Roger Caffin Bushwalking FAQ

[juz]

Many years ago I recall using an excellent (perhaps the best I found) bushwalking information source.
I feel pretty confident it was a FAQ created and maintained by Roger Caffin starting when aus.bushwalking was a newsgroup.
When I use a search engine to try and find this resource I get results, but all direct me to bushwalkingnsw.org.au where I am given a 404 error.
Does anyone have a working link to this vast array of excellent information?
Thanks,
Justin.

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

I have the same problem, I went to look up something on the Roger Caffin pages, only to be redirected like you. I contacted Bushwalking NSW who told me they no longer supported the FAQ because it was out of date and the links no longer worked. Further discussion went nowhere - Bushwalking NSW simply have no interest in keeping the FAQ going. A valuable resource has been lost.

[juz]

Thanks for the info. I find it almost impossible to believe. I understand some things change over time, but the utility and value held in that FAQ was outstanding, and certainly still so useful today. What a loss.

[juz]

In the short term the Wayback Machine has a working copy of the FAQ for those that are interested.
It seems it was available as recently as March on bushwalkingNSW.org.au .
It would be interesting to hear from Roger if he has plans for this information if it really has been dumped by BushwalkingNSW.

[johnw]

Roger is a member here and posts something occasionally, so it may be worth asking him.
He may read this and respond, or you could try sending him a private message.

[Avatar]

Roger was listed as the maintainer of that FAQ and his email was given there for contact re. issues. The FAQ on gas stoves was very useful.

[craigprice]

Pm him via his membership here - and fyi, I've also left a pm to his address on the US backpackinglight site where he has been more active (last post an article in feb) about his myog inverted stove.

[Moondog55]

It costs money to maintain stuff like that, but I'd be prepared to kick in for a copy as I'd not cloned the pages.
A lot of good information was there and most of it still relevant

[juz]

I will send a PM to Roger, check that he knows the content is gone.

Moondog, storing this information locally might be infringing Rogers copyright, I am not sure. But if you did want to store it locally and your computer is linux, you can easily clone the FAQ (or any other website) from the way back machine, with working links and content stored locally with the following command:

Code:

wget --recursive --no-clobber --page-requisites --convert-links --domains web.archive.org --no-parent https://web.archive.org/web/20250318062544/http://www.bushwalkingnsw.org.au/clubsites/FAQ/FAQ_Index.htm

Not sure if you can use wget on windows or mac?

[rcaffin]

I know, I know.
Me, I suspect a sort of turf war in the NSW Confederation. It has happened before when someone tried to take it over.
I was TOLD that the Vic Confed has a Bushwalking Manual, whih is now being recommended. But I think thatt has many errors of fact.
One day, maybe. Right now I am making UL mountain stoves.

Cheers
Roger

[Moondog55]

Roger I'd not clone it without your permission but certainly happy to pay your permission costs

[Son of a Beach]

I will send a PM to Roger, check that he knows the content is gone.

Moondog, storing this information locally might be infringing Rogers copyright, I am not sure. But if you did want to store it locally and your computer is linux, you can easily clone the FAQ (or any other website) from the way back machine, with working links and content stored locally with the following command:

Code:

wget --recursive --no-clobber --page-requisites --convert-links --domains web.archive.org --no-parent https://web.archive.org/web/20250318062544/http://www.bushwalkingnsw.org.au/clubsites/FAQ/FAQ_Index.htm

Not sure if you can use wget on windows or mac?

'wget' is not installed on macOS by default, but can easily be installed using any of the popular macOS package installers.

'curl' is included with macOS and can be used instead (although the arguments and command format are different, of course).

(Not necessarily condoning making copies of any particular page/site. However, there should be no problem taking a copy from a legitimate source for personal use, so long as it is not distributed to anyone else without permission from the author/copyright-holder.)

[rcaffin]

My thanks to all for the notice.
I have arranged with Matt of WildWalks to have this web site host the FAQ. I am updating SOME bits of it as I go. I had forgotten just how huge it had become, so it may take a little while. But it will happen.

Cheers
Roger Caffin

[craigprice]

Thankyou
Rename it as “huge”?

[rcaffin]

Hi Everyone

The FAQ has been moved to this web site. try https://faq.bushwalk.com/

My thanks to Matt of WildWalks for hosting the FAQ here, not to mention coaching me through the use of his preferred web tools, for the transfer.

To be sure, it may not yet be complete (some pics may be missing still), but most of it is there.
Now, if you find any blanks or places where something is missing, PLEASE let me know direct,
via [email protected], with some clue as to where.

I hope to be steadily going through it now, updating and improving it. I have many, many contributions to deal with.

Cheers
Roger

[peregrinator]

I tried it. Nothing happening.

[Aushiker]

I tried it. Nothing happening.

Working okay for me. Thanks Roger.

[peregrinator]

I tried it. Nothing happening.

Working okay for me. Thanks Roger.

Andrew, was that using a phone or a computer?

[johnw]

I tried it. Nothing happening.

Working okay for me. Thanks Roger.

Andrew, was that using a phone or a computer?

I just tried on my Windows 10 PC and it is all working fine.

[Aushiker]

I tried it. Nothing happening.

Working okay for me. Thanks Roger.

Andrew, was that using a phone or a computer?

Mac and the Brave (Chrome fork) browser.

[michael_p]

Tried on my phone, not working. Phone is Samsung Internet (Chromium based browser) on Android OS.

Works fine with Firefox on Ubuntu Linux.

[Aushiker]

Tried on my phone, not working. Phone is Samsung Internet (Chromium based browser) on Android OS.

Works fine with Firefox on Ubuntu Linux.

What is the error you are getting?

[juz]

Renders as a blank web page here (gecko ESR 91) when browser requests the mobile version. Works correctly when switching to requesting a desktop version of the page.
Further, if I press the desktop version button on the forum page and then click the link to the FAQ it works regardless of the browser being in mobile mode or desktop mode.

Last edited by juz on Sat 19 Jul, 2025 7:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[michael_p]

Tried on my phone, not working. Phone is Samsung Internet (Chromium based browser) on Android OS.

Works fine with Firefox on Ubuntu Linux.

What is the error you are getting?

I'm getting a blank page. Also didn't work when I switched to desktop version.

I have just installed Firefox on my phone and it works. Not sure what the problem is. I'll try and do some more research (not tonight as I have to cook dinner then watch the rugby, priorities ).

EDIT: (dinner is in the oven) Tried opening the FAQ using Chrome on my phone and it worked. Considering that both Samsung and Chrome are both Chromium based the fact that it works on one and not the other is weird.

[juz]

I should have added a big thanks to Roger and Matt for writing and hosting this info! It is great to see it live on. Thank you.

[JohnnoMcJohnno]

Thanks Heaps, Roger and Matt, very much appreciated.