidity or a total lack of forethought.  Within 10 minutes I encountered two such instances.

A small family approached me – mum and dad with 2 little kids in those kiddie backpacks. All were sweating heavily as it was getting very hot.   I guess, the way I was dressed would give the idea that I was somewhat self sufficient and the mum asked me if I had any spare sunscreen as they didn’t have any.  That was OK as we all forget stuff at times so I took what was left of mine as I had given the rest away the previous night to the Swiss couple and handed it to them.  What happened then surprised even me.  Dad put it on himself, then mum put it on herself and then handed it back to me.  “What about the kids?” I ask.  “Oh” said mum  “I guess we should put some on them” I told her to keep the cream as it had insect repellant in it as well and to smother her kids in it or they would be eaten alive by the flies and the sun.   I wasn’t aware until then that little kids were obviously immune to sunburn and insect bites.

Then some five minutes later I meet this rather largish woman dressed in only a long dress, sandals and a hat and in an obvious state of distress.  She sees me and immediately asks if I had any spare water.  What?  Are you serious?  In a relatively polite tone I questioned her as to why she was where she was on such a hot day without any water and if she didn’t have any I strongly suggested she turn around and go straight back to Tidal River.  She said she was with a group and they had the water.  The only group I met was now some 150 metres further along the track so she had obviously lagged quite a way behind.  I gave her my full water bottle for which she was quite grateful and I suggested I accompany her back to Tidal River or at least wait with her here until one of her group realises she is missing and comes looking for her – hopefully.  She strongly refused all assistance.  So what can I do? I only had a little ‘creamy’ creek water left but I knew that within an hour I would be at the Tidal River shop and could drink as much water, Coke, Gatorade as I could buy so I told her to keep my full bottle and to stop when she needed to.

I am by no means an expert but why is it that people put themselves in these positions?  Wouldn’t it be obvious to take water on a hot day? To take sunscreen on a hot day?   To not even attempt to walk up these hills if you aren’t physically capable?   And why do I meet them all? Don’t even get me started of Four Wheel drivers, every time I take the old Land Rover out………………..

Well, I finally got to Tidal River; somewhat sore, very tired and very dry with the last of the creek water gone some 20 minutes back.  I dropped my pack off outside the shop and within as many minutes, two Gatorades, two orange juices and an icy pole were gone!  Cold and very, very nice.

I reported back in to the Visitors Centre so they at least knew I was still alive, dropped my gear off at the car and headed to the shower block, which was nicely decorated by some young budding artist with motifs of male and female anatomy.  I knew then I was back in so-called civilization.  To say the shower was nice would have been an understatement, especially seeing as my tee shirt hadn’t been off in three days!!  Warm water cascading over a weary body really has no equal and then dry, clean undies, socks and tee shirt really top it off.
After that it was all over.  My three days of solitude was at an end.  The drive home was uneventful, thankfully but that’s when the real work began – unpacking, washing, cleaning and eventually putting it all away until next time.  Mmmm, I wonder where that will be to?  Now, where is that map book…………………?

Note from Ben, Thanks again to Adrian for his trip report and great read. I look forward to seeing more of his work in the future. 

It was a very quiet night, absolutely no noise, no wind, dead quiet.  I had heard horror stories from other bushwalkers of hungry possums and critters literally getting inside tents during the night in search of food items, so I slept with the torch and machete close at hand.  Maybe it was my snoring that frightened them away, well alleged snoring – my wife claims I do…..

I awoke around 0730 to a glorious sunny day, light wind with some loose cloud.  Breakfast was porridge and sultanas accompanied with coffee.  Very nice indeed.  As my foot was still aggravating me a little, I decided not to continue on to Roaring Meg or South Point but instead to go back along Telegraph Track and stay at Oberon Bay campsite which was only some 5.5 kms west.  It was longer to go back that way rather than along Telegraph Track to Tidal River but Telegraph Track was all uphill, this wasn’t.  I could take my time getting back too as I wasn’t expected home for another two days.

The track quickly turned to sand

The track quickly changed at the junction from a granite based road to a soft, sandy track which made it a little harder to walk along despite being relatively flat.  The vegetation changed dramatically too, from scrub to mainly ferns and tee-tree in the swampy areas.  I met a few people coming the other way, so I had a bit of a chat and swapped track notes. I arrived at Oberon Bay campsite in a couple of hours, which I was happy about, set up camp and had a nice cup of tea,  mmmmmmmmm.  I was at this point getting a little worried about my water situation.  I had brought 3 litres with me in Army canteens as I was told water would be available in most places but it did need to be treated.  Oddly though, the only shop (which is in Tidal River) on the entire 50,000 hectare peninsula had run out of sterilising tablets and wouldn’t have any for another week, despite assurances beforehand that they had plenty. I wasn’t at the stage just yet of looking at drinking my own urine though

.  There was a “Water” signpost pointing to a flowing fish filled creek so I took heart and grabbed my empty bottle.  There was another sign next to the creek that said “Do Not Drink” .  Mmmmmm, bit of a dilemma here.  So I filled my bottles and set about distilling something drinkable from this yellow fluid from the creek                                         

filtering the boiled creek water through my pants

I boiled the water twice then filtered it through the legs of my hiking pants (the legs unzip to make shorts so don’t stress about where the water went through).  Despite this it still tasted “plastic and creamy” if that makes sense, somewhat akin to bore water.  Urine was starting to look attractive right about now.  Still, it was better than nothing, but I decided to keep that water for the last day.  If I was going to get crook, I didn’t want it to be tonight, out here.

                  “filtered” creek water – yummy

I walked down to the beach and I immediately fell in love with the place.  It had everything, mountains, surf, clear water and an ambience that words simply cannot describe.  I would have to say that at this stage, it has to be my favourite cove.  I walked the length and breadth of it, some 3 kms or so in total and had a bit of a splash in the water.  It was easy to just sit and take in the presence of the place.  Huge granite boulders like Easter Island statues, sat perched high up on the mountain over looking all those who stay here and waves that created the most amazing patterns.  And warm!!  Port Philip Bay at this time was still around 16-17C but this was like standing in a spa, easily low 20’s.

 Oberon Bay            

           pools around the granite rocks

It is a serene, pristine place.  Flat sand, water pools around hill-borne rocks and no shells.  I walked the entire beach and found only one shell!  Just walking around here inspires feelings of peace and tranquillity.  Sure, other ocean beaches do that but this one somehow feels different.  I liked this place.

I spent most of the day exploring the beach, the rocks and dabbling in the water.  I met a Swiss couple who had never physically been on a beach before.  Switzerland, being a landlocked country, simply has no oceans and they had never felt sand before and obviously knew nothing of the flies. They inquired about them and if they bite.  Flies here are like small Cessna aircraft with teeth and love the taste of me at least.  This couple had neither insect repellent nor sunscreen and obviously knew nothing of an Australian summer for that matter either.  But that is forgivable for a tourist.  I have a combination of insect repellent and sunscreen that works very well so when I returned to my tent I emptied some into a small left over zip-lock bag and gave the tube to them.

Later in the afternoon, dinner was a simple affair with water and now gas rationed after using most of it to kill off anything nasty that the water may have held.  Some “Uncle Ben’s Chinese Style Rice” (very economical in terms of both water and gas usage) and a packet of Safcol tuna thrown in.  Very nice.  It’s amazing the pre-cooked and non- refrigerated stuff that you can get now.

I did plan to go to the beach to watch the sun set and to see stars without light interference but that went by the wayside when the clouds set in.    Still, I had the trusty book and the rest of the red to compensate.  See what tomorrow brings.

Note from Ben: Thanks for reading Day 2; Adrian will be back in another week or so with day 3!

For those of you whom are unsure about water treatment, the brown colour in the water is tannin from upstream vegetation; as long as you boil the water and allow it to cool, and filter the larger debris out of it you can safely drink the water. Alternatively you could chemically treat with a variety of available treatments or even use a charcoal and ceramic filter like I do. The charcoal filter helps mitigate some of that strong tannin taste that many people find unpalatable. 

Read on with day 3 here. 

Hi all, Wecome back to Hike Australia, I guess I’m kind of like that light on the distance, never around full time but always there when you look hard enough.

For the next little while, I have another Author to thank for some of the posts you’ll be seeing. Adrian found Hike Australia a few months ago, and we have had a few chats about getting a few of his stories on here, yesterday he was kind enough to give me a write up of a trip earlier this year to Wilsons Prom, which we will be sharing on my usual Day by Day breakdown basis. From when I first started Hike Australia it has always been my goal to expand the contributors as wide as I could from all walks (pun intended) of life and experience so that we could get the most possible content on here. So those of you reading that have these fantastic experiences and photos, keep me in mind next time you’re thinking about that great hike, and maybe jot it down and contact me.

I’ve asked Adrian to do a short introduction first, where we can get to know his background:

My name is Adrian Brewer and I am in my late 50′s, well about as late as I can be before I hit 60.  I am married to Judy and have been for 40 years.  Together we have 3 kids and a whole heap of grandkids.  My thirst for adventure can be traced back to early primary school when I lived in the bush, in a time when we made our own games and excitement.  i spent 9 years as a driver in the Australian Army, which turned my interest in the bush into a real thirst.  As a family, we made many trips to the Grampians and other places enjoying the natural wonders that only Nature can produce.
When the kids grew and moved out, this allowed Jude and i to explore the world a little more although she isn’t as hardcore as i am, she does like her comforts.  We plan to purchase a caravan in the very near future and run away for a time.

Aside from hiking, my other interests involve scuba diving; maritime archaeology; 4WD in my 1961 Land Rover (spare wheel on the bonnet, Leylands brothers stuff) and i grow my own veges and make jewellery from seaglass i find on the beach and the oceans depths.

So with that Introduction, Here is the first day of Adrians recent trip down to “the Prom”:

Day 1:  

I had been planning a bit of a bushwalking trek for some time but with work and other restraints, it kind of took a bit of a back step. I spent much time talking to other bushwalkers, joined forums, researched equipment and updated my Army bushcraft skills and eventually felt pretty confident.  I started “training” over a year ago but that kind of lapsed towards the latter part of the year.  Still with some holidays looming, I was determined to do something, so Wilson’s Promontory took the forefront. It was a relatively safe trek – in terms of something easy to start with and plenty of help nearby if anything untoward should happen.

I have been to the southern-most part of Tasmania, well so far as the car will take you but never the bottom bit of the mainland, known as South Point.  This was the objective.  I studied the map, chatted with people, planned an itinerary, prepared dried foods and rationed meals.  I was all set to go.

Monday the 3rd of January, saw me set off by car to Tidal River, but as per normal, I was running a bit late and with a few things along the way, it snowballed to where I arrived quite late.  The plan was to catch the shuttle bus to Telegraph Junction car park (if you saw the hill, you would know why I was going to start there), walk down to Roaring Meg campsite (12 kms) where I would stay overnight, then on Tuesday walk to South Point (3.7kms), drink a tiny bottle of red to all those I know and head back to the Roaring Meg campsite.  Wednesday I planned to walk to Oberon Bay then out to Tidal River (12 or so kms).  Well, we all know about the plans of mice and men………

I arrived at Tidal River around 1330 (1.30pm for you non 24 hour clock people), paid my respects at the Army Commandos Memorial and registered at the Visitors Centre (they like to know when you go in and come out in case they have to go looking for you).  After that, I missed the shuttle bus by seconds so I had to wait 1/2 hour for the next one.  I got on that one after placing Red the Backpack and Bruce the Stick unceremoniously into the trailer and off we went. (My gear has names, it’s a personal thing)

It was bedlam at Telegraph Junction car park, people literally trying to get on the bus before we even got off, just like Flinders Street Station.  I finally managed to get off the bus, grabbed Red and put him over to the side when all of a sudden I saw the bus disappear around the bend – and Bruce the walking stick was still in the trailer! – .  Horrors!  So it was another 30 minute wait for the bus to come back and hope that Bruce was still there.  There was much joy and celebration half an hour later when Bruce was reunited with Red and I.  ( I have a strong bond with my gear so you know.. and Bruce the Stick is an important companion.)

We all headed off down Telegraph Track and I was a bit surprised.  I was expecting something a little less maintained, for want of a better word.  The track was like the Warburton Trail, wide, covered in toppings, well looked after and relatively smooth. I guess I may not have needed the machete after all.  The first 5 kilometres were mostly downhill so it was relatively easy going.  After that, the track levelled out.

It was about that point when I stopped at Mc Alister Creek for a few minutes, sat on the bridge and watched the small fish dart about in the shallow but free flowing stream.  Then it was off again along the track.  A couple of kilometres further along I took a longer break at Growlers Creek.  This was somewhat deeper, flowing, but I didn’t see any fish or critters.

Some 3kms further on I passed Halfway Hut, which is apparently halfway to the coast but Roaring Meg was still some 4 1/2 kms further on.  This is where all plans went out the window.

Some time ago I had a bit of a foot injury which seemed to have fixed itself a month or so ago and had given me no trouble – until today.  About 500m past Halfway Hut it suddenly returned with a vengeance, basically putting my hiking efforts on hold.  Roaring Meg was quite possibly now out the window.  I went back to Halfway Hut, contacted the Rangers and told them I was staying there the night and would evaluate my situation the following morning.

It literally is a hut.  Stone with a timber door and what looks like something that used to resemble a fireplace.  Interesting as fires are banned in the park.   Aside from the hut, there are several clearings set aside as campsites.  As no-one else seemed to be staying I had the pick of the crop for myself, but as I wasn’t sure what was living under the floorboards, I opted to pitch the tent nearby.

Halfway Hut

Dinner was some frozen pork steaks followed by custard and sultanas.  It was at this stage that I realised I had inadvertently picked up the wrong gas bottle from Anaconda and it would not fit my gas stove.  A full bottle completely useless to me.  I did however as a last minute thing grab a small partially used bottle from home which I planned to use for my gas lamp.  So all was not lost.  If worse came to worse, I had a Hexamine stove and tablets as a backup.  Rule one – check your gear, double check it, then check it again.

Tent up, sleeping bag open, dinner over and dishes done, little was left to do other than lay back, have a small cup of red seeing as South Point may not be on the agenda and rest up.

Not one person within miles of me, no noise save a few birds and not one light.  One truly can feel on ones own out here, although I did sleep with the torch and machete close by in case some critters of the night needed re-educating in the ways of sharing food and lodging.

 Read on with day 2 here 

Looking down Branding Yard trail

What we ended up doing was a little different, but I think it was probably a slightly better walk in the end. Instead of heading up the east walk track, we decided to head down the hill along the branding yard trail. The trail winds down the hill toward the Bunjil geoglyph, but instead of heading along and around the trail we decided to go the uphill route toward Saddleback track. This trail takes you up to the saddle north of Flinders peak.

Heading up Saddleback was a bit of a heart pumper, it’ a decent couple of hundred meters up a steep gradient, but it was really just what the doctor ordered for us. After a quick rest at the saddle enjoying some great views to the west, we followed the West track back to turntable. Along the walk the trees did break open for a little bit and some good views of Big Rock appeared. Not exactly the easiest to photograph though.

With the exception of the steep gradient around Saddleback track, the rest of the walk is pretty flat. I would recommend this bushwalk for all level of hikers as there is varying terrain and its easy to make the walk longer if you’re feeling up to it by doing some of the circuits around the turntable.

Unfortunately  with a busy life, sometimes Hike Australia like most hobbies, gets prioritised down the list somewhat. I haven’t even been on an overnight hike in 5 months, Heck I haven’t gone bush in two! Its been a busy year, with our new puppy Lilly monopolising afternoons for walks and training. On top of that, those who know me well enough know that I’ve got other things monopolising nearly every weekend that I have available and that takes a lot of time away that I would normally dedicate to this site and  outdoors in general. It feels like only a couple of days ago that I published the Airspresso article. I have had tried to put aside time to do a video on the Airspresso working but there seems to be something that pops up just as I get the time!

With these things in mind, I would really like to ask for some of you out there who read this site, to put forward a suggestion on an article. If I think we can make it work on Hike Australia, I’d like to publish it here, along with some background on you and where you come from.

If you are interested in publishing an article here, please email me on ben(at)hike-australia.com with Your name, your website (if you have one) and  a brief overview of what you would like to write about pertaining to outdoors.

The first impression I had upon opening the box and getting the machine out was the sheer workmanship and quality of the device. I find that usually hiking coffee machines fit into one of three categories, finicky and lightweight, heavy and robust or the third sad lonely category: make a terrible coffee (think coffee bags or instant). I must stress here , if you don’t care about “terrible” coffee, go buy your Nescafe international roast dry freeze and take a hike. So glad I finally got to make that joke, I have been sitting on that since I started the site.

Nice round 250g

How it works:

The Airspresso works using the extraction style that is pretty much the same as most coffee machines, with a twist. Basically you load the base with coffee and tamp, screw into the main body and fill with boiling water to the water line. Once the Airspresso is assembled, you use a bike tyre pump to pressurise the air pocket above the water, which starts the extraction process. The tiny holes made in the main body of the machine allow for consistent pressure across the whole puck which leads to an even extraction.

Airspresso state that by suing hot water rather than steam, many of the bitter extracts that are flushed out of the grind and into the coffee are left behind, which results in a better sweeter Crema.

Something you might have picked up on is that you will need a bike pump to work the machine, yes; this is true, but don’t worry they have thought of that too.

Weight:

It was much to my surprise that the Airspresso looks, feels and is sturdy, but weighs in at a nice round 250 grams. For those really worried about weight, you can also ditch the tamp and use your thumbs, a spoon or another flat object you have with you. This will bring the weight down a further 59g to 191 grams. You’re going to need that bike pump too, and Airspresso have two lightweight different ones that do the job, the one im using is the slightly heavier one but at 89g its hardly your biggest worry! So, with a total weight of just on 330g, I think you’ll agree its very reasonable.

Full kit and caboodle incl pump and tamp

Durability / Quality

For what it weighs, the Airspresso is incredibly sturdy and feels like proper machine. When compared with my 200 grams GSI Espresso maker, which fits in the light and flimsy category, it feels bomb-proof. The Airspresso is made of machined and anodized aluminums with a heat resistant medical grade plastic used for the middle. While it is heat resistant after making the third coffee in a row on the machine, i did use a tea-towel to hold the plastic centre as it did get quite hot. On the whole, It feels very solid and I get the distinct feeling that even if you were to use this regularly, you will have it for a very long time.

The quality of the workmanship is impeccable, its Australian made which is always a nice bonus and you can buy all the parts to replace lost or damaged components should it come to that.

The valve the pump screws into is a standard Presta valve, like the kind you would see on most bikes in a tour de France. The distinct advantage to these over a Schrader is the fact you can field service the valve, which means you’ll not be without coffee if you are unlucky enough to drop it in the dirt. They’re also bog standard so you can buy one at a bike shop if you break it.

Bare minimum to make the machine work (no coffee and water though)

Coffee quality

Cracking! If I had to give the Airspresso a 1 – 10 rating, and 1 was a bad instant coffee and 10 was an award winning coffee in Melbourne CBD, I’d comfortably give it a 7, on par with most good home coffee machines. You can enjoy a nice crema, and its consistent. One of the biggest challenges I have with the GSI is the inconsistency of the coffee, there are so many variables that come in to play when you’re in the bush with a steam driven machine like the GSI or any percolated coffee pot for that matter. I was able to make more than 10 consistently good coffees on recent trips without messing a single up. Call me whatever you like but this tells me its idiot proof, and I’m a fussy guy that pours at least one coffee down the sink in a week because I’ve messed it up on my machine at home and I make 10+ coffees a week on that thing!

Ease of cleaning and Water efficiency:

The coffee basket is machined and annodised aluminum, the coffee comes out easily and rinses even more easily, the top cap is the same so no worries there. The White medical grade plastic however did get dirty after my weekend away, and I think its just going to be a fact-of-life that the white plastic gets a bit brown and stained, personally I really couldn’t care less.

In terms of water efficiency, apart from the very little bit you lose when boiling the water, and the couple of mls that are left in the puck, you will get every drop back as coffee. Rinsing wise if you were really pressed for water, I think wiping down with a dry cloth would work fine.

Time to Coffee

Time to coffee; from start to finish for a single coffee, see the video link here on Hike Australia – in the next few days. This shows the whole process from taking the machine out of its case, preparing and finally the coffee itself. I think you’ll find the longest wait will be the water boiling. Until then, you can see the step by step at the bottom of this article!

I would like to add to this, that due to the way the coffee machine works, if you’re aiming to make more than a single cup the Airspresso gets more and more ahead of percolator style coffee and you can boil the water all at once and line up coffees to be made quickly.

Cost / Replacement parts:

This is the only real stumbling step I had with the Airspresso and its not a huge one; The price, compared with something like the GSI which costs roughly $50; the Airspresso clocks in at a $139 for the basic package, up to $199 for the full RRP kit and caboodle, and both packages still require a bike pump for somewhere between $28 and $39.  However, due to the amount of cash that people like me spend on hiking equipment I just don’t think its that much of a difference, especially over the life of the gear ,to complain about. This comes down the age old “You get what you pay for”.

Once you have the kit, you probably wont ever need a new one; in fact your kids might even end up fighting over it. Ther are a few replacement parts, With replacement O rings coming in at a whopping $2 for two and the Presta valve at $6.

You can find all the info required on the Airspresso page.

In Conclusion

While the cost for the Airspresso is more expensive than many of the options out there, I suggest that you do not discount it on this alone. We in the hiking world regularly spend the extra dough to get the highest quality and I think that it is definitely worth thinking about doing in this case.

My feelings are that the Airspresso is a long term investment for a coffee lover that wants to have consistently good coffee in the bush. It is relatively lightweight, very compact and sturdy. This feels like a piece of equipment that you will have long after your down sleeping bag, brand new ultra lightweight tent and titanium spork have all been retired.

See below for a step by step process

Putting coffee in the Airpsresso basket

Tamping the coffee down

Always very important to not over-tamp the coffee

screw the base into the assembly

Pouring boiling water into airspresso

Maker sure that you have the Presta valve round the right way!

Pump the coffee!

Airpresto! Coffee-de-jour

Thankyou for taking the time to read the review! If you have any questions you can contact me by email or by commenting in the section below!