Bushwalk Australia

Yesterday I had a pleasant loop walk around the Walls in an anticlockwise direction to Lake Adelaide through Ball and out via Dixons and Wild Dog. It was passing through Wild Dog and beyond that the trip became quite interesting as I started to pass a quite few people in the afternoon.

I was asked by several what appeared to be unprepared groups doing a MT Jerusalem day walk how far and how long it was from their. What really got my attention was the woman who ran after me to ask where the visitors center was so they could buy a map I was the first person they had seen and they were very confused on the way in at the lack of maps and where the visitor center was located. I told them it was not Cradle Mountain and showed them my map and gave them some friendly advice I hope they followed.

I have seen this many times at Cradle but I was so surprised the amount of people wandering around the walls with little or no information or knowledge about the place. One German tourist who was quite well prepared commented to me how hard it was to find out information on the walk from the tourist information places she had visited. They seemed to have little or no information available on places like the Walls?

I also met another stand out couple who had two packs on each! One had a smaller front pack but the other had at least a 40-50L pack hanging off her front in addition to the probably 70L on her back. They where from up north and planning on a week in the walls to do the loop I had just done. They where a bit deflated when they realised I had just walked it in a day but as I explained they had plenty of peaks and side trips to fill in a few days at least. I think they had too much wine on board, at least 8L that they told me about.

Quite a few people I spoke to mentioned all the rangers that apparently choppered in a day or two ago investigating a circuit walk for the area. I wonder what will become of that?

Great walk. Decent day walk too.

Unfortunately that doesn't surprise me.
Several years ago it was 'common knowledge' you could get supplies at the car park. (Tourism tasmania at its worst)
Frequently I get quizzed by passing motorists (tourists) how to get to Cradle Mt, and pull out their itinerary given them by their accommodation, tourism representative etc.
It's obvious from some of the discussions they are just sent off into the blue yonder and those preparing the routes have little navigational skills.

Interesting experience Shazcol.
The Walls has played second fiddle to other close areas and is probably now getting its due attention by the hierarchy.
Long gone are the days you could be assured of a few days solitude with not a sole in sight.
I expect as numbers rise in Cradle vicinity there will be a push for more infrastructure etc in Walls and environs.
Obviously cash will be needed. It's election year??
Mm. Watch this space?

It's becoming much more commonplace for inexperienced hikers to venture into places like these, and as much as I'd love it if they didn't do it so under prepared, I think we all need to remember that whilst we all (or at least the majority of us on this forum) have a good idea of what and what not to do when in the bush, there was a time where we didn't know so much, and we learned from the stupid stuff that we did in the process of learning.

As much as you'd think that common sense should prevail, in at least carrying a map or knowing where you are going, when people want to go somewhere, they are going to do it, regardless of how unprepared they are.

Its a fact of life. I don't agree with it, but I'd rather help teach someone what they should be doing rather than huffing and puffing at them about how silly they are for not doing the most basic of things. I'd think that would be the most responsible thing to do at least.

Problem is, at first glance, Tasmania doesn't seem to bite. There aren't any predators, only a few snakes, you see water everywhere, pretty grass and lakes, it's inviting. First thing I tell people when they go there is : get some gear for any weather, and get some maps. I didn't know the Walls were so "popular" though. On the map it does look like a nice place, but when I first came to Tassie, the lack of information on it discouraged me to see it, especially since I didn't know anybody who went there. But other more adventurous people might go "oh it looks nice, right next to Cradle it's got a good name and everything". Well don't expect boardwalks, chalets, or sealed roads...

I met someone there who came in without any food, because on walks in other countries you can always get food from the people living there. Fortunately this was only a day a walk, but it was still a long day.