AAWT without food drops

[vicrev]

This is maybe a silly question as far as the experienced AAWT walkers on this forum are concerned,but, I will still ask it. Can the walk be done without food drops ? Can enough food be picked up at the towns, etc. on the way ?........

[oyster_07]

Anything can be done, but it's just a question of effort and practicality.
The AAWT does not pass through any towns, although it passes close to Hotham and Thredbo. Bright can be reached relatively easily from Hotham.
It really comes down to a few questions:
* What diet do you want?
* How much can you carry?
* How much do you want to carry?
I once did 1500km on dry rice or dry pasta, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with occasional fresh vegetables from villages. Dry rice and pasta quickly become boring.

[vicrev]

What I am asking,is,can it be done without food drops.....1500k on pasta & rice...how many days was that?.......

[oyster_07]

Yes, it can be done, but you will be restricted in what you can access at Hotham and Thredbo. You will also be carrying a very large load both in terms of volume and weight.
One practical idea may be to carry the full trip's worth of dehydrated toppings (individually packaged) and then add them to pasta and/or rice that you source from Hotham and Thredbo (and perhaps Bright).
My 1500km trip was just over two months long, and it was a heavy load....

[vicrev]

Thanks,Oyster_07..

[Mark F]

If the issue is lack of vehicle/time to place and retrieve food drops then you can break it into 3 x 12-14 day sections by posting your drops to the YHA at Thredbo and somewhere in Hotham or Falls Creek.
If wanting to carry everything from the start you are looking at 700g per day minimum x 40 day (average time) = 28Kg.

[vicrev]

So,it is doable.....thanks Mark F.........

[madmacca]

If the issue is lack of vehicle/time to place and retrieve food drops then you can break it into 3 x 12-14 day sections by posting your drops to the YHA at Thredbo and somewhere in Hotham or Falls Creek.
If wanting to carry everything from the start you are looking at 700g per day minimum x 40 day (average time) = 28Kg.

Agree with Mark F's strategy. Supermarket at Thredbo is small but has a pretty reasonable range, so you can pick up most of the staples there. Never been to the one at Hotham, so can't speak for it. Posting just the speciality items will keep the costs down.

[vicrev]

Has anyone,on this forum,done it without food drops?....

[madmacca]

Has anyone,on this forum,done it without food drops?....

I have not done the entire AAWT without drops, but I have done Tharwa to Thredbo, and Hotham to Taylors Crossing and return, without food drops. 12-14 days of food can be done. Beyond that your pack starts getting seriously heavy.

[north-north-west]

Has anyone,on this forum,done it without food drops?....

I have not done the entire AAWT without drops, but I have done ...(large portions)... without food drops. 12-14 days of food can be done. Beyond that your pack starts getting seriously heavy.

Ditto. 14 days is about my limit, and that's seriously uncomfortable for the first few days.

[Kinsayder]

If the issue is lack of vehicle/time to place and retrieve food drops then you can break it into 3 x 12-14 day sections by posting your drops to the YHA at Thredbo and somewhere in Hotham or Falls Creek.
If wanting to carry everything from the start you are looking at 700g per day minimum x 40 day (average time) = 28Kg.

Agree with Mark F's strategy. Supermarket at Thredbo is small but has a pretty reasonable range, so you can pick up most of the staples there. Never been to the one at Hotham, so can't speak for it. Posting just the speciality items will keep the costs down.

Somebody might be more knowledgeable than me on this but the General (this is the only one I can think of) at Hotham has a small range of food. It's more milk bar than anything. There is a small supermarket at Falls that is a better option.