This offering (The Ti Minimalist’ with 2 5/8” – 67 mm blade) from Kestrel Knives gazumps my chosen Kabar Johnson River Piggyback (http://www.theultralighthiker.com/new-knife/) It weighs 14 grams including the sheath, compared to the Piggyback’s 36.5 grams. Of course it is also 10 times the price, so I probably won’t be making the switch soon. Still, […]
Quest for the Ultimate Ultralight Knife Never Ends: Read More »
From the Thomson River Bridge/s (‘Thomson Station’) you can walk a lovely 8 km circuit up along the West bank of the river then down along the East bank. If I were walking the entire UYT I would come down to Thomson Station as soon as it joined the Mormon Town Track and walk up
Thermarest has a new range of easy to inflate mats. These guys go up (and down) so easily it will be hard to resist the temptation to replace our ‘old’ mats. Fortunately for us they have not (yet) extended the new valve’s availability to our favourite mat the Neoair Xlite Women’s! (http://www.theultralighthiker.com/new-hiking-mat-425g/) The
& Hearty Garden Vegetable CupaSoups Soups: I have long lamented the dreadful quality (and undeserved price) of pretty much all backpacking meals. That’s why I have largely concentrated on recommending good supermarket meals which fill the bill: well-priced, tasty and nutritious, good calories per gram ratios, quick, energy efficient and easy to prepare &
Hiking Meals: Continental Hearty Italian Minestrone Read More »
This is a beautiful glamping trip. You can walk from the Mushroom Rocks Carpark (just North of Erica – or from the Mt St Gwinear Carpark) to the Baw Baw Village in approx 5 ½ hours (our retiree speeds with overnight packs) each way. There is accommodation there year round, but at least three nights
Upper Yarra Track Glamping: Baw Baw Overnight Hike: Read More »
What a way to escape the heat! Others may flock to the beach. We give our hearts to the mountains. Mt Baw Baw was to be 8C cooler than home (with no power) and with a delightful cooling 30 kph breeze. When we left our car at the bottom of Candleheath Drive (Go down Frosti
Upper Yarra Track Sidetrip: Baw Baw to Mt St Phillack: Read More »
Of course there must be some (lower) limit to how light things can go. It seems insulated clothing & sleeping bags are about to experience one of those quantum falls. Introducing Aerogel & Graphene: http://futurism.com/jackets-withstand-liquid-nitrogen-made-using-solid-material-thats-99-8-air/ You can already buy Aerogel blanket insulation eg here: http://www.buyaerogel.com/product-category/blankets/ Could be the ‘must do’ for DIYprojects? It will probably
I have been playing with Col. Whelen’s famous ‘Forester’ Tent design: http://www.theultralighthiker.com/col-townsend-whelens-forester-tent/ I have certainly come to the conclusion that the classic A-frame tent sloping away to the back has seldom been bettered. I reduced some of his dimensions and increased others. We do not need such a tall tent as his, particularly at the
Della: Steve and I, with Tiny and Spot, spent the last 2 days walking over the Baw Baw Plateau from Baw Baw across to Newlands Road on the Upper Yarra Walking Track. It was a delightful walk and we selected good weather for it (which is needed!). One section on the first day was particularly
Upper Yarra Track Section Eight: Baw Baw to Newlands Rd Read More »
As you can see the track is well made, delightful and easy to follow from the Ada Tree all the way to Warburton, with numerous signposts. If you have a couple of days to spare, this is a pleasant jaunt. You can turn it into a loop: http://www.theultralighthiker.com/ada-tree-loop-walk-4-days/ Gerard White and his partner Bridgette completed
Upper Yarra Track Section Eleven: Ada Tree to Big Pat’s Creek: Read More »
