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Route:
I will be using the Hume and Hovell Walking
Track Map Kit, published by NSW Crown Lands. To aid in navigation, I
have purchased the recommended topographical maps and will be carrying a GPS
which has a detailed topographical map and a track tracing the H&HWT
prepared by me. Maps and batteries for the GPS will be stored in the
food drums secreted along the trail (see below).
Gear: Given the risk of
snow storms and very cold weather at higher altitudes and knowing how
arduous and rough the trail will be in places, I will be using high-quality
lightweight gear with a few compromises on weight in favour of durability.
Entertainment & Communications:
I will have a small
Sony AM/FM Walkman Radio (because I love listening to the local radio
stations, want to be aware of the weather forecasts, and am a current
affairs addict) with me along with my iPhone 4 and its store of the 750
greatest songs of all time. I also plan to carry a lightweight
Ultrabook laptop which, tethered to the iPhone, will allow me to stay in
touch and update my blog. In case of emergency, I am carrying a
Personal Locator Beacon (Kannad Safelink SOLO) which can be set off to alert
authorities to my location and need for assistance (hopefully, never to be
used).
Timing:
I plan to begin hiking south on
Wednesday, 8 May 2013, from Yass. I will travel by train on the
preceding day from my home on the NSW Central Coast down to Yass. On
completion of the hike in Albury, I will be able to catch a train back home
from there.
Daily Schedule:
I have planned a
schedule that will have me completing the hike in 17 days without rest days,
but am flexible and can take extra days if necessary.
Accommodation:
The H&HWT passes near a few small towns and I
will make use of available accommodation there, but will be carrying a light
one-person tent and am planning to camp out most nights.
Food:
Because there are only limited supplies available en
route, I am planning to be mostly self-sufficient, food-wise. I will
hide two plastic drums of food at points along the route containing
sufficient food, I hope, to get me to the next drum. I'm hoping to
keep my food weight down to about 1kg per day and expect to eat as follows:
Breakfast - muesli (pre-packed with powdered milk) and coffee; Lunch -
muesli bars and chocolate; Dinner - soup, dehydrated meal, chocolate and hot
chocolate; Snacks - pre-packed daily gorp/scroggin packs (peanuts, M&Ms,
sultanas mix). At each drum, which I have planned to be at the end of
a day's hike (but, of course, may not be!) I have included additional
"treats" such as corn chips, chocolate, preserved fruit, rice-cream and cola
for that night's consumption. I used this method for my hike along the
Australian Alps Walking Track in 2011 and it worked well. To deal with
concerns about animals (rats, wombats and goannas) gnawing their way through
the plastic, each drum will be placed inside a dark green garbage bag (to
help with camouflage) and have sprayed insecticide inside and around the
garbage bag in the hope that the smell will mask any food aromas and deter
predators. The drum locations will be about 50 metres off the walking
track adjacent to points I believe I can remember and I will note GPS
locations. If, for any reason, my food drop is unobtainable then I
will have to hike out to a road and hitchhike to the nearest town where I
can resupply.
Drink:
Generally, at higher
altitudes I will trust the water quality straight from streams.
However, I will be carrying water purification tablets which I will use when
in doubt. Water will also be available from some tanks at campsites
and other locations.
Clothing:
I intend to wear
lightweight and quick-dry shorts and a T-Shirt for hiking along with boots
and gaiters. To deal with colder weather, I will also be carrying some
high quality lightweight thermals, a lightweight synthetic sweater (MontBell
Ultralight Down Inner Jacket), beanie and inner and outer gloves in case it
gets colder. I will also carry a high-quality lightweight rain-jacket
and trousers and a spare pair of shorts and a T-Shirt for camp use.
I will carry a pair of trail-running shoes to wear around camp and, maybe,
to cross rivers, as well as being spares for hiking.
Training:
I have been consistently running 80-100km per week, so
my cardio-vascular fitness will be good, and I will use trekking poles to
take the pressure off my bad knee while walking.
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ADVENTURE LIST
Round Ireland
(2016)
Hume & Hovell Walking Track
(2013)
Via Alpina
(2012)
Australian Alps Walking
Track
(2011)
Land's End to John O'Groats
(2010)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2009)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2008)
Round Oz Bike Record Attempt
(2007)
Australia Tip to Top MTB
(2006)
Adelaide to Darwin MTB
(2005)
Sydney to Melbourne MTB
(2004)
Three Peaks Race
(2004)
Appalachian Trail
(1986)
Alpine Track
(1983)
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