How long are your day walks?

[igor]

Hi there,
just wanted to get some understanding about what is the usual length and duration of typical single day or weekend bushwalks. I understand that a lot depends on the difficulty of the specific root, but still what is your average bushwalk in term of hours and kilometers?
The reason I am interested is that my wife and I are going to daily bushwalks in around a few hours driving distance from Sydney for about 2 years by now. All this time we had enormous difficulties finding companions and eventually just gave up and going by ourselves. Our typical daily distance is around 30 km with walking time (i.e. when you really walk, not the overall time) around 8hrs. Is that so unusual or is nothing special? I checked a few bushwalking clubs on internet and seems that their past and future schedules all indicate a rather small 10-15 km walks. I frankly find it rather strange - driving for 2 hrs to the mountings or bush just to walk another 3 hrs. Is that what typical bushwalking club does or I am missing something?

[pazzar]

I think it largely depends on the demographic of the club. A long daywalk for me is 10 hours+, most average out between 6 and 8 hours though, averaging around 20km, maybe a bit further. The most I have covered in a day was a bit over 40km, and that was more than enough I think! I have done a few shorter ones, but I like to fill out my days so I would usually go and walk somewhere else afterwards to make the travel worthwhile.

[Strider]

Its all going to depend on the type of walking and where you're going. While 10-15km may seem small to you, in some areas of Tassie it is a struggle to even cover that much ground in a day.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Its all going to depend on the type of walking and where you're going. While 10-15km may seem small to you, in some areas of Tassie it is a struggle to even cover that much ground in a day.

This is spot on. 10hrs in tassie when walking off track usually only covers around 10-15k's.

[igor]

Still 30 km going along the known trail is not that much. Why then "organized" bushwalks, then ones that clubs are advertising in their schedules are so short? I have never ever seen a bushwalking club that is organizing even 25 km day walks. Is it because of the fear of litigation?

[under10kg]

Most bushwalking clubs have a range of walks from very easy to some hard walks.
Unfortunately or fortunately depending on your fitness level, the age range in most bushwalking clubs is generallly over 50, so the walks are generally easy or moderate. I do know the Brisbane walking club does hard routes like eagles ridge at mt barney.
I have walked over 40 ks in a day but I need to be in training to do this and not suffer the next days.

[igor]

Maybe, I was checking Sydney based bushwalking clubs. They all seems to concentrate on short distance walks. Going through the bush without any trail is a wonderful idea. Anyone done this in Blue Mountains?

[photohiker]

My daywalks run about 5km in about an hour with about 250-300m elevation on rough trails and dirt tracks most days of the year. Longer daywalks, I find 20km+/- to be a pretty magic number.

20-30km/day with reasonable elevation (1000m) is usually not a problem on trails and tracks. The Adelaide Sea to Summit is 32+km with 1600m elevation and I have completed it under 6hrs. I did train for that, but even so, I wouldn't want to be doing something of that effort continuously every day on a multiday hike. It's far better to pace yourself than break records. The goal is to reach the end, not break down halfway to the end...

Off track, all bets are off, especially on multiday walks. If the going gets tough just a few km can be very taxing.

[FatCanyoner]

Going through the bush without any trail is a wonderful idea. Anyone done this in Blue Mountains?

This is probably what is confusing you about the distances. Most serious bushwalkers prefer to walk 'off track'. I almost never walk on formed bushwalking tracks. I much prefer to go to more remote places where I'm not surrounded by other people. While you can still do 40km+ days like this (if you're a masochist) somewhere around the 15 - 20km mark is more common. The distances are shorter because you have the added complexities of serious navigation and the challenges of moving through different kinds of bush and scrub (while Tassie is notorious for this, I can assure you there are areas in the Blue Mountains where doing 1km in an hour is very good going!)
I'm not sure what other clubs are running, but the majority of what my club runs are off track trips. I consider anything with a clear defined track to be a beginner / easy trip, regardless of length, because it can be completed without developing navigation and bushcraft skills.

[igor]

Very interesting reports. Especially river crossing swimming with backpacks. So the question was phrased incorrectly. It is more correctly to ask how many hours a day you normally walk during a single day or multi-day walks.
So serious bushwalkers are mostly go off track? How do you go through the bush? Do you just go straight ahead braking brushes and trees? Because a few times when we did go through the total wild bush it was full of thorny shrubs and dry branches. I'd image one needs some kind of machete to go through the bush like that. And then - how do you know where to go? When it is a trail you have a starting and finishing spot, if you go to a complete wildness, how do you know where to head?

[jackhinde]

i never do more than twenty km, and often barely do more than 10 km. i like to stop, look and listen to everything, and i love to explore so always end up getting sidetracked

[Marwood]

Most serious bushwalkers prefer to walk 'off track'.

Not surprised you're so serious. If all of my walking was off track, I'd never bl**dy smile, either.

[bmak]

The sort of terrain I usually like I'm about done at around 20k

[igor]

So are you talking about going through the the terrain with no visible track at all? Or there are still some trails you are taking? How do you plan the walks through the bush with no trail?

[Nuts]

Most serious bushwalkers prefer to walk 'off track'..

Sorry mate, what a silly notion Serious walkers are still heading somewhere, i'm sure they wouldn't walk parallel to a track?
Tracks are formed as (usually) the logical route to somewhere worth visiting, why not use them? One could always leap into the scrub as others approach i haven't had much to do with clubs but they were definitely some of the hardest walks iv'e done. With an older age group club walk however, it is likely just as much a social event rather than a test of manhood..

nothing wrong with that Igor, you'll likely find more like minded people prepared to do harder walks (you may need to slow down to get to know them though)..

there can be only one bear grylls

[Nuts]

I was doing some work on a track near Cradle Mt. I heard a grunt in the bush and spun around just in time to see a set of legs rise into the air. The poor guy had overbalanced with his pack, had cartwheeled over a log and head first into a tanglefoot bush. He was struggling to get back up as I reached him and was tattered and torn head to toe. It was obvious that most were scars of previous mishaps and he looked exhausted. Soaked with sweat and a maze of cuts and scratches...He seemed awfully relieved to have found me..

B'hell...where have you come from I ask..???? Sydney, he says

[igor]

So looks like I was right - the clubs are more oriented towards older people doing socializing rather than hard walking, while most people answered so far are doing their walks outside clubs. Ok we'll keep looking for people going for long and exhaustive walks.

[Nuts]

The club I was involved with had the harder/longer walks off the program. I suspect they are all similar. As I said, you may need to do some of the easier walks to get other invites. The Sydney Uni club has always been fairly active, they may have mellowed a bit in recent years but iv'e seen and heard stories of them in some pretty hard places, even down here. Hard men in Volleys..

[igor]

why do you think they took off harder walks? The lack of interest or the fear of being sued if someone get tired. And (not so ) hypothetical question - suppose we are going bushwalking and offered a some person9s) to join us. say it is a long and tired walk and one of the weaker people had a heart attack or something similar. We haven't had a beacon with us (we very seldom take beakon, just occasionally telling our friends where we are going. So - in a situation like that, when we are sort of organisers of the walk, are we responsible for other people simply because we've offered them to join us?

[Nuts]

A question of common law, I guess it would depend on how good the families lawyer was. I doubt they could successfully sue you so long as they came along as 'independent' walkers (as they do with walks organised on here), but wouldn't be surprised if it has/does happen. I believe clubs now have insurance??

I'd suggest getting (or hiring) a beacon. If not for yourself then to reassure anyone who came with you. If they are experienced and keen on long hard walks they may already have one.

As for less hard walks, locals up there may be better able to answer/help determine the real situation (behind the scenes) as opposed to those walks listed on the internet (if i didn't scare them all off.. lol). A long time ago that I was in a club.

You can also advertise here (did you realise?) for others to join you.

[MrWalker]

Most serious bushwalkers prefer to walk 'off track'.

I'm a reasonably serious bushwalker and I like to go places - so I use tracks and avoid trackless areas. I like to get as far from roads as I can in a day's walk. But fighting my way through untracked areas to cover short distances just doesn't appeal to me.

This is partly due to my normal walking style that is not suited to excessively rough tracks (mud, tree roots, rocks etc). I usualy consider that if I haven't walked 20km then I didn't go far enough. My longest walks have been 44 and 46 km day walks at each end of the Overland track (10 and 11hr each). I rarely find anyone else who wants to walk with me, but I enjoy being on my own and would hate to walk with a group.

[Bush Walker]

Most serious bushwalkers prefer to walk 'off track'.

I'm a reasonably serious bushwalker and I like to go places - so I use tracks and avoid trackless areas. I like to get as far from roads as I can in a day's walk. But fighting my way through untracked areas to cover short distances just doesn't appeal to me. This is partly due to my normal walking style that is not suited to excessively rough tracks (mud, tree roots, rocks etc). I usually consider that if I haven't walked 20km then I didn't go far enough. My longest walks have been 44 and 46 km day walks at each end of the Overland track (10 and 11hr each). I rarely find anyone else who wants to walk with me, but I enjoy being on my own and would hate to walk with a group.

Hi Mr Walker.

I think you may have overgeneralised a little. If you want to get away from roads, you can often walk off track for much shorter distances to achieve it than you can on track.

I too have walked long distances eg 100km over 24 hours almost non-stop, but that was 10 years ago, when I was still trying to prove to myself that I could do it. I don't need to prove it any longer and have now moved on to enjoying other aspects of the walking other than the physical challenge.

I can understand why no one would want to walk with you, as they would either be too tired or you would be too far ahead to talk or even take in the scenery.

Walking in a group offers its own challenges and with careful selection could meet your needs.

[Bush Walker]

So looks like I was right - the clubs are more oriented towards older people doing socializing rather than hard walking, while most people answered so far are doing their walks outside clubs. Ok we'll keep looking for people going for long and exhaustive walks.

It depends on the Club. Some Clubs have a large program featuring multi-day walks in difficult terrain, both on and off track. ..and to clkarify things off track doesn't necessarily mean push through thick bush. Try the Gammons or Flinders Ranges in SA

As for older people wanting to socialise, many have done the hard walking when they were younger (and less wise), and have realised that there are more important things to a bushwalk than arriving in camp too exhausted to cook a meal or chat around the campfire.

BTW: If you want long tiring days carrying a heavy pack why not go mountaineering!

[FatCanyoner]

Not surprised you're so serious. If all of my walking was off track, I'd never bl**dy smile, either.

Gold! Although most people complain I'm not serious enough. My theory is walk hard, play hard. I like to go to interesting places others may not see, but at the end of it all I love to sit around the fire with a bottle of wine and laugh my way into the wee hours.

Very interesting reports. Especially river crossing swimming with backpacks. So the question was phrased incorrectly. It is more correctly to ask how many hours a day you normally walk during a single day or multi-day walks.
So serious bushwalkers are mostly go off track? How do you go through the bush? Do you just go straight ahead braking brushes and trees? Because a few times when we did go through the total wild bush it was full of thorny shrubs and dry branches. I'd image one needs some kind of machete to go through the bush like that. And then - how do you know where to go? When it is a trail you have a starting and finishing spot, if you go to a complete wildness, how do you know where to head?

So are you talking about going through the the terrain with no visible track at all? Or there are still some trails you are taking? How do you plan the walks through the bush with no trail?

The time I walk depends on the time of year (and amound of sunlight). In winter it is often not possible to walk more than about 10hrs, although I will do more by planning to finish on tracks / firetrails. I would say a solid day walk is 10 - 12 hours, while a really big day can be 14 plus hours (you really feel those the next day!).
In many places there are footpads, such as along ridges etc. Where there is an obvious route almost everyone will use it, so it makes things simpler. There are many places where there is no sign of foot traffic at all. In these places it is simply a matter of physically pushing through the bush. You will get scratched up. You can avoid some thick sections, but in many cases there is no choice but to push through (like a wombat!)
No need for a machete. In fact, people who like off track walking are very protective of the bush. We like going places that are wild, untouched and in their natural state. The lack of tracks adds to this. If someone was found cutting a track they would not be very popular!
And you know where to go by looking at maps. Look for interesting features. Talk to other walkers about nice spots. Read trip reports for inspiration. My favourite thing is to look at old sketch maps, which carry a wealth of historic interest. There are amazing place names and navigatible routes shown that can be great fun to explore.
Off track walking is the more traditional form of bushwalking. It is about exploring, learning and communing with the bush in its nature state. It requires the development of bushcraft and navigation skills. It constantly challenges and surprises. Best of all it can take you places most city dwellers can never even imagine seeing.
Good luck and enjoy your walking!

[WarrenH]

I'd image one needs some kind of machete to go through the bush ...

Too true. I have a machete just for the fire trails.

With so much rain here in the SE, on the Mainland, during the past two years, if you aren't above the tree line, even the fire trails are getting to be overgrown.

Warren.

[igor]

FatCanyoner thanks for hints,
looks like you are doing similar even longer than our time while walking. There is no way you are going with the group from a club. So how do you find companions? or you mostly on your own? Good point about not damaging the flora, but occasionally cutting off some branches from the fallen tree blocking a path is to benefit every one else.

[gayet]

....but occasionally cutting off some branches from the fallen tree blocking a path is to benefit every one else.

But then that is hardly 'off track' is it?? You are creating a track - so step over, around or go under rather than making a clear track for 'everyone else'. Can't have it both ways.

[FatCanyoner]

step over, around or go under rather than making a clear track for 'everyone else'.

Totally agree!

Igor, I do most of my walking with the Sydney Uni Bushwalkers - http://www.subw.org.au/
Check out the email list for a list of what is on. Although at this time of year my focus is more on canyoning. I save the long bushwalks for the cooler months.
Many of my longer, harder walks are also run through the club. For these it is simply made clear the level of difficulty. We keep the group size small and restrict participants to people we know are physically capable. There are also some walks that are run 'off-list', which are not advertised publicly, which can include the most difficult trips.

[igor]

Thanks,
I've left a request on the site to join your email list (we haven't studied in Sydney Uni, myself - UNSW and my wife is UTS, so I hope this is not going to be a problem). I don't think it is too hot now for bushwalking. Just last sunday we did Hornsby to Brooklin walk - 42 km in about 11 hrs and it was quite reasonable. Up in the mountains the temperature is even lower right now

[tom_brennan]

Maybe, I was checking Sydney based bushwalking clubs. They all seems to concentrate on short distance walks. Going through the bush without any trail is a wonderful idea. Anyone done this in Blue Mountains?

As others have mentioned, your focus is too much on distance. The first thing we tell our new members is that distance is only important if the walk is on track. If it is off track, you need to look at other elements, like how much climbing, scrub, rock scrambling, boulder hopping or creek walking there is. Most of SBW (Sydney Bush Walkers) club walks are partly off track. Typically they would be 6-8 hours, and the majority would be between 10km and 20km ie medium distance.

Personally, my walks tend to be at the even shorter end of the spectrum - mostly less than 10km. But they will still be a similar length of time - the terrain will just be harder.

SBW also has some long annual day walks - Six Foot Track (42km) and Kanangra to Katoomba (50km).

So looks like I was right - the clubs are more oriented towards older people doing socializing rather than hard walking, while most people answered so far are doing their walks outside clubs. Ok we'll keep looking for people going for long and exhaustive walks.

Different clubs have different focuses. Some clubs are very much for shorter, easy, on track walks. Some clubs go more for off track walking. You need to do a bit more digging.