West Coast

[north-north-west]

In regards to food I am taking 30 of those dehydrated food packs from backcountry which are high in nutrition and low in weight. 90 gramms each times 30 = less than 3 kilos. some dehydrated fruit salad packs are lightweight. 1 kilo of All Bran will help keep me regularish considering a serving size of 50 grams for 20 of those days. 1 kilo of nuts because I like nuts. A couple of teaspoons of sugar a day is about 300 grams. 30 days of food under 5 and half and a bit kilos.

If you're serious about doing this walk and serious about that being your entire food supply you are seriously stupid or seriously insane. Yes, I know that amounts to a personal attack but in this case it''s warranted. You are going to be working harder than you ever have on a walk, probably harder than you ever have in your entire life, for 30 days straight and trying to do it on starvation rations. And all this alone in country you don't know with no off-track experience.

[icefest]

I've used sat imagery for off track navigation before. I've found that it doesn't help much if everything is scrub. It's also much easier preplanning a route on the desktop where you can switch between Google's historic images, tasmaps orthophoto and tasveg 3.0.

Don't trust seemingly flat terrain as it's often just the top of the scrub.

May I suggest doing the full south west cape as a pre-hike? Just take extra food for a week, hide your main food in the bush near Melaleuca and do that track. That way you'll have a bit of an idea about what you're facing even if it's quite a range walk in comparison to the main walk you're planning.

How many spare batteries will you take for the GPS?

[highercountry]

Post removed by highercountry.
Not very friendly or helpful.

[fat_doggie]

A backcountry 2 serving is 175gram. When I did my south coast track, I ate 2 packs per day, plus lollies and nuts, and breakfast, and I was still very hungry. I remember once I had 2 packs for dinner.

90 gram is the single serve pack. Why don't you eat a pack of those single serve only a day, for a week from now on, and see how you feel?

I don't know how it works in Tassis. I know the search and rescue here in Vic are mostly volunteers. Search is organised by police. So not everyone gets pay. People do this is because they know someone's life is in danger, and they will try their very best to save this someone's life by working as a very large organised group.

Do NOT rely on solar batteries charger for your GPS. Top tips.

Look forward for your return. Good luck.

[303294345]

oar1.JPG (92.05 KiB) Viewed 15583 times

I improved my oars. I worried about them for a few reasons. They were too big and bulky to carry as the blades were pop riveted on. The centre bit worried me in cased the spring bit went in and I couldn't get it back out. I removed the pop rivets and drilled right through and put some 3/16 bolts with some wing nuts on top. Much stronger and now the blades can be removed to transport. I was also worried about the cente bit with that spring thing so I pulled that out and drilled through and put a bolt/wingnut in there too.
I was worried about how to tie a rope to it to tether it to myself as nuts mentioned so I thought I would put a metal ring through there so the rope did not get cut because of the rough edge left by the drilled holes.
I drilled some holes in the blades themselves so they can be tied together while transporting.
I also made it shorter by about 5 inches. I cut the ends off a bit and redrilled the holes for them and I also took about a half inch from around the outside of the blades, with a grinder. That is when I noticed they had a different shape and I realised there was probably a right way and a wrong way to use them. Can anyone tell from the shape which way is meant to be up when rowing a or b. Thankyou.

I am so busy I haven't had time to respond. Thankyou to everyone and rest assured I will read and reread this thread, and I appreciate any comments.

I will reply to questions/comments when I am not so busy. You have given me a lot to think about. But I am still going to have a look for myself.

Some waypoints would be awesome and make my life somewhat easier if I can see how someone else made it through.

[303294345]

quickly.. the GPS thing is awesome. The photos from BirdsEye are better than what I can see on google Earth on my computer. I walked to the shop and watched myself on the screen it is very accurate. I saw myself walking past the driveways. I don't know how old the pics are though.. I noticed that at Tarraleah for example the pics must be at least 4 years old.
I am downloading the pics right now for the south west. It takes about 15000 photos for 250 square kilometers at the highest quality. it is amazing. It will help I'm sure.

I bought the 24K topo maps for all of Australia and New Zealand but the memory card was too small. I have a new on one the way. Then I can see the terrain at 10m intervals... that should help too. Imagine carrying all those maps in paper form!


I understand it can break down or blow up or get wet or run out of batteries. Just as the sun can be hidden by trees. Or the stars can be hidden by clouds. Or how you can't see in the driving rain or you can't hear rivers or waterfalls or the ocean in the strong wind. There may be no trees or highpoints to climb to get bearings. Compasses do not work around certain rocks. Maps get wet and ruined or blown away and lost. Each navigation technique can only be used in certain scenarios but each tool is usefull.

I think the gps device lasts for up to 16 hours on two AA batteries. I am hoping to only use it a couple of times a day to get bearings, hopefully no more than an hour a day. so assuming it runs for only 10 hours I think I would need 3 pairs of AA for it but I will be taking 5 pairs as my headlight takes one AA. The other torch takes AAA but it will only be used in an emergency and I will have one set of spares for that too.

I don't know my route yet. I plan on writing down Mr Chapmans approximate route distances between creeks or rivers, and laminating that to keep it safe from weather. I can take a pic of it and even store it on the GPS device... cool hey. Then I will just see how I go from day to day. I thought the route was to follow the Port Davy track up to the boats. Then cross on the boats and continue up the track to the lost world plateu. Then work my way left and up to the Davy River and cross there somewhere that looks safe. Someone mentioned this earlier as a hazard and I really would like to ask for more details about that. This is the exact specific hazards I was wondering about.

Thankyou everyone.

Have a nice weekend.

[Out_Walking]

Well, 303294345, you do sound like an unprepared lunatic who's bitten off way more than you can chew, but I must admit I've got my fingers crossed you pull it off, and put us in our place by giving a mind blowing account of the trip!

[Scottyk]

I think the gps device lasts for up to 16 hours on two AA batteries. I am hoping to only use it a couple of times a day to get bearings, hopefully no more than an hour a day. so assuming it runs for only 10 hours I think I would need 3 pairs of AA for it but I will be taking 5 pairs as my headlight takes one AA. The other torch takes AAA but it will only be used in an emergency and I will have one set of spares for that too.

I

Paper maps are a must have item. I would carry 1:25000 full topo maps for the whole route. To carry only electronic maps is foolish in the extreme on a trip like yours, if you gps stops working you in a lot of trouble without paper versions.
Also I would carry a lot more batteries for your gps, assume you will drain the battery every 3-4 days.

[stry]

I am no canoeist or rower, although I've done plenty of both in days gone by. I would use them with the "A" side up. It won't make any difference with the whole blade under water, but might make the back stroke in the air a little easier. Happy to be corrected

I am concerned by the dependence on GPS, partly because of the reliability issues explained by Scotty, but more particularly by the eyes glued to the screen style of navigation which can develop in the GPS user. Off track in particular is easier if you are aware of the big picture and have a feel for the terrain you are negotiating. The big picture helps with developing a workable routes, rather than attempting direct lines. The limited info on a small screen at any given time makes it harder to get this big picture. This type of travel is best if you can find the easy (perhaps I should say less difficult) way, rather than the direct/short way.

The lack of research about, and knowledge of, your calorific requirements is breathtaking, to say the least. It is not possible to make any machine, including the human body, operate for any length of time on 20% of its requirements. Will power simply will not do it. Might get away with it for a day or a few days, particularly if you have some fat to burn, but that's about all.

You are planning to take what approximates lifeboat survival rations(but without the science). Occupants of a lifeboat are almost totally inert, with minimal energy expenditure, and even under these conditions the survival ration (what you are proposing to take, remember) is designed to do no more than maintain life and avoid major problems such as scurvy.

If you manage to make your 4.5kilos of fuel (I'm not including the AllBran ) last ten days, which is twice as long as we think it is sufficient for, then what ? 20 days to go with nothing ? Turn around and try to make ten days back with nothing ?

I'm all for fun and games, and all for pushing the envelope. To back yourself in an endeavour is fine - the important thing is to give yourself the best shot at success by careful planning and preparation. Your plans as described here do not give you the best shot at success. On the contrary, the deficiencies in your plans are creating entirely avoidable handicaps in the possible achievement of something pretty special.

[north-north-west]

Can anyone tell from the shape which way is meant to be up when rowing a or b.

If you are right handed:
Grip the assembled paddle with the concave side of the right blade facing you, the longer edge of the blade on top, and the knuckles of the right hand in line with the upper edge of the blade.

The assymetric design of the blade helps make the water entry cleaner.

[stry]

Re the paddles: I forgot to add that I have also shortened a set of similar paddles by separating the blades and handles as you have done. When cold and tired, it will be very easy to drop the bolts and/or the nuts and maybe lose something. If you can't work out a way to make them captive, or some sort of back up option, I would consider carrying spares, regardless of the extra weight.

You might also like to think of some way to access or carry tidal information. If any these crossings are in areas of tidal influence, it would be nice to know the time(s) of slack water.

[Nuts]

You wont need those heavy drip rings mate, drips will be the least of your worries.

[303294345]

The thing I took from the thread about new river was an understanding of peoples attitudes in regards to people either helping or trying to dissuade me. I get it. If you encourage me and something goes wrong then you may feel guilty for helping. If you dissuade me then you at least cover your own *&%$#!. If I make it then it is just a case of dumb luck and if I don't then it is "I told you so" time.

Of course I have already included my own disclaimer that if it is too hard I will just turn around...
no big deal. I figure if I am not at low Rocky Point by day 10 then I will turn around and walk back to cockle creek (or the plane of I am starving). Although I must say I have gone nine days on this diet and no problems with lack of energy. I am planning on taking more sugar than originally thought.

my trip, my plans, my responsibility, my life!! Nobody else is responsible for me or my actions in any way possible. Advice is great and criticism is welcome and I will read everything and make my own decisions and I alone live with the consequences... whether they be good or bad.

In regards to their trip and mine then the two are not comparable. I am going solo there was three of them. I am going somewhere people have been before and their trip was relatively unknown. I think (not that I know anything) that their terrain would have been more difficult than what I will come up against. I think I have patches of bad bits.. even if a patch lasts a week, whereas their whole proposed trip seemed difficult to me. I am not attempting something that nobody has done before.



I failed on a trip this last weekend. Well, I failed the trip intention but I won because I didn't die.

I started walking at 3:36am and was was climbing Little Hugel as the sun was rising, although I couldn't see it because of the clouds. I could see bits of snow amongst the rocks and then it snowed a bit. I could see a nice dusting of snow on Mount Rufus and I was heading over there, via mount hugel. I left the main track at Little Hugel and headed towards the mount Hugel. But the snow on the ground and the persistent cloud that came in made me turn around. I have never been in the snow and wondering about hypothermia in the middle of summer before, but I am glad I had my beanie and warm enough clothing anyway. I thought it would be too dangerous to keep going so I turned around. my compass wouldn't work properly and I couldn't see anything so I am kinda glad I had the GPS thing and I could just follow my own track back out. So then I just kept walking and ended up climbing Rufus and the wind was amesome and then it snowed again for a few minutes, and it was really pelting into me. I got back to the car around 3:10pm, so just under 12 hours. So I will do the little hugel to mount hugel to mount rufus another day soon.

My question is
1. are there any geological features along the west coast walk that make the compass go funny... or is that just a dolerite mountain thing?


I don't have time just yet to really read and respond to this thread but thankyou to everyone for any comments. All are welcome. It will be a wealth of information one day.
I have read the other thread about types of tangly inpeneterabe forests that are likely to be encountered down there, and the one about yabbie tubes.
I made a yabbie tube. Pure absolute simple genius!


Ndevr Thankyou especially for your effort. I appreciate everything you wrote.

[stu]

I'm not going to delve into this thread too much, but if you can't navigate your way from Little Hugel to Hugel in mist with a sprinkling of summer snow (without, let alone with a GPS), then you are probably not yet experienced enough to tackle a long off track Tassie trip (the Hugel area is about as basic off track gets).

I haven't done any of the walk you propose, but I have done several long and hard off track Tassie range walks and the experience necessary for those was via dozens and dozens if not hundreds of forays into the Tassie wilds; I'd imagine tough coastal walks require a similar 'apprenticeship'...tread cautiously amongst our wild places mate and maybe get some more experience first, surely at the least this would then , in the future, make your proposed trip more enjoyable, with the comfort of experience?

Good luck if you decide to go for it despite all the cautions.

[Mowser]

Thanks for an entertaining post. I have done a couple of month longs in the south west of Tas and I'd have to say that your approach is an interesting one. I don't see how you can possibly do the whole thing without a food drop. I only know of one guy who has spent 30 plus days in the Tassie wilderness with no food drop. He was an extremely experienced international, endurance hiker. He started with a 45kg pack, he finished with Trenchfoot, nearly died and took months to recover. I've had to swim several south west rivers and i wouldn't bother with the weight of carrying a pack raft, paddles etc. Replace that weight with food would be my advice ... And take some swimming lessons. Best of luck to you and I look forward to your trip report after you complete a truly epic walk!

[Brown Rock]

Like others on this thread I personally think your slightly nuts. No I have not completed or even attempted anything remotely close to what you're planning, but have spent multiple days a time or two 'living off the land'. So to try to be helpful would suggest you pack hooks and a handline. bait up with whatever you can find in the location you throw a line. Fish may help with lack of petrol you're taking for the trip. Even the bait itself (crabs, pipies mussels ect) could be rather tasty after 10 or 15 days. The rivers\creeks will most likely have small resident bait fish, small hook with a piece of silver foil tied on will usually do the trick.

[jam sandwiches]

hey 303294345. i walked prt of the route u describe sum yrs ago (from lw R pt to mellaluka). i rote a trip report here if ur interested http://kw12and3.blogspot.com.au/2014/11 ... -2010.html.

take a cpmpass, only 2 sets of clothes to save weight (always keep one dry) and take care on the rivers would b my advise. off track nav probs wasnt that much worse than anywhere else, most the vegetation is typical buttongrass sw stuff other than teh approxx 500maround the coast, where it was realy fick. would have been a bit dumb to have done solo

[Derringer]

Myself and 2 friends walked from Strahan to Bond bay in 2010.

It took us 28 days, with 2 helicopter food drops- we carried 10 days food at a time.
I lost 12kgs on this walk!!!!

The hardest walk I have done in Tas- and I have done lots of off track in Tas. over 30yrs

We carried a sat phone to call in our food drops, via helicopter.
We carried an plb just in case.
We didn't use lilos etc to cross any river - we swam

If John Chapman mentions a name in his notes - it is a difficult section.
I agree with JC in his brief notes.

If you are not prepared for this walk, Don't do it - and from the thread I consider you
may have trouble with this walk.

I consider your food inadequate - I had lots of goodies in my 2 food drops and still lost heaps of weight.
I eat approx. 1kg per day!!!!

If you still wish to walk it - do it in a group. Safety is paramount in such a remote and rough area

Consider your possible rescuers

Kevin

[bumpingbill]

We carried a sat phone to call in our food drops, via helicopter.

You called the helicopter twice? How much did that cost you?

And where did you meet them? I thought that you couldn't get a helicopter to land in a National Park?

[Derringer]

Your questions indicate your lack of research and preparation.

I suggest you do a lot more research into the area.

As the forum rules say: Please avoid publishing details of access to sensitive areas with no tracks

A few simple phone calls will put you on the right track.

Kevin

[bumpingbill]

Your questions indicate your lack of research and preparation.

Are you referring to me, or OP?

[SteveJ]

What packraft do you have?

[Jon MS]

I note that there has been lots of discussion regarding the posts on this issue, but most (all???) appears to be from people without direct experience of this walk. I have walked the entire coast on 3 separate trips (all of 40+ days) plus have done in excess of 15 other trips (mostly 15 to 20 day trips) on parts of it.

The coast varies in difficulty depending on where you are.

The section from Cape Sorell to Endeavour Beach is mostly easy and takes 7 to 10 days.

The section from Endeavour Beach to the Mainwaring River in mega hard. Almost certainly the hardest walking in Tas. This section is about 30 km in length but only about 12 km is actually very hard (there are some areas of beach, coastal cobble and lawn). That 12 km (plus the easy bits in between) takes 6 long days (8 to 10 hours).

The section from the Mainwaring River to Port Davey is easy to moderate (but does include several very scrubby patches) and takes about 20 days.

You then need to cross the Davey River, which involves 150 m of deep, sometimes fast flowing water. There are several other rivers on the trip that require swimming. Following heavy rain I have also had to swim creeks what have been on all of the other trips, easy to cross with dry boots. I do not use a pack raft. My pack raft and paddle is 3 kg which is too heavy. I use flippers (also useful for snorkelling).

Also note that the guide in Chapman is very inaccurate in places, especially in the sections between Endeavour Beach and the Mainwaring River, and between Port Davey and Melaleuca.

I would not consider doing this walk without a minimum of 3 or 4 food drops.

Instead of the entire west coast, why not take a float plane into Hibbs Lagoon, walk south to Endeavour Beach, then walk north to Cape Sorell.

[Mechanic-AL]

must be nearly time for a trip report on this one.
Anyone have any news on the fortunes of 303294345??

AL

[flyfisher]

last forum visit fri 23 jan..........

[Strider]

last forum visit fri 23 jan..........

Must still be out there...

[north-north-west]

last forum visit fri 23 jan..........

Must still be out there...

Either
a) He had the sense to pull out before he even started
b) He turned around ten metres after leaving the track
or
c) He's still out there and most likely his remains will never be found

[andrewa]

A mate of mine just completed that walk from Strahan to Melaleuca with a friend over 25 days. They didn't see him ( or anyone else)....and, despite having 4 food drops, he still lost 10kg weight, from an already very lean frame.

A

[weetbix456]

I am simply blown away by this thread...surely this is one phat phony hoax??

[hobbitle]

The weirdest part was the "I am dying." thing which made me go, well, okay, I've been there a couple times with immediate family, I get it. But then he's like "I'm dying in the same way everyone else is dying."
WT *$&#....


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