Urban Training for back country bushwalks

[igor]

Maybe, but I haven't seen many people doing that. In fact I haven't seen anyone doing this kind of walking you've described on OT. Everyone we've met has stack to the track. I'm not even mentioning multiple signs directly forbidding doing this kind of walk. Aren't you guys concerned about damaging the bush by walking off-track? Imagine the condition of many places if majority of people would start wonder everywhere instead of keeping to the trail?
Anyway I don't know why we even discussing this here? The question was and is how do you stay prepared for hard bushwalking while living in the city.

[stu]

The best form of bushwalking is off track IMHO.
Track walking becomes pretty boring by comparison.
Compare the likes of the Franklands, Eldons or many of the out of the way peaks in the Reserve with the likes of the OT and there really is no comparison, or at least not for those looking for 'adventure trips'...but of course, each to their own.
Plenty of posts on BWT of off track walking.
You can be sure that very, very, very few people will ever see any signs of our visits to these magnificent remote areas...(we always practice leave no trace ethics).

Best training for carrying a heavy pack? Go out as often as you can carrying a heavy pack
Any form of general fitness training in the interim will obviously help, I like to rock climb and surf which keeps my base fitness levels up.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Most of my training of late is walking up and down beaches at night looking for nesting marine turtles to study with a daypack weighing apx 8kg. On nights with limited nesting turtles, I've walked 20km. Most of the time it's about 10 or 12 km. it helps to keep me fit.

Often on day hikes I would carry my full overnight gear, just so I'm used to carrying the weight, I've found the best training for me is to put on my pack and go walking.

Country is very flat where I live, which is a problem, as the best training for me is to walk up and down hills with my pack. Have to drive two hours to do that.

[ollster]

What nuts said.

I'm not even mentioning multiple signs directly forbidding doing this kind of walk. Aren't you guys concerned about damaging the bush by walking off-track? Imagine the condition of many places if majority of people would start wonder everywhere instead of keeping to the trail?

Signs are specific to that particular area and usually for good reason. I think you're still not getting the point of off track it's to get to specific places that don't have tracks, not just as a fun way of not walking on a track that's already there or unnecessarily taking some "short cut". I'd say people that walk off track understand quite well the nature of the environment, that's why a) people don't tend to take the exact same routes, and routes are not publicised (see forum rules!) b) we make sensible choices about how and where we camp and how we interact with the environment, and I dare say a lot more so than many people on the OLT.

I don't think there's much fear of too many people doing it... but if no one ever walked off track, you'd not have the tracks we've got today. How else would people know about areas if they were not explored?!

Anyway I don't know why we even discussing this here? The question was and is how do you stay prepared for hard bushwalking while living in the city.

I thought you asked?

[doogs]

Maybe, but I haven't seen many people doing that. In fact I haven't seen anyone doing this kind of walking you've described on OT. Everyone we've met has stack to the track. I'm not even mentioning multiple signs directly forbidding doing this kind of walk. Aren't you guys concerned about damaging the bush by walking off-track? Imagine the condition of many places if majority of people would start wonder everywhere instead of keeping to the trail?
Anyway I don't know why we even discussing this here? The question was and is how do you stay prepared for hard bushwalking while living in the city.

The topic does say back country bushwalks which suggests to me little or no tracks. The OLT is what it is, a well marked and maintained track which attracts people from around the world. It is not backcountry in my opinion. If you want to look in the mirror and tell yourself how tough you are for doing it in 2.5 days go ahead. Have a look around this site at the off track/backcountry walks to get the idea of what we are talking about, as Stu mentioned the Eldons and Franklands are a good starting place to look if you type them into the search top right of screen. Training for these walks comes with experience and some of the best off track walkers I know definitely wouldn't be described as gym junkies. I guess you could walk around with sandbags attached to your ankles while someone throws sticks at you

[ULWalkingPhil]

.Most of my bushwalking up here is off-track. No other option up here, unless I go to Fraser island or drive 3 hours one way to get to the nearest tracks. We tend to do a lot off off track hiking into some very thick vegetation, often on our hands and knees with thick prickly bushes. Clothes don't last long, so I don't tend to wear my better hiking clothes unless I'm on a track. Hiking on tracks is a luxury for me. Often arriving back home with blood running down our legs and arms, and not to mention bruises. A couple guys I hike with don't bother wearing long pants, they just put up with the scratches, I try to cover up, but still get scratches. It is fun. I hate lantanas.

[igor]

and how often you do this kind of walk? Every weekend? I personally don't see any pleasure in doing this. I'd do this if I must like if we've lost the track, but going though this thick and scratchy bush on purpose? No thanks. In Tasmania in the mountain country it might be different I admit, because at least you can see somewhere further than a few meters away. But in the rainforesty areas on even in eucalypti bush/forest - all you can see around you are thick horny branches. Are you saying you get a lot of fun sweating in the 30 degrees heat going 4 km in 8 hours and seeing just dry bush/forest around you?. It's not hard physically, because you hardly move, it's just very unpleasant, that all compare to walking along the bushwalking trails. Have you actually walked in Blue Mountains or Snowy Mountains? People get lost there and get injured or even die quite regularly. There are plenty of tracks that give you excellent physical exercise, allow you to see really breathtaking views.

[ollster]

and how often you do this kind of walk? Every weekend? I personally don't see any pleasure in doing this.

a) depends, would go out every weekend if I could. b) excellent, keep up the good work!

[forest]

How this thread has become a chest beating exercise is baffling me.

Afterall the outcome is we all go bush and enjoy things.

Some of you people are amazing with what you endure, places visited that I'll only dream of getting there.
Others, Just like to "talk the talk".... so to speak.


I like to think myself the most hardcore among you .
I'd do offtrack, tracks, roads, lane ways, drive ways, concrete footpaths, tiled kitchens and carpeted hallways.

My most hardcore moment was pushing a Stroller "AND" shopping trolley at Myers during boxing day sales.

What that has to do with bushwalking training I have no idea. But seems the theme.....

At the end of the day we all enjoy "bushwalking".

[sthughes]

It's not hard physically, because you hardly move, it's just very unpleasant,.

I've not done much off-track walking in really scrubby areas, but to say it isn't physically hard is just nonsense. The walks where you can only manage 500m an hour are by far the hardest, both physically and mentally in my opinion! But I agree that it can be somewhat unpleasant thrashing through unexpected 2 or 3 metre high Scorparia in shorts and t-shirt. The crazy serious off track stuff to remote places with no view for the sake of earning a point or proving how tough you are doesn't really woo me. But some places are trackless and worth getting to, and it can sometimes feel more satisfying to have suffered a little to get there. Having said that, there are plenty of places off-track that don't require torture to reach.

I wouldn't rank difficulty based on the number of people getting lost and dying in an area! That's probably more a measure of the experience/ability/intelligence and mostly the shear number of people walking in certain areas. I wouldn't mind betting the Overland Track has 50 times as many helicopter rescues, lost walkers and deaths than say the Eldons. But I can assure you that the Eldons is a more difficult undertaking.

As for training I just try and get out for a walk up a mountain or whatever once or twice a month, and like iluvswtas I try and take someone slower than me to make me feel fitter

[Aushiker]

Talking about off-track reminds me of the Fitzgerald River National Park, a bioshphere in Western Australia. A walk of the Park following the coast line east to west is about eight days of walking most of which is off-track, sometimes on-track if you can find the remnants of the old forestry roads. This is one of the best walks in the South-west of Western Australia in my view.















More photos for those interested at Picasaweb.

Andrew

[north-north-west]

To answer the topic:
A job that keeps me active and a lot of extra walking, usually with a 10kg pack. And walking most weekends helps.

Re the offtrack stuff:
There are more places worth visiting that don't have tracks than those that do. Even in the most open areas of the Snowies or the Bogongs it's harder work going crosscountry than on a track. And much more satisfying.

[flatfoot]

Igor - slow down and take time to enjoy the surroundings. I've been to a number of pretty special places through off-track walking in the Blue Mountains.

Donkey Mountain in the Wolgan Valley is one good example. This is a fabulous maze of pagodas and canyons and a real pleasure to explore. There are no real tracks up there.

Off-track walking can also be pretty good exercise. Unfortunately for me I live in suburbia and so don't have the convenience of challenging bush to walk in. The Blue Mountains is only 45 minutes away though or I otherwise head up to Kuringai National Park.

My preferred urban training for bushwalking is just regular cycling to maintain cardio fitness and I try and use stairs whenever possible.

[walkinTas]

This topic has been moderated in line with forum requirements. Please everyone, be mindful of rule 1.

[walkinTas]

Maybe, but I haven't seen many people doing that. In fact I haven't seen anyone doing this kind of walking you've described on OT. Everyone we've met has stack to the track. I'm not even mentioning multiple signs directly forbidding doing this kind of walk.

No Igor, you probably didn't met anyone on the OT who admitted to walking off track. Taking a little side detour off an established track is not really what is meant by off-track walking. But, there are some places in the Cradle National Park that can't be reached by walking on established tracks. And there are lots of other places where the tracks are not well known, or not well marked.

As others have explained, in Tasmania there are many mountains, beaches, rivers, waterfalls and other attractions that are pure wilderness. They have no tracks leading into them at all. This is true in other states too and I imagine its true all over the world. Walking to these places is called "off track walking". Silly term really because it is actually "no track" walking. Your not walking off the track - there is no track. Not all off track walking is hard going. But going "off track" should be carefully planned and researched.

Off track walking can be particularly difficult in Tasmania because of the nature of the bush in some parts of the state. Some Tasmanian scrub is virtually impenetrable. Maps don't always predict just how impenetrable the scrub may be, and even very experienced bushwalkers can sometime find themselves in very difficult situations.

Some plants are notoriously bad. 'Horizontal Scrub', Anodopetalum biglandulosum, is as near to impossible to walk through as anyone could imagine. Ancient rotting platforms of branches and foliage 10 or more metres above the ground. Fall through that and you'll take for ever to climb back out. Another example is Bauera rubioides which, in forests, covers the undergrowth with a deep tangle of long thin almost impenetrable stems.

I personally don't see any pleasure in doing this. I'd do this if I must like if we've lost the track, but going though this thick and scratchy bush on purpose? No thanks.

I pretty sure no one deliberately goes looking for this stuff, but sometimes it is just between you and your goal, so you go around (not always possible) ...or go through (at your own risk).

If you google the words "Tasmanian impenetrable bush" you begin to get a bit of an idea.

As for training, there is no training you could do for walking through the worst of what Tasmania has to offer. The best training for walking is, um ...walking. So for the last three months that has been an hour on the cross trainer every second night.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Well said WT.

Horizontal scrub can be fun, as long as it's not endured for TOO long. Natures own jungle gym we call it.

[MJD]

Enjoying some off track peace in the Frenchmans Cap area on the way to Philps Pk on a long weekend - a superb campsite that you won't find next to a hut and a track. It's not all thick scrub and no views but it's certainly harder than ambling around on a track with the hordes. Perhaps comparable to driving around the city in a Fiesta or going four wheel driving - some people just don't see the point and others aren't up to it.

[Nuts]

[
So for the last three months that has been an hour on the cross trainer every second night.

Hmm, sounds safer than walking around these here parts. How d'you reckon my a dog would go
Nice pic mjd, if only barron pass was in the backyard!

[ULWalkingPhil]

and how often you do this kind of walk? Every weekend? I personally don't see any pleasure in doing this. I'd do this if I must like if we've lost the track, but going though this thick and scratchy bush on purpose? No thanks. In Tasmania in the mountain country it might be different I admit, because at least you can see somewhere further than a few meters away. But in the rainforesty areas on even in eucalypti bush/forest - all you can see around you are thick horny branches. Are you saying you get a lot of fun sweating in the 30 degrees heat going 4 km in 8 hours and seeing just dry bush/forest around you?. It's not hard physically, because you hardly move, it's just very unpleasant, that all compare to walking along the bushwalking trails. Have you actually walked in Blue Mountains or Snowy Mountains? People get lost there and get injured or even die quite regularly. There are plenty of tracks that give you excellent physical exercise, allow you to see really breathtaking views.

I'm presuming this question is directed at me.

Our club only do these kind of bushwalks in the cooler months, twice a month. During the warmer months, I walk on the beach a lot. We get a wonderful sea breeze here.
We find it very fun and rewarding going off-track. The only part personally I don't like about off-track hiking up here is Lantana. We try to avoid it as much as possible. But this stuff spreads like you wouldn't believe.

Since you asked about the Blue Mountains. In March 2011, 4 weeks hiking in the Blue Mountains and the Royal National Park.
In the past few months I've walked the Great Walks in the sunshine Coast, Conondale and Gold Coast hinterland. Every opportunity I get I go hiking on the trails, We are now coming into our hottest month, or should I say most humid. Humidity is the big killer for me up this way, The heat don't bother me so much, It's the humidity that really knocks you around.

[walkinTas]

[
So for the last three months that has been an hour on the cross trainer every second night.

Hmm, sounds safer than walking around these here parts. How d'you reckon my a dog would go

Does your dog need to lose lots of weight? With me it was more a matter of necessity - and the gym was much more convenient than the track. I was 114.7kg in my birthday suit. This morning I'm 96.9kg - so one pound short of 20Kg lighter - in one week shy of three months.

[Snowzone]

For me it depends on the type of walk I'm training for and trying to replicate those conditions as much as possible. For example a walk that is going to have a lot of climbing and scrambling, look for a few good sets of stairs and go up and down them as many times as you can with a full pack.
If I was going to have to go long distances between camp sites, then I would be doing some reasonably long day walks again with a full pack.
The bottom line though is use it or lose it. I try to do a 'bushwalk' of some kind every week.

To me the meaning of 'off track' walking is exploring, you may start off by seeing a peak or ridgeline that looks interesting and decide to go check it out. Pretty soon you've noticed a whole area, maybe on a map that you want to go look at. Before you know it you've got a whole trip planned. Be careful it can become quite addictive, there is nothing quite like coming across a beautiful little camp spot in the middle of nowhere.

Re the offtrack stuff:
There are more places worth visiting that don't have tracks than those that do. Even in the most open areas of the Snowies or the Bogongs it's harder work going crosscountry than on a track. And much more satisfying.

Yes Very Satisfying NNW.

[Aushiker]

Enjoying some off track peace in the Frenchmans Cap area on the way to Philps Pk on a long weekend - a superb campsite that you won't find next to a hut and a track.

What a magnificent photo / place to camp. Thanks for sharing.

Andrew

[ILUVSWTAS]

Enjoying some off track peace in the Frenchmans Cap area on the way to Philps Pk on a long weekend - a superb campsite that you won't find next to a hut and a track.

What a magnificent photo / place to camp. Thanks for sharing.

Andrew

And the reason MJD posted it, why off track walking is better than track walking. We get the privledge of camping in areas like this!!!

[Nuts]

how'd you get there?

wTas that's a huge effort and fast eh.. well done. My dog doesn't need to loose weight, i continually drop then pick up 5kgs and could afford a bit more than that (he just likes to watch : ) )

[ollster]

With me it was more a matter of necessity - and the gym was much more convenient than the track. I was 114.7kg in my birthday suit. This morning I'm 96.9kg - so one pound short of 20Kg lighter - in one week shy of three months.

Good job, that man! The hard part is keeping it off...

Did the same thing when I was about 19. I was something like 118kgs. Basically cracked the proverbials with myself and got down to 95-point-something in 3 months (aim was to do it by xmas). Been yo-yo-ing around 100kgs ever since!

[ILUVSWTAS]

how'd you get there?

By walking off track...

[Nuts]

ok