GREAT NORTH WALK

[matthewgoodyear]

my big problem right now seems to be getting my intineray right. I would like to average 28kms a day. this would get me done on the 9th day. Problem is camp spots.
Is it reasonable top be able to expect to average 28kms a day, going solo, carrying about 13-15kg on my back?
I did 15kms yesterday with that weight on my back on some hard trails in braisbane water park and apart from some sore shins, i was fine. Im pretty sure i can do the distances just fine...but all the reading im doing has campistes that dont fit in with my needs, so im having to rethink.
Should i stick to official camp sites or can i just walk as much as i need and camp when i find a decent clearing that is safe?
I know im coming across as muddled here, but i know what im talking about...inside my head that is

[anotherwalker]

My only advice is before you plan to do almost 30kms a day for 9 days straight, at least try an overnight hike of the equivalent type of distance you plan to do and just see how you go. And maybe carry an extra kg or 2 of gear (this would obviously simulate extra food/rations/water/fuel/maps/clothes that you would take on a 9 day hike versus just an overnight hike).

Although I haven't done the entire track I would think unless you are superfit (I Don't know), I would think this might be a bit too much to do in nine days. As in some parts there is quite a lot of up and down. I have heard of people doing quite long distances in a day for a few days but then have a rest day or two in the middle to recover.

Sometimes you might find the second day is a lot worse in general cause you are still quite sore from the previous day as opposed to fully rested. And sleeping on a mat in a tent is completely different to sleeping at home which again may affect your performance or ability to get through 30kms a day.

Maybe also try a couple more day or overnight walks on the Sydney to Patonga end that way you will have more of an idea of what you might be getting yourself in for.

Be sure to let us know what you think and how you go Matt

AnotherWalker

[forest]

I would like to average 28kms a day

That's a adventurous ask for a first walk, but possible if your keen and fit. Some / most of the GNW would be fine but other sections will leave you very sore if it's your first big trip walking 28km's a day. There are some decent hills in the mix for you to wander over.
I did Somersby to Speers point in Sept last year. I just camped where I liked but you need to be mindful of your water sources. I just walked each day till I had enough and set up the hammock (The hammock was a godsend as I didn't need a flat campsite) . I think out of 3 nights I only had water on 1 next to me. The rest I had to pack the H2O and refill a few km's down the track. You need to have a good idea of where you are on the trail and where a spot is you can get water. Keep in mind a lot of the water from the creeks in Sydney I wouldn't drink at all.
I like to think of myself as reasonably fit and a fast walker. Hardest day for me was from Yarramalong to the comms tower above Congewai Valley West. Think it was something like 30kms and there are a few good ups and downs in that . I was a sore boy by the end of that. Next day was 42kms and I was all but spent.
After that I was sore for a week but would do it again in a heartbeat.
I'd say go for it if you think you can but be prepared to add a few days.
If you have sore shin's keep training till you can do that and not be sore. Or do a walk like that 2 days in a row and see how you feel.

Are you going to lug the food for the whole trip ??
Resupplies are pretty easy if you have someone to meet you.
If you wanted to do a resupply on the north end of the watagans I'd be happy to help out (PM me if you like)

Are you camping the whole trip or doing the B&B thing a few nights where available, if you did that you could mail the B&B some food you could pick up for the next few days ??

[anotherwalker]

Also,

If you are still going in June remember that the shortest day is Saturday, June 16, 2012 7:04am to 4:58pm (594 minutes)

Which means you will have to try and average 3km per hour straight for 10 hours straight and will possibly be leaving each morning before full light and setting up camp on dark.

Make sure you practise setting up your tent, cooking, sleeping systems before you go, just in case you have to arrive late at any of your campsites and have to set up under torch light.

At least it should be relatively cool at that time of year, so great for walking long distances.

[rcaffin]

Had some guy bragging to me at work last night saying he did it a few months ago and it took him 14 days and there was no way i could do it on my own in less time than that. now this guy is one of these super fit people who thinks they are top sh*t.

Berowra Ferry to Teralba Station, winter time, 7 days. NOT pushing hard, just enjoying.
(We skipped the bits at the ends as we don't love suburbia.)
I guess the guy just thinks he is super fit.

Cheers

[wildwalks]

Hi Guys, My Great North Walk book is finally almost here.

I would love it if you could come and help me celbrate the book and this great walk.
A pretty casual free evening, there will be a light dinner and some drinks provided. (kids welcome)
Friday, August 24, 2012 at 6:30 PM - Hornsby

Should be a fun evening, a chance to chat with other local walkers. Garry Mcdougal the brain child of the GNW will say a few words about the walk and his current big walk project.
I will also be sharing a few new things about wildwalks and demoing a new Iphone app.

Since numbers are limited please grab a free ticket here http://wildwalks.eventbrite.com/

Hope to see you there.

Thanks

Matt

[LandSailor]

Some people like to avoid too much tech when walking but if you have a smartphone the EveryTrail app (iphone/android) has a GPS enabled guide for the GNW.
EveryTrail allows you to pre-download maps so will work fine outside of signal range as long as you've already downloaded the correct maps.

Also Google Earth on your smartphone can be interesting to zoom in on the satellite photo of your current location (generally need to be in signal range for that though).

Also if your looking for flexibility in where to camp consider setting yourself up with a hammock. It gives you alot of choice in location as you dont need flat or dry terrain to be comfortable in a hammock. Just need 2 trees which isnt hard to find most of the time.

[wildwalks]

Also if your looking for flexibility in where to camp consider setting yourself up with a hammock.

Agree Hamocks are great - best sleep I get in the bush

GPS enabled guide for the GNW

I like the idea, but I have found that particular guide to have significant errors and missing important information for walkers. Maybe they have cleaned up it since I last looked, but some of the walks started in weaird places, like about 5km from the nearest road access point. But thanks for sharing it, there is no such thing as a perfect guide, so it is good for people to have a choice.

Matt

[Wollemi]

On Saturday morning of August 25, I want to take a train from Hawkesbury River at Brooklyn to Wondabyne. 4 people with gear.
The Oxfam Trailwalker event is on then, and I think this bucket-list-event-for-corporate-types is on then.
Will we clash with the runners, or are they all heading south by then? Is car parking taken up in the village, especially near the rail station, too?

[wildwalks]

Hi Wollemi
The trailwalker starts from Brooklyn the night before and they are headding south. So you will probably have trouble finding a carpark. Probably easier to catch the train from somewhere else, can be hard to get a park near the station in Brookln on the weekend at the best of times.

[Wollemi]

On Saturday morning of August 25, I want to take a train from Hawkesbury River at Brooklyn to Wondabyne ...with gear.
Is car parking taken up in the village, especially near the rail station, too?

With no other takers, I took the 1245 train from Hawkesbury River to Wondabyne - with a playboat kayak and usual other gear, and paddled back down Mullet Creek and across the Hawkesbury. The train guard was very supportive of my means to access this slightly eccentric, but pretty, trip. I'd do it again, but am trying to sell the kayak...
I went back this afternoon with my partner and circumnavigated Dangar Island by longer kayak and on foot. Nice food at the cafe there.

What was of interest to see is that parking is a bit tight in Brooklyn anyway - due to so many tourists. Saw no evidence of any bushwalkers or Trailwalkers, but I thank you wildwalks for your reassurance nontheless.

[forest]

I took the 1245 train from Hawkesbury River to Wondabyne - with a playboat kayak and usual other gear, and paddled back down Mullet Creek and across the Hawkesbury

That sounds like a really nice trip. Any pic's ??

[Wollemi]

I've trained my kayak well...

Looking across to Brisbane Water National Park

Now that that novelty is done, let's go... Mullet Creek, Wondabyne

[ULWalkingPhil]

Im thinking about hiking part of this track from Sydney to Hornsby, when I visit Sydney in 4 weeks. Is it considered safe to hike solo?

[forest]

I dunno. Its pretty dangerous around those sections.
BUT..... If you are hammocking (which you should) im sure people will stay clear, after all, hammock campers are CRAZY people.

[Bluegum Mic]

Safety is not a problem though its not my favourite section of the walk. There is a lot of suburbia between the city and hornsby sections. It doesn't always feel like a bushwalk. My preference would be pennant hills or hornsby through to Brooklyn (very easy to access both ends via public transport). The track is very commonly walked through all these sections and as a thirty something y/o female I walk all through here alone all the time, night and day (well normally when living in Sydney

[ULWalkingPhil]

I dunno. Its pretty dangerous around those sections.
BUT..... If you are hammocking (which you should) im sure people will stay clear, after all, hammock campers are CRAZY people.

Yes. We are in a league of our own.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[wildwalks]

The risks are similar to walking solo anywhere in AUS. -- There are sections out of mobile phone range so I would encourage you carry a PLB.
It is good Hammock camping

I would agree with Bluegum Mic -- the GNW comes "alive" from Lane Cove and is great after Thornleigh.
Unless you are trying to tick off the whole walk is sections -- I would look at doing starting from Thornleigh Station and head north from there.

Enjoy
Matt

[ULWalkingPhil]

Has to be assessable by train. I will be carrying a PLB with me.

Thanks for the suggestions, I would like to do just part of the walk for now, and if I like it a lot, will return to do the complete walk in a future date.

So far I'm planning to hike the Coastal Track at RNP, and the Six Foot Track at the blue mountains. Thinking about doing the Six Foot Track twice returning in the opposite direction, using my hammock as much as possible. I'm aware at the RNP, there's no opportunity for a hammock, so I'll be taking my Duomid with me. I much prefer to only take the one shelter.

I wanted to look for a 3rd overnight hike somewhere in the area, Was not aware that the Great North Walk was so close to Sydney, I had the impression it was way up further north.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Looking at your Website Matt, It says Hornsby to Brooklyn is closed. A bridge is out.

[wildwalks]

Hi Phillip

nice plan. The 6FT is about 70% dirt road/management trail - It is a nice walk more of a historic journey then a bushwalk. Having said that it there are some really nice spots. If you return that is the "12 foot track" .. If you are fit, weather is good and travel light many people do the one way trip in a day and stay at caves house before returning the next day. But you do need to be fit. Two days is a pace I usually do it at.

The GNW actually starts in the CBD not bad walking but not very Bushwalky. It starts getting more bushy in lane Cove -- Starts to feel more remote after Thornleigh -- still accessible by train.

Notes for GNW http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking/general/list-of-walks.html?groupid=56
Notes for 6FT http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking-and-hiking-in-nsw/blue-mountains-katoomba/six-foot-track.html
Coast track http://www.wildwalks.com/bushwalking-and-hiking-in-nsw/royal-national-park/the-coast-track.html

Matt

[ULWalkingPhil]

The risks are similar to walking solo anywhere in AUS. -- There are sections out of mobile phone range so I would encourage you carry a PLB.
It is good Hammock camping

I would agree with Bluegum Mic -- the GNW comes "alive" from Lane Cove and is great after Thornleigh.
Unless you are trying to tick off the whole walk is sections -- I would look at doing starting from Thornleigh Station and head north from there.

Enjoy
Matt

In regards to risk, I was referring to people, not so much the terrain, I was thinking being so close to the City, there might be a risk from people.

[wildwalks]

Looking at your Website Matt, It says Hornsby to Brooklyn is closed. A bridge is out.

Yeah the bridge died on the weekend. It may be fixed in time - no idea - but it is a popular section of track so I assume it will be a priority. The creek is still passable if you are happy to get wet.
If you want to avoid this you could start at Mount Ku-ring-gai and head north along the GNW from there.

Matt

[Bluegum Mic]

It goes from Sydney cove all the way to Newcastle or Cessnock...my preferred finish in wine country...makes for a great way to recoup lol. So yes you can spend a couple of weeks on the trail if you wish
The sections Matt and I suggested are totally accessible by train. You can start at either Pennant Hills, Thornleigh or Hornsby station and the walk is sign posted from each of those stations down into the bush (actually all stations to Brooklyn ie you can walk in from Mt Colah, Berowra and Cowan so the walk is great if you need to bail out early too). The walk as a whole is very well sign posted. If you walk through to Brooklyn the train station there is called Hawksbury River. From there you get the train straight back past Hornsby and it will take you to the city. So very very easily done by public transport. Plus the fish n chips in Brooklyn are divine and a great way to finish your walk (not to mention at Berowra waters on your way through...makes for a fantastic spot for lunch).
Have a good look at Matt's website www.wildwalks.com
It has all these variations of the walk in great detail, including terrain profile, maps, public transport etc. Enjoy though. Its my local trail, I can do it blindfolded and I miss it dearly. Nothing like slipping out early on a Sat morning whilst hubby is on daddy duties and can knock over a section or two....ahhhh I'll be back soon

[wildwalks]

In regards to risk, I was referring to people, not so much the terrain, I was thinking being so close to the City, there might be a risk from people.

Sydney people are friendly -- Have not heard of any trouble like that (Except on the track near Wondabyne Station -- further north)
Just the occasional nude runner

Matt

[Bluegum Mic]

And six foot track in both directions...you must like hills Enjoy though. Sounds like you've got a wonderful trip planned. Totally jealous

[Bluegum Mic]

Ha. In the time it took to write my lengthy post you two have covered it all lol. Damn slow typing on a phone

[ULWalkingPhil]

I really like the looks of the Section between Hornsby and Brooklyn. I hope that bridge is repaired in time.

[Bluegum Mic]

Its very very popular so I would be surprised if its not repaired. Im not sure its completely gone either. Another forum member posted a photo and said you could still cross, it was just partially submerged. Kids were playing silly buggers on it apparently.

[ULWalkingPhil]

In regards to risk, I was referring to people, not so much the terrain, I was thinking being so close to the City, there might be a risk from people.

Sydney people are friendly -- Have not heard of any trouble like that (Except on the track near Wondabyne Station -- further north)
Just the occasional nude runner

Matt

Nude runner? Is there a nude resort/beach near by?