Bushwalking books

[dplanet]

Having done some research on walking in The Tarkine, track notes of a few day walks namely Mt Dial, Black Bluff, and Rocky Cape (also O/N) can be found in "100 walks in Tasmania" by Tyrone Thomas.

There are also coastal walks in Marawah and near the mouth of Arthur River.

[tasadam]

... can be found in "100 walks in Tasmania" by Tyrone Thomas...

http://wikiski.com/wiki/index.php/Bushwalking_guide_books

Tyrone T. Thomas published four editions of 100 walks in Tasmania, before increasing the number to 120 for the fifth edition.

Just thought I'd let you know.
You can buy it from lots of places, including here.
Nothing to do with the Tarkine, though

[Joe]

I have 3 editions of tyrones book. I consider it to be the best walks book for tasmania bar none...Hardy and elsons books are great too...but they dont do their walks in cowboy boots....tyrone did...respect to the man for that!

Books like chapmans tend to cover the National Parks and WHA...which is fine...but tyrone and H&E cover areas that are less known and free to access for all. I like that

Im a bit of a walks book collector...

[tasadam]

...Im a bit of a walks book collector...

Then you'll love the link in my last post!

[Joe]

apart from few of the overland track books i have all in that list...and more...got some great books on cradle area lately. Few years ago I managed to score a first edition copy of Peaks and High Places - Cradle Mt lake st Clair Nat Park Tasmania by Ian Boss Walker...its worth about $50. I paid $4 for it in mint condition.

[tasadam]

apart from few of the overland track books i have all in that list...and more...got some great books on cradle area lately. Few years ago I managed to score a first edition copy of Peaks and High Places - Cradle Mt lake st Clair Nat Park Tasmania by Ian Boss Walker...its worth about $50. I paid $4 for it in mint condition.

But do you have this book?
I have it, and its supplement. You can purchase straight from the editor Bill Wilkinson. I have his details.

Actually, that book looks like just the small supplement book that goes with his Volume 1 of the Abels book... It's the Abels book that is really good, and is worth a bit more than what they are charging here for the supplement book.

I have it on good word that he is busy working on his Volume 2 as well.

[Joe]

Im kind of the antethesis of a peak bagger. I avoid them where i can. So that book has never been high on my to buy list. I have seen it in a couple of stores before though.

[crockle]

http://wikiski.com/wiki/index.php/Bushwalking_guide_books

Then you'll love the link in my last post!

Well I'm not sure if taswaterfalls is giving you full loving credit there -- but I'd like to say a big thanks for that link - Nice one!

I have a small handful of these books too, but I like the qualitative assessment of them from a guy who sounds like he may know his field well.

There are a couple that I'll probably seek out and buy, and a couple too that I might think again about, after reading the complete page.

For my money, I think he (David Sisson) is right in rating the Chapman's books as up there with the 'best in breed'.
From what I understand from Outdoor Retailers from Darwin to Cockle Creek - um I mean, from Melbourne to Devonport - the 5th Edition of J. Chapman's Sth West Tas book is most eagerly (if not impatiently) awaited.

I too, have always had issues with Tyrone's funny maps - although I did not know that he had 'retired'. And the comment about the walking in cowboy boots leaves me mystified.....

But do you have this book?
I have it, and its supplement.

I have it (although you weren't asking me) , but not its supplement.
It's currently in storage, but I'd swear the cover doesn't look the same as that..
I bought it on a 'leaving Tasmania - Last Day!' frenzy, when I'd habitually buy anything that looked like it was self-published, rare, or possibly hard-to-find on the mainland.
I believe, in my haste at the time, that I surmised that The Abels were a range I hadn't heard of, maybe round the Western Arthurs or somewhere near the Eldon Range..

I could be wrong, but it seems like a LONG time ago that I bought this Abels Vol 1 though - is the original publishing date known?
And Vol 2 is still coming?
It IS a lot of mountains to cover.......

[tasadam]

The Abels is a name given to these books - Volume 1, and the "work in progress" Volume 2. As well, there is a supplement book available here (expensive for what it is, better to get it direct from Bill Wilkinson perhaps?).

The books feature Tasmanian mountains over 1100 metres high.

These peaks are coined "Abels: in memory of Abel Tasman, the discoverer of Tasmania during his epic 10 month voyage in 1642.

The front cover features a photo of Mt Hyperion and Mt Eros, looking to the north east.
It explains in the introduction on page 1, that a minimum height of 1100 metres, with a minimum drop of 150 metres on all sides, was chosen...
This book has some limited maps in it. They are the best that could be done at the time.

John Chapman, on his Bushwalking Guide Books Page makes mention of the Abels as well. About half way down on that page.

I did a google and came up with a link to an overseas bookseller that has the Abels for sale - I thought I would post that link here for your amusement (check the price...) And from what I can gather, that's a second hand one.

I bought mine direct from Bill.
Last time I spoke with him, he was looking for information on a number of peaks - to help in the contribution to volume 2. I think it might be time for me to contact him again.

[tasadam]

Some may find this link useful.
It's a book order form, but each book has a link to show the cover and a description.

[tasadam]

OK I have had a chat with Bill Wilkinson, the author / editor of The Abels.
Good news! Here's a world scoop, you heard it here first!
Volume 2 is "progressing very very well", about 90% complete. Waiting on a few more track notes from some authors. Also waiting on some "experts" who are going to submit some essays as well.
Bill has set up an email address for expressions of interest in the Abels Volume 1 and 2. He can be contacted at
theabels2[at]gmail.com

He still has stock of The Abels Vol. 1
So there you have it, it's no longer hard to get, just contact Bill and take it from there

[crockle]

That's great work there tasadam.

Thanks!

I'm going to drop Bill an email - am definitely interested in purchasing Vol 2 when it arrives.

And never mind about Tyrone T Thomas walking around in cowboy boots - I probably don't need to know...

[Joe]

And never mind about Tyrone T Thomas walking around in cowboy boots - I probably don't need to know...

Blasphemy....

Im sorry if Im not showing the love...Here is much love for anyone who thinks they are deserving.

I might have to check this Abels book out closer when Im over next i think adam. As I said Im not the peak bagger...but there might be something in it for me.

taswaterfalls.com has a few book reviews on there. They were written about 4 years ago now though so might be touch out of date. Written from falls baggers perspective.

edit: 200 posts....w00t!

[crockle]

Sorry about the blasphemy

Yeah I'm not a peak bagger either. *Nor* a waterfall bagger. Not really an anything bagger as far as I know.
Something wrong with me perhaps...

Where was I reading recently about a woman who was a Trig-Point Bagger.


Thanks taswaterfalls for mention of book reviews on your site - I'm a-headed there now.
Never mind 4 years old - that was only 'yesterday' surely?.....

Ha! More good linkage!

(200posts - congrats.)

[crockle]

OK - *Now* I get it......

"the mustache totting bush walker who, pictured on my copy of this book, is climbing a mountain wearing flares and cowboy boots.."

(from http://www.taswaterfalls.com/article.ph ... 8102302576)

[Son of a Beach]

I've rounded up some of the book links posted elsewhere in the forums by 'Natt' here. These look like they could be very useful...

50 Family Walks Around Launceston and North Eastern Tasmania

Camping Guide to Tasmania

Free Camping in Tasmania

[ben.h]

Walk into history in southern Tasmania by David Leaman is a fantastic book. I absolutely love this book. It's heavily focussed on geology and history with a little bit of botany thrown in. You can get it at Fullers bookshop in Hobart.

edit: just found a link here: http://www.fullersbookshop.com.au/tasmaniana.html

[Joe]

blah...
50 Family Walks Around Launceston and North Eastern Tasmania

blah blah

I love the hardy and elson's books....great resources that are highly underrated.

[tasadam]

http://www.lfnc.org.au/publications.htm
Scroll down a bit...
GUIDE TO FLOWERS AND PLANTS OF TASMANIA

Excellent resource book.

[tasadam]

There's another book I have heard about. I haven't seen it, but it could be good - The Trout Whisperer.
The web address is http://www.thetroutwhisperer.com.au

Information from the author -

Three chapters of my book might appeal to your bush walking fraternity even though they might not be fisherman.

Chapter VII Spiders Snakes and Fishing (or bush walking if you like)

Chapter VIII fishing and the Weather (or bush walking and the weather)

Chapter IX Bush wise (subtitled: ‘basics for people who know nothing and those who don’t know that they know nothing)

[tim]

Speaking of books, does anyone have an ETA on Chapman's SW Tas 5th edition?

[Son of a Beach]

Last I heard, it was expected to be sent to the printers some time in March. I don't know how long after that it takes to hit the shelves. These things are never set in concrete, of course.

[flyfisher]

Bob Brown edited a small but usefull book on the tarkine called TARKINE TRAILS

It may still be available as it was published by the Wilderness Society [1993]




FF

[flyfisher]

There is a wealth of information in THE TASMANIAN TRAMP published every 2 years by the Hobart Bushwalking Club.

FF

[DaveNoble]

Also - don't forget the old Skyline magazines from Launceston Bush Walkers. What is also useful are Keith Lancaster's walking diaries - a lot of which has been placed online at -

http://users.bigpond.net.au/dveltkamp/KeithLancaster/

Very interesting (and inspiring) reading.

Dave

[walkinTas]

Yes, great resource. I was actually wondering if your recent 12 day walk was an attempt to reproduce one of Keith's walks.

[DaveNoble]

Yes, great resource. I was actually wondering if your recent 12 day walk was an attempt to reproduce one of Keith's walks.

No - I don't know if Keith actually did a walk like the one i just did - but i know that I have certainly done some like it before. Coming down from Sydney - i find it easy to go onto the plateau via Higgs Track (bus to Deloraine - and then taxi to the track head) - then once up (and no more uphills for a long while) - its such attractive walking - and easy off track walking with lots of interesting things to see - cushion plants, intricate lakes and tarns, beautiful scopari in flower (in summer) - lots of nice campsites all over he place - and great for photos. The walls of J makes a good place to pull in for a day or two - and then you have the option of going to the Overland Track via the lakes (Meston/Adelaide etc) or via Chinamans Plains - both nice routes - with optional bits (Traveller Range/Mts of Jupiter/Cathedral Mtn) - and then to finish off with a few days in the Southern Reserve. And then easy public transport options back to town.

Dave

[norts]

I am a volunteer with SES and TASfire. Over the last 6 months we have been issued with a map book ( have found out it has been issued to SES, Tasfire and Parks). I was looking throught it on Tuesday night. This is a not for sale publication. I was surprised by the amount of tracks it shows. Alot of walking tracks that are not on any 1:25000 or parks publications. The tracks are marked as restricted track. I am going to do alot more research using this book. Only problem is that it is only for the Northern region. I does cover Central Plateau and some of the Cradle and all North East.
I suppose I am letting people who are volunteers in one of the above organisations and a bushwalker that there is a great resource sitting under their nose.

Roger

[Joe]

this is the second mention of these firebooks...damn I want to get my hands on one

[tasadam]

this is the second mention of these firebooks...damn I want to get my hands on one

Count me in if u get it.