New Grampians Trail

[trickos]

Fresh off the Parks Vic website is some exciting news with the announcement of some major hiking trail networks around the Grampians.

"Parks Victoria is delighted to announce it is teaming up with the state government to deliver the first stage of the Grampians Peak Trail, creating one of Victoria’s leading nature – based tourism attractions.
Delivering the news today, Regional and Rural Development Minister Jacinta Allan said, “The first stage will create a three-day and two-night looping track, taking trekkers from Halls Gap to Rosea Hikers Campsite and Burrough Huts and back to Halls Gap.”
“It will become part of the broader, 14-day trek that will become one of four Victorian Wild Walks, walking trails that will help establish Victoria as Australia’s premier destination for nature based tourism.”
For trail walkers keen to know more about these new tracks, the first stage involves:

- Detailed track design and signage;
- 3.5 kilometres of tracks from Halls Gap to Rosea Hikers Campsite;
- Construction of a new camp, including new group/school camp at Rosea Hikers Camp;
- Construction of a footbridge at Fyans Creek; and
- 10 kilometre track upgrade between Rosea Hikers Camp and Borough Huts Hikers Camp.

I would love to know more about the 14 day trail if anyone knows any more about it. Interested to hear comments.

[vagrom]

So would I Trickos,
but it's been 18 days since your missive and all remains eerily still, down at the Ponderosa.
Last April I asked at Brambuk whether there were any plans for something long distance in the way of walks. It seems to be catching on and The Grampians may wind up looking/staying a little pedestrian, family restaurant like.
The obvious choice is for something between Mt Zero and the Chimneypots, with chances to have a shower and pick up a little food on the way through.
I've got an inkling I might have seen something else about it somewhere but it may just be a dream. In my dream then, it was supposed to finish at Dunkeld instead. But if that was the case you'd always wind up being too close to the road. Or not? I'll have to look again.
Whatever, if it's in western Vic and especially if it means more for the Wimmera and Mallee,then it opens more horizons for Croweaters like me, hemmed in as we are, by the desert and the deep blue sea.

[trickos]

Well put, Vagrom.
I also invisioned a North / South "super trail" starting at Mt Zero and finishing at Mt Abrupt. I've searched high and low for extra info but alas, nothing.

[Earwig]

There is some info on Wild Walks in the latest Wild (July-Aug 2010) mag. The article says that the proposed walk starts at Mt Stapylton and winds its way down the Mt Difficult Range and Mt William Range to Dunkeld and is aimed at bushwalkers who want a bit more comfort.

[north-north-west]

Can do without the comfort, but that sounds like a great little ramble.

[trickos]

Here's a link for the VNPA newsletter
http://vnpa.org.au/page/publications/na ... nable-idea

It sheds a little more light on the subject as well as raising a few other questions. It almost sounds very similar to Great Ocean Walk with commercial operators able to run tours "with comfort".
I still like the idea. 148 km's is a decent old ramble.

[neil_fahey]

If this was done carefully from the beginning I think it would be fantastic... The comfort thing might not be everyone's cup of tea but I don't see it as being a terrible thing. The only thing that really disturbs me about all of this is the idea of transporting walkers by helicopter - I can't believe it's even been suggested.

[Earwig]

Mt Hotham and Falls Creek have been running a helicopter service between the two resorts for some years. Staying at Falls? Just pass over the cash and you can ski at Hotham as well!

[neil_fahey]

Wasn't aware of that but now that you mention it, I don't agree with that either. It's unnecessary as I'm sure people could live with just skiing one resort at a time and like the helicopters for hikers idea, it's completely environmentally irresponsible. The outdoor recreation/travel industries (actually all industries) should be moving towards sustainability.

[Earwig]

It would be interesting to do an energy use/sustainability study comparing self-sufficient hiking with catered hiking. Food transported by Toyota (let alone chopper) rather than backpack, hot showers for everyone every night, heated accommodation rather than a decent sleeping bag ... the list goes on. The biggest negative for me though is that the only real challange a catered walk offers is filling the hole it leaves in your credit card!

[neil_fahey]

It would be interesting indeed... As with all forms of tourism though, the sustainability would take a back-seat to the money/jobs.

I don't think the Grampians trail idea was going to include actual accommodation though was it (not sure about the Alps one)?

It would be possible to do accommodation like that with a fairly low footprint though, if someone was willing to put a lot of money into it to begin with.

Regarding the money being the only challenge - not everyone is as hardcore as you! For some people, the walking is enough of a challenge without carrying your gear and then cooking. I think there's a lot to be gained from getting people who aren't so hardcore out into the bush for a walk. For one, more people getting out and enjoying our natural areas means more likelihood of preserving them doesn't it?

[Earwig]

I suppose the aim is to provide a variety of expereinces - from full-on wilderness to luxurious-hut stuff I guess.

[neil_fahey]

That sounds reasonable to me... BUT Helicopters still = completely unnecessary.

[jcr_au]

Can do without the comfort, but that sounds like a great little ramble.

I'm getting old, the comfort sounds nice

[north-north-west]

BUT Helicopters still = completely unnecessary.

Agree entirely. Even if you were doing the walk independently, you'd have that damned chopper buzzing over you every day.
Quite apart from the environmental issues.

[neil_fahey]

I hadn't even thought of that... How bad would that be!?! That was the one thing I disliked about the hiking I did up at Lake Eildon - the constant noise of bogans in their boats (or boat-gans as we liked to call them) with blaring music. So annoying!

[north-north-west]

'Wild Walks' appealing to the top end tourism market are also proposed in the Alpine National Park (Hotham - Falls Creek) and along the Croajingolong coast.

There is a route already connecting Hotham and Falls Creek. Most of it is along the AAWT.
And that's not an area that needs any more people.

[Earwig]

There is a route already connecting Hotham and Falls Creek. Most of it is along the AAWT.
And that's not an area that needs any more people.

Is it a walk worth doing? When I have hiked up there I haven't really considered a resort to resort hike but wandered elsewhere.

[north-north-west]

From Hotham to the Mt Cope area is a good little ramble. Across the road, through the Mt Loch carpark, a short distance along the Mt Loch track, then turn right for a marvellous bit of sub-alpine country, down Swindler's Spur to Cobungra Gap, up over the Basalt Temple, past Mt Jim - with a side trip up Jim, as it's worth a visit. From there, you can continue on the AAWT past Bundara and Cope (side trips up both are highly recommended), then along one section or another of the Aquaduct Track to either Falls Creek or the junction with the Watchbed Creek Track (this is a lot longer, but kind of interesting, and to get to Falls you'd need to walk past the Rocky Valley Reservoir either by the Bogong High Plains Rd or cross country.)
Or turn the other way at the junction near Jim, and go down to Pretty Valley and follow the road - or go cross country - past/over McKay or the Ruined Castle and across to Falls.

There is also a track shown on my map from Dinner Plain that connects with the AAWT, but I don't know if it's still maintained.
Hotham isn't really a resort anyway, Ski Club huts and ski tows are at Hotham, but the main resort is at Dinner Plains.

[vagrom]

Yes. I found the item in the latest edition of Wild magazine, on page 15.
Does anyone know if it's obligatory to register and pay for useing the Great Ocean Walking Trail? I know I still think it costs $20 per night to use the designated camping platforms.
As for choppers, when you hear one while out walking in Tassie, it is of course another story altogether. And the little plains plying their way about the South West will always be welcome. The wilderness down there is so wild, it hardly matters.

[Bill P]

Hi Trickos,

I'm looking forward to better tracks in the Gramps.

Here's 4 minute ABC interview with Ranger in charge Graeme Parkes (good name, huh)

http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2010/07/01/2942030.htm

Bill P

[Marwood]

"Camping at Great Ocean Walk individual tent sites costs $22 per individual tent, per night (plus $5 administration fee per application)."
http://www.visitvictoria.com/displayobject.cfm/objectid.BA4CE355-BD0B-4C35-ACCB0C60818DD731/

[vagrom]

Thanks Marwood,
I can't see any sign of it's being obligational. My interest is simply that conditions of walking on that track may guide whatever conditions are imposed on walkers doing the mooted Grampians long distance track. And these may happily resemble conditions existing for Overland Track walkers, which are, according to Parks Tasmania that, if you're there to do the Overland Track experience then you're going to have to book and pay. But if you're on the Overland for any other reason and that could be that you're walking from Penguin to St Clair, then you're on your own. But out of fairness, hut space is going to go to a payer; more an issue at say Windy Ridge than Pelion.
SA's Heysen Trail is officially "closes" from Nov. to April each year but you're free to walk on it whenever. My point again: that the Victorian long distance trails don't appear to demand paying customers only. I guess there's no way any trail could try to police such a situation and this would be the way for the Tasman Trail too?

[trickos]

Thanks BillP for the interview...This is really something to look forward to once the pieces come together

My point again: that the Victorian long distance trails don't appear to demand paying customers only.

I guess Parks can only request that you make bookings and it's up to the individual to do the right thing. In the case of the Great Ocean Walk this needs to be regulated as much as possible as it is such a popular stretch of trail that if numbers weren't capped there would be people bursting at the seams at each campsite. Not exactly a wilderness experience. I'd much rather book the trail for a small group than share the trail with 50 others each day. Just remember that traditional hikers and campers have to share the trail with package tourists also walking the trail. If the pipedream for the Grampians is similar then we need to go down the same path with booking and regulating as much as possible. Unfortunately, as population grows (especially in Vic) and the dream of a wilderness experience increase then this is the way of the future and I believe regulating needs to be encouraged. It's a pretty simple solution but maybe not all agree with me.....

[vagrom]

Yes. The walking numbers in Victoria really are an issue but that's why the facilities are so good statewide. SA, Vic and Tassie each offer different walking experiences and what you learn in one can be transferred, but only with some forthought. I must remember to not just drink the water,as I did out of Blackwood, on the Lerderderg Trail.

[AdamM]

Having just returned from the US, where I did what would be considered a reasonably difficult several hour walk in Yosemite (as well as some easier walks in Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon), I was amazed at how many people were doing the same walk - so many that at a couple of points, I literally had to squeeze past other people on a steep track! This starkly contrasts my walks in both the Grampains (at various times of the year) and a section of the Great Ocean Walk (from Blanket Bay to Cape Otway Lighthouse, in summer), where I occasionally encountered significant numbers of walkers, but more often than not (and particularly in the case of the Great Ocean Walk) I have only encountered a handful of other walkers. Even the more touristy walks I have done, like the Kings Canyon rim walk, there weren't anywhere near the number of walkers I encountered in Yosemite. Granted, Kings Canyon was in summer, when the daytime temp reached close to 40C! We did make it to the top for sunrise though and was considerably cooler. I am thankful we don't yet have the population that results in that sort of crowding on walks in Victoria and Australia.

[vagrom]

Point taken Adam; our numbers, even in the big pop. states, struggle for comparison with what you saw.( Not so squeezy!) But that's in places like Yosemite and a friend who did the Appalachian Trail told me of plenty of quiet times too. They have so much more choice whereas we, on a desert continent, tend to concentrate our enjoyment into a smaller number of places. The bodies mightn't be there on the day but the effects are often too apparent. Track "hardening" is a necessary evil and there's not enough dosh to keep up with that.
I first did the Frenchman's circuit in 2000. I checked with Parks before going and was told "they'd prefer we didn't go but there's nothing we can do to stop you" ...a bit of a worry at the time, still being new to Tas. The story is/was, I think, that as more people go to an area then the likelihood that Parks will have to follow, increases. It may have related just to that area, as Frenchmans is very popular and lots of walkers would've heard about the Irenabyss and perhaps, beyond.
So as regards the new Grampians trail, we gravitate back to that old chestnut (gumnut) : Help our wilderness-stay out of it. Or, how not to love it to death.

[Davidwilling]

Hello hikers

Earlier this year I had the idea of walking the length of the Grampians for a documentary so this is an exciting. However when I was researching the possibility of doing it I was alarmed at how little official hiking tracks are marked on the map. Parks Vic said it's to minimise impact but I would've thought the extensive network of 4WD track would have a greater impact.

The idea of comfort camping is an interesting one, the outdoors are for everyone but balance is always important so maybe half should be comfort and half wilderness style. Morning/night bus ferry is fine but a helicopter, like a mozzie zapper, may spoil the serenity.

The proposed track doesn't go through the Victoria Range which I think has some of the best features of the Grampians. Does anyone know of walking tracks in the Vic Range that aren't marked on the map (The Fortress is the only official walk) that link the goat track to Syphon Rd (without hiking the goat track)

Dave

[Davidwilling]

Hi

Last summer I had the idea of walking the length of the Grampians for a Documentary however I was surprised at how few official hikes there are in the Grampians so this is an exciting development.

I quizzed Parks Victoria about the minimal hiking in such a huge area and they said it was to minimize impact, I would've thought the extensive network of 4WD would have a greater impact.

The proposed hike doesn't seem to include the Victoria Range which I think has some of the best parts of the Grampians (The Fortress, Manja Caves) and is quieter (I guess a major walk would change that).

Look at the map I can only see one hiking track the Fortress/Thackeray route, does anyone know of other tracks, particularly ones that link the goat track to Syphon Rd that don't go on The Goat Track, in fact anything that is off 4wd/car roads/tracks.

Dave

[vagrom]

Dave, regarding tracks in the Victoria Range area, there are some excellent ones described in a 2008 edition of Wild magazine. I think I have the year right. And the photos to the article are spectacular, but i'm thinking of the cave ones in particular as it's hard not to take great ones of The Fortress; that horizontal strata.
There's a walk up from Buandik campsite to great dome of a cave, much like the one at Christmas Rock Tas, but in desert colours as you'll see in the photo. The great thing about this cave is that half the fun is satisfaction gained from following the route description and then finding the track, which is fairly easy to intersect. It's a very pretty walk up and like that part of the Grampians, not mashed from overuse. Then when you get up top, you're still faced with the puzzle of actually finding the cave as the photo shows you a giant cave mouth. The aspect offers a clue but a friend or two to scout the area is going to help. An excellent article, possibly by a bloke from those parts (Stawell?). If so, he may have done a more recent one too on the Mt Gar circuit.
One day Wild might find a way to online it's excellent resource history. Tracks have come and gone but the landscape hasn't changed. Until then, they've no archive: typing Grampians into their search feature "yields no results". I always pass the mag's on so I may be able to hunt the reference down at a library.