The route along the tops is a delightful mix of alpine heath and snow gums. Every couple of kms you will find a small stream (sometimes to the side of the track) with fresh water. For example there is water near the St Gwinear turnoff, just after Mt St Phillack, at Mustering Flat and in […]
Upper Yarra Track Section Eight: St Gwinear Track Junction to Whitelaw’s Hut: Read More »
This dehydrated food is quite delicious. If it seems pricey at >$4 for 85 grams it represents nearly half a kg of bacon, but it keeps without any refrigeration and will add some zap to an otherwise fairly bland pasta meal for example (particularly if you add some Kraft Cheddar cheese as well – which also
You don’t have to carry a brick around to warm a little food. There are some beautiful ultralight pots out there. The new 1350 ml Toaks Pot 102g (pot alone) – 145mm x 80mm (H x D) is big enough for two people https://www.traildesigns.com/cookware/toaks-1350-ml-ultralight-titanium-pot US$54.95; Add a Frypan Lid big enough to actually fry something
This is a delightful easy section following historic tramways linking two of the most beautiful small towns in the world. It perambulates gently through majestic mountain ash and tree fern gullies with splendid views of the awesome Thomson River. It offers numerous opportunities to sightsee, sidetrack or camp. 12 km – @ 4 hours. NB:
Upper Yarra Track: Section Five: Erica to Walhalla: Read More »
It is nice to be able to gaze out into the woods when camping. An open tarp shelter (http://www.theultralighthiker.com/tyvek-solo-fire-shelter/) or a cuben tent (http://www.theultralighthiker.com/zpacks-hexamid-solo-plus-tent/) such as I use facilitates this, or you might try building a clearview tent as in this instructable: http://www.instructables.com/id/Ultralight-clear-tarp-tent-2P/ You get much the same 360 degree view camping in a hammock
This is an interesting concept and should be easy enough to emulate in Tyvek. I had already tried to shape a groundcloth so the sides stood up like this, but without pegs or other supports it was less than perfect. Using some elastic cord to make it conform to the shape of one’s sleeping mat
Need a tougher daypack? Some folks have commented that they want a tougher pack than say the Osprey (http://www.theultralighthiker.com/osprey-ultralight-stuff-pack/) or Sea to Summit (http://www.seatosummit.com.au/products/outdoor/ultrasil-dry-day-pack/) or Zpacks Zero (http://www.zpacks.com/backpacks/zero.shtml – now the Nero 309 grams: http://zpacks.com/backpacks/nero.shtml) so they can carry lots of meat/etc betimes (and are happy to carry over 100 grams! They should maybe move to
Our family celebrate Xmas tomorrow (due to work commitments), so what better day to continue our exploration of the ‘closed track’ which used to link Downey (North of Tanjil Bren) with Newlands Rd (Baw Baw Plateau)? We are hoping that this track will complete our ‘Winter Route’ of The Upper Yarra Track. It has been
Last Monday we spent ‘beating around the bush’ near Downey (Tanjil Bren area). Downey is another one of those ‘lost’ towns of the Victorian mountains. Pretty much all that remains is this huge sawdust heap in the forest: how many woodland giants went to make it up I wonder? Mostly the trees milled here were
Upper Yarra Track Winter Route: Downey to Newlands Read More »
Just a few kms walk outside the small township of Tanjil Bren in Gippsland Victoria is the most beautiful place in the whole world! You go out along Saxtons Road beginning in the heart of Tanjil Bren. Many beautiful wildflowers carpet the verges: buttercups, And Alstromoerias. Just before Downey you turn west onto the old
Kirchubel: If you go nowhere else in the world, at least go here. Read More »
