SOLO WESTERN ARTHURS TOMMOROW

[under10kg]

I have walked with my gear in high winds and sleeting rain and I was warmish as long as I continued walking. I agree with you about my light weight parka. I do think my parka needs to be upgraded as it suffered some seperation from the inner lining and the outer material in a few places. However, I have heard of people suffering exposure from wearing a gortex parka and insulating clothing from sweating.

[james cav]

At this point in my day im simply too tiered to continue down this path as I am on the tail end of a 12hr shift. In all seriuosness its snow storms that i feel may present you with a problem. Not sleeting rain nor drizzle nor sunshine. However there is a thread dedicated to this and ill soon post my honest thoughts (good and bad) on your equipment if anybody realy cares what i think. And yes His pack does weighe around 11kg. By the way yay im finally sassafras what a shame it has to thanks to this thread. hmm

[corvus]

James glad you are back at work and you have the memories of this walk, my comments were not a direct castigation of you more a word of caution to those who may base their own trip on your post.
As to experience if it were me I personally would have done more solo walks in a less challenging area and would have done more research,I know you did ask on this forum and had little response however Dutchy did the same walk I think around Feb and there is a lot of good info/replies on the forum regarding his walk.(Solo WA I think)
Good luck and well done as I think I may have left my opportunity to do this several years behind as I dont think I could handle any more than 5 days under canvas now
c

[corvus]

No mate because as he indicated (if you read the thread he neededed assistance ) bugger all to do with sore knees and as an old Fart who having taken many risks I say to all of you youngsters go for it however if you dont have the experience please dont try to take on what you are not trained for or have the ability to achieve on your own.

And as one old fart to another, exactly how did you get YOUR experience corvus? Did you ever take on something you were not "trained" for? Did you ever take on something that you didn't think you could achieve? Did you ever fall or break a leg or make a mistake? Or did you stay home all day reading safety manuals and never get out there? Of course, you took risks man, you got out there, you used your judgement, you made mistakes and you learned. I don't know you or james or nuts or under 10kg or bemmer from a bar of soap, but I do know that we as a society have slowly but surely created a cotton-wool world where everyone is hell -bent on a totally safe and zero-risk journey from cradle to grave. I see so many posts in this forum about safety this and safety that and 10kg maximum packs and how it's irresponsible to travel alone or leave your home without a mobile phone and a GPS and a PLB and god knows what else. Were Olegas Truchanas and Peter Dombrovskis irresponsible? Were Reinholdt Messner, Tim McCartney-Snape, David Lewis, Jon Sanders all irresponsible? They and many many others achieved great things alone. All of them had to start somewhere, all took risks and ventured into the unknown. Was Messner trained to summit Everest solo and unsupported before he did so? I don't think so. What I see today is a loss of balance. Risk-taking is a healthy and essential part of life. It is vital for the gaining of confidence and self-esteem. I despair for the youth of today - we are teaching young people to be fearful of everything and never to take any risk. What we should be teaching them is how to take on risk in a responsible manner. And when they do rise to a challenge, we should applaud their efforts not belittle them and grind them back into the ground. I don't know James or the background to this story, but what I see from reading this topic is someone who had the courage to get out there and push his boundaries, just like you and I did in our past. I read that he has packed, checked, repacked, rechecked more times than he can remember. I read that he has done his research and sought guidance from members of this forum. None of this sounds irresponsible to me. To admit in a public forum that you found the trip difficult is courageous in itself. I've found many a trip difficult, I'm sure you have too corvus. It does not automatically follow that going on this trip was an irresponsible act. I'm sure james has learned something from this about his abilities and he will put this experience to good use on his next trip. If he'd stayed at home and not taken any risk as some seem to be suggesting, he would have learned nothing except to be fearful of the unknown.

Big reply mate eh!!
Peter and Olgeas perished on solo walks
My comments are not critical just a reminder that things can and do go belly up and that we need to be prepared.
c

[lexharris]

Exactly what qualifies as "Experiance"? and how does one gain it if they dont "give it a go"? I put this down to a steep learning curve but not a disaster. Disasters can happen even to the most experianced of us. Now that I have this under my belt I feel far more prepared for this type of undertaking. Knees aside that is to answer an ealier question I just had a hard time of it. To ignore the possibility of danger would be foolish I think, or just ignorant.

James, when Scott commanded his first expedition to Antarctica in 1901 he had no snow and ice experience, couldn't ski and had never manhauled. 100 years later the enormity of the achievements of his 1901-04 and 1911-12 expeditions still eclipse anything else in the history of polar exploration.

It is absurd to suggest that you must always be fully trained and 100% confident before any undertaking. This is the mindless mantra of today's cotton-wool society. If it were true you would never leave your comfort zone, never face any challenge and never gain new experience. You sound like a sensible and honest guy and a good planner. Ignore the safety trolls, tall poppy cutters and wet blankets that inhabit this forum. Listen instead to the balanced voice of experience and blend it with your own common sense and judgement. Prepare as well as you can, appraise the risks openly and honestly, consider all possible outcomes and consequences and make sure that both you and your loved ones are prepared to accept them. All of them. Then go forth with a clear conscience and do great things.

[lexharris]

Big reply mate eh!!
Peter and Olgeas perished on solo walks
My comments are not critical just a reminder that things can and do go belly up and that we need to be prepared.
c

I knew it wouldn't take long for someone to bring that up. And before you jump on it, so did Scott, although he wasn't alone. Yes, and they met their respective ends doing what they loved and in full knowledge and acceptance of this possible outcome. I can't think of a better way to go. What would really scare me is facing the end and knowing I'd done nothing.

[ben.h]

I think you'll find that everyone perishes. What I find quite amusing is that almost nobody seems to have any hesitation in driving a motor vehicle.

[under10kg]

This is a great thread.
Feeling the fear and doing it anyway is one of my principles. (in a reasonable safe manner)
I personally like pushing my boundaries and I get a lot of personal growth.

If I never take any risks in my life I get stuck and bored.

Taking only 500gm a food a day was an mild example of this on the WArthurs walk.

I have found that if I go at too big a challange I can shut down and suffer long term restrictions to my personal growth.
Many people give up bushwalking by trying a too challanging walk and not being prepared or fit, incorrect gear or inexperince. It just got too hard.

I like to build up the challanges in a reasonably safe and controlled way.

For those not used to climbing, going to a climbing wall and practicing some climbing would be good prepartion for the arthurs walk. Just having this experince could make the walk much more enjoyable and safe too.

[Nuts]

What are you lot on?
There are some good comments here and others totally 'off track' (and some just getting slightly weird!)

[frank_in_oz]

Interesting...

[under10kg]

You might need to send me a private message about the above!
I posted a thread about my gear carried on this walk in the gear section.
10.5 kg total weight and 9 days food.

[Darren]

G'Day Under 10kg
what about a swingers club on the Western Aurthurs. Now that would be taking it to the next level..
Darren

[Son of a Beach]

guys... everyone is entitled to their points of view, but please avoid personal attacks while making your comments.

I agree with some people that the Western Arthurs is a very hard walk, as far as recognised tracks go. It requires significant physical exertion beyond that required for most track walks and will also tax some people psychologically. I sure found it very hard the first time I did it, even in a group of 4 having great weather most of the time. The exposure is the most difficult part of the Arthurs, I reckon, when you come across it for the first time. Essentially climbing cliffs (and sometimes of cliffs of mud, not rock). Some people will need to pack haul on some sections, as they will find it simply too difficult to climb or down-climb with the pack on.

[under10kg]

Daren, looking forward to you organising the next level on the arthurs some time soon
We might need a large tent!

[Nuts]

........

[jshard01]

Congrats on the walk James.

A major accomplishment however you look at it.

I undertook the same walk solo earlier this year and despite all of my preparations, I still found sections of the walk to be incredibly challenging. The Western Arthurs is definitely not a place for bravado nor under planning.

I think the apprehension you experienced in parts is perfectly normal for anyone doing a trip like this for the first time. And I'm also sure with a few months hindsight, just like me you will consider this one of the best trips you've ever undertaken.

I wont post my trip pictures on the BT forum ( work upload restrictions), but here is a link to my Flickr slideshow of the trip.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/70675478@N ... 3737/show/

As you can see I won the Western Arthurs weather lottery!!

Thanks also to the more experienced bushwalkers offering opinion on this forum. At least people who do research trips properly before they go will see that the Western Arthur is an emotionally charged location offering great challenges, beauty and adventure as well as physical and mental challenges that are not part of most peoples normal every day life.

[Singe]

Some beautiful shots there, thanks for posting

Does anyone have any photos (or a link to a page with some) of the exposed/technical sections of the WA traverse? It's on my want-to-do list, but unfortunately I'm a wuss when it comes to heights so whether it makes it onto my to-do list will depend mainly on just how dodgy these bits are

[under10kg]

The above is one of the easy ones.

Below is one of the harder sections going down steep mud banks. See the comments below.

[DaveNoble]

Peter and Olgeas perished on solo walks

c

You could also say that Peter died whilst at work from a massive heart attack.

Wasn't Kevin Keirnan with Olegas when he drowned?

Dave

[biggc]

best of luck mate

[corvus]

You could also say that Peter died whilst at work from a massive heart attack.

Wasn't Kevin Keirnan with Olegas when he drowned?

Dave

Dave ,
You well may be correct however my recollections were and subsequent reading is that they were alone.
c

[corvus]

u10kg,
great pics but what did that naughty boy do that his mum made him wear a pair of shorts that she had run up from an old pair of his Grannies curtains
c

[norts]

Some of photos of difficult spots, hard to get a good shot. When its difficult you are to busy to take photos. These arent neccessarily the worst spots.
Singe I would not walk this track if you are a wuss with heights. You do not want to be half way up or down a cliff a decide that you cant do this.

Still, it is the best walk in Tassie. Done it twice and would do it again.

Roger

[Nick S]

I think the apprehension you experienced in parts is perfectly normal for anyone doing a trip like this for the first time. And I'm also sure with a few months hindsight, just like me you will consider this one of the best trips you've ever undertaken.

Agree with you jshard,
I did the WA's recently for the first time. I would say I was well prepared but do remember feeling pretty exciting not knowing what lay ahead, it was part of the experience. Yeah not recommended if any fears of height. What about coming down off Mt Capricorn shown in the photo..crazy! You don't know how steep it really is until you reach the bottom..

That's quite a complex argument re: risk taking, when does it become stupid? Nobody wants someone to go out and die of exposure but it's hard for people to estimate experience based on a few posts.. Some people would overestimate their abilities and vice versa. The WA's in snow would def. be another step up though.

[Nuts]

I guess I was responsible when this went from a caution to one to a caution for those who follow (it then seems to have gone in all sorts of directions). I wonder if now looking through photo's of the more difficult bits has put anyone off? or would have made James think twice about his solo plans? Seems to me that these sorts of challenges should be Expected on any walk in absence of definite information to the contrary. This is the level of respect folks should show the place, themselves and (most of all) those who Will come looking.

To bring in 'risk taking' in it's form as personal growth and in the context of this particular thread makes me wonder how more done come to grief.

[Nick S]

To bring in 'risk taking' in it's form as personal growth and in the context of this particular thread makes me wonder how more done come to grief.

risk taking meaning to challenge yourself, achieving goals. people live on it.. because anything is a risk really, as mentioned before.
but how much experience is needed to turn 'another statistic' into a challenging/rewarding trip.

[Nuts]

OK Nick, but then you didn't 'bring' the subject of 'acceptable' risk taking. It was introduced directly (what I can only see) as nothing more than an offended, ego driven response to my comments. As has been stated by those involved the guy was outa his depth. I was as apprehensive about it before he left as was proven on his return and for the very reasons that are coming up in the more 'down to earth' comments here. It's got nothing to do with food for the soul (for *&^%$# sake), the only point i was trying to make was that perhaps folks shouldn't judge! that anyone who puts their plans to paper is ready for the reality of such a walk (the WA Solo!!!), send them off with a pat on the back and greet them with a well done for managing to somehow survive!

There has been some good practical advice come up and the images speak a thousand words but those who treat this (given the limited amount of information) as some sort of acceptable form of risk taking really 'get my goat'

PS Nick - and yes, I know you asked the question rather than gave the answers

And to add that I would expect those with experience would give similar cautions and reactions to anyone attempting such a walk solo, it's nothing personal to James or his situation. (and no i'm not saying walks, or even this one, shouldnt be attempted solo )

[Darren]

G'Day All
What might be helpful is if the seasoned tassie campaigners could suggest some good build up walks to the WA's. Are there some slightly shorter walks that have similar but maybe less demanding mountaineering sections?
I think this would be very helpful
Darren

[DaveNoble]

You could also say that Peter died whilst at work from a massive heart attack.

Wasn't Kevin Keirnan with Olegas when he drowned?

Dave

Dave ,
You well may be correct however my recollections were and subsequent reading is that they were alone.

I did not say that Peter was not alone. He was alone. That was the way he worked. But he was at work when he died. He was working (photographing) in the Western Arthurs when he died. I don't think it would have made any difference if others had been with him when he suffered his heart attack.

I recollect Kevin talking in the TV show on Peter and Olegas, saying he was there when Olegas drowned. This is also stated in "The World Of Olegas Truchanus". Olegas was intending to do a solo paddle down the Gordon, but Keven was there to see him off and that was when he drowned.

Dave

[Nuts]

I'm sure they, their families and those out looking (for Peter) would have preferred them pass away peacefully in bed, many years after they did, and with a lifetime of good memories.

u10kg,
great pics but what did that naughty boy do that his mum made him wear a pair of shorts that she had run up from an old pair of his Grannies curtains
c

I'm not sure that's under10?. I am sure those ain't runners!