I manage to get up the bush from time to time though I don’t always have time to post about it but Honey and I spent a week away recently exploring some of our much burned bush. I just do not understand the mentality of ‘conserving’ millions of acres of bush only to (fairly regularly) destructively incinerate them – and everything which lives in them. Much better to have mixed use of our forests including some grazing, logging, mining etc plus regular fuel reduction burns and well-maintained tracks and fire-breaks. The old ‘state forest’ model was much better at preserving what was there in the bush than the current ‘national parks’ model which is just so destructive of everything I hold dear.
I took the A$50 Aricxi Tarp/Tent and my DIY Groundsheet which together with the pegs/guys etc weighs around 500 grams and pretty much fits in your pocket. I was pitching it with a forked stick at the bottom end and my hiking pole at the front. My hiking poles are only 105 cm which to be honest is a bit short to avoid condensation from the roof. Most hiking pole tents are too short (like this) which is one reason is why I simply must finish a final version of my Deerhunters Tent #2 the further reason being that it will make a perfect hammock tarp for us both as well. I will need it for one last foray into Fiordland next autumn The roof of this tent weighs 438 grams in 1.3 oz/yd2 silnylon but will weigh around 300 grams in .98 oz/yd2 – probably about 600 grams for the tent with floor, pegs etc all up.
If you can’t/won’t sew this Aricxi tarp with some kind of ad hoc groundsheet is perfect for one – even two in a pinch. I wholeheartedly recommend it. I would also recommend pitching it higher eg with a DIY Ultralight Tent Pole.
Waking up on our first morning. The tent has stood up well overnight (though hastily pitched) as you can see.
The second morning. Plenty of firewood in those flood debris piles. Honey wanting to sleep in.
The track/way has become somewhat overgrown where it was not burned.
My camera had a glitch such that most photos were too blurred to use. I used to have a camp where this old deer stand is but it is very burned out – however many deer survived here. There was a poddy sleeping right next to the stand.
This is all that remains of my cache there. The drums and shelter I have slept in many times are just dust. I may ‘rescue’ the billies and Supercat Burners at a later date. These are just about the best, cheapest and lightest (alcohol) cook stoves available and only take minutes to make.
A couple of places far inside the ‘national park’ I found trees which had been chainsawed down (clearly by Parks staff). A mystery.
The shoulder bone of the deer I shot with Tiny nearly twenty years ago is till sitting on the rock where she fell. I must have picked it up and placed it there much later as I passed.
I do love Jack Russells. Honey is by far the best hunter I have had but I am just too old to be carrying heavy rifles into or heavy deer out of the bush. She regularly ‘puts up’ deer for me though. It is not really fair to her that she has to be the dog of my old age but it is a far better life she has than many of her relatives in city blocks.
One of my favourite camp sites now much clearer than it has ever been. I have slept there many, many times over the years.
Even though I do not (necessarily) anticipate returning I always leave a cache of wood to dry out so it is ready for the next camp[ fire.
The burned out billy next to the log is the only memento of this campsite too.
I always sit on this rock for a spell and gaze at the river See: 70th Birthday Platypus Nearly another decade has passed since then. I am now 77.
The fire has opened up some wonderful grazing opportunities for deer (and hunting opportunities for people) along the river.
This is how folks used to ‘blaze’ the way in times past.
I have seen many fine stags in this secluded wallow.
My last night’s camp.
Came with this wondrous misty mountain view – so like Fiordland (except for the gum trees). The river ‘goes ever on and on’.
Look at the thousands of acres of forest just completely erased here. There were tens of thousands of acres like this. This is not ‘management’ or ‘conservation’. This is laziness and stupidity.
See Also: Wonnangatta Track Clearing
