Group multi-days and learning bushwalk skills

[SS23]

Hi all

I've enjoyed doing a few multiday tramps on trails and would now to do this more often (instead of once every 9mths!) and with others.
I also want to start developing off-track skills - orientation, rock scrambling etc. Australia being a new-ish country to me makes me a bit more cautious about trying to figuring it out on my own.
I'll pay to do a course or join a club but haven't found any suitable - courses tend to take people on established multi-day tracks which im happy doing on my own and clubs either only do day walks or require you to already have all the skills needed - where do people learn them?!

If anyone knows of any groups, courses or trip organisers in or around Sydney, i'd be great to hear of them.

Thanks in advance.

[wildwanderer]

Clubs such as Sydney Bush walkers, coast and mountain walkers, Sydney University bushwalkers etc etc all accept new walkers without off track experience. They run regular multi day off track trips.

[SS23]

The new member secretary at SBW told me you need confident off-track experience to join - I shared the multi-day hikes I've done and she said I wasn't suitable as they were all on established trails. Been told Syd Uni BW is really for ppl in their 20's - could be my children!

[tom_brennan]

The new member secretary at SBW told me you need confident off-track experience to join - I shared the multi-day hikes I've done and she said I wasn't suitable as they were all on established trails.

As a past committee member, that sounds a little odd. We do try to direct people to other clubs if they don't have much experience, as a good proportion of SBW walks have some off-track component (not everybody's cup of tea!). We do also have a qualifying process that includes at least one overnight walk - which puts some people off!

However, if you have done some overnight walks - even if on track - and are interested in developing off-track skills, then SBW might work for you.

If you want to join, you can just sign up directly - though we do encourage people to attend a new members night (noting that you may have done this already!).

[SS23]

Thanks, Tom, thats great to hear.
I told her im not the fastest as I'd hate to hold people up if im moving too slow for them, but perhaps I just convinced her im not a fit!
I'll sign up and try some walks with them.
Cheers

[tom_brennan]

Even though your objective is multi-day walks, when you join, it's best to start with some day walks, possibly easier ones, just to work out where you sit from a skills/fitness point of view. Then you can progressively move to harder ones.

It's generally not much fun signing up for a walk where you're significantly the slowest!

[emydura]

This course might be of interest. I haven't done it myself, but I think it is the one my friend did, and she loved it.

https://climbingadventures.com.au/wilde ... off-track/

[SS23]

@emydura the course looks great! Many thanks!