Things I have learnt.

[perfectlydark]

I love thongs! Am I a bogan now?

[Snowzone]

Beautiful sunny days happen when I'm stuck inside at work.

[icefest]

If you usually drink coffee every day, not taking any is a bad idea on a multi day bushwalking trip.

[Genesis]

Always overestimate track difficulty and underestimate your ability!

[icefest]

Go an overnight hike with someone before you go off for a week together.
If one of you is slow on uphill and fast on level ground and downhill, and the other one the opposite, then you end up with a great amount of alternating swearing.

Being able to laugh at yourself when you are lost on a scree field in a blizzard just before sunset helps to defuse the tension. (A GPS and bomber tent also go a long way)

[north-north-west]

S/he who hesitates gets leeched.

[ErichFromm]

Go an overnight hike with someone before you go off for a week together.
If one of you is slow on uphill and fast on level ground and downhill, and the other one the opposite, then you end up with a great amount of alternating swearing.

Boy can I relate.

I once spent the better part of a hike napping while i waited for a colleague to catch up while climbing a mountain - only for them to vanish entirely and not see them again until nightfall on the way down.

And I may add - "never assume your walking colleagues are prepared. " Nothing worse than having to share clothing, food or alcohol because someone decided not to bring anything....

[Strider]

And I may add - "never assume your walking colleagues are prepared. " Nothing worse than having to share clothing, food or alcohol because someone decided not to bring anything....

I have a roll of Elastoplast tape that my mate has half consumed and Ia yet to touch, all because he won't walk in anything but white Kmart sports socks!

[ErichFromm]

I have a roll of Elastoplast tape that my mate has half consumed and Ia yet to touch, all because he won't walk in anything but white Kmart sports socks!

I see your tape and raise you a full set of clothing: once went on a quick overnight trip with a friend and he turned up in jeans and a T-shirt, and a bag of chips. I had to give him my "sleeping" clothes just so he wouldn't die of hyperthermia. After a number of similar incidents I now have a deal with him that I "Cater" hikes - I provide all food, beverages and transport and give him an invoice for his share at the end.

[Leiothrix]

I had to give him my "sleeping" clothes just so he wouldn't die of hypothermia.

Fixed that, there is a pretty big difference.

Yeh, I'm being picky, but anyway.

[Genesis]

I have a roll of Elastoplast tape that my mate has half consumed and Ia yet to touch, all because he won't walk in anything but white Kmart sports socks!

I see your tape and raise you a full set of clothing: once went on a quick overnight trip with a friend and he turned up in jeans and a T-shirt, and a bag of chips. I had to give him my "sleeping" clothes just so he wouldn't die of hyperthermia. After a number of similar incidents I now have a deal with him that I "Cater" hikes - I provide all food, beverages and transport and give him an invoice for his share at the end.

I do an annual long walk 5-10 days that I completely organise, Food, transport, itinerary, gear list etc etc.
This avoids any "surprises" plus is great for me as I enjoy the organising of it all!

Seriously "A Bag of Chips", "jeans" and a t-shirt, was this in Tassie ? I hope not....

Genesis

[puredingo]

Once you dehydrate it's impossible to fully rehydrate no matter how much water you end up getting hold of. As long as the sun shines and you keep moving you'll be thirsty until you get home...

[MickyB]

Always make sure the SD card is in the camera before you start your walk/hike.

[wobbly]

A map in hand is worth 4 left on the bus. You did WHAT!

[icefest]

While the snow outside may function as a nice refrigerator for the steak on night one, a steak in the hand is better than one back at the trailhead. (Oh and check the use by date before you buy it, and before eating it)

[Ellobuddha]

Always double check that you packed your spork and knife. Its no fun eating with a stick.

[GPSGuided]

Always double check that you packed your spork and knife. Its no fun eating with a stick.

That's why you use two... Chopsticks!

[perfectlydark]

Hehe forgot utensiles last trip, ate cereal witg my hands in the morning. Wasnt that bad but had a stream to wash it after at least

[farefam]

1) use hiking poles from a young age - your knees will last a lot longer
2) take a torch/headlamp with you so that you can linger and enjoy the sunsets from the mountain tops

[Lophophaps]

Surely to BE a four-star girlfriend she'd have to be into no-star camping?

Agreed. However, I reckon a good tent on a good sheltered site with a good view, far from the madding crowd, is five star. OLT benches do not rate a star for me.

Never ever take new starters on hard extended trips. Their assurances as to fitness and experience are unbelievable.
Carry enough water for the night - you may not reach the creek or it may be dry.
Spread crucial items in several places - food, matches, toilet paper, clothing.
The bump ahead that looks like the top mostly is not.
Start early - the day may be harder than you think.
Always take the skis off before going to the toilet.

[walkon]

No matter how rough the track is don't forget to look up, stop if you have to, don't spend the whole hike looking at your feet
On the same vein look back to see where you have come from, the view is just as good.
If bushwalking with destination people, give them one and meet up. I'm not slow but I hate feeling rushed!
Take a cup hook, I got this from the OLT thread, works great in tree roots instead of a tent peg or good on tent platforms
Take spare headlamp batteries.
Accept the fact, even when camping in 400 gazzilion million trillion acres someone will set up a tent right beside yours
Be nice to wombats, they're seriously dumb and do stupid stuff when scared
From my wife, take more socks than your husband says to
Back your car into the carpark at the track head, always easier to jump start
Never trust anyone when they say that they turned off the interior light mmmmm..........
Moonlight walking is surreal, don't be scared to leave straight after work on a full moon, do the first leg in the moonlight
Take spare shoe laces
Leave your life crutches at home. If you rely on coffee, Facebook or any other vice to get you through the day even in God's own backyard, have a good look in the mirror something needs sorting out

[MickyB]

No matter how rough the track is don't forget to look up, stop if you have to, don't spend the whole hike looking at your feet

I often have one song stuck in my head when I am out in the bush and it's lyrics are similar to what you have mentioned.

The song is "Walking On A Dream" by EMPIRE OF THE SUN

Always pushing up the hill searching for the thrill of it
On and on and on we are calling out and out again
Never looking down I'm just in awe of what's in front of me

[walkon]

Hey MickyB

Walking on a dream
How can I explain.....

Was singing this on the weekend till they told me to shutup, no taste in singing my kids. Was their fault someone mentioned that they should have an ipod with walking songs on it. You must have as eclectic/bad taste of music as me then.

Whilst walking up Mt Bogong with friends, I started to sing 'ain't no mountain high enough' whenever they started whinging about the incline.

Thing I learnt about that walk is my friends whinge heaps and there is alot of rocks on Mt Bogong

[Mechanic-AL]

WOW......who ever could have imagined that a bunch of leech ridden, tick bitten, wombat violated bush bashers could have learnt so much!!!!
17 pages and still going. I'm impressed !!

Better add my two cents worth.

Nothing in this world enhances the taste of a big juicy steak and an icy cold beer like a multi day bush walk!!
I normally bugging drooling a least a day and a half from the carpark.

Oh yeah......and no matter how tantalising the picture on the sachet is,
ALL freeze dried meals are basically tasteless, rubberised industrial strength colon cleansers.

AL

[cajun]

Leave your life crutches at home. If you rely on coffee, Facebook or any other vice to get you through the day even in God's own backyard, have a good look in the mirror something needs sorting out

I said something similar to a young bloke who was complaining about no 3G coverage at the base of Wentworth Falls. Having said that - Coffee before starting is a crutch for me.

Things I have learnt? As a noob, plenty Cold wind on a wet back is very uncomfortable was the first.

[north-north-west]

If there's a hard way up a mountain, I'll find it.
If there's an easy way, I'll find it on the way back. If I'm lucky . . .

btw, have you ever noticed: the highest point on the mountain is always at the furthest end of the ridge from the main access point.

[Jag]

Sit down , take a drink & eat some jelly beans if you start making small mistakes/ missteps .

If you are not sure of the direction tie some yellow ribbon round some trees . If it is the right way then others will see ,if is not it will lead you back.

[Sparky]

Wet Weather pants bought ultra cheap cheap online that look awesome complete with Name Brand logo and Goretex logo's etc. just like the genuine article aren't worth the money, they do everything but keep water out, on a recent walk they quickly became known as North Fakes...........should have known better

[corvus]

Wet Weather pants bought ultra cheap cheap online that look awesome complete with Name Brand logo and Goretex logo's etc. just like the genuine article aren't worth the money, they do everything but keep water out, on a recent walk they quickly became known as North Fakes...........should have known better

I guess it depends on where your " NorthFakes " were made the ones I bought have performed as well as "real" ones in some very ordinary Tassie weather and conditions ,certainty kept me dry on the lower half
corvus

[Tortoise]

If there's a hard way up a mountain, I'll find it.
If there's an easy way, I'll find it on the way back. If I'm lucky . . .

You too, huh?! So what can we do about it???

btw, have you ever noticed: the highest point on the mountain is always at the furthest end of the ridge from the main access point.

I vaguely remember one exception to that rule, but I can't remember what it was... perhaps it was in a dream.