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Post by graynomad on May 3, 2014 23:28:31 GMT 10
I've been inspired by Ryan's walking posts to comment on one of my favourite pastimes, bushwalking. For those considering bugging out on foot with a BOB please get used to it by doing some long walks, at least several days, before you need to. Even if you have a good BOL and even if you live at your BOL (is that possible?) it could still be necessary to hit the track. I've been bushwalking for as long as I can remember and the most important thing (after your feet) to get right is weight, your kit has to be a light as possible. If I wanted to rough it I could go lighter but I think I have pretty much nailed this down while ensuring a reasonable level of comfort. I find I can walk indefinitely (well 10 days is the longest I've done) with 17kgs of gear + water + 750g of food per day. This is in any weather from desert to snow but if in the tropics probably a lot less because you don't need cold-weather clothes. I've met people who go lighter and heavier so if anyone has other figures I'd like to hear what you carry. Meanwhile here are some links to walks I've done over the last few years. Budawangs, NSW, 10 days (near Bateman's Bay) robgray.com/graynomad/issues/issue_054/index.phpKarijini, Pilbara, WA, 5 days (scroll down to Thu 9 Jun ), robgray.com/graynomad/issues/issue_064/index.phpKosczuisko, NSW (scroll down to Tue 12 Jan), 3 days robgray.com/graynomad/issues/issue_055/index.phpI carry the same gear on all these walks, 17kgs basic kit + 10kgs camera gear, that's 27kgs + food + water. In Kosi and the Budawangs water is easy to find so I just carried 2-3 litres, in Karijini we never knew what we would find so carried 4-5 litres. The only thing I can really think of ditching would be the tent depending on the terrain and climate, for example I have done a 3-day Budawangs walk on another occasion with just a 12kg pack because I know I can usually camp in caves there (so no tent required) and I didn't take a camera (being a photographer is a curse). Also if you make a fire every day you could save about 1.5-2kgs of cooking stove and fuel, but fires are a problem on many levels. ______ Rob
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Post by SA Hunter on May 4, 2014 22:58:13 GMT 10
Hi Graynomad, and thanks for the post.
Re bush walking, I've ditched the tent, and now carry a bivvy bag,but still carry my sleeping bag as well as a tarp for extra shelter.
You are right re the great photos too from Ryan's trek.
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Post by graynomad on May 4, 2014 23:28:27 GMT 10
Yes I sometime just use a bivvy bag as well, as long as I'm reasonably sure it won't rain and/or I will find some form of shelter like a rock overhang. I met a bloke once who just used a ground sheet for shelter even up in the high country, that's probably a bridge too far for me
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on May 14, 2014 7:38:58 GMT 10
Great post, 10 days is allot of walking. I have been support crew for a two teams doing the Oxfam trail walker twice now, That is a 100km walk through the bush and up an over mountains.
I would suggest people give that a go and try to make it without stopping for sleep, would be a good way to demonstrate to yourself that if you had to leave suddenly and had to keep moving to avoid pursuers that you wouldn't last long.
Good to see some people still enjoying this beautiful land of ours.
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Post by graynomad on May 14, 2014 23:20:45 GMT 10
Yes I love being out in the bush, either solo or with mates, I can't say I love lugging 20-30kgs of pack though, but that's what you gotta do to get to these places. Truth is I'm not very fit and even though my walks are long in time they are not very long in miles as my main reason for being there is photography and for that you have to hang around a lot.
If I ditch the camera gear I could go a lot further and spend longer out there, and as we've said above you can go a lot lighter although my tent only weighs 1.7kgs IIRC so it doesn't make a huge difference. Still every kilo counts.
I assume they don't carry much kit, I would be interested to see how I go with a light pack, say around 10kgs. When I've finished all my current jobs I might give it a try.
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on May 15, 2014 17:20:42 GMT 10
probably between 5-10kg 5 would be 99% of people, some insane mofos would carry the 10kg worth. Generally teams have a support crew which meet them at designated checkpoints and bring hot food and such, it's not meant to be a survival situation but it is still an eye opener, I want to have a crack at actually walking on of these years too.
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Big Ted
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Post by Big Ted on May 18, 2014 10:29:25 GMT 10
They all change shoes, boots, socks and clothing at most check points too and power up on hot food and drinks like you said.
As you Suggested for others, have you attempted walking 100km without stopping for all the luxuries & help that the Oxfam walkers get?
Most people who would pursue you would be subject to all the same issues as you ( the person on the run ) so I imagine that the group or individual who wins the race for life would be the one with the strongest desire. Desire to live or desire to Kill the hunted.
There is a course in the Military that has a component called the " Lonely Warrior " or as most civilians would hear of it referred to as " The happy Wanderer ", that pushes a man to the outer edges of his physical and mental ability to remain on track and focused on the task at hand. This is an amazing distance to be covered in a short amount of time carrying 45 plus Kg of gear and weapons. Point being, without meeting people at check points and having hot food, Hot Brew's and gumpy bars waiting for you, it's a hard slog that requires Soul searching for reasons to keep going. I would be very interested to hear what you have to say about it, if you have done it or ever do it bud.
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on May 19, 2014 12:50:31 GMT 10
The point I was making was that even with assistance, if someone just isn't physically used to doing something, then the first time they try it, it may well prove very difficult. Even owning a pair of boots that you know you can walk in across all terrain all day in without getting blisters is a bonus and a good start.
I didn't say to do it without stopping for assistance, I said do it without sleep, both teams I have supported did it without sleep, as a matter of fact allot of teams do, anyway quit trolling this is a discussion about bushwalking, PM me if there is a problem.
The Dandenong ranges and Toolangi state forest are some of my favorite areas, mainly it's the views that get me, I just love the higher terrain.
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Big Ted
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Post by Big Ted on May 19, 2014 18:10:43 GMT 10
Don't be an Idiot mate! I was Not " Trolling ". I was not interested in your support stories of Oxfam I was genuinely asking you if you had done what you recommended for others to do.
No stress though, we'll just leave it at that then!
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Post by tacticalmonkey on May 19, 2014 19:34:35 GMT 10
11 minute km
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2014 20:29:54 GMT 10
Beat you all...Ha...I can do 1.5km in 3 days and not break a sweat!
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on May 19, 2014 20:52:06 GMT 10
Ha Dr Gaz that's classic.
Whylie, I have walked 70km without a support crew or sleep, a part of being a support crew for Oxfam means you participate in the training walks, towards the end my first team was up to 70km for the final training walk prior to the main event, since the support crew was present (Three of us) we had to do it without outside help and work as a team. seriously it is a good cause and a real eye opener, YOU may not be interested in what I have to say but I have the right to say it, if you want to question me Private Message me.
All I suggested was that people participate in a great charity event that is centralised around bushwalking the topic of this thread.
Just out of interest, what exactly do you think I was suggesting? reading your posts I'm thinking you misunderstood me.
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Big Ted
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Post by Big Ted on May 19, 2014 22:57:27 GMT 10
Mate I am NOT Riled up, chill out bud, relax! My question was a Serious one for sure! A Misunderstanding for us both here I believe. I actually misunderstood you initially as I thought you were suggesting that people do that kind of trek in their own time on their own steam type thing, ( Which is perfectly ok ) not just you suggesting that they give Oxfam a go! ( Why on earth anyone would have anything against OXFAM is beyond me, so in that respect I do not know what it was that made you think I was having a sook about it....But NO!) It's all good though, I thought you were being an Idiot by calling me a Troll as I was Seriously interested in hearing about your experience doing such a walk. It sounded to me as though you had done that type of thing and were speaking from experience ya know! Nothing more. So you have also misunderstood me some what. Rather than call me a Troll though and suggest I was stirring or had issues with you and should PM ya, you could have just said......' No mate I mean for People to Give OXFAM a Crack is all '........ and I would have said ' No dramas bud '! LoL It's fine Danny, nothing to see here people, Move along!!
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on May 20, 2014 7:44:03 GMT 10
Yeah no worries mate, glad we could sort it out and thanks for getting back to my PM too.
Like I said 70km is the longest I have done under those circumstances, would be pretty awesome to get a team together and actually participate one year.
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Res-Q
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Post by Res-Q on Jul 27, 2014 20:45:03 GMT 10
Great thread Graynomad, I try to pack very light as i have osteoarthritis in both knees. It dosent stop me getting out but i have to adjust the way i do things. For sleeping its off the ground for me with a Hennessey hammock expedition Asym. recon3 sleeping bag, Pathfinder staino bottle and cups canteen. Folding saw and usual fire, hygiene kit etc. Like you it comes in at about 12 kilo. 2 weeks ago i went on a kayak camping overnighter on the Hawkesbury river. Everything was carried in a 50LT dry bag stowed up front in my inflatable kayak. So weight was a real issue for the boat and walk. We paddled and spent the night in an extinct volcanic crater not far from the M1 motorway at Brooklyn. The green line is the kayak section 1 hour 15 minutes. The Blue is the walk and camp into the crater 30 minutes Inside the crater
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Post by Ausprep on Jul 27, 2014 20:46:28 GMT 10
Did you depart from the mental island/hostel area?
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Res-Q
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Post by Res-Q on Jul 27, 2014 20:47:58 GMT 10
No, That was the original plan, but there was a locked boom gate so we left from the mooney car park
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Post by Ausprep on Jul 27, 2014 20:49:50 GMT 10
Ahhhh missed the first few dots.
Im intrigued...did you deflate the kayak and take it? Was it a day trip?
CAN this be done as a day trip? Would love to see this site.
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Res-Q
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Post by Res-Q on Jul 27, 2014 20:53:40 GMT 10
You didnt miss it, that map was the original plan from Peat Island. No need to deflate the kayak, just pulled it ashore and hid it. It was an over nighter. It wasnt that exciting, pretty bland if you ask me.
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Post by graynomad on Jul 28, 2014 1:24:35 GMT 10
What a great-looking spot. Even though it's right next to a highway I reckon you could hide there for ages. You could leg it from the road as well.
I love browsing with Google earth, finding places and wondering what they are like. Is that how you found this?
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