Things I have learnt.

[north-north-west]

No, the kayaking was a mix of relaxing and enthralling and heart-stoppingly exhilarating, but no physical harm was done. It was just the usual going-down-a-mountain-much-faster-than-intended thing I do from time to time. The slipping and skidding and rolling weren't too bad. The bouncing off the rocks is what did the damage. You know what scalp wounds can be like.

[Tortoise]

No, the kayaking was a mix of relaxing and enthralling and heart-stoppingly exhilarating, but no physical harm was done. It was just the usual going-down-a-mountain-much-faster-than-intended thing I do from time to time. The slipping and skidding and rolling weren't too bad. The bouncing off the rocks is what did the damage. You know what scalp wounds can be like.

Oooh nasty! I just had visions of it all happening while also trying not to capsize in those gale-force winds with rain and sleet.
Maybe total body protection would be a good idea? I'm up to 2 ankle braces and a wrist guard.

[north-north-west]

One of those neat little personal force fields they had in Star Trek would work. Would also repel leeches, mozzies, mud and the rain/sleet/etc.

Hope the wrist guard doesn't get in the way too much.

[Tortoise]

One of those neat little personal force fields they had in Star Trek would work. Would also repel leeches, mozzies, mud and the rain/sleet/etc. Hope the wrist guard doesn't get in the way too much.

Re personal force fields: Excellent thought. I'll be the first in line when they become available.
Re wrist guard - well, yeah, a problem sometimes. Doing better with an expensive posh one than the old el cheapo one I used for rollerblading. That was too bulky, and I effectively had to climb one handed. Didn't go well. I now have a cheap 'gauntlet' arm protector to keep the posh guard (that still allows me to hold onto some rock) from being shredded. Next step, full body armour.

[Heremeahappy1]

First. Last. Always. Foot care.
Like clothing and footwear, morale isn't 100% waterproof 100% of the time.
If you can whinge, you still have plenty of puff left.
Someone's already done it further, faster, lighter, harder, with less gear, greater drama, less food, at night and before you were born. Hike for your own reasons amd you'll always be smiling.

[ErichFromm]

If you can whinge, you still have plenty of puff left.
Someone's already done it further, faster, lighter, harder, with less gear, greater drama, less food, at night and before you were born.

Yes. Love this attitude. I did the Oxfam 100km walk last year and everytime i started feeling fatigue I'd see a guy with cerebral palsy somewhere ahead of me (he had help). I'd think "If he can do this then i have no right complaining"...

I also once saw a documentary saying humans are in the top 5 long distance travellers on the planet - we are MADE to walk long distances: the ligaments in our ankles, our lack of fur to help us cool faster etc. So ignore the pain and push on, let your body do what it's supposed to...

[Neo]

First. Last. Always. Foot care.
Like clothing and footwear, morale isn't 100% waterproof 100% of the time.
If you can whinge, you still have plenty of puff left.
Someone's already done it further, faster, lighter, harder, with less gear, greater drama, less food, at night and before you were born. Hike for your own reasons amd you'll always be smiling.

chuckle

[Neo]

When I see someone with a serious disability/old age issue, or I'm out ñ about and someone is severely disabled but out with their family, I appreciate all my quirks and difficulties, as they are minor in comparison to the efforts and frustration some deal with every day for years and years, forever

[north-north-west]

Goretex iis better than Polartek for wiping fogged-up windows.

Yes, this is bushwalking related.

[north-north-west]

And watching the local Sea Eagles this morning reminded me of something I learnt out on the west coast back at Easter.

Sea Eagles hunt Fairy Penguins. In the surf. Awesome.

[threshold]

HIking gear is expensive, buying the right gear in search of your dream system 5 times over is even more expensive.

[crollsurf]

Just a recap of some of the funnier comments in this thread:

Consider walking poles as casual acquaintances rather than as long term friends to avoid disappointment.
Anything you consciously decide to leave at home will be needed. Especially if it was waterproof trousers.
Always take enough toilet paper (gastro forced 1.4 squares a day - doable but not pleasant).
What's wrong with being mad?
Mud? What mud?
If you can't see a cairn, doesn't mean it's not there
Whenever sitting down, make sure you don't sit on something that bites.
"Not far now" is invariably a lie.
When cooking at the front/vestibule of a tent leave a knife at the back of the tent whilst cooking just in case it gets ugly and you need another way out!
Always take your pants off before going to the toilet.
Look out for preoccupied wombats, they are often on a mission.
This is the look a Kookooburra gets the moment before it attacks...
Never underestimate the average idiot's attachment to his/her thongs.
Don't let your dog eat your Western Mountaineering sleeping bag. There is enough down in a Western Mountaineering sleeping bag to fill a lounge room which delays the anger of finding the dog

[north-north-west]

You never truly appreciate the infinite gradations of colour and cloud shape until you try to find a shot to clone a missing patch of sky in a pano.

[davidf]

My cloudmaker is

[gbagua]

Two big lessons:

1. Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.

2. The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.

~(John Muir)

[Trundlers]

The gentle pleasure of watching black cockatoo, lyrebirds and diamond firetails in the bush. And drinking in the view across expanses of bush from peaks. Kind of breath-takingly satisfying.

[johnw]

Avoid using cutting grass to hang onto when scrambling up an embankment without gloves...

[Ms_Mudd]

1. Don't get cocky with your supposed mastery of the use of a female urinary device... which ties in with my next point
2. Always pack a spare pair of undies

[north-north-west]

Avoid using cutting grass to hang onto when scrambling up an embankment without gloves...

That's a comment that really sorts out those who know from those who don''t. I'm still wincing. (Do you know how hard it is to type when your hands keep flinching and curling up with involuntary sympathy?)

It is possible to escape unscathed when gripping cutting grass without gloves, but it's not something you want to try unless it's totally unavoidable. And even then, you have to take the utmost care.
Ouch.

[bigkev]

1. Don't get cocky with your supposed mastery of the use of a female urinary device... which ties in with my next point
2. Always pack a spare pair of undies

Don't get cocky...I see what you did there

[ribuck]

While we're on that topic, one thing that I learnt was that Dot Butler could contort her anatomy such that she could pee against a tree just like the blokes.

[Ms_Mudd]

Don't get cocky...I see what you did there

Thanks Big Kev, was wondering if anyone would

Well, I don't know who Dot is, but she sounds like my kinda woman Ribuck! I take great pride in my standing to pee skills. Although sometimes pride comes before a fall and necessitates going commando for the remainder of a walk

[Huntsman247]

Still hot stove + down jacket inside a tent = everything smelling like you plucked the feathers of 100 geese + a hole in the jacket. Much sadness and constant reminder when walking the next day and wiping your face of sweat and smelling that wet hot feathers smell.

[johnw]

Avoid using cutting grass to hang onto when scrambling up an embankment without gloves...

That's a comment that really sorts out those who know from those who don''t. I'm still wincing. (Do you know how hard it is to type when your hands keep flinching and curling up with involuntary sympathy?)

It is possible to escape unscathed when gripping cutting grass without gloves, but it's not something you want to try unless it's totally unavoidable. And even then, you have to take the utmost care.
Ouch.

Yes, I've knowingly done it barehanded on rare occasion but with great care. Otherwise it's a plant I studiously respect, but in a moment of absentmindedness... There's a Blueys valley bush regen location where we have limited choices of exit routes, all are very steep trackless scrambles, and most feature cutting grass in the steepest part. The silly thing is I had been wearing gloves all day and took them off to walk out .

[ChrisJHC]

Don't dry out your hiking socks inside your sleeping bag overnight - unless you want your sleeping bag to smell like sweaty feet for the rest of your trip!

[trekker76]

Don't underestimate the ability of high grade, well thought out equipment to still suck in some way in tropical rainforest. If its not too hot/slow drying it will be too flimsy/covered in sophisticated coatings mould can't resist. Go heavier as a rule.

[Hughmac]

Chaffing can really take the pleasure out of a multi-day walk - never forget the vaseline.
Aerogard on feet, socks and shoes keeps leeches away.
Have always carried a small roll of duct tape since my Scarpas delaminated a sole at the bottom of Starlight's Trail.
Keep a spare lighter in a ziplock bag.
A packing strap makes a good low profile belt under the waist belt of your pack.
Builders film is an ideal lightweight footprint for your tent.

[wildwanderer]

Always use a tent footprint. You wont see the microholes that punture the floor.. until it rains significantly and you wake up lying in a puddle.

When using a footprint make sure it doesnt extend outwards from the tent fly otherwise water will drip and pool underneath the tent floor and any micro holes will become apparent very quickly!

[Hughmac]

The beauty of using the film is that you can cut it to the perfect shape.

[wildwanderer]

As soon as you hear an experienced person say “its a bit" scrubby or "its a bit" of a scramble…..
know that you will soon be entrenched in the thickest most unyielding scrub possible all while negotiating a sheer cliff face using your fingers as anchor points.