AAWT - November 2016

A forum for discussing the Australian Alps Walking Track. This is a 655 km long track from Walhalla (Vic) to Tharwa (ACT)

AAWT - November 2016

Postby oyster_07 » Sat 16 Jul, 2016 7:25 pm

I'll be walking the AAWT south-to-north solo in November 2016. I'll be documenting the planning and execution on the @AAWT2016 Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/AAWT2016/

Please feel free to like and follow the page. Naturally, I will write up a report upon completion.
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby Stroller » Fri 22 Jul, 2016 10:01 am

Hi Oyster

As i'm doing the walk in probably January, do you think it would work and are you interested in me either collecting your food bins when i go through to drop my food. I already know I will do 8 food parcels. As i haven't got the book yet i don't know where they are likely to be but i could just take your spot.

Having read that people are expected to do a 3 day drive to drop food and then another 3 day drive to collect their bins, i thought maybe it could be useful to coordinate with other hikers so that only one drive through is necessary.

Also i noticed that some people buy really expensive food bins. I just found some 20 litre bins for $5.60 http://www.gotstock.com.au/plastic-buck ... vQod80gBbg . I think i will post an advert to try to find someone to collect mine on the way back right now.
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby oyster_07 » Fri 22 Jul, 2016 11:24 am

Hi Stroller,
Thanks for your thoughts, but I'm self-sufficient and will be collecting my own caches.
Thanks nonetheless.
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby DropbearAT » Mon 22 Aug, 2016 8:56 pm

Hi Oyster, I am doing my last leg of the AAWT from Rumpf Saddle to Walhalla late October so we will probably cross paths. Just a comment - with just a tarp, there are quite a few leech infested areas you might want to avoid. Cheers Dropbear AT
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby oyster_07 » Mon 22 Aug, 2016 9:40 pm

DropbearAT wrote:Hi Oyster, I am doing my last leg of the AAWT from Rumpf Saddle to Walhalla late October so we will probably cross paths. Just a comment - with just a tarp, there are quite a few leech infested areas you might want to avoid. Cheers Dropbear AT


I imagine we quite probably will cross paths then.
Regarding leeches, I have taken the problem of those wretched creatures into consideration in location planning. Also, I'll be in a bivy too.
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby phil robinson » Tue 13 Sep, 2016 7:59 pm

Hi oyster, I;m also planning on doing the walk solo in november starting sometime after the 21st depending on weather. I'm planning on running it with light gear, having a crack at the fastest known time. I'm looking for someone who wants to do a car shuffle or coordinate drops together or just hitch a ride to Walhalla, let me know if this could fit in with your plans.
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby oyster_07 » Tue 13 Sep, 2016 8:03 pm

Hi Phil,
I don't think I'll be in a position to provide material assistance but I can probably assist with satisfying any information requirements you may have (such as conditions, water, etc).
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby oyster_07 » Thu 27 Oct, 2016 7:28 pm

It is now 10 days until I start my south-to-north AAWT.

If anyone has any information requirements that I may be able to answer either en route or upon completion, please ask your questions.

Also, you can follow along at http://www.facebook.com/AAWT2016
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby GBW » Thu 27 Oct, 2016 7:53 pm

I've been following your updates on facebook...do you have any side trips planned?
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby oyster_07 » Thu 27 Oct, 2016 8:28 pm

GBW wrote:do you have any side trips planned?


Yes, absolutely. I have numerous side trips planned, plus a couple of deviations.
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby north-north-west » Sun 30 Oct, 2016 10:33 am

oyster_07 wrote:Yes, absolutely. I have numerous side trips planned, plus a couple of deviations.

Always thought you looked like a deviant. :P
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby Mark F » Sun 30 Oct, 2016 11:49 am

It looks like we are leaving the same day but I am heading south so see you between Hotham and Thredbo or else doing food drops next week. I'll be the old bumbly bloke ambling along and aiming for a SKT (slowest known time) but also with a few side trips (Pilot, Cobberas, Bogong and Feathertop). You may even find me fishing in the afternoons.
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby oyster_07 » Sun 30 Oct, 2016 3:05 pm

Mark F wrote:You may even find me fishing in the afternoons.

Good source of protein...
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby oyster_07 » Wed 30 Nov, 2016 12:03 pm

And my AAWT is complete!
A report will follow over the next week.


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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby neilmny » Wed 30 Nov, 2016 12:36 pm

Well done oyster_07 will look forward to reading your story.
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby Bushwalker99 » Fri 02 Dec, 2016 1:54 pm

Congratulations on a wonderful achievement 25 days including side trips is amazing. Look forward to reading your report
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby oyster_07 » Fri 02 Dec, 2016 6:05 pm

Thank you both. I have started putting more photos up on http://www.facebook.com/AAWT2016 and I'll write a report next week.
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby oyster_07 » Fri 24 Mar, 2017 9:02 pm

I have uploaded a post-activity report & review for my south-to-north AAWT of November 2016. It is available at http://www.facebook.com/AAWT2016.
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby Dreamer » Wed 19 Jul, 2017 3:24 pm

A very, very impressive trip report oyster_07...well done. A great achievement. I am planning on walking the AAWT in October 2017 with no food caches, just sent parcel pickup and/or supermarket purchases (maybe even deliveries) in Hotham and Thredbo. If you don't mind, I'll use your report for some inspiration. Do you any suggestions as to what you may have done differently?
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby oyster_07 » Wed 19 Jul, 2017 3:54 pm

Dreamer wrote:A very, very impressive trip report oyster_07...well done. A great achievement. I am planning on walking the AAWT in October 2017 with no food caches, just sent parcel pickup and/or supermarket purchases (maybe even deliveries) in Hotham and Thredbo. If you don't mind, I'll use your report for some inspiration. Do you any suggestions as to what you may have done differently?

Thanks Dreamer,
Please do use my report for inspiration and information.
Personally, I wouldn't do much differently in retrospect. The journey is well worth the effort!
All the best with your trip, and please have a look at http://www.facebook.com/AAWT2016 for more photos. The Strava links may also be useful.


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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby Dreamer » Wed 19 Jul, 2017 4:18 pm

What are your thoughts on weather in October versus November (eg chance of residual snow). I noticed your Nov16 seemed too hot at times with plenty of active snakes!
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby north-north-west » Wed 19 Jul, 2017 6:16 pm

The earlier in the season you go, the deeper the drifts will be, and the greater the chance of further snowfalls. Spring has the most changeable weather.

The snakes start waking up in spring and, from experience, are often stroppier at that time than later on.
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby Mark F » Wed 19 Jul, 2017 7:03 pm

It really depends on the snow melt. You can keep an eye on it at http://www.snowyhydro.com.au/our-energy/water/inflows/snow-depths-calculator/. There should only be snow showing at Spencers Creek by October but this gives a good indication of Main Range conditions. Depending on whether you go N-S or S-N you can alter when you hit the Main Range, but going S-N you will be crossing the Bogong High Plains at the time you would be hitting the Main Range if going N-S.

My thoughts are that I wouldn't start before mid-late October.
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby oyster_07 » Wed 19 Jul, 2017 9:17 pm

Actually, I thought I had relatively few encounters with snakes. Perhaps it appears otherwise due to the fortuitous opportunities for photos of them.

The later you go, the smaller the remnant snow drifts will be. That said, drifts can often be bypassed, and the chance of receiving snowfall exists regardless of the time of year. Also, it's worthwhile considering that a north-south trip allows for earlier commencement, however it also means the highest elevations are earlier.
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Re: AAWT - November 2016

Postby Dreamer » Thu 20 Jul, 2017 7:56 pm

Thanks for the comments guys. I think I'll still aim for early October start as it suits me for a number of reasons. Does anyone ever take snowshoes on the AAWT? eg smallfoot inflatables (1230g/pair just incase): http://smallfoot.eu/shop/revolution/
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