My Day Hike in Otways - YouTube Video

[vorpal]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW8_ORkA3qg

* Tried to embed it, but can't work out how.. *

[Hallu]

That's strange, it looks like you only hiked on roads and never went into the forest.

[vorpal]

Didn't feel comfortable going in for a couple reasons. Mainly because I was by myself, and I haven't got a GPS or PLB yet. I was still happy with the sights, and the main point is that I got out on a beautiful day and walked in a magnificent area.

If that is something that is going to be held against me though than I thought this place was a lot different.

[MickyB]

The Otways is a beautiful place to hike and there is nothing wrong with walking along roads to gain fitness and confidence as well as testing out new gear. There are also plenty of tracks in the forest throughout the Otways which are suitable for solo walks which wouldn't require a GPS.

What was with the 'No Standing Sign' at 2:43?

[vorpal]

Not too sure, MickyB. I was quite surprised when I came across it. It appears that someone stole the post and replanted it in the middle of a pond haha

[cooee]

Didn't feel comfortable

Fair call.
Looked like a magnificent day weather wise.

[simonm]

A good day to be out Ryan. Actually I can't think of a bad day.

[Hallu]

Didn't feel comfortable going in for a couple reasons. Mainly because I was by myself, and I haven't got a GPS or PLB yet. I was still happy with the sights, and the main point is that I got out on a beautiful day and walked in a magnificent area.

If that is something that is going to be held against me though than I thought this place was a lot different.

Well my surprise (not criticism) was because most walks in the Otways are fairly easy and well signed. Accessing beautiful waterfalls and dense rainforest is pretty safe. Doing off track here where you'd need a GPS is pretty rare, few people attempt it because it's so muddy and with thick vegetation (you'd be covered in leeches doing an off track day there).

[vorpal]

Yeah I understand that. I guess my walking destination wasn't the primary concern. I knew that I wanted to just do an overnighter at a campground, relatively close to where I live. This camp site was close, so I developed the walking circuit around where I wanted to spend the night.

[MickyB]

you'd be covered in leeches doing an off track day there

Agree Hallu. Have been off track in the Otways a few times and the leeches can be terrible. Can be plenty of leeches on track as well in some areas.

[Hallu]

Yeah it's the wettest place in Victoria. Probably the closest you can get from Tassie rainforest conditions in mainland Australia.

[Travis22]

Thanks for sharing the video with us Vorpal,

Im sure you'll be out there in the thick of it soon, gotta start somewhere. Ive never really been into video's but i enjoy looking at ones others put together. (However im pretty heavily into photography).

Dont worry about the GPS and PLB too much (certainly get them as soon as you can if your going to spend more and more time out in the bush etc) Its very easy and tempting im sure for people new to bush walking to skip the humble paper map and compass but it really is invaluable and well much less expensive then these modern electronic gadgets

Thanks again and i look forward to your next adventure. (Have you got another trip in the works?)

Travis.

[vorpal]

Thanks Travis.

Am doing the Great Ocean Walk with my Dad in the last week of November. May do a couple smaller overnighters though between now and then. Working on my last essay ever at the moment for my university, so will be free soon.

Ryan

[MickyB]

you'd be covered in leeches doing an off track day there

Agree Hallu. Have been off track in the Otways a few times and the leeches can be terrible. Can be plenty of leeches on track as well in some areas.

Went off track in the Otways today for a few hours and didn't get one leech on me.