Bushwalk Australia

Hi all,
Heading up to the Western Lakes on Friday (14th Dec 2012) for 9 days.
Will walk from Lake Augusta and cross the River Ouse near Devils Den.

Planning to visit the following lakes:-
Second Bar Lake
Thompsons Lake
Lake Ila
Grub Lake
Deep Lake
First Bar Lake
Lake Field
Lake Furmage
Franks Lake
Julian Lakes

Have a gear list below for your interest and will do a fishing report on my return.
Did a similar walk at the same time last year and the report is entitled 'TAS Western Lakes 10 days Lake Ada to the Walls' if you are interested.

Superb country.

Cheers,
Andrew

HAVE EDITED THIS LIST WITH A FEW NOTES SINCE RETURNING

TOTAL PACK WEIGHT 16.24kg
Summary of weights of gear list detailed below:-
Main - Sleeping 5637 grams
Main - Cooking, Eating, Light 1455 grams
Navigation & Safety 641 grams
Personal Hygiene 428 grams
Clothes Spare 1215 grams
Camera, Book, Repair 627 grams
Fresh Food 415 grams
Other Food 5285 grams
Fly Fishing Gear 541 grams

Main Gear - Sleeping 5.637kg
Aarn pack Natural Balance 2059 (PACK WAS SUPERB AGAIN - THESE ARE JUST SO GOOD - A WEEKS+ WORTH OF GEAR AND IT FEELS LIKE A DAYPACK)
Aarn Pacer 2 total tent 2106 (BIT NERVOUS WITH 54km/hr WIND GUSTS ONE NIGHT - BUT WAS OK - CONSIDERING A HILLEBERG SOULO IN CASE GET SNOW)
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bag 853 (EXCELLENT LIGHT BAG - HAD HOOD UP TIGHT A FEW TIMES (-3.5 DEGREES ONE NIGHT) WITH SILK LINER WAS STILL WARM)
Insulmat Ether-Thermo6 2/3 length 482 (NEEDED A GARBAGE BAG TO COVER BACKPACK WHEN WET FOR BOTTOM THIRD UNDER SLEEPING BAG)
Silk Liner - Mummy shape purple 137

Main Gear - Cooking, Eating, Light 1.455kg
Jetboil stove complete inc. gas 689 (GREAT STOVE FOR BOILING WATER OR WITH POT HOLDER FOR POACHING FISH)
Gas Spare 192
Wind and waterproof matches 21
Aluminum Grabbers 53
2lt Platypus Water Carrier 40
1lt Platypus Water Carrier 25
Empty Coles Water Bottle 2*15 = 30
Knife - yellow fold up 36
Spoon/fork Light my fire 10
Plastic Bowl 19
Blue Sea to Summit Cup 69
Black Diamond Head Torch inc batt 95
Spare battery for head torch 50 (DIDN'T NEED)
Small frypan lid (MSR off 2 pots pack) 126 (ONLY FOR FISH)

Navigation & Safety 641 grams
Map - Breona 1:25,000 53grams
Map - Pillians 1:25,000 53grams
Map - Photocopy of 1:100,000 5grams
Plastic Bag for Maps 10
Compass 30
Weather Printout A4 5
Reading Glasses 26
Salt for leeches 7
Needle for splinters 1
Assorted dressings, sterile, steri strips 31
Bandaids 3 sm, 2 lg, 2 blister 12
Snake Bite - One bandage in bag 35
GPS Garmin eTrex30 inc. batteries 157 (FIRST TRIP AND WAS GREAT - PLEASED I PAID UP FOR ELECTRONIC COMPASS AND GARMIN TOPO MAPS SEEMED OK)
GPS Spare batteries 2*AA 59 (DIDN'T NEED)
EPIRB PLB ResQLink+ 157 (GREAT SMALL PLB - CAN KEEP IN POCKET ALL THE TIME)

Personal Hygiene 428 grams
Toothbrush with cover 21
Toothpaste small tube 27
Soap 41
Deodorant 38
3 plastic toothpicks/floss 1
Toilet Paper Full Roll 97
Toilet Paper Half Roll 53
Resolve Plus cream 25
Tea Tree Oil 37
Small Mirror 14
Pack Towel - Khaki Sea to Summit 66
Ear Plugs 8 (WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD TO SLEEP WITHOUT THEM AS THE WIND NEVER STOPPED)

Clothes Spare 1.215kg
Macpac Red Merino Base Layer 181
Long Johns 124
Black Katmandu Fleece 473
Exofficio Rain Coat 332 (FIRST TRIP FOR LIGHTER COAT AND SEEMED JUST AS GOOD AS HEAVY GORETEX)
Sunburn Gloves 30 (WORE THE WHOLE TIME BUT NOT FOR THE SUN JUST TO TRY AND WARM UP A BIT)
Sox 75
SHOULD HAVE TAKEN BALACLAVA
SHOULD HAVE TAKE RAIN PANTS

Clothes Wear 2.982kg
Scarpa Walking Boots 1316 (LOVE THESE BOOTS - $210 LIGHTWEIGHT LEATHER MODEL)
Sox 75
Walking poles 630
Goretex Gaiters 333
Paddy Pallin Trousers 240
Columbia Hat 82
Paddy Pallin Shirt 230
Watch 76

Camera, book, repair 627 grams
Kindle 210 (WAS GREAT, USED A LOT AND STILL 3/4 BATTERY LEFT)
Kindle padded envelope 14
Note Pad 21
Pencil 2
String 7
Sony Camera TX10 in case 158
Dry Bags for Balance Pockets 100
Mozzie Repellant 110 (DIDN'T USE THIS TRIP BUT LAST YEAR USED A LOT WHEN WARMER)
$50, fishing licence, NPWS pass 5

Fresh Food 415 grams (maybe more when in shop Friday)
Herbs/Pepper in container 22
Broccolini 200 (GOOD TO TAKE LASTS 4 DAYS)
Sno Peas 9 peas 73 (TOOK SOME EXTRA AS LOOKED FRESH AND THEY KEPT THE WHOLE TRIP)
poo... Mushrooms 120

Other Food 5.285kg
20gAlmond,20gBrazil,10gPepita,20gSun 8*75 = 600
Muesli Bars (3 per day) 24*53.5 = 1284 (CARMANS FRUIT ONES THEY ARE SO NICE)
Uncle Toby's Instant Oats 8*37.5 = 300
Tea Bags 20 Earl Grey Twinnings 54
Stevia sweetener 52
Mung Beans for Sprouts 4*62 = 248 (DIDN'T GO SO WELL THIS TRIP - MANY DIDN'T SPROUT AND SLOW TO GROW AS TOO COLD)
Soup Packets 8*32 = 256
Soup Miso to poach fish 6*9 = 54 (WAS OK BUT FISH TASTED A BIT TOO MUCH LIKE MISO SOUP)
Freeze Dried Vegetarian Meals 6*197 = 1182 (BACK-COUNTRY 2 SERVES - MUSHROOM & ROCKET RISOTTO 8/10 PASTA VEG 8.5, NASI GORENG 7.5)
Freeze Dried Desserts 4*168 = 672 (BACK-COUNTRY 2 SERVES - APRICOT CRUMBLE 9/10, THREE FRUITS CHEESECAKE 8.5 (1 SERVE ENOUGH), APPLE PIE 8/10)
Back Country Mixed Veg 3*104 = 312 (7/10)
Back Country Scrambled Eggs 174 (NEXT TIME)
Back Country Ice Cream 97 (8/10)

Fishing Gear 541 grams
Sage Fly Rod in material bag 6wgt 167
Fly Reel/Line/Leader 170
Flies in plastic fly box 75
Polaroid's in foam packet 69
Spare Tippet 12
3 Spare Leaders 10
Gink 19
Measuring Tape 14
Shopping Bags 5

Great breakdown of what you are taking. I am very envious and wish I was 20 years younger and 30 years fitter. Have a great trip and give us a report when you come back.

Have fun hun and 'tight lines'
We'll be fishing the central lakes for a few days just after Xmas
Very envious of you for an extended trip

Thanks guys - only one more sleep.

There is a great Tasmanian fishing forum and I will have a more fishing orientated report there when I get back:-
http://www.sportsfishtasmania.com/phpBB ... 15&t=14122

Last years trip topic can be found here:-
http://www.sportsfishtasmania.com/phpBB ... 15&t=12329

And some photos from last year here:-
https://picasaweb.google.com/1047379196 ... directlink

Just checked the weather and Friday has gone from Rain to Showers 90% chance of 10-20mm.

Cheers,
Andrew

Hi Andrew,

A mate and I are planning a similar trip for next Feb but perhaps a little shorter....around 3 or 4 nights. Your list above is awesome, thanks for that.

I'd also love to get feedback and advice post-trip, if you can post or PM me, that would be excellent as we're relative novices on the bushwalking side of things (more experienced with the fishing though).

I hope you have a fantastic trip!

Cheers,
Bruce

Any waterproof pants?

Hi sthughes,

I would love to take some waterproof pants. I can't find a light pair that I am prepared to carry the weight that breathe that won't get wrecked in scrub. I have some cheap Rainbirds (204 grams) that I use in the boat or on the tractor etc. and they are fine when not moving (sweating) too much and not in scrub. I have a flash pair of Goretex ones (830 grams) that are great but heavy that I wear skiing, camping etc.

I normally would have a longer Goretex coat (780 grams) and then with gaiters there isn't much in the middle and my quick dry pants aren't too bad wet. This time I am cutting my coat down to a lighter ExOfficio coat (332 grams) which only goes down to belt height so I am experimenting a bit this trip. It is amazing how many miles in summer I have carried that Goretex 780 gram coat and not used it. I even used to carry the 830 gram Gortex pants when I was younger on every trip but now when nearly 50 I am trying to carry less and allow more time.

I certainly would take the Goretex coat on any trip away from summer or if I had to cover ground every day but I thought I would try the lighter option this trip.

Cheers,
Andrew

Andrew wrote:I certainly would take the Goretex coat on any trip away from summer or if I had to cover ground every day

I think that's the key (and why I almost didn't make the comment) is that if you can just wait out potential nasty weather they aren't nearly as essential as on a walk where you really need to keep walking rain, hail or shine.

They are a difficult item like you say. Either too weak to last or so heavy you don't want to take them unless you really need them! After going through a few pairs I've settled on the toughest I could find (Mont Tempest) at over 700g. My Mountain Designs Cascades at about 500g also lasted pretty well, but lighter options seem to fail very quickly when subjected to scrub etc.

long johns under a decent pair of non waterproof trousers are a compromise provided it's not too cold..

Have a great trip...sounds exciting!

I'm sure there's heaps of refining to be had with your list....this trip will certainly help with that process once you've returned.

As a side, keep the salt away from the leeches....gently agitate them, and they will let go. Salt can/may result in regurgitation, and infection....just sayin.

I look forward to your post trip report and photos!

Or just yank 'em off, anything else takes way too long when they're attacking you in their dozens!

Hi all,

Quick report. Back safe and sound. Didn't see anyone else - not even a footprint. Last years trip at same time had ½ day of drizzle, this year apart from the first day, it was permanently drizzling, windy and cold (-3.5 one night with wind chill) and one very rough night of rain and wind (gusts to 54 km/hr). Walked 17.5 km to come out a day early as bit tired of the weather and the inside of the tent. Only managed to catch 4 fish and kept 3 plus hooked another for a while and stalked a good one in Lake Ila for ½ a day. Second Bar was only lake where fish were rising, rest of time too rough. Could have fished more often but kept expecting a better day tomorrow.

Have edited the gear list above to make a few notes. Only saw one snake (White-lipped Whip Snake) on the first day as reckon it was too cold for them. Heaps of kangaroos and on the morning I walked out at 6am I came onto a flat area and there must have been 60 or so all hopping for cover. 16 Black Swans on Lake Furmage.

Had a great trip but saw more of the tent than I had hoped for. The Kindle was good as read a few books. The best was “Letters to Raya” by J.R. Thompson (who is my little sister) and I was amazed how good it is. She is a great story teller. Fishpond.com.au for $22 free postage or $4 at Amazon for Kindle.

Have shared a few photos at this link:-

https://plus.google.com/photos/10473791 ... 4IrdpLuYNg

Now packing up the camper and boat to head to the coast at Bridport plus unpacking, drying gear etc. We hope to be out in the boat chasing some flathead etc. with the family next few weeks. Merry Christmas to all and thanks for tagging along on the adventure.

Cheers,
Andrew

Great report Andrew and loved the photos. Bad luck with the weather but have to take it as it comes. As a matter of interest how many cans of gas did you use for the Jetboil - I assume you would have made a few brews during the day as well as cooking ?

Hi oldpiscator,

Had 1/2 the second can left.
Works great if not trying to cook in the Jetboil as it is hard to clean and sticks so I just boil water and the freeze dried meals are so nice happy to just have them - just need to wait 15 minutes after adding water (not 10 min like instructions).
Heaps better since I bought the orange plastic gadget that stabilizes the whole thing.

Normal day is to boil:-
1/2 cup for Oats
1 cup for Soup
3 cups for (2 cups) of tea
then dinner varies:-
if fish it takes about 20 minutes on pot holder plus 1 1/2 cups for freeze dried veg.
if freeze dried and have fresh veg left to add then say freeze dried says 1 2/3 cups I would put say 2 cups and the fresh veg in cold and bring to boil and simmer about 1 minute and then add the lot to freeze dried meal and seal for 15 minutes.
if just freeze dried then likely 1 2/3 for main and 1 1/2 for dessert.

Also depends a bit on the temperature, elevation and wind but when my wife comes and say we go for 3 nights one can is enough and I reckon on my own I take one can for 5 days even if cooking say 2 fish.

Can weighs about 90 grams and gas about 100 grams so great weight for a week.

Cheers,

Andrew

To say I'm extremely jealous.....would be an understatement.
Average weather or not....returning to the 'Plateau' is always in the back of my mind.
Nice shots......you lucky devil.