Is Off Track Walking Dying?

[Michael_Kingston]

I was talking with someone recently who said that they read somewhere (I know - shaky information) that fewer and fewer people are walking off track and/or in more remote areas in Tasmania. Is this right? if so, why would it be happening when equipment is better, navigation is easier (good maps and access to GPS), and well known walking tracks are more crowded than ever?

[ILUVSWTAS]

Hi Micheal.
Myself and some other devoted peakbaggers from this site have often had this discussion. It does seem more people are sticking to track walking these days, It could be a safety thing, a confidence thing, or a fear of being labelled a "terror to the tasmanian wilderness"

I think in the end we just decided people nowadays are just plain soft!!

[geoskid]

This is a very good question, and one that deserves better than an off the hip response. I'll have a think

[Michael_Kingston]

I agree that we seem to be getting a bit soft. I also wonder whether the media has a hand in this. If anything does happens to a person walking in a remote off-track area the usual media response is to label them as irrresponsible and question whether laws need changing and people need to be charged for rescue. Perhaps this has led to a culture where it is becoming 'socially irresponsible' to do anything with any risk.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Sadly I reakon your close to the mark! dont let it get to you though dude!!

[Michael_Kingston]

Don't worry - it doesn't put me off. I just think it is a shame that many in our society cannot see that some risk is part of leading a healthy life.

[Josef]

Maybe its just a percentage thing.....with so many more people seeming to be buskwalking these days its harder to find the more adventurous amongst the more common relatively inexperienced (new to the game)walkers!

[Ent]

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[Son of a Beach]

on this site it is almost a taboo subject for public discussion

I just want to clarify that it's only the discussion of details of specific off track routes through areas that are sensitive to over use that is discouraged here. Discussion of off-track walking in general is no problem at all here. That's probably what you meant anyhow, but I just wanted to clarify for the benefit of other readers.

We don't discourage people from walking off track (which I do myself from time to time), nor discussing it in general terms, but we do want to avoid indirectly encouraging over-use of any specific unofficial routes in any way that could lead to significant damage by having details posted publicly here.

[Ent]

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[flyfisher]

In another life (as my name implies) I love to take my flyrod walkabout, and a lot of the walking has been exploring the western lakes area.

Much of this has involved many days spent wandering all manner of places out there without a particular agenda or wanting to finish at a particular spot.

Sometimes a base camp would be set up (at Pillans lake or Lake Gwendy or Naomi)with day trips from there, but on other trips I/we would just fish with pack on.

These trips were seldom on tracks except for the first few k's, and no one would track my passing except for a few footprints in the shoreline of some waters, which is erased by wave action and winter water levels.

I know this isn't pure bushwalking but it's close and there is a lot of it done by fisherfolk, with no lasting environmantal damage.

ff

[ollster]

I think in the end we just decided people nowadays are just plain soft!!

You haven't graduated bushwalking school until you've made your own path to somewhere and back. I love off track walking, but it's certainly an acquired taste. It certainly makes one appreaciate how tough the pioneers really were!

[MJD]

Some of those pioneers waited for the wind to blow in the right direction and started a fire to clear the scrub. Must admit the thought crossed my mind a couple of times last weekend

[ILUVSWTAS]

Hahaha yeh not wrong MJ!! Amanda suggested a whipper snipper.....

[Amanda]

I was only joking about a whipper snipper! I don't like even putting up tapes or building cairns in remote areas.

I think another influence is after Lake Pedder dam was built in the 1970s and then the Gordon dam was not built in the 1980s there was a huge amount of media interest in Tasmania's wilderness. For example a lot of people used to visit Lake Rhona. It is still popular but not to the same degree.

Also people can easily access information on the well known tracks eg Arthurs, South Coast these days on the net, etc. So it is simpler for people to choose where they are going to walk in Tassie. This is a part of the bigger picture where parks/govt decided to publicise and encourage people to stick to these tracks. By not providing info about the more remote areas they protect them.

[Beeper]

I think its a generational thing, most Gen Y's these days are more interested in going overseas, doing cosmopolitan activities rather than going it tough. Higher incomes and standards of living means thats more possible. For young people there are more activities/sports to interest them these days. If they want to do something crazy then jumping on bungie cords is more likely to give the quick thrill rather than a long and drawn out walking trip. I did alot of off track walking when I was younger, but now I can't be bothered, I've also got young kids etc. The opportunities for recreation has also diminished over the years, people are expected to and generally have to work more these days, and taking off great slabs of time is not possible.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Yeh its an interesting point, but im not sure I agree. There are still LOTS of people bushwalking, they just seem to be staying on easier tracked areas.
I think Amanda was closer to the mark!

and I thought the Whipper Snipper was a great idea given the thick stuff we were in last weekend.....

[ollster]

The answer is YES. The reason is that people are making all these damn tracks everywhere!

[ILUVSWTAS]

Thats a good point too, the only trackless places left are to scrubby little 1 point peaks

[Beeper]

The Parks service has been discouraging such activities for a while now, so perhaps their message is getting thru, if in any doubt stick to the track and leave the wild areas to themselves. The Gen Y comment I made earlier has some merit, if you look at the average age in bushwalking clubs now and a 2/3 decades ago, there is a big difference, unless of course people don't join clubs anymore.

[kanangra]

Slightly different point but to my observation in NSW at least there are far fewer young people out walking period. I would suggest that the average age of most bushwalking clubs would be close to 50! What do others think?

[ollster]

A partial explanation to the above point might be the rise of quick and easy communication/organisation methods such as email, mobiles, facebook, forums etc. has somewhat negated the need to form or join clubs to keep in contact with like minded individuals or to plan trips.

Not being much of a joiner myself, I think this is great!

[dee_legg]

Alex (another forum member) and myself proudly represent the 18 year old bushwalkers! would much rather be out there than on facebook!!

[ILUVSWTAS]

Good to hear Dee!
And although I am guilty of having a facebook account, I mainly use it to post pics of my walks

[rabbit]

I am 14 and would much rather be outdoors than on the computer all day! being out there and having fun is much better in my opinion.

[dee_legg]

It's great for displaying photos to the masses isn't it? I mainly use it as a means of procrastinating.

[ILUVSWTAS]

It's great for displaying photos to the masses isn't it? I mainly use it as a means of procrastinating.

Hehe yeh quite true!
It's also my main communication with my non outdoorsy friends with whom I rarely see in person these days.....

[tas-man]

Slightly different point but to my observation in NSW at least there are far fewer young people out walking period. I would suggest that the average age of most bushwalking clubs would be close to 50! What do others think?

That sounds about right as the Launceston Walking Club's membership statistics man gave us the news at last years AGM that in the past decade, the average age of the club members had increased by ten years from 40 to 50! This is a common issue with all clubs that younger members do not see the need to join a club to try out a specific activity or more importantly, socialise and meet members of the OS with a view to . . . . . . . The world is now their "community"

[BarryJ]

Not sure whether the statistics between bush walking and fresh water fishing would be similar but I understand that the Inland Fisheries Service has stated that less than 3% of licensed anglers are members of clubs. If that is the case, bush walking club membership may not be indicative of the average age etc of bush walkers.

[E.G.]

My fixation on the Mole Creek Track draws me off track for most walks and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm there for the peace, quiet, history and scenery. Not the crowds of the Overland Track or similar and as far as clubs 'I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member'. But having said that the Mountain Huts people who are wonderful and I enjoy their projects. The virtual community is great, particularly this site, where you can maintain the level of interest and involvement that suits each individual.

Cheers