Things I have learnt.

[gayet]

Latest edition is 2006 I believe. Did you check the updates page on the web?

A lot can change in 5 - 6 years.

[Stibb]

Yes, I did, no updates that were relevant.

Never mind, I posted the quote because I thought it was funny at the time (I still do). Clearly it wasn't appreciated in a family friendly forum. Apologies to Chapman if I insulted him but it was meant to be tongue in cheek. You could just as well say that we are the tossers here, and I would most likely agree with you and not be the slightest upset about it.

btw, I also find his books helpful, and I now know what is is meant with a "good track".

Now, move on please.

[rebro5]

Check the checklist BEFORE you leave home
Rebro5

[Tortoise]

Do a leech check before demonstrating manoeuvres required to negotiate a track with dozens of fallen trees. Leeches don’t like aerobatics. They detach, spew their dinner, and leave an impressive trail of blood on your friends’ nice carpet.

[north-north-west]

"Chapman is a tosser"
(as said by a very experienced bushwalker I met in Narcissus hut and I tend to agree)

+1

I've gained some very useful info from his books. I've also found some (in my opinion and relating to my personal experience) utterly ridiculous advice and gross inaccuracies.
Of course, not even I am perfect . . .

[tigercat]

'easy' tracks can be hard to follow under snow!

[John Sheridan]

Skunks don't like to cuddle

[ULWalkingPhil]

Koalas do full out of trees

[tasadam]

Koalas do full out of trees

Usually when the trees are too fall... ?

[mjdalessa]

Among many other things I asked him about a "well traveled trail" up on the labyrinth that we could not find that was mentioned in Chapmans book and he suggested I throw the book in the river

What track might this have been?

[TerraMer]

If you are travelling on public transport to a destination and/or using shared accommodation for a trek, eg, flying to Alice for the Larapinta plan to give yourself some tourist time before starting incase you catch a virus. You'll have time to get something for it and a chance to recover before you start hiking rather than spend days camped in one spot feeling miserable avoiding other hikers so they don't get sick too.
Pack cold and flu treatment just in case.

Always check the seals on water bottles before packing.

Dingos are only curious. Don't worry about them. If they wake you during the night and you stay really still you can watch them but, in general, they will scamper as soon as you move. They don't like having their path blocked when travelling as a group. If one appears put out, ie, yapping to other dingoes in group, growls, lowers head, paces, just walk back a bit and turn your back to the group. They will re-join and carry on.

[Rob A]

The ant had said to look out for a straight line about an inch long. The mosquito could only see circles.

[doogs]

Buy loose fit jeans. The muscles in my upper thigh must be larger than most folks from walking up lots of hills because when I wear jeans that are a bit tight and the fly opens (just continuing the insect theme )

[Stan E]

For your safety "Less than 3 shall never be"

[north-north-west]

It's really weird looking at photos of parks staff from a recent Tassie trip and thinking "You look kind of familiar. Did I sleep with you 30 years ago?"

[srforum112]

Don't take fish oil tablets on a hike but if you do don't put two in your trousers pocket to take soon and prompty forget to take them! Especially when walking in a warm climate and after walking an unplanned 35kms that day. I reaked.......

Also don't wash anything with the said trousers....everything ends up smelling fishy.
Do throw those clothes away!

[dannnnn]

even though you might have flicked all the leeches off your legs before they latched on, they still probably got you.

this week is hell!! 10 bites from a very leechy trip to lamington! but not one of them drew blood.

[north-north-west]

Snow can cause some problems, but ice is the real killer.

And there is something inherently amusing about frozen gaiters.

[corvus]

You to eh!

[johnw]

If your camera tells you that its batteries are about to fail, don't arrogantly ignore it thinking you know better (especially not just before leaving for a walk without taking spares/recharging) .

"Here is the top coming up, there is no way I could possibly need to climb any further, I can see the sky, there is nothing more above me beyond those trees....." Yeah, sure

[sambar358]

Despite how suitable they appear.....the broad leaves of the rainforest Stinging Tree are no substitute for toilet paper !

On Fiordland NZ...if you can see the top of the mountains it's going to rain.....if you can't....then it's already raining ! Cheers

sambar358

[ILUVSWTAS]

2+2 does indeed equal 4.

[ollster]

2+2 does indeed equal 4.

I think you'll find it's actually 5.

[ILUVSWTAS]

2+2 does indeed equal 4.

I think you'll find it's actually 5.

My calculator must be a politician

[ollster]

2+2 does indeed equal 4.

I think you'll find it's actually 5.

My calculator must be a politician

Mine is a dystopian philosopher.

[Tortoise]

10 bites from a very leechy trip to lamington!

There are more leeches/square cm in Lamington NP than anywhere else in the world...
Hundreds if not thousands on a 2m2 muddy tent site I'll stick to Tassie

[north-north-west]

Whiteouts are worse than siltouts.

Oh, and you can't run fast enough in snowshoes to catch a lightweight wind-blown bag.

[corvus]

Every birthday now takes me closer to Death from old age (accidents are optional)
corvus

[RSD]

Whiteouts are worse than siltouts.

Siltouts as in silt stirred up while diving inside a shipwreck?

[Macca81]

The water level at the entrance of the cave is not always indicative of the water level inside the cave...