Intro overnight hikes?

[Rosseth]

Hi all. I've recently acquired gear and am eager to hit the bush. Haven't done any hiking for 15 years (give or take) but have some past experience (army reserve way back, outdoor ed university trips way way back, etc), but it was a long time ago! Being from Melbourne I thought I'd start out with an overnighter at Lerderderg. It would either be my wife and I or my 9yo and I. I have read many posts on the topic but would like some specific info on an easy intro overnighter there. A relatievly short hike and an early camp set up to enjoy the environment and maybe (if able) a swim (not totally necessary but would be nice)? Then a return trip in the morning via the same route or a circuit. Obviously I'd like a peaceful out of the way area to find a spot to pitch the tent for the night (I presume that is possible away from the main camping grounds).

Any suggestions?

Also, any other intro overnight hike suggestions at other locations are more than welcome. Keen to get out there.

[Lophophaps]

Rosseth, welcome to the forum. It sounds like you need easier navigation on tracks, relatively short distances, and relatively flat. is this the case, and can you quantify your ability a lttle more, please? Lerdy is okay but tends to be steep when away from the river. If you're in Melbourne it seems that you don't want to travel too far, which is fair enough. Can you please advise where you live and how far you are willing to travel for a weekend walk? There may be better options than Lerdy.

In general one can camp anywhere in most forests, and such places may not attract a camping fee. My strong preference is for these places. Do you have enough gear? For a weekend if you have more than about 18 kilograms you have too much.

[JohnStrider]

Welcome to the forum!

Whereabouts are you in Melbourne? That'll help narrow down the options.

Cheers

JS

[PedroArvy]

Lerderderg River is mainly dry, so forget about the swim. IMO its a most uninspiring place, go to The Prom instead.

[Rosseth]

Thanks for the reply. I'm not unfit yet will be working on my fitness anyway before taking the overnight plunge (I'm in my late 30's so, you know). No medical issues (touch wood). My gear for an overnighter is around 15kg, however I have a water filter so if water was available this could be reduced. I think I'm covered gear-wise but of course I'm open to any suggestions! I live in the inner west of Melbourne although I do have accommodation at Mt Buller as well (family unit). Lerderderg popped up due to it's close proximity to me, however I am eager to explore other regions of course and would not mind a bit of a drive if it meant a great intro into the activity. Flatter hikes I feel would be best as an intro for sure, but it doesn't have to be dead flat (if that's even possible) and a bit of hilly terrain won't kill me. I'd be hiking at odd times/days as I work shift work (ambo), so weekends are rare for me, which I'm hoping is a good thing as things may be quieter? I have yet to relearn navigation/orienteering skills but will do so before heading out.

[Lophophaps]

Rosseth, thanks for that background, very useful.

I don't believe that I'm naturally fit, and I never did any fitness training. All I ever did was go on trips at the usual pace. If you choose what appear to be easy walks at first you will most probably:
* enjoy them more;
* not rupture something (L3-4 is a popular part);
* learn about what you can and cannot do; and
* increase your fitness.

The gear weight sounds about right, although it would be good to see it. If I fake a CVA can you attend, with your pack? See if your gear can be reviewed by someone well versed in such matters. I don't expect that much will be found, just a few gentle suggestions.

In my view a water filter is not necessary for most water sources, and I've never carried one. Not everyone agrees with me on this point. Be aware that land management authorities now have signs advising to boil or treat water as a CYA measure. I know that in many places there is no evidence at all about e coli or the like. Use common sense.

One easy option that comes to mind is Brisbane Ranges, south of Bacchus Marsh. This is a smallish and quite pretty area with well-defined walking tracks, formal campsites (I think) and close to your side of town. Due to the size you will not be walking large distances, important in my view until you find your limits.

Another good place to go walking is a place called Bushwalking Shop. This place is also compact, is sheltered, has much to tempt you, and has a section called guide books. There are quite a few to choose from, or you may find one at your local library. The better guide books have a summary with a map and a table showing name, grade, distance, maybe distance from Melbourne and perhaps other information. page numbers are nice.

At the risk of venturing into the Grandmother, suck eggs area, be careful about driving when your sleep cycle is out of whack. The best time to go away is when you are on day shift and have 24-48 hours off. I've noticed that medical types often cart huge first aid kits. Don't. All you need are the sort of things that most of us carry, so this means perhaps 500 grams. My first aid kit is as big as two fists; some take much less, some take more. Like most BW kit it's a trade-off between what might happen and having enough.

I was on a three day walk when a bloke had a huge pack, with kit in case of emergncy. A short way into the walk we discovered that he had a spare tent! Then he could not continue becuase his pack was so heavy, and returned to the cars for a very relaxing three days. LOL. On another trip we got a short way from Melbourne and one bloke (different one) found his new pack falling aprt. Brand new. Expensive he said - $10! Divert to another walker's house, collect spare pack. Thirty minutes later he was repacking and he discovered that he had no sleeping bag. Divert to railway station, fond goodbyes. Check your gear.

Finally, leave clear written advice of your trip with a contact and a cut-off time for the return. If you have not returned or been in touch by then - usually some hours after you intend to reach the cars - then police will be notified, need rescuing. For example, suppose that you plan to be back at the cars at 3 pm. If there is no contact by 6 pm then you are overdue.

[Rosseth]

So dispersed camping is permitted in the Brisbane Ranges? Sorry if it's a stupid question.

As far as gear goes, here's the list: Tatonka 65l pack (few years old but I've had it since new), hiking tent, mat, hiking quilt, compressible pillow, toiletries, 1st aid kit (lightened! Removed IV fluids and the like!), change of undies and socks, stove and fuel, compact hiking pots (MSR), water and water filter (if required). No map or compass yet, but on the to do list. 15kg approx. some items will hopefully be shared by the wife!

[Lophophaps]

There are no stupid questions, just stupid answers. Oh good, no IV; you should never share needles. Sharing undies with your wife is interesting. I've never done that, not with your wife, as far as I can recall. For a short trip a pillow is okay but will weigh heavy on longer or harder trips. You should have a change of clothes for camp and at night. Dry socks and dry runners are bliss. Raincoat, hat, thermal undies, thermal hat, may need a few more things. Jeans are to be avoided - way too heavy, take ages to dry. Keep the meals simple, one pot or at most two. I take one billy and one spoon. Also think about a 500 mm length of craft tubing, about 3 mm diamter, for sucking up water.

The parks website
http://parkweb.vic.gov.au/explore/parks ... ional-park
is unclear about dispersed camping. There are formal campsites which have fees but no mention is made of camping elsewhere. The park PDF says;

"Camping
There are two designated camping grounds in the park
Boar Gully (with six sites) in the north and Fridays (with ten sites) near Steiglitz. Both have pit toilets and tank water, plus designated camp trailer or caravan sites at each camp ground.
Bookings are required for all campsites including the Bushwalkers Only sites along the Burchell Trail. Camping fees apply. For further information or to book go to
http://www.parks.vic.gov.au/stay"

You will hopefully get an answer about dispersed camping by contacting parks.

[Rosseth]

Thanks!! There's a hike in site that's looks like a great place to start, and I'll enquire about dispersed camping. I would be able to go lighter in the future but can't justify the cost of ultralight mats and the like until I get some experience.

PS: Im hoping not to have to share undies with wife!

[Lophophaps]

There's no need to go all-out on lightweight gear at first - it costs too much. Gradually you will understand what you need and what is most important, and can keep an eye out for bargains. My gear is quite heavy, but it lasts, with some 30 years old. It's pleasing to learn about your non-share underwear policy. I must have misunderstood your advice. It's still not totally clear. Are you planning on sharing underwear with another person's wife? Do you know The Lumberjack song?

[Rosseth]

Underwear is strictly non share! And yes, I am familiar with the lumberjack song too!

Off topic, do gaiters (hiking shoes) have the strength to stop snake bites? Or do they just reduce the risk somewhat? And what is used to call for help if no mobile phone reception in the event of such an unfortunate emergency?

[Lophophaps]

Gaiters can be reasonably discussed here, not worth starting a thread about them. Heavier gaiters should stop all or nearly all snake bites. My gaiters are much patched canvas, going to just under my knees, and due to the higher risk of snake bites getting through I feel uncomfortable without them while walking. Gaiters also keep socks, legs and pants clean. Long socks and long panst are a fair second-best.

Keep a good lookout for snakes and avoid them. Just back away - should be enough. Tiger snakes can be nasty, but as I can't tell one snake from another for certain I treat them all as deadly.

Despite the maps that show no mobile phone reception, if you're higher with line of sight to a tower then there's a reasonable chance of reception. I've even got reception with no bars of reception power just over a ridge, with good reception as I walked up ten paces.

Your walk plan should include options in case things come unstuck. It's a good idea to leave a written trip plan with a contact, and a time for your return. If you are not back or have not contacted the contact by then you are overdue. For an easier weekend walk the cutoff time should be a few hours after you are due home.

See June BWA for an article about rescues. On this website, right side, picture of a rippled ridge in Western Australia. Back issues is there, find June.

[paidal_chalne_vala]

When the road opens later this month the hike from Watchbed creek (near Falls Creek) to Johnston hut is a good easy overnight hike for newbies. The stream is flowing well there and the meadow is free of snow. There is a pit loo too.

[Occasional_Walker]

I too recommend buying a good walks book to get you started and to give you an idea of the places you can go. My suggestions below are based on walks from books rather than Parks Maps / blog posts I can easily point you to.

Another option not too far away for your side of town is the Daylesford/Castlemaine area. I particularly like the area around Vaughan Springs and Fryerstown. I have done a fair few walks but mostly rely on car shuffles though I believe there is a circuit walk (if you don't want to car shuffle or re-tread your steps) around this area in either the "150 Walks in Victoria" book. The walk could be listed as a day walk but from memory is big enough for a nice intro overnighter. There are a few points of interest you could deviate to if you wanted to extend it / do a few short walks to see some historic things before you head back to Melbourne on the second day. I would suggest camping at Vaughan Springs (you can work out your starting point from there). The camp site is very nice with flushing toilets and a river and there is at least 1 gazebo you can use if it's wet and your tent is small. It does get busy on weekends with it being a popular spot for Scout groups but that doesn't sound like it would be a problem for you.

There is another walk in "150 Walks in Victoria" called "Hepburn Springs". I have done it before and also a variation of it combined with the "Daylesford Lakes" walk (same book) as overnighters with new walkers. For one we car shuffled and the other we retraced our steps. For both we spent the night at Mount Franklin as there is nowhere to stay along the route. Mount Franklin too can get busy on weekends and is popular with car campers who can be noisy.

Both options I mentioned I have found great with new walkers as having the car overnight has provided the opportunity for them to carry less water as you can top up at night and also the chance to lighten their load for the second day (though we haven't needed to). For one walk it also meant a luxurious first ever night in a tent for my mum as we were able to bring proper pillows and more comfortable mattresses.

I haven't been to this area in the peak of Summer (someone else might be able to enlighten you about that) but my impression is that it really dries out and for my trip on a hot weekend in November was uncomfortable as there was nothing in the way of a breeze. I have been in both November and April and it was lovely at both those times of year.

[GBW]

Might be on the wrong side of town for you but Baw Baw has some good intro level walks...

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=19420

[Rosseth]

Looks like there's a few good options out there, that's for sure. The brisbane ranges and Daylesford areas sound good for starters. I'd love to hit the hills (Baw Baw, Bogong, Stirling, etc) too. So many options I hadn't realised existed. And thats just for starters! I'll definitely be getting a walks book or two too!

[Lophophaps]

Your local library may have a bushwalking book that you can borrow. Whie most of these guidebooks are of quite a high standard, it can be hard to work out which one to buy. I suggest doing some easier overnight walks at lower altitudes, and learning about your limitations and gear. For the first alpine walks, consider something easy as well, maybe a base camp. In some alpine places you really need to be on top of the navigation and weather.

[sim1oz]

My favourite introductory overnight walk is the Beeripmo Trail

[paidal_chalne_vala]

What about Sealers' cove at The Prom ?

[Rosseth]

Thought about the prom. Just don't want to go at a busy time, and it seems to be getting busy with the good weather. Haven't heard of the Beeripmo trail. I'll look into that.

[Rosseth]

Off topic, but I've got a MSR whisperlite hiking stove. Wondering if anyone knows where I can get white gas for fuel? Or do people just use unleaded petrol?

[n5750547]

Off topic, but I've got a MSR whisperlite hiking stove. Wondering if anyone knows where I can get white gas for fuel? Or do people just use unleaded petrol?

Look for Shellite at Bunnings or other hardware stores. Most camping stores will stock it as well. I've used unleaded in my Coleman Dual Fuel but it doesn't smell great and apparently the additives can cause problems with prolonged use (not sure if this would be the case with the MSR)

Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk

[paidal_chalne_vala]

Sections of the AAWT are reasonably quiet all year round . It is the Prom and MacAlister springs that have become horrendous during public holiday periods during daylight savings.

[sim1oz]

The reason I like the Beeripmo Walk as a intro overnighter is that there are lots of pull out points and some nice facilities (eg. toilets, water tanks, fire pits) along the way. Also, it has some up and down, but the gradient keeps on changing so it never gets really hard as something else is just around the corner. The scenery is nice - though not magnificent like the Vic Alps - and there are some views across the countryside from the high points. There was also phone reception at Beeripmo camp the last time we were there.

Here is some more information :

Walk notes in John Chapman's "Bushwalking in Australia"

Park Vic/DEPI: http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/225752/Beeripmo_Walk.pdf

Bushwalking forum posts:
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=1122&hilit=beeripmo
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1122
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=20236&p=268814&hilit=beeripmo#p268814
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=14579&p=199976&hilit=beeripmo#p199976

Or google it...

[Rosseth]

Beeripmo looks intriguing. Have done some research and looks well signed with easy to follow tracks. Just got to track down a map. Wilsons prom I did years ago (with a large group) and would like to do again, but will wait for a time when its not packed (early Autumn mid week I'm thinking). My pack (including 1.6l water, 600ml fuel, nil food) weighs 15.5kg. That's being pretty much self sufficient and not sharing the load with a partner (wife or kid/s). I know there's this newish fad of light and ultra-light weight backpacking, but having had to carry 20 to 30kg at a fast pace in the army many years ago, 15kg at a stroll is a dream by comparison!

Quick question, how does one clean cooking gear after use if no taps are within reach? Just use own water and carry a water filter to resupply from natural water sources? Or don't bother washing and seal it overnight to prevent any smells attracting animals? May seem like a novice question, but hey, that's what I am (hopefully not for long though)!

[Lophophaps]

Depending on where you walk you will probably need a bigger water bottle. Wine casks are nice, especially emptying them after you buy the wine. Reliable water can be many hours apart, and you need several litres. Also, in camp it's pain to have to keep going for water. Finally, if there is no water at camp you'll have to walk carrying enough for the night and until water is reached the next day.

My summer breafast involves no cleaning: muesli, fruit, cup of tea. It may be boring to some but I get about 2000 kJ, it's quick and uses minimal fuel. Lunch is not cooked. Dinner is cooked. For washing, fill up a water container and walk away from the water source. Rinse the billy with soil, which is an excellent abrasive. Rinse and repeat until clean. At this stage you may want to give the clean billy a final rinse in the water source to remove errant soil. I never carry dishwashing liquid, a scourer or a tea towel becuase I can't see the need.

[Rosseth]

Soil did cross my mind for cleaning, so thanks for that. I have a water filter, but it sounds like a larger bladder may be in order to complement it.

[n5750547]

I take a cheap tea towel (the cheap type that barely absorb water) which I use to wipe out the dirty contents of the pot. I then put it on the outside of my pack and occasionally clean it when I get to a water source

Sent from my SM-N910G using Tapatalk

[paidal_chalne_vala]

In the snow season the snow is excellent for cleaning dishes when snow camping . I use a 4 litre spare hiking bladder for extra water transportation/storage . It folds up into a tiny thing when it is empty.

[Rosseth]

So. Been a while. Anyway, I took my now 10 year old boy to the Prom last week for an overnighter to Sealers Cove. Sure, I ended up carrying his pack for the last couple of km's both ways, but all in all very successful. I managed to get my pack weight to around 16.5kg for the overnighter. Great weather, but unfortunately no clear night sky to gaze at. My boy did exceptionally well considering the distance and terrain. I'll be buying him some hiking poles for next time, and looking at reducing his pack weight (he had started with 7.5kg) by taking on some of his items (and hopefully I can convince him to leave his iPad at home next time!). He loved the camping at Sealers (as did I), but the hike pushed him despite frequent stops.