Bushwalk Australia

On Friday four of us set off to climb the most remote peak in the Namagi National Park ACT, Mt Namadgi. Gavin was not feeling well so he pulled out early and went home, once we left the farm land it was all uphill and the scrub bashing got tough in places, it was a hot day and we went a bit slower than predicted. When we got to Big Creamy flat Dave was a bit tired so he stopped to set up camp while Andrew and I set off to climb Mt Namadgi. On Saturday we walked back the way we came to the starting point where Gavin was waiting to pick us up.


The start of the walk was through some old farm land, Mt Namadgi can be seen in the distance, the peak just right of center.

Once we hit the bush there where no tracks and was quite tough in places, this is some of the easy stuff.

Some nice forest

Un unusual shaped rock in the distance, Mt Namadgi

The unusual shaped rock up close

The view from the top of Mt Namadgi looking north west

Thunder storm clouds over Mavis Ridge in the evening sun

My shelter

Tony

G'Day Tony
Nice place and great list, What were the night temps. How did you find the quilt without a bivi? Have you weathered any storms with your flat tarp? I have one i made but now dont use it as i prefer my cape. I only had light rain when i was using it though.
Thanks
Darren

Hi Darren,

Darren wrote:G'Day Tony
Nice place and great list, What were the night temps. How did you find the quilt without a bivi? Have you weathered any storms with your flat tarp? I have one i made but now dont use it as i prefer my cape. I only had light rain when i was using it though.
Thanks
Darren

I have used the Poncho a few times in rain and it has worked very well except while walking in thick scrub, I found that while it kept me dry the front was a bit long and I found my self stepping on the front of it, I got around this by holding the front up with my hands but found this annoying, as for the tarp, I have used once in the rain and I had it set up wrong (see picture below), as I was expecting the rain from the west but it came in from the east and I got wet, I do not yet have a bivy but the sleeping bag that I was using was water proof so I had some protection. I now own a Tarp Tent Contrail which I use if expecting rain or mozzies. As you can see in the picture above I had the tarp set up quite low, I was not expecting rain that night but If I was I would have set the tarp even lower at the sides and back with the back set toward the direction of expecting rain.

The low temperatures that I experienced on Saturday morning at a guess would have been about 5C, the quilt handled this very well, I have used the quilt all summer in the Alps and even when there have been frosts, I do sleep in my thermals, and layer to suit the temperature.

Tony



This is they way I first set up my tarp. This is setup at Grey Mare hut, we did not get any rain that night, it was one of the best sleepless nights I have ever spent in the bush as I stayed awake looking at the stars, passing satellites, meteorites and planes.

G'Day Tony
This is my set up on Mt Yengo


I’m in the process of making 2 bivis, one 1/2 mesh and one momentum. That’s my go to shelter and the bivis will complete it

I know what you mean about stargazing mate. I sleep in a swag heaps (probably over 50 nights last year) and I love lying in bed with my head out on a crisp night staring at the stars.

Hi Darren,

Darren wrote:G'Day Tony
This is my set up on Mt Yengo

cape.JPG

I’m in the process of making 2 bivis, one 1/2 mesh and one momentum. That’s my go to shelter and the bivis will complete it

I know what you mean about stargazing mate. I sleep in a swag heaps (probably over 50 nights last year) and I love lying in bed with my head out on a crisp night staring at the stars.

Thanks for posting a picture of your tarp, did you make the tarp or is it a comercial tarp (what brand is it), what does it weigh. The tarp looks like it could handle some rough weather.

I am interested in how your bivies go, please post some pictures when you finish. I had arranged to get a SUL bivy made as an exchange for a custom made stove part but I never recieved the bivy, it is a pity as the dollar has since dived.

I have some reservations about if a tarp/bivy is the lightest way to go as I also have a Tarptent Contrail, which is nearly as light as a tarp and bivy and has insect protection.

Tony

G’Day Tony
That’s a gatewood cape from SMD and I’m really happy with it. As you mentioned it protects you more than a std tarp if you need it. I am making my version of the meteor bivi for summer, silnylon bottom, momentum and nanoseeum top. I am giving it a foot more netting and making the zip run along the center over the top to save zip length and weight. The other will be something like a Ti Goat. It’s hard for us as I’ve never seen anything like these except for online. When i get around to finishing I post a pic.
I agree on your final comment though. From a practicality/ common sense perspective your contrail would be better. I just think its nice sleeping in a floorless shelter
Thanks
Darren