by Lophophaps » Sun 24 Jul, 2016 4:08 pm
Stroller, you have raised a valid point. I think it depends a lot on the mindset, how an individual views matters. While it's nice to be with family and friends, some people prefer to go solo for the quietness, the ability to set the pace. Having walked in groups for many years, all my trips are now solo. I've never found lonliness to be an issue, and there always seems to be plenty to do.
Last October I walked from the Hotham Road to Sheepyard Flat. I met three trail bike riders past The Twins, two people on Viking, and two people on Howitt. Once down Howitt Spur the numbers increased - vehicles on these roads and Sheepyard Flat. The I walked Tharwa to Thredbo. There were a handful of people at the start, with one party carying packs for overnight. One bushwalking party at Ghost Gully, a solo walker past there, a gaggle at Cesjacks and Mawsons, then nobody until past Blue Lakes. In all cases I stopped for a small chat, and then walked on. It was enough.
I have a collection of sudoku and crosswords, plus a non-fiction book. By careful rationing these will last the entire trip. The book weighs 150-200 grams. Weight purists will reel in horror, but I want to retain some of my sanity.
I stopped at every hut, and where possible read the log books in detail. From high points it's possible to get a mobile phone signal. From memory, I got signals at the Tennent junction, near Mt Selwyn, Jagungal, Brassy Peaks, Gungartan, the Main Range, The Twins, Viking, Speculation and Howitt. Unless you have a solar charger, don't take an iphone. Even when put into deep sleep it discharges in a week. My cheap nasty mobile has battery that can be taken out of circuit, and lasts for several weeks. It's also half the weigh of an iPhone. Maybe post a charger to Hotham or Thredbo if you intend to overnight there.
The combination of managing the usual bushwalking activities such as setting up a tent, cooking a meal, navigating, planning the next day and being aware of the surroundings takes time. Writing up the day's notes, suduko, crosswords and the book fill in the gaps.
One good things about going solo is that you can decide when to leave. Most of my days began at 6.30 am. One day was quite hard and I left at 5.20 am, pre-dawn. I arrived at camp at 12.20 pm. While others cursed the heat and flies, I was in camp, distance done for the day, supremely relaxed. On a related matter, I walked in long pants, long sleeve shirt, light cotton gloves and a broad brim hat with a flap at the back. Flies and sun did not bother me, and I did not use sunscreen. Most of my days were over by 1 pm, which was nice.