'The Abels' It's Here !!!

[ozzie041974]

This will excite a few of you. I know it put a smile on my face when I walked into the book store in Launceston today. 'The Abels Volume One by Bill Wilkinson' has just been re- released. There is also a small slip of paper with a few updates and a mention of Volume 2 on the way.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Grrr, I thought you were going to say Vol2 is out!! Vol1 has been availabe down here for as long as I can remember. And I've been hearing reports of Vol2 due out "any day now" since before last xmas.

What exactly does the slip say regarding Vol2??

[Vern]

I've had to borrow that book from a friend cause I couldn't find it anywhere in Hobart so that's good news for me at least. I heard that it wasn't sold anymore cause National Parks weren't too keen on people heading off into sensitive areas and making otherwise minor or non existant tracks into hikers highways...although I doubt that would occur.

[tasadam]

I just sent Bill and email, so will let you know if I get any news.
Last I heard, Volume 1 was still available directly from Bill.
I'll see if I can confirm that too, and how to buy it.

Remember this topic?

[isoma]

I got a copy direct from Bill about a year ago.

[stepbystep]

6 months ago there was 20+ copies in Hobart Book Store in Salamanca Square

[doogs]

I had a look a couple of weeks ago and there was a second hand copy in a bookshop in Hobart, but the $15 postage put me off!

[ILUVSWTAS]

6 months ago there was 20+ copies in Hobart Book Store in Salamanca Square

Yes it's always in stock at Fullers Hobart too.

[Nuts]

The Second edition has been in the works and a concern for parks for a lot longer than that Iluv. Forgive me for pointing out the view that it seems pretty short sighted to not be able to imagine the impact that Could occur, or even what things might look like when you guys look back at this in your doatage, especially a scott.. 'Parks' concerns aside, I would have thought you guys would be as much against yet another guide book as for it? I know this might be an unpopular view to voice here (have i done it now ?) but change your peer group and i'm guessing you would still be well outnumbered.... I would have thought a letter to Bill expressing concerns would be equally possible.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Yes I meant i'd heard it was near RELEASE for a couple of years, I know he's been working on it alot lot longer than that.

And I also know PWS wernt keen on some of the notes, but lets be honest here... there's a huge reduction of people walking off track these days is there not??? , is THIS book going to increase that?? VERY doubtful.
Also if people (like us) want to get to a peak, the info isnt too hard to come by. I really dont think this one book is going to change all of that.


But if parks want to rest the blame solely on Bill, Meh who am I to care

[ILUVSWTAS]

I might further add to that above statement that some people I know are in the process of compiling a collection of track notes in junction with the peakbagging list.
This list has 466 peaks, including ALL THE ABELS (158?) and descriptions of how to climb every peak on the list.

Now THATS something PWS should be more worried about.

[Nuts]

No, its not just Bill, the same reasoning has been used by other authors (look whats in the pack of almost any of the burgeoning masses on the Arthurs traverse) and pops up now and then here in various topics. The same reasoning has been used throughout history to justify all manner of poor decisions. Whats printed is done and the most fragile parts of our wilderness have a long time to pay for these decisions. There may be a decline in the hardest core but who's to say whether that will remain the case? Anyhow... just thought it worth mentioning, carry on.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Lol, carry on indeed....

I really do believe the lack of off track walking speaks for itself. If a guide came out for the POW or the Eldons would a horde of people be making the trip?? Maybe at first, but as soon as the first under prepared group gets choppered out or dies in there it would soon stop.

Anyway I get what your saying. I just dont think there's that many people who arent already doing these walks out there.

[north-north-west]

Vol I is always in stock at the Map Shop in Hobart.

...(look whats in the pack of almost any of the burgeoning masses on the Arthurs traverse)....

Something that is frankly not worth it's weight to carry. I've become very much disillusioned with them. So many inaccuracies . . .

[ozzie041974]

I had searched everywhere for this book in the past and was told it was unavailable so a second hand copy if you could get your hands on one was the best you were going to do, that is of course until today. Bought it in Birchalls. Assistant in there told me they had only been out for 2 days.
The slip inside says "New routes are currently being assessed and will be included in Volume 2" This is referring to property Gunns has acquired and they are now denying access to St Valentines Peak and Mt Tor via route described in Vol 1. Also a new Abel has been located and will be included in Vol 2. A key needs to be sought from Forestry Tasmania to access Abbotts and Marriotts lookouts.
I really don't think re-releasing this book or bringing out Vol 2 will have any more impact what so ever on what is happening now. The majority of people who buy it will be dreamers or arm chair hikers. The others are already out there doing it and are for the most part already environmentally sensitive and aware.

[Azza]

I got all excited when I saw the thread and now I'm all disappointed....

[ILUVSWTAS]

I got all excited when I saw the thread and now I'm all disappointed....

In all seriousness though, why put it out if it had no track notes?? What will it have? A few pictures and headings??

THIS IS FEDERATION PEAK


THIS IS PINDARS PEAK



THIS IS MT BOBS.......

[doogs]

I got all excited when I saw the thread and now I'm all disappointed....

In all seriousness though, why put it out if it had no track notes?? What will it have? A few pictures and headings??

THIS IS FEDERATION PEAK


THIS IS PINDARS PEAK



THIS IS MT BOBS.......

Are they allowed to show pictures? People might think of climbing the mountains then, and that might create tracks and........argh!!!!!!!!!!

[north-north-west]

Maybe we shouldn't even think about them. There might be an inexperienced telepathic bushwalker out there who would get ideas beyond his/her competence.

[Nuts]

i did say 'carry on'

[ILUVSWTAS]

I had searched everywhere for this book in the past and was told it was unavailable so a second hand copy if you could get your hands on one was the best you were going to do, that is of course until today. Bought it in Birchalls. Assistant in there told me they had only been out for 2 days.
The slip inside says "New routes are currently being assessed and will be included in Volume 2" This is referring to property Gunns has acquired and they are now denying access to St Valentines Peak and Mt Tor via route described in Vol 1. Also a new Abel has been located and will be included in Vol 2. A key needs to be sought from Forestry Tasmania to access Abbotts and Marriotts lookouts.
I really don't think re-releasing this book or bringing out Vol 2 will have any more impact what so ever on what is happening now. The majority of people who buy it will be dreamers or arm chair hikers. The others are already out there doing it and are for the most part already environmentally sensitive and aware.

Ahhh yes.
I bought the book about 2-3 years ago and that slip of paper was included in my copy. As I said rumors of volume 2 have been floating around for a few years.

[weetbix456]

damb. got me excited too..book city also has a few copies

[north-north-west]

Seriously, as much as TasPAWS may 'not like it', what can they do if someone chooses to publish detailed notes on off track destinations? Vandalise the writer's car whenever it's left in a park?

[Son of a Beach]

Being a government department, they're probably limited to stern letters and guilt trips. But from correspondence I've had with one author, they certainly do attempt to apply pressure in one form or other.

[north-north-west]

Being a government department, they're probably limited to stern letters and guilt trips. But from correspondence I've had with one author, they certainly do attempt to apply pressure in one form or other.

Oh NO! Not the comfy chair!

[Nuts]

they certainly do attempt to apply pressure in one form or other.

Of course they do, it's what they are paid for! Hats off in this case for at least trying, as we all know, pleanty of things end up in the too hard basket. Its never going to be 'choose your own apathy' to suit whatever personal obsessions might be. Guide book authors and website administrators would hardly have unbiased views...

[Son of a Beach]

Agreed, Nuts. We've had no pressure whatsoever from Parks here, but that may be because we have our own guidelines which I suppose are based on similar thinking.

If Parks were to apply any pressure here I'd be sure to listen carefully to their reasoning, as I would to anyone else including the membership, but would still make up my own mind.

It's also worth noting that the current stance of this website is more likely to be to the detriment of this site, if anything, in the hope that it might be to the benefit of the bush.

[Nuts]

yawn... crashed ridiculously early (for a friday night). Yes, I agree, good on you Nik for drawing a line somewhere. I also really do appreciate the constructive thoughts of others.

hmmm, well, not much happening here at 4.30am...might go for a walk... wheres my guidebooks har ha... (yes, i do have Bills first edition.. )

[Liamy77]

Being a government department, they're probably limited to stern letters and guilt trips. But from correspondence I've had with one author, they certainly do attempt to apply pressure in one form or other.

i think this is very wrong.

its only a few steps short of confiscating cameras and secret police- shame they don't put this effort into maintaining tracks aswell as collecting fees....

and while i am winging about P&W why the heck is the huonville P&W store closed on weekends (when ya might want to buy a day pass for eg) as the last store before Hartz and SW nat parks they dont stock ANY gas cannisters Or dehydrated meals etc??? who "runs" these things ??? i want their job! .... but then people might whinge about me....

[Nuts]

hmmm, hold on, still here.... na...i'm off...