From hiking Australia to Explorer
In this post we continue the series of interviews with interesting outdoors people that have inspired us to keep getting into the outdoors!

Louis-Philippe Loncke is a Belgian explorer who discovered hiking in Australia back in 2004. This experience has led him to bushwalk all over the country and to become a maniac in unsupported treks to remote corners of Tasmania or deserts.  His 2008 world first expedition across the Simpson desert brought him the respect from the explorers’ community. Just in Australia he has over 3000km of walking and an impressive resume of Firsts:

In just 12 days he crossed the entire West MacDonnells National Park unsupported from Mount Zeil to Alice Springs. He climbed Mount Zeil, Razorback, Sonder and  Giles underway. He carried all his food for the trip and only took water from waterholes (no tanks). The trek was 330km long and he thus walked the entire Larapinta trail except off-track from Ormiston Gorge to Mount Giles and then a direct off-track part to join back the Larapinta.

The Track is below the water, Dusky Track NZ but I hiked with half Scuba diving wetsuit to avoid hypothermia

Two weeks after completing the “Mountains of the Outback” trek, he walked in the same unsupported way across Fraser Island from its Southern to Northern tip in 9 days. He used the official Fraser walk and the beach up to Orchid beach then went inland to cover the last 26km in 3 days of jungle, almost impenetrable vines, drylakes and sand dunes without seeing a single dingo !

The most daunting trek was a 49 day trek (without food resupply!) across Tasmania’s wilderness starting from Cradle Valley to the South Cape climbing 19 peaks from Mount Ossa to Federation peak passing through Mount Anne.

Tasmania Overland Start Dove Lake Nov 2004

It took him 2 weeks of bush bashing from Federation peak to reach the South Coast track mainly following the New River with a leg infected with the trench foot disease. That’s an average of 2km per day to cover 30km as the crow flies. Having a broken GPS and the only way to locate himself was by triangulation when climbing into the trees when it was possible. All his routes can be found on his website.

Tasmania Wild Mountains Dec 2006 - At Cradle Mountain

So, to the questions

How about a bit of background on yourself.  Live where? Work where?

I was born in Mouscron in 1977, a small town in Belgium at the border with France. I didn’t do many sports in my youth but was a boyscout and learned how to use a map and compass but no real 2-3 day hiking before backpacking Australia in 2004-2005. I live and work in Brussels as management consultant.

How did you first get into adventuring/ hiking / trekking?  Any particular mentor or group?

Before going to Australia, a friend invited me on a weekend walking trip in Ireland. I had no clue that there existed hiking socks and bought my first boots for the trip. He used the “Walking in Ireland” from the Lonely Planet to guide us. In Australia, I came to scuba dive and found the same book for Australia in a bookshop while looking for a road atlas. I started doing a few hikes with it in the Blue Mountains and after 6 months I had covered more than 1100km in 40+ bushwalks. I remember reading that I needed gaiters for Tasmania but had no clue of what it was, never heard the word in my mother tongue before. I bought a pair and also a fuel stove. After a hike in the Grampians, I was invited by a couple to stay with them for 2 nights. During one of the evenings we watched “Alone across Australia” from Jon Muir. I was amazed by his achievement and never thought I’d be doing myself some real adventures. Jon Muir is still the biggest adventurer to me with Mike Horn, both in different disciplines but both pushed beyond limits of what was thought impossible. I could even say, what most contemporary adventurers don’t even imagine as it’s close to be mad gutsy insane.

Looking Approach Mount Zeil NW side Sept 2006

After Australia, I moved on to New Zealand for the summer. I was in extremely good shape, trained, lightweight style and fast as walking longer hours aiming at completing the maximum of tramps in half the recommended days, except for the Dusky track, which I did alone in bad weather. On that specific tramp, I was with 2 other parties: 3 young Israeli who just finished the 2 years army duty and 3 professional US Marine Corps. We each covered the daily distance in roughly the same time. It was the hardest and most dangerous hike we all had done. One of the Marines told me at the end he was amazed by my solo walking skills, adding the Dusky was one of the hardest things he’s done with crossing Alaska on ski just above it. So I understood that with proper fitness, training, gear and will to mental ability to push and still be smiling I could do great long walks but didn’t know I would be doing world first expeditions just a few years after.

Solo or with someone? Who is your preferred hiking partner?

Resting vast dry Lake Simpson Desert

I prefer to go solo, especially on unsupported treks. It’s very hard to find a partner who wants to share the same preparations, commitments and aims. Even if this was ok, he/she should be able to have the same fitness as I have (not stronger, not weaker). A difference pace will in total increase the time to cover the distance and in some ways decrease safety (catching up someone who waits can lead to less focus and this is where accidents happen). But some easier walks or I’d say normal known routes, being in group is more fun.  The other advantage of being not solo is being able to take easier photos or video of someone in action. I never have a camera crew following me in extreme environments. And it certainly adds safety to call for help if someone falls in a hole, crevasse or would collapse from being tired or attacked by a wild animal. My last expedition to Everest Base Camp wasn’t solo. It was not easy to lead 2 walking partners who were fitter and less tired and didn’t often wait for me.

If you had a couple of months off just to hike, what would be the three multi day hikes in your country ( or nearby) you would complete?

The GR20 in Corsica (France) & the length of the Pyrenees (France-Spain) and certainly a trek in Scandinavia maybe Lapland (Finland).

Alright, unlimited finances, money and time what would be the three  multi day international treks  you would complete?

The Te Araroa in New Zealand, Peru to South Patagonia, Alaska or entire Himalayas. But that’s excluding kayak treks and my next hardcore expeditions which I intend to start in a few years.

My three favourite bits of gear are? Why?

Wilsons Promontory Sealers Cove 2004

I like my old MSR Zoid 1 tent. Small, light, safe. Any 800gram sleeping bag rated to 0° C or less. A beanie. It’s hot and is also a cushion.

I really hate it when I am  hiking / trekking and …..?

I see trash or people smoking or playing music. It’s just unfair to be in the wild and be reminded of our cities. Worse: kids having a portable videogame with them !

I knew we were in trouble on that trip when …….

You’re going up and it starts snowing and you don’t want to go down before you reach the summit. The decision between reason and passion! Reason should be taken of course.

What trips have you planned in the next 12 months?

I’m preparing an attempt to be the first to cross Iceland unsupported from North to South (not the “easy” trek inland) from the highest to lowest latitude. It’s a double first as during the summer part I’ll take GPS points to be followed 6 months later during the winter part in close to 100% darkness. It’s very scary to imagine walking in whiteouts in the dark or should I say blackouts ? You can follow the adventure and the preparations of this Iceland Trek. Now I’m busy to design a special Kevlar carbon fiber pulka where I can sleep in it to resist heavy winds and the weight of the snow, I call it the sleeppulka for the moment, no final name for it yet.

What is your favourite outdoor website?

I watch daily the adventure blog and the explorersweb.

Following the New River in Tasmania saved his life

What is your favourite outdoor hiking gear store?

In Sydney, I used to go the Activate Outdoors, it felt they were more independent and had more experience because a bit older than in the other nearby shops. They were the first Aussies who knew about my first crazy long walks and they eventually decided to support me. In Europe I go often to Decathlon. Their Quechua brand for outdoor is good for general purpose. They don’t sell specific expedition gear.

Many thanks to Louis-Philippe for agreeing to this interview. Please take the time to check out the blogs he has kept on his adventures, they are wild reading!

We are always on the lookout for more interviews to share on Our Hiking Blog. Drop us an email if you are keen,  or know of someone inspirational that we could contact!

In the second of our series of interviews with interesting outdoor bloggers from around the world, we interview Zac Rizzo.

Zac has a terrific blog, White Mountain Wanderer where he shares some great information about hiking in the White Mountains NH, gear reviews, tips and trick, kayaking and fishing.

Zac at Carter Hut

How about a bit of background on yourself. Live where? Work where?

I live in Manchester New Hampshire, in the Northeast US, about an hour and a half south of the White Mountains. By profession I’m a healthcare recruiter (Headhunter) it’s not my ideal job, but it pays the bills and allows me to fund my more expensive hobbies. (Like exploring)

How did you first get into bushwalking / backpacking? Any particular mentor or group?

My Parents brought me out when I was a kid a bit. But the bug really bit me when I started doing multi-day trips with some coworkers while I was in college. Camping in the backcountry for me is an incredibly rewarding experience.

Solo or with someone? Who is your preferred hiking partner?

There really are benefits of both for me. I like the solitude and self-reliance of a doing a solo trip, but having a couple of good friends for conversation is nice too. My girlfriend hands down is my preferred hiking partner.

If you had a couple of months off just to hike, what would be the three multi day hikes in the US you would complete?

1. The Vermont Long Trail; Vermont
2. The Hundred Mile Wilderness: Maine
3. Cascade, Paintbrush Canyon Loop: Grand Teton National Park. Wyoming

Backpacking - Death Canyon Grand Teton National Park

Alright, unlimited finances, money and time what would be the three multi-day international treks you would complete?

Here are three general locations. I don’t know exact trails yet, but all three are on my list of destinations.

1. Torres Del Paine – Chile
2. Tiger Leaping Gorge – China
3. Mt Kilimanjaro

My three favorite bits of gear are? Why?

1. My Big Agnes sleeping bag. I’ve got the Lost Ranger (15). Big Agnes has a great ‘sleep system’ where all their bags have a pad sleeve in it. It’s really a brilliant idea. You also save some weight by the bottoms of the bag not having any fill in them. “No Fill?” yes – Think about it. when you lie in your bag you compress all the fill anyway, taking away from it’s effectiveness, right? Sleeping mats aren’t just for comfort they are for insulation from the cold ground. Slip an insulated pad in the sleeve and and you’re covered. I have tested this down to 20 degrees F and I’ve been comfortable.

2. Tents; I love them. They are like little homes you carry on your back — what’s not to love? I guess there is something personal in it for me. When I’m out in the middle of nowhere (where I frequently try to be) it’s the little piece of familiarity that I cling too. I really measure how good a year it’s been by how many nights I’ve spent in the tent. (This year was about 15)

3. I’ve got a third hand Necky Looksha, that has been paddled like it was a rental and is as seaworthy as any boat I’ve been in. There are places out there that just are better appreciated (and slightly more accessible) from a river, or lake. My Yak is an outstanding way to explore these places. I know it’s not really a piece of ‘Hiking Gear’ but at my core I’m not just a hiker, I’m an outdoorsman – and my boat is just another way to explore the wilderness for me.

Zac - Death Canyon Grand Teton National Park

I really hate it when I am bushwalking / backpacking and …..?

Someone in my group starts to complain. I try to limit my exposure to this by hiking with other experienced people, but even the most experienced outdoorsman lets a trip get the better of them sometimes. It’s even worse if it’s a trip that I’ve planned for some reason I take it personally if people don’t enjoy a trip I’ve put together.

I knew we were in trouble on that trip when …….

The wheels came of… literally. The wheels came off of my Kayak Cart. We were on a 5 day paddling trip in the North Maine Woods, There was a section we had to do a one mile portage, (which was approximately 80 miles from the nearest town) and two of our three carts broke. We had to carry the boats and about 60 lbs of gear for the mile, our trip plan was that this would take just over an hour; it ended up taking 3 1/2.

What trips have you planned in the next 12 months?

Week long paddling trip in the North ME woods.
Hike on the Cabot trail in Nova Scotia.
Annual Fall Saco River paddle

Zac Rizzo - Relaxing in his kayak

What is your favorite outdoor website?

Have to stay true to the local site I frequent.  hikingnewengland.com - It’s a great community of hikers from New England.

What is your favorite outdoor hiking gear store?

I have no loyalties when it comes to my hiking gear, whether it’s REI, or Eastern Mountain Sports. I buy from whoever has the best deal.

Many thanks to Zac for taking the time to answer these questions. We hope you have enjoyed reading about someone with a huge passion for the outdoors, no matter in which country you are based. Just a reminder to check out Zac’s site White Mountain Wanderer

If you are interested in being interviewed or can suggest  an interesting outdoors person, drop us an email here and we will be in contact.

Quick facts:

• Separated from the South Island by Foveaux Strait, Stewart Island/Rakiura is New Zealand’s third largest island and most southerly national park.  It is a rugged, bush-clad island, roughly triangular in shape, and covering 168,000 hectares
• Approximately 9 – 11 days should be allowed to tramp the full circuit, which is 125 kilometres in total.
• Mud is widespread and often deep and thick on the track, regardless of the season
• Archaeological excavations have shown evidence of Maori habitation around Stewart Island from the 13th Century.
• The island’s weather is unpredictable, with rain falling on about 275 days of the year. Strong westerly winds are frequent
• Huts are supplied with mattresses, a wood burning stove for heating, running water and toilets. Cookers and cooking utensils are not supplied – it is essential to carry your own portable stove, fuel and utensils.

The above information is from North West and Southern Circuit Tracks, Rakiura National Park by the New Zealand Department of Conservation. A must read before planning this trek.

In this guest post, Dorothy Tomlinson reports on her “tramp” around the North West Circuit Track on Stewart Island, New Zealand. Dorothy, generally tramps with her local “Third Age” group and we take great pleasure in sharing her trip report. (Note: Tramping is the term used in New Zealand for hiking, bushwalking, backpacking  or treking)

Mud Track - Stewart Island - New Zealand

The group (seven of us to do what is called the North-west circuit tramp and nine to do the three day Rakiura Great Walks tramp) left Timaru early on Monday 23rd March.  We reached Invercargill at 3 pm and caught the plane for Stewart Island an hour later. Good to get all that way in one day.

After staying the night at a Backpackers we were taken by small bus to our starting point at Lee Bay. Our circuit was a long one of about 130 kms, basically following the coastline around the top half of Stewart Island. Although roughly following the coastline, most of the travel was actually in the podacarp forest through rimu, kamahi, miro etc – no beech – up and down, up and down as we climbed up over headlands between bays and down into gullies and up out of them again. It was undulating indeed. There was very little flat walking whilst in the forest. But the forest was beautiful with many huge specimen trees and tree and crown ferns.

The track is renowned for mud – thick, squealchy mud, suck-you-in mud, sticky, clingy mud and sure enough, it could not be escaped – even in the relatively dry conditions that we experienced. It was all part of the fun and if one couldn’t ‘hack it’, as a couple of young overseas trekkers that we met soon after it started to become bad could not then, as they were doing, the best thing to do was to turn around and go back! But we were mentally and, with our leather boots and long gaiters, physically prepared and considered it all part of this unique Stewart Island experience.

After walking for long periods in the forest, often with only intermittent, far away views of the sea, it was always a highlight to come to a beach. They were all beautiful, some stony, some bouldery, some had golden sands and some were sandy with a backdrop of huge dunes, some had really impressive granite headlands at one or both ends, some were strewn with seaweed and/or driftwood. The size of some of the huge tree trunks lying as driftwood was amazing. Especially on the beaches facing the west, the seas pounded and roared, creating a wild, away-from-it all feeling. At one beach, I spotted a couple of yellow-eyed penguins swimming in the surf, ready to come in to their nests. After I had removed myself from their line of sight they, sensing danger was over, later waddled up the beach and skittled away to their nest in the scrub.

During the first few days westerly conditions prevailed and though it rained a little on the second day, it was not at all cold. Indeed, for nearly the whole of the tramp we enjoyed warm temperatures, especially noticeable at night when one was sleeping in a hut where the wood fire had been on and its heat warmed the room to a more than desirable temperature for sleeping. One day was particularly windy and it was on this day that we had to cross a river running into the sea. The crossing point was not far from the beach and the river had a sandy bottom as it was tidal. I was the last of the group to begin crossing and half way across I stopped as the wind was so strong I thought I was going to be blown over. But alas, when I went to get moving again, I realised I had sunk and that I was stuck in quicksand! I was thankful that two other members of the group were able to come to my rescue and pull me out.

Quicksand Rescue - Stewart Island

We were so lucky with the weather. We did not have one really miserable day where there were no views to reward us for our days tramp. Even the day we climbed the Island’s highest peak, Mt Anglem, the weather was clear enough for us to get good enough views of the coastline along which we had come, the coastline which we would be following in the next days and views away to the south and toward Mason Bay where we would be, all going according to plan, in the next eight days.

It so happened that there was another group of five from Geraldine and Timaru, well known to most of us, who were doing the same tramp at the same time, having begun a few days before us and going in the opposite direction to us. We all met up at the same hut on the day our group climbed Mt Anglem (980m) and it was great to see them and exchange talk about our respective trips so far. This was our third night. We, like the other group too, were carrying a mountain radio but on our second night we found that the batteries iun our unit were flat. Very kindly, the other group, whose long tramp was three-quarters over, offered to give us their mountain radio while they took our battery-shot one out with them.

Mason Bay - Steward Island

Before leaving Timaru we had arranged with this group to get a food drop delivered by helicopter from Invercargill to the Long Harry hut which was the half way point for both groups. Dividing the $500 cost of such an exercise between the two groups it proved economical and, for many of us in the two parties, made the difference between being able to accomplish the lengthy tramp and not being able to even begin it. As the other group comprised two men aged 77, another well into his seventies, a woman sixty-five plus and our group ranged in age (apart from our leader) from mid-fifties to seventy-four we were pleased to be setting out at the beginning of the tramp with five days worth of food rather than ten. To start out carrying a 14 kg pack rather than one of about 18 or 19 kg made the tramp achievable. I’m not sure that I would have coped otherwise.

It was a great delight to arrive at Long Harry hut on our fifth night and find our boxed up food parcels awaiting us. Instead of the usual dehydrated meals, we feasted on dutch sausage, fresh potatoes, pumpkin, carrots and steamed pudding. It was like Christmas dinner, all enjoyed at a hut high above the sea whilst the wind tore at high speed around us. On our second night at Bungaree hut (where we looked across Fouveaux Strait and saw Bluff Hill and three lighthouses along the coast, and also where there had been a pretty sunset and brilliantly coloured sunrise) a 32 year old Englishman who had done two days tramping in one, arrived to join us. From there on he accompanied us as we moved from one hut to the next and he became firmly welded to our group. I’m sure for him it was  a marvellous experience, joining us in our celebration dinner at Long Harry as we feasted. (How different his experience of the North-West circuit would have been had he been doing it solo.)

Bungaree Sunrise - Stewart Island

Most of the huts were situated near the sea and most had a wonderful views from them. They all had wood fires which very quickly warmed the place with a delightfully cosy heat which, could make it too hot on some nights as previously mentioned, but which most of the time was marvellous, especially for drying clothes. Each had an outside bench and sink for ablutions and washing clothes. With being on the track for ten days the washing of body and clothes was very necessary though I learned quickly that there was no use trying to remove all the sticky mud from my legs as to rub too hard was making them chaffed and sore and anyway it was a certainty that there’d be more mud on the morrow!

Unlike most kiwis, the Stewart Island breed forages for food during the day and some of us were lucky enough to see two. I was third in line as we were walking on the morning of the fourth day and the first three of us got a great view of one until it scurried away quickly leaving the last four members of our group disappointed at missing the sight. However, on another day the whole group spotted and was able to watch a kiwi feeding for quite some time. So all members of the group were able to go home satisfied that they had seen at least one kiwi!

Yankee River Hut

We spent two days at the Mason Bay hut, our 8th and 9th days. Just as well that this rest day had already been planned as coming along Mason Beach the previous afternoon when it was almost high tide three of us had been dunked by the roaring sea and in the process I had been thrown onto the boulders hurting my knee (and ruining the camera in my bum-bag. Fortunately the photos on the memory card were alright. A camera can be replaced but not the photographs!)

Ruggedy Beach - Stewart Island

Our final day was the shortest day of the whole tramp, being just three and a half hours compared to two days of eight hours and several of five or six. Besides it was flat country and with a good part of it being through very boggy country a lengthy section of the track was board-walked. A nice change! Soon after mid-day we arrived at Freshwater hut and were picked up by water taxi at 7 pm just as the sun was going down. We had to be picked up at high tide as it is the only time the water taxi can come up the navigable Freshwater river, the entrance to it being marginal even then because of the minimal depth of the sea water at that point. At low tide this whole area of Paterson Inlet is nothing but mud flats. It was an unforgettable sight coming back in the water taxi, looking back at the cloudless, glowing red sky with all the upland areas of the island – Mt Anglem which we had climbed and the Ruggedy Mountains which we had crossed, standing out so majestically.

Ruggedy Mountains - Stewart Island

To add to the thrilling boat ride we were lucky enough to pass a pod of dolphins playing in Paterson Inlet and our driver turned the boat around and followed them for a while giving us wonderful views of their antics.

At 7.40 pm we finally arrived back at Golden Bay in the Inlet, off loaded our packs and then donned them once more  for the ten minute walk up over the hill to a rented holiday house to sleep the night. The flight from Stewart Island back to Invercargill the next day was made in the same glorious weather conditions as we had had going over and, after a six hour drive back to Timaru, were home by 6 pm.

It was a wonderful tramp and while no-one in our group would have finished the tramp without at least some scratches and bruises, we will have great memories of beautiful forest, beaches and headlands, wild seas,fabulous sunsets and sunrises, great huts, plentiful birdlife including penguins and kiwis, all capped off with memories of mud, mud, glorious mud!

Many thanks to Dorothy for sharing this great walk!  Her son, Dave is a regular guest poster on Our Hiking Blog so “tramping” is certainly a family affair.

You can read Dave’s trip reports by clicking the links below:

• Bibbulman Track – Western Australia
• Great South West walk – Southern Victoria – Australia

Welcome to the first in a series of interviews with various bushwalkers, hikers, backpackers and trekers from around the world.

The series is designed to introduce you to some of the characters we have met in the outdoor blogging world. There are some great people who really enjoy getting out into the bush or wilderness.

In this post we interview Neil Fahey, an Australian, who runs “Bushwalking Blog“. This is a great site that shares many of Neil’s trips both locally (near Melbourne , Australia) and when he gets the chance to travel.

Hiking Paddy Track, Eastern Sherbrooke Forest, Dandenong Ranges National Park (VIC)

How about a bit of background on yourself. Live where? Work where?

I live in inner-suburban Melbourne which is great for me because I love the cultural richness of the city… I don’t have to go too far from home to eat amazing food or to experience mind-blowing music, art, theatre or dance!

I work as a computer network technician at a primary school and I do a bit of web design work on the side (including my position as one of the web developers on the 15/15 Film Festival Committee), so I spend a very big chunk of my time sitting behind a desk. This is probably one reason I’m so driven to get out there and take it all in whenever I can!

When I’m not out enjoying the city life, working, hiking or blogging about hiking, I’m usually watching movies or trying to write/record/produce music (I say trying because I’m a total hack).  

How did you first get into bushwalking / backpacking? Any particular mentor or group?

I grew up in Wangaratta (north-east Victoria) so I had my first experiences of the bush when I was quite young and during my teenage years I developed a strong interest in conservation. The small country town thing really wasn’t for me so I moved to Melbourne when I was 17.

Enjoying the scenery near Splitters Falls, Grampians National Park (VIC)

After a few years of city-living I started going away for weekends and doing the occasional short hike. However, I didn’t really get into it until we started planning or trip to South and Central America (for mid-2009)… We had booked the Inka Trail and my fitness level was poor at best, so I reverted to the only form of exercise that I really enjoyed and started trying to hike whenever I had the time. I was visiting some pretty special places so I wanted to document them and I was also having trouble finding detailed information about places to hike, so I decided to start a blog/guide which would help other people in the same position and also give me a way to record my adventures. That’s how “Bushwalking Blog” came about and it turned out to be another motivating factor to keep me hiking – Now I just can’t get enough!

Solo or with someone? Who is your preferred hiking partner?

I’m quite happy hiking alone… I’m more quiet and therefore less likely to scare off the wildlife, it gives me time and headspace to think and there’s also definite advantages to being able to go at my own pace and spend as much time taking photos as I want.

That said, turning a hike into a social outing is great in lots of other ways! My wife is obviously my favourite person to hike with, though unfortunately she doesn’t have quite as much time for hiking as I do, but I’ve got a few mates who are up for an adventure every now and then too.

Getting roasted next to flowing lava after hiking to Volcan Pacaya (near Antigua), Guatemala

If you had a couple of months off just to hike, what would be the three multi day hikes in the US you would complete?
I’ve actually never considered hiking in the US… There are so many other places in the world I’m keen to visit that it doesn’t come in very high on my list. However, after a bit of Googling I’ve made some decisions anyway:

1. I visited the Grand Canyon with my parents when I was about 10 years old and part of me has always wanted to go back there. If I ever do make it back I’d love to do the 2-day hike to Havasupai Falls, not only just to see (and swim at) the falls but it’s always interesting to see such sudden changes in landscape. This looks like an incredible natural oasis in the middle of what I remember as being a completely dry, sparse landscape.

2. I’d love to see the geysers and swim in the hot-springs of Yellowstone National Park. It looks like there are loads of options available to do this, with hikes ranging from 3 to 7 days.

3. Yosemite National Park looks like one of the other more beautiful spots in the States. I’m sure my wife would love to see El Capitan, the worlds largest piece of exposed granite (since she has studied geology and is slightly obsessed with rocks) and there are also a whole bunch of waterfalls deep in the valley that I’d love to see. There seems to be many possible hikes of varying lengths (I’ve found some ranging from 1 to 4 days) in the park so I’d be looking for one that took in some of the waterfalls and allowed views of El Capitan.

On the hike to Lake Sachavacayok, Peruvian Amazon Basin

Alright, unlimited finances, money and time what would be the three multi day international treks you would complete?

If only that were possible! There are so many to choose from but I’ve settled on…

1. Milford Track, New Zealand – I’ve always wanted to see Milford Sound so I can’t imagine a better way to really take the place in! Several companies offer a 5-day/4-night guided hike so I’d probably look at doing that.

2. Ganden to Samye, Tibet – I’d actually just be happy to visit Tibet, regardless of which hike I was going to do, but this does look excellent. It’s a 4-5 day trek but considering I’ve got unlimited money and time, I’d probably take a side-trip to the ancient Nyingmapa Buddhist Retreat too.

3. Mont Blanc Circuit – Not sure how I’d go with this 170 km hike but it would be beyond amazing! Over 10 days it climbs over 6 passes, takes in glaciers and alpine meadows, has views of some of the most beauriful peaks in the world (obviously including the famous Mont Blanc) and takes in 3 countries (France, Switzerland & Italy)!!

My three favourite bits of gear are? Why?

1. Keen Trailhead Targhee II shoes – The only shoes I’ve found that perfectly support my feet (and I’ve tried on A LOT of shoes). I suffer from plantar fasciitis so the support is really important. I loved them so much I decided to buy a second pair in fear that I might not be able to get the same shoes next time. I took one pair around South and Central America with me for 3 months and wore them nearly every day – I gave them a heck of a beating but they’ve survived incredibly well!

2. iPhone 3GS – I’m sure some people will scoff at me for this but I love it! There’s Google Maps for directions to where I start my hikes, an in-built compass, photos and video (in case I forget my regular camera), a notepad to write down anything I observe along the way (when I think I might forget to put it on the blog) and I’m currently using the iMapMyRun application to track pace, distance, time and to draw a map of my hike (via GPS) which can later be viewed online. Did I mention I love it!?

3. My first-aid kit – My mother-in-law actually put this together for me out of bits and pieces she had lying around the house and I think it’s got pretty much everything I’d ever need. Fortunately, I haven’t had to use it so far but I feel a lot safer going out there, knowing that I’ve got it in my bag.

I really hate it when I am bushwalking / backpacking and …..?

I see dog poo, cigarette butts, drink cans/bottles and other general rubbish lying around in the most beautiful places! It’s such a shame that people have no understanding of (or just dont care about) the damage they’re doing!

I knew we were in trouble on that trip when …….

I’ve actually been lucky enough never to get myself in any real trouble, though there has been times when I’ve momentarily lost the track or had close calls with snakes. The worst thing that has happened was probably when my wife injured her foot on day 2 of the Inka Trail but being with a tour group, we knew we’d be okay. They actually sent two porters back with a tarpaulin to carry her on but she powered on through despite the injury!

With the tour-group at Machu Picchu, Peru, after 3 and a half very long days of hiking!

What trips have you planned in the next 12 months?

Sadly I wont be travelling overseas in the next 12 months but I’m planning to cover a fair bit more of Victoria – I’m most keen to check out Wilsons Promontory, mainly because I’ve never been there before but also because I love seeing the bush regenerate after such devestation… I also plan to get out to as many of the other fire-affected areas as possible, as they slowly reopen to hikers. The other Victorian place I’d love to see is the old-growth forest in East Gippland, before it all becomes woodchips!

My travels in South America this year (up to nearly 5000 metres above sea-level) have made me curious to see the highest point in Australia, so I’d love to hike Mount Kosciuszko (even though it’s only 2228 metres!).

What is your favourite outdoor website?

I’d be lying if I said that my own website (“Bushwalking Blog“) wasn’t my favourite! At least for the purpose of finding hikes to do (though obviously it’s not as helpful to me because I’ve already done them all!). I started it because I wasn’t happy with the other resources available so obviously I’ve tried to make it better.

Having said that, not all outdoor websites are meant to serve this purpose… Some (such as “Our Hiking Blog”) are a broader outdoors/hiking resource. I’m sure I haven’t seen them all but of the ones I’ve seen I would probably say that “Our Hiking Blog” is the best (and no I’m not just saying that because that’s where this interview will be published!)

The fact that the best sites out there are started by individuals who make nothing or very little for their time, says a lot about the type of people who appreciate the outdoors!

What is your favourite outdoor hiking gear store?

I don’t really have a favourite but most of my gear has been bought from Paddy Palin and Mountain Designs in Little Bourke Street, Melbourne CBD. The staff in both stores were very friendly and between them, they had almost everything we required. Mountain Designs also have a membership program which provided us with some nice discounts!

Many thanks to Neil for taking the time to answer all these questions. We have really enjoyed reading his story and hope you take the time to check out his site.

Have you got a story to tell and would love to share it with Our Hiking Blog readers across the world?

Have you got a suggestion for an interview of your favourite outdoors person where you think others may enjoy reading their story?

Please leave a comment with your suggestion or send us an email and we will try and get an interview arranged.

Getting out into the bush with children? A hassle or fun?

What is the best way to get your children into the outdoors and enjoy the experience?

How can you make the outdoors fun for kids and get em looking for more?

In this post we share a great site that has been set up as a joint project between the Ad Council and the Forest Service in the U.S.  The site, Where the other you lives , aims to inspire tweens (aged 8-12) and their parents to re-connect with nature, experiencing it first-hand.
The campaign brings to life the joy and excitement kids have when they discover the wonders of nature, helping create interest in their environment and a lifelong relationship with it.

Where the other you lives

Here is some interesting stuff from the website:

The time U.S. children spend outdoors has declined 50% in the past 20 years. Barriers like population shifts to urban/sub-urban environments, an increase in children’s indoor activities, and a lack of awareness of or access to nearby nature locations have driven this trend.

However, research shows there are many benefits to kids spending time in nature. This time spent outdoors gives children the ability to explore, use their imaginations, discover new wildlife and engage in unstructured and adventurous play.

This campaign seeks to raise awareness of these benefits, inspiring young people to discover the joy of exploring the natural world and encouraging them to experience nature first-hand. As campaign ads depict, nature is also a place of self-discovery. A place for young people to realize and express a variety of personality traits from curious to creative to adventurous.

Children are encouraged to ask their parents to bring them to nature locations and allow them to explore. The website www.DiscoverTheForest.org helps facilitate this by providing a zip code search of forests and parks, powered by Nature Find™ and Google Maps, as well as downloadable activities to take with them.

In addition to being a nicely designed site that looks fun, (well, how can we REALLY judge – we’re not in the target demographic) what we particularly like is a great workbook called “The Book of Stuff To Do Outside”. There is terrific stuff like:

• Matching animal tracks
• Finding direction without a compass
• Creating a nature collage
• What lives under that dead tree?

So check out the site and see if it is useful for any of you with teenage children. Maybe they will enjoy the experience and you might get them hiking or backpacking in the future!

Related Information

Don’t forget to check out Adventure in progress , a great site by Damian and Renee have a fantastic blog that focuses on “Encouraging families to get outdoors and experience adventure”.

Planning on a hiking trip with your children?
Looking for information on how to bushwalk or backpack with your family?
What is the best way to go multiday hiking with your kids?

Damian and Renee have a fantastic blog called Adventure in progress which focuses on “Encouraging families to get outdoors and experience adventure”.

Frank got lost in reading some of the terrific posts and enjoying Renee’s wonderful photography.

This family , with three young children, just completed their first family backpacking (we call it bushwalking in Australia) trip to Gentian Pond on the Appalachian Trail. Damian just posted a great yarn titled: Gentian Pond Backpacking – Successes and Failures

It is highly recommended reading as Damian has analysed the different gear that worked (was a Success) and did not work (Failed) when hiking with children. Great reading and very informative.

(btw -Gentian Pond Campsite is on the Mahoosuc Trail section of the Appalachian Trail in New Hampshire, located 5 miles or so from the Maine border)

Related Posts
Hiking Gear – the basics
The Spirituality of Bushwalking – one man’s reflections
Australian Alps Walking Track – when your kids go it alone!
Tasmania Hiking – we drag out the young people!
What basic gear do you need to get started multiday hiking?

In this post we continue with Larry Hamilton’s guest post on hiking the South Coast Track in Southern Tasmania.

The South Coast Track runs between Melaluka and Cockle Creek in the South West Heritage area in Tasmania. It combines spectacular coastal hiking with some (a lot) of slog through inland sections with mud and more mud….

Part Two commences from the Louisa Creek campsite before he heads up the Ironbound Range, a climb notorious for difficult weather conditions and a very steep exposed climb.

Day Four 22 June

I was up by 5.30 am packing up in the dark and on the track before dawn at 7.45am. It was a beautiful, clear, still morning and the weather report for the area was for heavy fog. That wasn’t evident in the Louisa River valley but as I ascended the Ironbounds the fog rolled in over the ranges and through the valleys from the west. I was above the fog by the time it arrived and so got a very pretty view of the mountains poking out of the fog for most of the day. And I walked in clear weather for the whole of the day. I got to the top of the Ironbounds at 11.30am and was pleased to have had a cool day for the climb. Tackling the climb on a hot summer’s day wouldn’t be my idea of fun.

Views from the Ironbound Range- great weather


I hit the Ironbounds high camp at midday, had lunch and a look around the campsite. The descent was trickier than the ascent as everyone finds and I reached the low camp at 2.30pm and thought carefully about continuing as dusk was not that far away. I decided to push on and almost immediately came across a number of big trees down across the track and my pet hate (yellow, slimy mud! I much prefer the peaty black mud) this combination slowed me down considerably, probably contributed to by some weariness from the climb and descent.

I got into camp as dusk was descending at 4.15pm in pretty dim light and was pleased to have done so. Little Deadmans Bay is a pretty spot and I thought I’d take another rest day to have a good look at it and its surroundings on the morrow.

(Ed: Check out this post Hiking the South Coast Track Solo by a very fit woman)

Day Five 23 June

Having resolved to take a rest day I woke up feeling fresh and eager to continue and as a result thought again about continuing. The forecast was for deteriorating weather and drizzle in the evening so I fought the tendency to keep moving and instead I took advantage of the sunshine and pretty location to dry things out, relax and take some photos.

Deadmans Bay

Day Six 24 June

The drizzle didn’t eventuate yesterday or last night and while the weather was evidently coming, it was not a frontal gale coming from the west but more heavy overcast and increasing drizzle. It is an easy walk from Little Deadmans Bay to the New River Lagoon and the rain started while walking on the beach approaching the lagoon. I had an interesting half hour trying to put on a tarp/poncho I had brought with me and would have been good entertainment for an observer as I struggled to get it draped as it is intended to be. When I eventually got it on I had a good laugh at my tracks on the beach. It looked as if I’d had a moment of madness dancing and pirouetting around in the midst of a sober and solitary trail up to and on from that mad dance. I enjoyed the walk along the beach.

Somehow the wind and the drizzle matched the wildness of the waves, the windswept beach with its jetsam of bull kelp and the pacific gulls and oyster catchers along the shore. As the wind wasn’t all that strong and was mostly from a northerly direction the crossing was uneventful and uncomplicated. I was impressed by how many wombat and wallaby tracks there were along the banks of the lagoon.

The boat at New River Lagoon – it is heavier than it looks!

Day Seven 25 June

The morning forecast was for increasing showers and rain for the next four days but while there were some heavy showers, most of the early rain was drizzle really so I packed up and headed for Surprise Bay. I got pretty wet on the walk to Surprise Bay as the showers certainly got heavier so I decided to camp there after a short day to wait out the worst of the rain. It was a nice walk though. The crossing of Milford Creek was a thigh-deep wade and it looked like it was rising.

By the time I got to Surprise Bay the creek at the west end of the beach was running pretty strongly and was turbulent with froth and dark with tannin so that I had no idea how deep it was. It turned out to be above waist deep with a strong current but I managed to keep my feet. The campsite above the beach was quite large with a good selection of sites to pitch a tent so I set up my tent and tarp and added my poncho/tarp to the set-up which allowed me quite a bit of dry space to sit under outside of my tent.

New River Lagoon from the air

Leeches!

I came across my first leech here. I can’t say I’d missed them earlier in the walk as I’m not too fond of the little suckers but I’d been surprised by their relative absence and had puzzled over why this might have been the case. I can only think that the salty air and seaside environment was something that they weren’t fond of. I always carry salt to deal with them and know how much they dislike it.

For this trip I was keen to try some pyrethrin spray that my research indicated should be effective with leeches. So the first leech was experiment number one and it was one leech down. Even here there were not many leeches and because of that I suppose I got careless. After retiring to my sleeping bag after dark something bothered me while I was lying there reflecting on the day. On turning on my led lantern I discovered a leech stretching from the inside of the inner tent towards my cheek, only a few centimetres away. A flurry of activity and some more spray and scratch leech number two. That had me checking the inside of my tent pretty carefully to make sure that there were no more to surprise me inside the tent and that the inner was zipped up fully.

When it gets dark at 5pm and doesn’t get light again until 7.30am I tend to spend a lot of time in my sleeping bag and really too much time trying to get some sleep. Winter walking is a way of catching up on sleep and I wouldn’t recommend it for insomniacs. At night I value the mp3 player and little radio, even when the reception is pretty crappy.

Related Posts

The South Coast Track – Solo Winter Trip report by Larry Hamilton – Part One
Larry’s Port Davey Trip Report- great reading
Gear List for Wilderness Bushwalking Trip – Larry Hamilton’s excellent gear list
Stuck between Louisa and Faraway Creeks – Our adventure on the South Coast Track
Hiking the South Coast Track – our first (and last time)

Solo hiking in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage area?
A fantastic mix of coastal and inland hiking over 85km (53 miles)
Wild oceans with the next land mass south the Antarctica?
Challenging bushwalking with harsh weather conditions, no huts, minimal infrastructure that requires experience and thorough planning?

If all (or some) of the above get you itching for a great adventure then read on…..

In this guest post, Larry Hamilton returns with a wonderful trip report following his recent completion of the South Coast Track in Tasmania’s far south west.

View South Coast Track in a larger map

The following is Part One of Larry’s South Coast Track trip report from Melaleuca to Louisa River.

Intentions
This walk was originally intended to be combined with the Port Davey Track and completed in 2008. Unfortunately last year I struck some unusually bad weather and took longer to do the Port Davey track than planned because I had to wait out bad weather and high stream levels. When I got to Melaleuca my resupply food wasn’t waiting for me and took another three days to arrive. Prudence led me to cut my losses and fly out from Melaleuca rather than continue with no buffer of spare days for bad weather or high rivers. So the South Coast Track and the completion of my planned walk waited until this year when I managed to find another period of leave to do it.

My goal for this year was to do the South Coast Track in winter, allowing for sufficient food, fuel and time to accommodate the vagaries of the weather and flood levels. Accordingly I kept a period of three weeks available to undertake the walk had had my fingers crossed that the weather would not delay a Par Avion flight into Melaleuca longer than a week. I therefore planned to have available sufficient time, fuel and food for 14 days on the track, hoping of course to be able to complete it in shorter time.

In winter you don’t get long daylight hours and you have to be prepared to wait. I started the South Coast Track on 19 June when it doesn’t really get light enough to walk until 8 am and it is almost dark again at 5pm. I ended up going over the Ironbounds on the day after the winter solstice and took 8.5 hours but I started before dawn and walked into Little Deadman Bay in the dusk. Short daylight hours are I think the biggest limitation in winter walking, much more so than is the weather.

I’d planned to be very flexible with my itinerary and looked forward to taking some side trips. I particularly wanted to get into Louisa Bay as I’d read that this is a pretty spot. As it happened though, the good weather enticed me to get past the problem rivers while the water was low so in the end I didn’t take any side trips and instead took rest days and poked around the main campsites along the track.

Trip Report
The weather was kind to me approaching the date of my leave and my booking with Par Avion for an 18 June fly out wasn’t delayed. I flew into Melaleuca with five tourists doing a visit to Melaleuca combined with a trip out on Bathurst Harbour with the Par Avion pilot. I decided to go out onto Bathurst Harbour with them, stay at Melaleuca for the night and begin the South Coast Track the following day.

Day One 19 June
Towards Point Eric

Despite having some overnight rain the day dawned clear and cold and I had a beautiful day walking in to Freney Lagoon. I was at the beach early and had lunch at Point Eric. Because of the time I decided to push on to Buoy Creek, arrived there early in the afternoon and whiled away the afternoon sitting in the sun, eating scroggin and drinking cups of tea. I had knee deep water in rounding Black Cliff even though it was just past low tide but that was the only tricky spot for the day. An easy and enjoyable day!

Looking back towards Point Eric

Day Two 20 June
Another clear and cold day with lots of dew. It was quite muddy going up alongside Buoy Creek across the buttongrass plain and I slipped and fell a couple of times. In one fall the branches of a bush flicked my glasses off and despite some earnest efforts and about half an hour looking I couldn’t find them. It didn’t help that the frames were a similar colour to the buttongrass stems and that I my acuity wasn’t flash without my glasses so I ended up giving up without finding them. I always carry a spare pair of reading glasses but would have to manage without glasses for distance work for the rest of the trip. I’ve got quite severe astigmatism and while I can cope without glasses, my capacity to deal with detail is significantly reduced. I found it interesting that I coped well without glasses when the light was good but in dim light I found myself peering myopically at the track. So at each end of the day and under heavy tree cover particularly when it was cloudy, I suffered a bit.

Buoy Creek campsite

The Red Point Hills were the first ascent of the trip. Foolishly I tried to take these quickly and ended up suffering as a result. My preparation for the trip was interfered with by a busy work schedule and too much work travel which cut into my training. When I started panting on the way up Red Point Hills I worried a bit as the 200 metre ascent was tiny compared to what was ahead. My concern was unnecessary as it turned out as I quickly got my second wind and got into a groove with climbing at a more sensible pace. The view from the top and the desire to linger and enjoy it helped as well.

Looking back towards Buoy Creek from Red Point Hills

The day was a significant one as three potential delay points (Faraway Creek, Louisa Creek and Louisa River) were passed without incident as the water was low and the crossings trouble-free. I was both surprised and impressed by the extensive boardwalk that had been installed over the wet buttongrass plain approaching Louisa River. Along the way there were many packs of boards that had been airlifted in and were awaiting a construction effort. It would have been a very muddy and damp section without the work already done and the upgrading of the track is going to be pretty extensive.

I found this a fairly tiring day, probably because it was the second day of the walk which I always find the toughest and the first day with vertical ascents and mud. Because of this I was pleased to get into the campsite at Louisa River. During the day the wind had picked up and some gusts were quite strong. I kept eying off the dead branches of the forest trees I was camping under and was careful to pick a site that was not just level and dry but without branches likely to come off in a high wind.

Louisa River Crossing

Just on dusk I surprised a young Eastern Quoll determined to investigate my tent. I had to work hard to discourage his interest. Because of his determination to check out my food supplies, I was a bit anxious about him returning and damaging my gear in his enthusiasm to get at my scroggin supplies. Despite my worries and some careful listening in the dark I don’t think he returned. Maybe my snoring scared him off.

Day Three 21 June
I decided to have a relaxing day poking around Louisa River, partly because the forecast was for strong winds and some rain but also so that I would be rested for the anticipated long day over the Ironbounds. John Chapman had provided me with the locations of the interim campsites on the Ironbounds so I was prepared to make the trip over the Ironbounds a two-day trip but for obvious reasons I wanted to do it in one day. As a result I had a rest day on the winter solstice and used my little radio to listen in to the broadcast football matches.

Related Posts
Larry’s Port Davey Trip Report- great reading
Gear List for Wilderness Bushwalking Trip – Larry Hamilton’s excellent gear list
Stuck between Louisa and Faraway Creeks – Our adventure on the South Coast Track
Hiking the South Coast Track – our first (and last time)

Tasmania, Australia, is a photographers dream.

Wilderness, huge vistas, interesting elements and unspoilt scenery.

Taking a good picture is not hard but getting a fantastic photograph takes talent, time, effort and perseverance.

In this post, we invited Tasadam to share some of his spectacular wilderness photographs that focus on winter in Tasmania. Winter has just arrived in Australia and these shots are part of Tasadam’s beautiful portfolio . In the future, as the seasons change, more of Tasadam’s work will be featured here.

Water in Three Forms

About the Artist

My name is Adam and I live in Tasmania, Australia, so I call myself Tasadam.

I have been taking photographs for many years. I started when I was young – I don’t really remember when. I do remember when I was 11 years old, I went on a school camp for 6 days and had a 110 Instamatic film camera. My spending money went on film, and I remember my parents weren’t too impressed when I returned home with all those photographs that needed developing…

I studied Photography as an extra subject at Technical College in 1981 where I first picked up an SLR camera. By this time I had developed an eye for subject and composition detail. The honing of my current skills along with the training in technique I received was excellent and opened me towards a new level.

Winter Cradle Plateau

Not long after, I had a few SLR cameras and various lenses of my own and my style and skills flourished.

I have taken modelling and portraiture photography in the past along with weddings, and though I find them enjoyable (although stressful), I prefer to do my photography in conjunction with another passion – bushwalking.

When my wife and I go bushwalking in Tasmania, we typically carry around 10 kilograms of camera gear – two bodies, two tripods, five lenses, and various accessories – batteries, memory cards, cleaning apparatus and the like.

Winter Summit Mt Ossa

I prefer to portray images as I saw them, rather than overdo the post processing with HDR and over-saturation etc. It takes time to process, adjust levels and sharpness to create the best image possible.

I trust you enjoy the results of my efforts.

Check out Tasadam’s art here and enjoy more of his wonderful Tasmanian photographs. You can access his full winter gallery “Cold Tasmania” here.

Related Posts
Outdoor Photography – Six great links to help make your pictures brilliant
The Overland Track – Track Images

What are the best waterproof gear options for hiking in Northern England for the C2C walk?

How do you choose the best clothing to keep warm and dry?

We received an email from Joan seeking advice on what are her best options for rain protection when she undertakes the Coast To Coast Walk from the Irish Sea to the North Sea .

Because we are in Australia, and have no idea what the conditions are like, we decided to post the question here.

So, calling all “Our Hiking Blog” readers, please leave a comment with your opinion so Joan can get as much advice as possible regarding her waterproof clothing choice for this 12 day hiking journey.

Leon, Alan and Frank – Overland Track May 08 – ready for the rain that lasted 4 days! Frank and Leon in Gortex, Alan in more lightweight gear – we all eventually got slightly wet….

Here is Joan’s question:

Hi,

Joan M.

Related Post
Best Hiking Clothes for a Multiday walk

Please drop us a comment so that others, especially Joan, can share in your wisdom.

Having trouble taking fantastic outdoors photographs?

Need some advice on how to take great photos when hiking, bushwalking or backpacking?

Don’t understand how your digital camera works or how to get the best out of it?

Always wanted to know how to take a perfect photo of a waterfall, rainbow, sunrise, sunset or beautiful scene?

One of the great things about getting out into the outdoors is the spectacular scenery, or that magic moment you just have to record for ever. We have taken hundreds (probably thousands) of digital photographs on our various hiking trips. Occasionally they have been really fantastic, other times very disappointing.

We needed to learn how to take a great digital photograph.

Walking in a row along the Long Sea by eirsi

We stumbled across a fantastic site that has heaps of ideas, tips and tricks and advice about taking digital photographs. The site Digital Photography School is a terrific resource for anyone from beginner to expert who wants to improve their digital photos.

We love it, it has a great community (over 200,000 email subscribers , including us), offers excellent advice (with a very active forum) and allows you to view photo’s posted by members that make us green with envy.

We recommend you check out the following topics at Digital Photography School. There is heaps to learn and this is a great place to get excellent information.

12 tips for photographing stunning sunsets or sunrises

Sunset at Blackhead Beach by Setev

Waterfall digital photography

Lumsdale Waterfall by Tone

11 surefire landscape photography tips

No turning back by mischiru

How to photograph mushrooms, toad stools and fungi

Color Among the Forest Floor by Brian Hathcock

How to shoot in direct sunlight

Pacific Sun by mischiru

How to photograph a rainbow

Fire Rainbow by Colin Campbell

Further Information / Links
Bushwalk Tasmania has a great monthly photographic competition – it is well worth visiting (and joining) as some wonderful wilderness photographers lurk there.

Tasadam has some excellent Tasmanian wilderness photographs on his site, beautiful images – and available to purchase

All the beautiful photographs on this post are from Flickr using a Creative Commons licence. You can get lost there for hours.

Related Posts
Happy snaps on the Overland Track
Overland Track images by Rick McCharles from Besthike.com

Have you got any favourite photographic sites with either great pictures or tips and tricks about digital photography? If so, leave a comment and we can check them out.