PFDs are often pretty heavy. Alpacka have this one http://www.alpackaraft.com/product/astral-v-eight-pfd/ at 554 grams which is (I imagine) about as light as they get. I discovered that inflatable PFDs you buy from boating supplies shops have an airline PFD inside them. When I stripped one down it weighed 282 grams as shown and should be adequate […]
It’s summer already, so time to get out and about and get wet all over. I want to suggest some interesting pack rafting that you can do by public transport (eg from Melbourne). Some of the following you can mix and match a bit, but I hope they give you some ideas. I need to
We are so fortunate to live in this beautiful part of the world. Everywhere you point a camera it is something like this. Just snapped this view of Yinnar and the Morwell River valley on the way back from our walk yesterday afternoon. Why travel elsewhere?
From the Thomson River Bridge/s (‘Thomson Station’) you can walk a lovely 8 km circuit up along the West bank of the river then down along the East bank. If I were walking the entire UYT I would come down to Thomson Station as soon as it joined the Mormon Town Track and walk up
Della: Steve and I, with Tiny and Spot, spent the last 2 days walking over the Baw Baw Plateau from Baw Baw across to Newlands Road on the Upper Yarra Walking Track. It was a delightful walk and we selected good weather for it (which is needed!). One section on the first day was particularly
Upper Yarra Track Section Eight: Baw Baw to Newlands Rd Read More »
Only a bit over a km from Platina Station on the walk from Erica to Walhalla you can take this lovely walk down to the historic Horseshoe Tunnel. The tunnel was created over a century ago to divert the river so the dry river bed could be sluiced for gold. The sidetrip takes about 1.5
Upper Yarra Track Sidetrip: Horseshoe Tunnel/Coopers Creek Read More »
This is a delightful easy section following historic tramways linking two of the most beautiful small towns in the world. It perambulates gently through majestic mountain ash and tree fern gullies with splendid views of the awesome Thomson River. It offers numerous opportunities to sightsee, sidetrack or camp. 12 km – @ 4 hours. NB:
Upper Yarra Track: Section Five: Erica to Walhalla: Read More »
This could be you: undo your waist and sternum straps and loosen your shoulder straps when crossing a river: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/kluane-hiker-drowned-in-creek-1.3309328 See also: http://www.theultralighthiker.com/river-crossings/
When clearing trails or small rivers such as the Tanjil and Latrobe, Fiskars Xtract Pruning Saw (available Bunnings: http://www.bunnings.com.au/fiskars-xtract-garden-saw-_p3360611) 120 grams & Fiskars/Gerber Brush Thinner Machete are excellent tools. The carabiner clip on the saw makes for very convenient stowage. The Gerber model of the machete has a cordura sheath which may be more convenient
My thanks to reader, Jake who has just sent me this report of his ‘adventure’ on this lovely river: ‘Hi Steve, Thanks for the write up on on rafting the Tanjil. Last weekend my fishing partner and I drifted the Tanjil in a cheap inflatable boat with our fly rods in hand. Beautiful day out
