New Grampians Trail

[Bill P]

Dave, By the way, the Victoria Range didn't get burnt in the 2006 Mt Lubra fire, I find that makes for a more pleasant walking experience- for me.

Bill P

[vagrom]

To Davidwilling re: your query a while ago re: walks in the Victoria Range of the Grampians.
An excellent article in Wild Autumn 2009 (Apr-Jun) #112, pp.40-45, by Michael Hampton. A dozen walks that include " Red Rocks labyrinths, Buandik, Hollow mountain and Red Cave, Hole in the Wall, Billywing Gorge, The Fortress, The Chimney Pots, Hindu Kush, Brown Creek Gorge, McDonald Creek Gorge and The Western Swamps.
Of special interest are his opening comments on mapping of the area : "..Unfortunately, this map has to be one of the worst ever published.." Lots of good stuff.

[Davidwilling]

triplicate content removed by admin. See: viewtopic.php?f=37&t=6036

[vagrom]

The same Wild article offers advice on 3 multi-day trips in that area as well: the standard 3 day circuit taking in the Fortress,Thackeray and Deep Ck; then one from Woolpooer down to the Chimneypots that looks like a biggie with quite a bit of local road (?) and finally, a 3-4 day from Victoria Point, the southern most tip, going northwards up to the Chimneypots. This is the quietest corner of the Grampians and includes a feature labelled Victoria Lagoon. The article points up a lot of history in the area especially directed towards water gathering and piping down to the plains.

[jimjim]

http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks ... peak-trail


Submissions must be received by close of business Wednesday 11 June 2014....not much time left.

[walkerchris77]

Looks like the council is looking for another way to make money. Im asumming pre booked means pre paid. Soon you will probably need a walking pemit and a breathing one. But I guess others can experience the grampians in comfort and are happy to pay. Just dont take away my right to wonder throughout the bush with my pack on..

[icefest]

For those unwilling to scroll through the pdf, here are the track alignments:
Lodge locations are here: http://puu.sh/8Xrjh.jpg I don't like the hut that will be built in the Lake Wartook catchment - where hikers aren't even allowed to camp.
I appreciate the use of the Pine Valley helipad as an example of a tent platform...

[icefest]

Hiking in luxury:

[GPSGuided]

Hiking in luxury:

Wifi coming next.

[icefest]

Wifi coming next.

Eh, the whole range has mobile reception anyway.

It will result people bringing in small speakers and playing music until late at night...

[GPSGuided]

Eh, the whole range has mobile reception anyway.

Then that's no wilderness! And what are people complaining about recently in that Wifi thread?

[north-north-west]

like the fact that it visits Redman. Might make the whole of the Seven Dials easier to reach.
Otherwise, it's a disaster waiting to happen. How often is the infrastructure going to be burnt out, necessitating costly replacement that further depletes the P&W budget without actually benefiting the environment?

[AlanShortyD]

I also like that it goes to Redman. Love Redman. And overall I like the concept but would prefer it far less 'flash' and more towards basic facilities. A la bibulman for want of a better example.

[Hallu]

Hiking in luxury:

I'm trying to figure out if it's a good thing or not. It's gonna be like water tanks : if it's full, it's great, otherwise it's annoying/dangerous if you were counting on it. They should provide this for all campsites that had their prices up recently, such as Hattah-Kulkyne or Mt Buffalo. I mean it's family campers who need it first, not solo 12 day bushwalkers who'll say it ruins the wilderness feeling.

[bernieq]

I’m also in two minds, Hallu. I like the idea of an end to end walk through the Grampians but I don’t want the region destroyed by high volume throughput and the associated infrastructure.

The Grampians hold great value – environmental, cultural, wilderness, flora, fauna, …. The remoteness of the Serra Range, for example, draws me. It’s tough walking, rocky, remote, dry. I don’t want that decimated by Hiker Lodges, benched trails and (save us) USB charging points. Mind you, an occasional water tank wouldn’t hurt

looking south across the Serra Range - May 2013

The closing date for submissions is 11 June 2014 – so, if you care about the Gramps, get off your b** and put in an opinion.
You can read the Master Plan at : http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks ... peak-trail
Then :
1. do the 6 question survey : https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/YW9CF67
2. and/or write a submission and email it to : gptmp@parks.vic.gov.au

BTW, the proposed route is by no means set – if you have routing suggestions, include them in your submission.

[philthy]

I understand the imperative to make a world class trail, but I personally think providing power on the trail is a bit much. It really opens up the trail to potentially antisocial activities/appliances such as portable speakers etc. I agree it could also open up a can of worms with people expecting to be able to charge things but the power outlets not working at times...

I'll be putting in a submission if only to argue against power on the trail...

[dplanet]

I have done many parts of the GPT and likely will do the trail as a solo and here is two of my suggestions:

1 Access to public transport at A and/or B (to get back to the start of the walk).
2 The option of a self register camping fee at walker campsites along the trail.

In my opinion, these may also be of the interest of many other solo hikers.

Below is some features on the trail

[wobbly]

I can't wait for the 30 page etiquette guide on sharing 4 recharge points between 24 walkers. Power point rage is going to make the cyclist versus car war look positively civilized.

[dplanet]

You will have the fun of hauling the cycle.

[dplanet]

... other features