Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Tasmania specific bushwalking discussion.
Forum rules
Tasmania specific bushwalking discussion. Please avoid publishing details of access to sensitive areas with no tracks.

Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby MrWalker » Fri 15 May, 2015 8:24 am

We were having trouble keeping track of the hundreds of published day walks in Tasmania, so built a website to map and filter them, with links to the source books, websites and brochures. It currently shows 460 walks, with an estimated 2,000 or so just from the current source list. We are now looking for feedback before making it more publicly visible.

The site may be found at this link:
http://www.cowirrie.com/stepscape/

The aim is to eventually fill in the hundreds of missing walks, but our first concern is whether the existing 460 are accurate - especially walks no longer accessible due to road closures, private land, etc.

Other questions of interest:
1. Did it run smoothly and display without obvious layout problems? If not, can you tell us your browser and version number?

2. While we aren’t attempting to provide complete information about each walk (that is what the references are for), are there any additional attributes we should store and display? Is there anything else that should be selectable on the “Find” tab?

Use the Feedback tab on the website unless there are issues that need discussion here.

Thanks
MrWalker
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 505
Joined: Fri 25 Nov, 2011 11:14 am
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby DanShell » Fri 15 May, 2015 8:56 am

Great work I love it. I use Safari 8.0.5 and it all worked fine.

I was going to leave feedback in the comments section of the site but then you wouldn't know who I am and I wouldn't be in the draw for the prize, so I am leaving it here.

I think it would be great if you were to expand it or make another website to show multiday walks too, should only take a couple of hours :P And a place for user submitted pics of each walk. And if I want to be really critical it could give a little more detail....elevation data for instance?

Well done.
User avatar
DanShell
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1261
Joined: Mon 18 Mar, 2013 11:23 am
Location: Central
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby icefest » Fri 15 May, 2015 9:44 am

Really nice concept, it's a tad interesting in mobile, as the vertical split screen makes both sides hard to read.

I'll have a further look this arvo, on my desktop.
Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful.
User avatar
icefest
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 4475
Joined: Fri 27 May, 2011 11:19 pm
Location: www.canyoninginvictoria.org
Region: Victoria

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby GPSGuided » Fri 15 May, 2015 10:46 am

icefest wrote:Really nice concept, it's a tad interesting in mobile, as the vertical split screen makes both sides hard to read.

Rotate your mobile device 90 degree. A bit better.
Just move it!
User avatar
GPSGuided
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 6968
Joined: Mon 13 May, 2013 2:37 pm
Location: Sydney
Region: New South Wales

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby icefest » Fri 15 May, 2015 11:47 am

That's a good idea!
Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful.
User avatar
icefest
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 4475
Joined: Fri 27 May, 2011 11:19 pm
Location: www.canyoninginvictoria.org
Region: Victoria

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby Orion » Fri 15 May, 2015 12:16 pm

I'm using Firefox 38.0.1.
I don't see Federation listed.
Do I need to upgrade my browser?
Orion
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1963
Joined: Mon 02 Feb, 2009 12:33 pm
Region: Other Country

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby pazzar » Fri 15 May, 2015 12:25 pm

Orion wrote:I'm using Firefox 38.0.1.
I don't see Federation listed.
Do I need to upgrade my browser?


I don't know of many who have done this as a daywalk!
"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."
User avatar
pazzar
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 2743
Joined: Thu 09 Jul, 2009 5:22 pm
Location: Hobart
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby Tortoise » Fri 15 May, 2015 1:54 pm

Looks like it will be an amazing resource! Thanks for all the effort.

I might have missed it on my phone, but is there any warning re checking for planned burn offs? Not that it helped in NNW's recent experience, but it could save a life or two, especially if procedures are improved.
User avatar
Tortoise
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 5136
Joined: Sat 28 Jan, 2012 9:31 pm
Location: NW Tasmania
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Female

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby MrWalker » Fri 15 May, 2015 2:15 pm

Tortoise wrote:Looks like it will be an amazing resource! Thanks for all the effort.

I might have missed it on my phone, but is there any warning re checking for planned burn offs? Not that it helped in NNW's recent experience, but it could save a life or two, especially if procedures are improved.


The site links to a pdf brochure by Parks that gives lots of detail on everything you need to know before you go for a walk. Although it mentions what to do if caught in a bushfire it doesn't mention how to avoid getting caught in a burn-off. I suppose we will have to hope that the helicopter pilot will now have instructions to check the relevant carparks for cars before starting the firebombing. :roll:
MrWalker
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 505
Joined: Fri 25 Nov, 2011 11:14 am
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby MrWalker » Fri 15 May, 2015 2:28 pm

pazzar wrote:
Orion wrote:I'm using Firefox 38.0.1.
I don't see Federation listed.
Do I need to upgrade my browser?


I don't know of many who have done this as a daywalk!


Klaashartmann claimed to have done "Federation Peak in a day", but his trip notes clearly show 9:20pm on one day to 10:00pm the next, so almost a day walk, but it doesn't quite make the cut. :D
Running the Overland Track in under 10 hrs also fails to qualify it as a day walk.
MrWalker
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 505
Joined: Fri 25 Nov, 2011 11:14 am
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby north-north-west » Fri 15 May, 2015 2:53 pm

Sprent, Wedge, Scott, Albert, Saddleback, Field West & East, Tarn Shelf?
I take it this is only tracked walks? Edith is an easy daywalk, for instance, although I don't know if there are any maps/notes online.
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
User avatar
north-north-west
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 15069
Joined: Thu 14 May, 2009 7:36 pm
Location: The Asylum
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: Social Misfits Anonymous
Region: Tasmania

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby MrWalker » Fri 15 May, 2015 7:43 pm

north-north-west wrote:Sprent, Wedge, Scott, Albert, Saddleback, Field West & East, Tarn Shelf?
I take it this is only tracked walks? Edith is an easy daywalk, for instance, although I don't know if there are any maps/notes online.


Those walks will probably be added. Only 20% of the day walks we know of are on the list so far. The 60 Great Short Walks are there, plus a selection to provide coverage of as much of the state as possible and at least one walk from each reference listed. If any of the references have a walk that is not there yet, then it will (probably) be added eventually. We wanted some comment now to see if it would be useful before adding the rest.

It is not necessarily only tracked walks, but any walks listed must have a good reference with enough details to get people there and make sure they don't get lost.
Generally books are used, but websites can be references if they provide good details, equivalent to a book of walks. A lot of blogs are interesting descriptions of someone's travels but not always in a suitable format for a walk reference.
MrWalker
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 505
Joined: Fri 25 Nov, 2011 11:14 am
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby north-north-west » Fri 15 May, 2015 9:12 pm

Very useful. It's already a good list. Get all the known tracks and easier off-track routes up there and it will be brilliant.
"Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens."
User avatar
north-north-west
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 15069
Joined: Thu 14 May, 2009 7:36 pm
Location: The Asylum
ASSOCIATED ORGANISATIONS: Social Misfits Anonymous
Region: Tasmania

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby MrWalker » Sat 16 May, 2015 11:06 am

DanShell wrote:I think it would be great if you were to expand it or make another website to show multiday walks too, should only take a couple of hours :P And a place for user submitted pics of each walk. And if I want to be really critical it could give a little more detail....elevation data for instance?


At present there are no plans to include multi-day walks. But if someone else wants to do them then we'll link to their website. Maybe we could link to your great videos.

The aim is to refer the user to a good reference that describes the walk in detail. Copyright issues prevent us from just copying slabs of text, elevation charts or other handy stuff. However, we do need to provide enough information to help you decide whether to consider a walk on the list, and then go and buy the book for that walk. :D Vital information to help in that decision should be there, but not all the details you need to actually do the walk. So we are open to suggestions about what sort of information you need when sitting around at home wondering where to go next.
MrWalker
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 505
Joined: Fri 25 Nov, 2011 11:14 am
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby MrWalker » Sat 16 May, 2015 8:18 pm

Thank you for comments above and feedback direct to the website.

With regard to the suggestions about links for those planning a walk we have expanded the single "Equipment" link into Equipment, Road and Track Closures, Fires and Weather. They cover all the services we have found useful while making our own plans. Does anyone have other sites to suggest, or think we should make the list shorter? (While we've used all those sites at different times, we don't rigorously check ever single one.)

If you already visited StepScape, you may need to reload the site to see this and other changes.
MrWalker
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 505
Joined: Fri 25 Nov, 2011 11:14 am
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby DanShell » Sun 17 May, 2015 11:54 pm

MrWalker wrote:. Maybe we could link to your great videos.



hahahaha if you want to put people to sleep go right ahead......you have used the term 'great videos' very loosly :lol: :lol:
User avatar
DanShell
Athrotaxis selaginoides
Athrotaxis selaginoides
 
Posts: 1261
Joined: Mon 18 Mar, 2013 11:23 am
Location: Central
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby Mountain Rocket » Tue 05 Jul, 2016 2:01 pm

Just stumbled across this website after HWC shared it. What a great resource! Thanks for building and sharing it :D
A worthy bump in my books.
User avatar
Mountain Rocket
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 871
Joined: Sat 27 Aug, 2011 5:46 pm
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby MrWalker » Tue 05 Jul, 2016 8:12 pm

Thanks. It now has over 1000 different day-walks, from over 500 different starting points.

Initially it was only going to be walks described in published books, but now includes walks on websites where someone has given enough detail to find the walk and know what to expect when they go there.

Walks range from 10metres to about 30km, so there is something for everyone.
MrWalker
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 505
Joined: Fri 25 Nov, 2011 11:14 am
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby MrWalker » Wed 29 Mar, 2017 4:35 pm

The Stepscape wesbite now has over 1500 day walks in Tasmania listed
http://www.cowirrie.com/stepscape/

Some people have complained that the site includes too many walks, by suggesting that you could go partway along a walk and then turn back. This is done because not everyone want to climb the mountain or walk 20km, etc, so some members of the group may want a shorter walk while the other enthusiasts enjoy themselves out there all day. However, shorter versions are only listed when there is some obvious feature that is worth visiting, e.g. a lookout or natural feature part of the way to the main destination.
MrWalker
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 505
Joined: Fri 25 Nov, 2011 11:14 am
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby MrWalker » Sat 15 Jun, 2019 4:04 pm

There are now over 2000 day walks in Tasmania listed on Stepscape.
https://www.cowirrie.com/stepscape/

It has taken a while to get from 1500 to 2000 due to the need to keep editing information on walks already listed.
We get to as many of these as we can, since many of the books were written decades ago. Most of the tracks are still there, but sometimes there are problems just getting to the car park, or tracks become overgrown.
We also get useful corrections submitted by other walkers and update the details if necessary.
MrWalker
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 505
Joined: Fri 25 Nov, 2011 11:14 am
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby johnw » Sun 16 Jun, 2019 11:02 am

Thanks for maintaining this, it's an excellent resource. I've consulted it when planning our last couple of visits.
With a wife who isn't a bushwalker I'm usually limited to day trips so this is very useful for researching walks that she can do, and more challenging ones on my own.
John W

In Nature's keeping they are safe, but through the agency of man destruction is making rapid progress - John Muir c1912
User avatar
johnw
Lagarostrobos franklinii
Lagarostrobos franklinii
 
Posts: 8985
Joined: Wed 23 Jan, 2008 11:59 am
Location: Macarthur Region - SW Sydney
Region: New South Wales
Gender: Male

Re: Index to Tasmanian Day Walks

Postby MrWalker » Sun 16 Jun, 2019 4:40 pm

johnw wrote:Thanks for maintaining this, it's an excellent resource. I've consulted it when planning our last couple of visits.
With a wife who isn't a bushwalker I'm usually limited to day trips so this is very useful for researching walks that she can do, and more challenging ones on my own.

My wife is a keen bushwalker, but has a hip injury and can't go far, or walk over very rough areas. So with the longer walks, we try hard to find some sensible point that others can get to for a shorter walk before turning back. Usually we can find a lookout point, or notable rock, stream, or other feature, rather than just saying walk 2km then turn around.
So if you want to go out all day, check if we list a shorter, but still interesting, walk from the same car park.
MrWalker
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
Phyllocladus aspleniifolius
 
Posts: 505
Joined: Fri 25 Nov, 2011 11:14 am
Region: Tasmania
Gender: Male


Return to Tasmania

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 40 guests