Our Hiking Blog

Cambodia – here we come!

Frank — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:58:36 +0000

We are sitting in the transit lounge of Changi airport waiting for our flight to Siem Reap. It has been a very weird 14 hours. At 5pm yesterday ( Monday) Frank realized we were flying out THAT night not the next night.

This gave us 2 hrs to finish sorting out the domestic stuff and pack our bags for a 3 week trip…… Pressure ++++ but we did it and still had time to splash a LOT of cash on duty free stuff ….

So, we are off to Cambodia for 3 weeks of traveling around backpacker fashion. This trip is the least organized we…

Hiking or camping with small children?

Frank — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:01:35 +0000

Enjoy it while you can. You won't be doing that much longer. Your life changes after you have kids. Do you remember hearing those lines from family or friends or actually saying them? We heard them constantly about how we wouldn't be able to camp, hike, backpack or road trip anymore once our little munchkin came along. I have to say with a smile, we proved them all wrong! Our son is 17 months old. He went hiking when he was 6 weeks old, went on a 3 week road trip to the Pacific Northwest at 5 months old, camped at the Grand Canyon at 9 months old and has been to 7 National Parks. He is the Adventure Baby!

Four women to watch – Outdoor sites worth following

Frank — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:56:22 +0000

Not sure if it is politically correct to single out female outdoor bloggers but we are today anyway. Why? Because they have some great adventures, they write really interesting pieces and they love to share (and encourage) others. In addition, they are really nice helpful people and love encouraging women to get out onto a track or trail and enjoy a hiking adventure. Dressed in Dirt - Tips and tales of a female backpacker Adelaide (Addy) is quirky, yep, she even describes herself as "a little bit silly. No, very silly." That's why we love her. She is as sharp as a whip, clever and writes interesting pieces. She is also regularly out in the bush doing some great trips.

Do you have any ideas?

Frank — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 23:31:52 +0000

At Our Hiking Blog we try and mix up a variety of topics and information each time we publish an article. Over the last five years the site has evolved from a spot where we have chronicled our personal trips, to something broader, with a stack of different topics we think you, our readers, may find interesting. These have broadly included: Trip reports - both Australian and international Gear reviews from people who have ited it Food, meal and menu planning ideas Interviews with interesting people we have discovered from around the world Highlighting some exceptional wilderness photography Reviewing and encouraging you to visit some other fantastic outdoor sites Providing resources and information so that people can get into the outdoors and enjoy themselves safely So over to you valued readers, we are seeking your feedback: What topics would you like to see more of on Our Hiking Blog? Have YOU done a great trip and would love to share it with our readers? Have YOU got a favourite piece of gear or equipment you are dying to write about? Have YOU got a funny story, great pictures or MUST DO trip you would like to tell the world about! Do you know someone in the outdoor world who would make a great interview subject? Have you got an idea for an eBook that you would be keen to collaborate with us to produce?

Sick of eating the same boring food every time you go hiking?

Frank — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 06:04:50 +0000

Need ideas on what food to take hiking, backpacking or bushwalking? This 160+ page guide has menu ideas, recipes, how to's, step by step help, advice, tip on shopping and getting the best food for the trail. Beautifully presented, this guide will help you take great hiking, tramping , trekking or outdoor food every time.

Listening for Coyote – a great read

Frank — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 22:13:44 +0000

One of the reasons we manage Our Hiking Blog is the community of terrific people that are part of this site. We are in contact with many people from across the world who all have a shared love and passion of the outdoors. It is great fun to meet new people and read their stories or help them out with information. A few months ago we were contacted by Pete who was planning to move back to Australia from the USA. He had lived in the US (California, NY, Oregon) since 1997 and had picked up a new job in Hobart. He was asking for recommendations about the best hiking books that contained walks suitable with young childern. We kept up some correpondance and Pete recommended a book by William L Sullivan - Listening for Coyote - A walk across Oregon's Wilderness. A couple of weeks ago it arrive in the mail.

It was a fantastic trip until ……

Frank — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:21:28 +0000

You know the story. Up at 4am to get to the start of the track. You have raced around for three days getting food organised, gear checked and packed , pets and kids palmed off to family or friends, just so you can escape for a couple of nights of solitude and reconnection with wilderness. The traffic is great at that time of the day and you arrive in good time. Your packs are heavy but you know it is worth it to get to your special place, your secret camping spot. As you arrive near camp, strolling over the last hill you look down to a scene like this:

Kokoda Track – Preparation, history and weight loss

Frank — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 20:53:49 +0000

One of the iconic walks on many Australian bucket lists is the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea. Running for 96 km (60 mi) overland (60 km (37 mi) in a straight line) through the Owen Stanley Range in Papua New Guinea, the track is renowned as the location of the World War II battle between Japanese and Australian forces in 1942. Frank's uncle, Bob Melville, was up and down the track a couple of times before he was 19 years old. It has a strong place in the Australian psyche as a small force of undertrained and equipped troops fought the most desperate and viscious battle encountered by Australian troops in the Second World War. This article is about a group of people Frank has worked with at Uecomm, a large Australian broadband supplier and their shared common goal to hike the Kokoda Track. Some of them did it for the challenge, some for the fitness regime and some out of respect of our Aussie Soldiers. In this article we share Part One of their journey, the preparation and fitness campaign!

The Cumbria Way – Vicarious fun in the Lake District – England

Frank — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 01:46:29 +0000

We have been following a terrific journal by Leigh McAdam from Hike Bike Travel about her recent stroll along The Cumbria Way in the Lake District of England. Leigh, a Canadian, completed the walk in June / July 2010 as part of a walking holiday in the UK. Leigh had a terrific adventure. She has written several articles we would highly recommend whether you are planning the walk, or just want to enjoy a great yarn. In order of the journey: The Cumbria Way, Lake District, England Magnificence, Motrin, Moleskin, Markers & Misery on the Cumbria Way, England Some of the Best Lake District Walking – Keswick to Caldbeck Finally a great "tips" article that draws on her experience of walking in England and Scotland. There is a terrific blister photograph for any ghouls among us AND a great new blister product Leigh discovered, it's well worth a read.

Wet feet, worry and tough scrub – Crossing the Never Never

Frank — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:54:03 +0000

We love to read stories of adversary and tough times. Sometimes hiking conditions can test and challenge you like never before. In this article we welcome Greg, who has been kind enough to share his recent Tasmanian bushwalking experience on a trip from the Walls of Jerusalem via the Never Never to the Oveland Track in Tasmania. We have done this trip twice. Our article Lake Meston Hut to Kia Ora Hut via the Never Never has a small map of the area and documents our experiences. It might be an interesting background to Greg and his son's story. So, over to Greg who reflects on the trip, often referring back to the GPS waypoints we sent him a couple of months ago to help navigate through this area: My 15 year old son and I aimed to replicate the walk you gave me on the GPS. It seemed the most logical thing to do regarding distances covered in one day etc. We even started out the same with a trip with Simon from Tasmania Tour Company to the beginning of Walls of Jerusalem! Simon asked me my walking intentions and when I said I was going across the Never Never to the Overland Track he kind of paused and then said, "Take it easy through there. There has been a lot of rain down that way." I replied, "Yeah, no worries!", sounding confident but not really sure of what his definition of 'a lot of rain' was! He did remind us though that we would see 'no one' through there in winter. The first day was spent walking to Dixons Kingdom Hut and we had an evening of wind, heavy rain and then a decent blanket of snow.