Is Off Track Walking Dying?

[Ent]

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[Nuts]

TBH, the possibility of causing damage (as a factor) has never crossed my mind. Taking into account me being only of average intelligence, I doubt it would be a big deal for most (outside the sour minority...).

[flyfisher]

IMHO the western lakes area of the central plateau is just fantastic for off track walking.

Although quite a lot of people walf/fish/visit this area there are very few formal tracks apart from a 4wd track or 2 that have been closed to vehicles for a few years now.

Many of the trips done are just routes rather than tracks, such as Meston to Naomi, or Mc kenzie to the Walls.

Good thing about this is the lack of tracks forming,as it's easy travelling and routes can vary widely.

A little M I B and nobody knows yuo've been.

ff

[stoogest]

To be honest, until I joined this forum I had no idea that walking off track was even legal!! For some reason (probably the signs posted by P&W) I assumed that it was a no-no.

[johnw]

To be honest, until I joined this forum I had no idea that walking off track was even legal!! For some reason (probably the signs posted by P&W) I assumed that it was a no-no.

Just curious, which signs? I can't recall seeing any signage outlawing walking off track as such. Only track closure ones occasionally.

[stoogest]

Couldn't point you to one specifically (perhaps at Russell Falls?) but I've often seen signs saying 'stick to marked tracks' or something similar, sometimes with a comment regarding potential damage to ecosystems.

[Dave Bremers]

As a Gen Y i can definitely agree that the average age of bushwalking clubs is what keeps me out of them. The ones that I have been in have been full of FANTASTIC people, but there's nothing like hanging out with those your age. As for the off-track walking, I can't think of anything better. For example, on the 26th i am leaving for Tasmania to head up federation via new river. Can't get much more off track than that.

Facebook, texting, emails are how I organise most trips. I can't say I've been in the bushwalking scene long enough to notice any trends about whether off-track walking is dying off, but if it is I agree with those who mentioned our 'bubble-wrapped culture'. Seems if you do anything even mildly out of the average joe's comfort zone you are deemed irresponsible. I'm sure my sociology lecturer would have a field day analysing this.

Dave

[flyfisher]

Good onya Dave, I hope you have a ball.That's a pretty serious off track stroll but it's great fun to find your own way and hone up your navigation skills.

Too many people these days wish to control every move we make, even in the bush, and it's great to get off track and do your own thing for a few days.

Good stuff I rekon, go for it.

ff

[Dave Bremers]

Cheers, ff. Its going to be a pretty epic adventure, probably the hardest part will be the mental strain of dealing with leeches, no hot showers, scrub etc. for 24 days. I imagine it will start to get to us at points.

I found this beautiful little quote in a book called Deep Survival about our society today:

"The environment we're used to is designed to sustain us. We live like fish in an aquarium. Food comes mysteriously down, oxygen bubbles up. We are the domestic pets of a human zoo we call civilisation."

I like to think the users of this forum in particular are the runaways from the said zoo. Good on everyone for still getting out there.

Dave

[wander]

Most of my walking is in SA and most is off track. And I have done a fair bit in Tas but mostly on track. I've given up talking to Parkies for info as they actively discourage any off track walking. Weirdly when you get back and happen to chat about where you have been they want to pick your brains as usually none of them have been to the location for years.

And a bit like solo walking there is often this very negative feedback about the saftey and a bunch of other stuff when you talk to other walkers about where you have been and where you are going. So I avoid talking about it unless I get the message the people I'm talking to are not going to give me lecture and verse.

[neil_fahey]

Hi all,

I can't comment on why other people don't go off-track but for me it is partially out of environmental concern. By going off track, I would think I'd be contributing to erosion and perhaps even spreading exotic species or diseases that will effect plantlife (eg. Cinnamon Fungus) ***. I also find that there are enough tracks out there to explore that I really don't have any wish to go off track but maybe this is just so-far.

I guess much of the AAWT is off-track really... Is that the kind of "off-track" you're talking about here?

Someone above mentioned that they'd seen signs warning against off-track walking and someone else said that they hadn't seen any... Well in Victoria there are signs everywhere and Parks Victoria really emphasise it on their website and in their track notes.

The safety issues are probably another reason why less people go off-track ut isn't this a good thing? Shouldn't it be left to the more experienced people (of which there are probably fewer these days)?

Regarding bushwalking clubs, I've never known anyone who was a member of one. I can see reason to join one - a lot of knowledge is handed down from generation to generation in this way. However, the age factor is definitely off-putting. I'm 28 and work with people aged from 21 to 60 - I get along with all of them so it's not like I'm ageist but I'd probably rather spend my outdoors time with friends my own age.

*** I'm no environmental expert but this is how I've always looked at it and prior to reading this I would've assumed that most other bushwalkers would have also. Please discuss if you think I'm wrong... I was dissapointed to read through this thread and see how little discussion there was on the environmental concerns.

Cheers
Neil

[Cocksy_86]

My mate, an ICU Doctor, gets dropped off in the middle of Tasmania by a helicopter then just makes his way to the coast. From there he triggers a homing beacon and a guy on a boat picks him up. He wants me to come along for a trip but unlike him, I hate the cold.

[Trevor_S]

The Gen Y comment I made earlier has some merit, if you look at the average age in bushwalking clubs now and a 2/3 decades ago, there is a big difference, unless of course people don't join clubs anymore.

I was speaking to an area manager of QPWS (Qld Parks and WIldflife, though I don't thinks it's called that anymore) last year, he made a comment about the aging of bushwalkers. He was quiet worried, as he saw a long term decline in funding as inevitable. He said the only people the visited regularly were aged bushwalkers and bird watchers.

He was actively sourcing an increased userbase for the parks he managed, looking towards "newer" activities to make up the difference, eg Cross Country MTB riders, adventure racing, cross country running in parks etc Hell, he was even letting off-road motorbike riders into some areas on the qt

[neil_fahey]

I get out for a bushwalk fairly regularly and I find that probably about half the people I pass (or stop for a chat with) would be under 35. It would be interesting to see some actual stats on the age of hikers though.

[doro]

I have been mainly "off track" hiking throughout Mundaring, the Monadnocks and various other areas in the south west of WA for a few years now. I mainly stick to obvious kangaroo trails but often find myself "bush bashing" when the scrub becomes thick.

I got into it via a local bush walking group who mostly do "off track" hiking and found it the only way to go. I have since also been learning bush survival and navigation when ever I can get a chance.

I normally venture out with a gps and compass, the gps is just to set a way point for where the car is, and navigate everywhere by map and compass.

Must say my most valuable asset so far are my gators!