Camping Report - A Walk into History (Warburton area)

[JohnStrider]

Hi folks,

As some of you might remember, I ventured out last weekend for my first overnight hike/camping trip. After looking for a reasonably close by overnight camping trip, I settled on doing the Walk Into History hike up in Warburton in the eastern part of Melbourne. Details of the walk and the various locations can be found here: http://www.depi.vic.gov.au/__data/asset ... istory.pdf

The entire walk from Big Pats Creek Recreation Area into Powelltown is 33km and is meant to be done as a one way trip. However, there was no camping spot in Powelltown so I decided to camp elsewhere and hike back a different way to my car - more on that shortly. I was under the impression I would be doing about 27km in and 27km out, but after doing the math when i arrived home, it turns out i did just over 31kms in and the same going back to my car.

Anyway, I started off at Big Pats Creak Recreation area at 8am on Saturday, made my way to Starlings Gap camping ground, walked to the Federal Crossroads and decided to walk a little more to Federal Mill for some lunch. By this stage it was just before 1pm. Broke from lunch at about 1:45 and headed back to the Federal Crossroads and turned left heading south to the part of the trail that brings you to the Ada Mill No. 2 and eventually the High Leads section. This was without a doubt the hardest part of the trek. It was 5.5kms and pretty much all downhill and very steep. It flattened out every so often, but then would continue downhill even more. By the time I reached the end of the section at Yarra Junction-Noojee Road, my knees were hating me big time. I used trekking poles to easy the impact and I'm glad I did because I can't imagine what it would have been like without them.

From there i turned east for about 4.4kms and made camp by the Latrobe River and everything was going fairly well until about 8:30 when the storm arrived. The sound of the wind was incredible and was nothing like I have ever heard before. There was rain but it didn't concern me nearly as much as the wind. I had pitched my tent far enough away from the trees so none would fall on me, but far enough away from the river so that in the event it rose during the night, my tent wouldn't get flooded. Long story short, I only got to sleep for a few hours at a time mainly because of the storm but because of my sleeping mat. I bought one on here from another user that is much longer and wider than my current one. Hoping that will give me a better night's sleep.

In the morning i made the decision not to hike back up the High Leads as going down was hard enough. I decided to keep following the road that my campsite was on as I knew it would eventually lead to the Ada Tree Reserve Car park which was also located near the Federal Mill where I had lunch on Saturday. I followed the road for about an hour and a half and it lead me to a point where I could keep following the road (which would have taken me further west and closer to the High Leads section) or following a 'track' that would take me further north and closer to the car park. I followed the 'track' and for the next hour and forty-five minutes I bush bashed my way through ferns, leeches, scrub and all sorts of other stuff. Was ducking under and hopping over fallen logs every so often too. It was an incredible experience and one that was both rewarding and challenging. I've also never been so happy to see a sign that said my destination was 200m away. Great relief!

From the car park, I headed back to Federal Mill, had some lunch and continued the long walk back to my car stopping at Starlings Gap campsite. I got back to my car at 4:55 after leaving the campsite at 7:45 that morning. The storm from the night before had left all sorts of bark, twigs etc all over the track so I was forever concentrating on trying not to trip over on any of it. Few close calls, but I never fell over.

So overall it was a successful trip and I probably nailed about 75% of things I needed to nail. Forgot to bring a spare change of socks and as a result I suffered a blister each on my little toes. They're healing ok now thanks to those Elastoplast blister pads. My right knee seems to be ok now, but my left knee is still fairly sore. Will be making an appointment with a physio if it doesn't get any better over the coming days. In the end I think I had about 15 or so kilos on my back. I know I can probably carry less and most of that weight was taken up from the tent, so I'll be looking for a lighter tent some time in the future.

Pics to come soon.

JS

[neilmny]

Well done John, looking forward to the pictures.

[keithy]

Nice one John. I was wondering how you went with the storms! I'm keen to this walk soon as well.

[JohnStrider]

Yeah it's a decent little walk.

My suggestion would be to go as far south as the Ada Mill no. 2 and avoid walking to the High Leads car park. There's still plenty to do in the top section of the trail.

[north-north-west]

re the knees: If you don't already do so, start taking glucosamine/chondroitin supplements. I have arthritis in both knees and from being unable to carry a full pack for three days at Freycinet without agony some four months ago, can now do 10 days mostly cross country with barely a twinge.
It may not work as well for everyone, but it should help to some degree.

[JohnStrider]

re the knees: If you don't already do so, start taking glucosamine/chondroitin supplements. I have arthritis in both knees and from being unable to carry a full pack for three days at Freycinet without agony some four months ago, can now do 10 days mostly cross country with barely a twinge.
It may not work as well for everyone, but it should help to some degree.

Great tip! Thanks for that.