Bushwalk Australia

Over the last couple of days I have been reflecting on the trips I have done throughout 2011 and thought it would be kinda fun to share 3 highlights. I still have at least one outing to go so I may have to come back and edit!!! Hopefully others wil share their top picks of 2011 too
My highlight of a recent trip to the Eldon range was the early morning ascent of High Dome. Here is a photo of me saying my goodbyes to this magnificent peak as I made my way out towards the highway later that day.

As a regular visitor to Swansea and Coles Bay I had built up a bit of an obsession about going to Schouten Island and finally in April I made it The circuit of peaks was a decent and fun challenge and the beaches beautiful. I will definitely be back as just being there made me feel so so relaxed
In February I did a solo circuit of the peaks in the Walls of Jerusalem as a day walk in perfect conditions. There was a light frost as I walked in via he Golden Gate and took this picture on one of the lakes I passed

Nice thread doogs.
Well being on said Eldons trip I'd obviously agree, but i'll put some other favourites up for the year instead.

1. Mt Jukes & surrounds - a very casual overnight trip to the Mt Jukes area in the most perfect, calm conditions...it was a great way to start the year.


2. Mt Ida at last - after many trips across Lake St Clair it was great to finally be on top:


3. The Loddon Range - one of my favourite overnight, off track trips - again in the most beautiful conditions; a true feeling of remoteness in such a short trip:


Hoping the next year will bring plenty more adventure to remote areas with my good mates

Yea awsome topic doogs! Great pics too! This year has been a blast for sure..hard to pick 3!!

Ok, so after a freeeezing night at edgar dam campground and urinating on my car windscreen and still failing to defrost it, I had the most amazing day wandering over Schnell's Ridge.



First time to Rhona. Breathe-taking. Most stunning place I have ever been. Enough said



I had this trip in the books for months, and just happened to hit the perfect 4 day weather window over show weekend! This was my favourite day traversing the Pelion Range, views into the far remote reaches of the park and climbing up and over the bulk of Pelion West were highlights!

I guess I don't get out as often as you young blokes but I have had some memorable walks this year.
My first walk for the year was to NE Ridge and up to the top of Mt Anne. We had very pleasant conditions and some beautiful sunrises. What better place to view Mt Ann than from behind some of these amazing cushion plants.

My second walk was a full traverse of The Western Arthurs with my wife. Between the first and last camps we had eight days without seeing another person. It was a personal challenge for Jill especially but with her determination there were no problems. After 36 hours in the tent on High Moor we woke to perfect conditions as seen in the photo.

During the year we spend many weekends at our shack at White Beach. The Peninsula offers many interesting day walks and overnighters. It's always pleasant to ramble around the coastline and take in the spectacular clifflines and other coastal scenery.

Nice thread doogs.

This year has held so many highs for me.

I walked the South Pictons in perfect conditions with my oldest friend in the world.
I wandered solo on an amazing day on The Sentinels and The Druids, climbed Mt Picton and almost turned myself inside out with pleasure. Had a fantastic day on The Acropolis with a great mate and had adventures to all sorts of new places that gave me all kinds of pleasure and pain including the King William Range, a naive flirtation in mid winter to the Frenchman group and an inspirational morning amongst the Fagus on Mt Murchison.

Like doogs I hope to add to this list next week but my top 3 have to be....

Finally getting into The Southern Ranges, just a taste that only got me as far as La Perouse, but left me wanting more.
This pic is me on the Southern summit of The Hippo.



It just got better in March with a solo trip through The Western Arthurs A-K. After climbing Moraine A in a hail sorm and being snowed upon for the first 24 hours, this is the moment everything became perfect and I walked the range in blissful conditions, an experience that will stay with me forever. By far the best bushwalk of my life.



Lastly, an amazingly privileged evening and morning on the New Harbour Range, this area now holds a very special place in my being having worked, studied, walked and immersed myself in it totally. From being in the stillness of a Mt Rugby sunset, to the havoc of a howling Northerly all night on the same mountain. A white out on the summit of Mt Rallinga, sitting in quiet contemplation with a wombat near the top of the New Harbour Range, chasing the gulls at Cox Bight and wrestling with the thickest scrub I have encountered in the Hidden Valley of The Bathurst Range. I just want to go back.....



If 2012 gives me half of this again I will be a very lucky man.

Happy walking to all of you

What i want to know is, why didnt we see some of these shots in the photo comp?? Weetbix that Schnells shot is awesome. and Dan.... you talked about your lack of skills with a camera on a different thread, my response is, if i may use a golfing termonology... you have amazing talent, just poor shot selection. Wow that Arthurs shot.... and the New Harbour..... wow!

Too hard to choose 3, but Like many mentioned already.. Schouten. The Acropolis in snow, followed by 2 nights of shinadigans in PV hut. Mt Cawthorn. Loddon Range. Jukes Range. 2 trips to the WOJ. Central Plateau amble. A drunken night on Moores Bridge. A trip to Maria Island with my 5 year old was also a highlight. And a recent paddle to Scotts peak all rate very highly.


Here's some photos from not yet featured places.

Does it have to be just Tassie? Not that I'd have trouble picking three best walks from the last trip, but . . .

Getting to the top of Mt Anne (and getting down again safely), obviously, even if I didn't get a view.


The Walls. Always good value, but this was a wonderful little walk: St David's, Ophel, Siloam, Zion, Jerusalem, Temple, Bethesda, Hall's, Wailing Wall to Moriah, Howell's.


And, equally obviously, The WArthurs. If there was one high point that outshone the rest it would be having perfect weather up on Sirius, but the whole of that day was glorious, including the sunset on Carina and the torchlight scramble back to the tent.


I don't have any photos 'cause the weather was *&%$#!, but Wyld's Craig was the best of the daywalks. A brilliant day on a brilliant mountain. Good weather into the bargain would have been too much to deal with.

Fantastic thread doogs, great idea!

I've thoroughly enjoyed everyone's posts so far, thanks for sharing.......and I look forward to more members sharing some of their highlights for the year!!

Well it was a fairly 'light on' year for me; not as much walking as the few years previously. But in saying that, still a few very memorable trips.

For the third year in a row I ran in the Triple Top Mountain Run; not exactly everyone's 'thing', but it certainly is a real highlight in the calendar for me Also had a couple of trips to ILUVSWTAS's office (Bruny Island). Firstly for work but was able to fit in a trail run out to Cape Queen Elizabeth; and then also just a week ago for the Bruny Island Ultra Marathon. Such a spectacular island!

Few other trips such as Narawntapu NP, Freycinet NP, Ben Lomond NP, Highland Lakes, Mt Owen, Flinders Island, Hartz Mt, Tasman Peninsula......

But to pick 3 highlights:
1. A trip on Anzac Day with my 6 year old boy over Hansons Peak and then through to Scott Kilvert Hut for the night. Just perfect weather. And an amazing time with my son; such special memories were made and I look forward to making many more with him in the years to come!!
2. I had a crazy idea one day.......and then my two little feet ran me up the length of Lake St Clair, into Pine Valley and then onto the top of the Acropolis and back out in one epic 60km trail running adventure!! I'd never spent any time down that end of the park before (other than a short walk up to Shadow and Forgotten Lake) but now am very keen to get back for some more exploring!!
3. Each Christmas we take the kids and set up home in our tent down at West Ulverstone camping ground along with some other friends and their kids. Me and a couple of the Dads snuck off one sunny morning and scooted down the Ridgley and then Murchison Hwy for a day on Mt Murchison. Not a very long walk but absolutely spectacular as those who have also done it would agree!!

I've had a pretty amazing year for walking, but here's the highlights that I can think of today

First up, a beautiful clear day for a wander up Paddy's Nut during a June OLT trip. Fantastic day trip with fantastic views from the top and lots of old relics from the early days in the Park. Also pretty cool getting a different perspective of Ossa and Pelion West.


Second is from my first solo off-track trip. Watching the sunset over the Blue Peaks by an unnamed tarn in the middle of no where - pretty cool (I think this may be from the same campsite as ILUVSWTAS


And finally, a shot of Big Gun, Geryon and Acropolis during the Du Cane Traverse. The best walk I've done!

I don't have any photos to share, but I have the memories.

1. I went back up Mt Ossa, and visited the spot where the year before we had spread my great-grandfathers ashes. It was a perfect day, no clouds, a good half a metre of snow all over. Absolutely perfect.

2. Early in the year I took my girlfriend on her first proper "bushwalk" to Meander Falls. The look on her face when we reached the falls made the long walk (for her) all the worth while.

3. This one is yet to happen, but I know it will stay with me. The day after boxing day I am taking my first tour group to the Walls. I am excited to get back to that beautiful place, and very excited to be working there!

What a nice year it has been for walking
My highlights
The Acropolis, The Ducane range, Mt Hyperion, Walled Mountain and a few others



Snowy South was fun but no good photos
Lane and Lord


retreated on a few others but that leaves them for another day
Hope to spend a day or two on Wyld's Craig before the new year arrives
BW