We have hiked “the Prom” several times in the last few years, but have not had a chance to put up a post on Our Hiking Blog. This will change in a couple of months when Frank heads off down there for a wander around over a long weekend.

Wilsons Promontory National Park is 200km east of Melbourne.  From the Parks Victoria website:

The southernmost point of the Australian mainland, Wilsons Promontory (affectionately known to Victorians as

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How do you plan the climb? What gear, vaccinations, travel arrangements and planning do you need before you go?

Mount Kilimanjaro is considered the tallest freestanding mountain in the world, rising 19,341 ft  (5,895m) from base to summit and is one of the world’s most accessible high summits. i.e. you can “climb” to the summit, Uhuru Point, without being a technical “mountain climber”.

Our great mate Colin is heading off in a few days to do the climb. He has been kind enough to share all of his planning information, fitness program, trip plans, vaccination regime, gear and water purification ideas.

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We present to you Clayton Kessler, a Canadian back country man and outdoor blogger. Reading Clayton’s extensive answers brings to mind “boy’s own” adventures of growing up with a life of squirrel hunting, life on the “range”, building log cabins and exploring the fantastic central areas of Canada.

We hope you enjoy the picture Clayton paints of his life and adventures as he continues to enjoy the outdoors around 400km east from Vancouver, home of this year’s Winter Olympics.

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

Thanks for asking. I will start from the beginning. Back when the Rockies…

Their gear is fascinating, their clothes look so different to what we wear today, equipment such as tents and backpacks look heavy and not too waterproof.  They were tough  trail blazers who could improvise and live off the land.

When we think about the adventures they had, and the untouched wilderness they explored, it is with a touch of envy and a huge amount of admiration.

In this post we share some of the terrific images from the Jack Thwaites Bush Diaries website.  We take a particular emphasis on his gear, clothing and tent.

Check out these great photographs and compare it to your…

The party consisted of Mark, John , Sue and Frank (yes us!).  This trip occurred  in February 2009 and it was our second trip into the area (but not the last).  Sue has also written up a trip report that we have not yet posted.  We…

Is it a wilderness hiking experience  or bushwalking super highway?

Some stats on the number of people hiking the Overland Track in Tasmania recently appeared in an article in the Hobart Mercury.  They are significant numbers and may scare people off hiking the Overland Track, or will they?

A recent article   Tasmania’s iconic Overland Track is operating smoothly five years after bushwalker access was regulated by Bruce Mounster, reviewed some stats from the Parks and Wildlife Service in Tasmania.

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Blatant self promotion you ask? Maybe

A story to tell? Definitely

Outdoors or hiking related? Generally

Pictures of blood, cuts and lacerations? Definitely

A really embarrassing display of Aussie slang? Vicariously

We have been communicating regularly with Clayton Kessler over at Tracks and Trails.ca Clayton runs that  great Canadian based outdoor site that has a lot of bushwalking , hiking and back country information from across the world.  Just put what you want to find out about in the “search” box and something is sure to come up!

Anyway, he was kind enough to interview Frank a week or so ago. The full interview (and a horrible fake…

We debated it a lot, as we really don’t want to reduce our chances of winning such an incredible array of prizes.

But, against our better judgment,  and all in the  cause of promoting the Great Ocean Walk, here are the details:

• The Great Ocean Walk now seems to be promoted by Tourism Victoria as part of Victoria’s Nature-Based Tourism Strategy

• There is a new marketing strategy centred around : The Great Ocean Walk – The Art of Walking

• Three “Walking Greats” will be featured , embarking on a journey along the Great Ocean Walk that looks to explore The

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A thinking person’s outdoor website and blog you ask?

Yep, they are few and far between, as many are full of advertisements or  information copied from other sites,  like Our Hiking Blog!

We have just discovered a terrific and highly recommended site maintained by Dave Pidgeon called Compass Points. With  conversations such as:

• Does real wilderness exist in the US?
• Use of webcams by rangers in the “wilderness”
• A father’s Wilderness Journey
• Change the Climate Change debate is it well worth a visit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/compasspointsmedia/ / CC BY-ND 2.0

Why do we like it?
√ Well written

√ Well researched

√ Beautifully…

It is a very impressive new product from Sea to Summit tracked down by Clare, our Outdoor Education qualified daughter.

Why did she like it? Some specs that may appeal:

• Volume – 20 Litres – it is HUGE!
• Packs down small so it easily fits in pockets, purses or luggage – this is true, check out the pic with the keys below!
• Simple, streamlined design so it’s light and low profile - perfect, no eye candy or “tassles”
• Siliconized Cordura® for strength and durability – feels really strong
• Water resistant fabric – not sure

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