This Year
0
Number of Walks Ticked
0.0m
Total Distance Ticked
All Time
4
Number of Walks Ticked
149.0km
Total Distance Ticked
| Name | Date | Difficulty | Distance/Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cooloola Great Walk (original inland route) (Great Sandy National Park) |
25 Aug, 2020 |
Medium |
88.1km one-way 5 days |
|
| Truly a once in a lifetime experience (because I will never put myself through that again). Although slightly underprepared and a bit inexperienced for a hike of this size, I found it really enjoyable and felt very accomplished by the end. The scenery was absolutely amazing and we were blessed with perfect weather for the entire hike. One thing I will say is don’t underestimate how much water you will go through, even doing this at a cooler time of year, I found myself getting very low on water towards the end of a days hiking, and that was with 6L capacity. Also the hills can be quite hard on your feet, be sure to wear in those hiking boots well before setting off and have some good thick socks to go with them. The first day was by far the easiest with not as many drastic changes in elevation. We arrived at the first camp about an hour before sunset after a midday start. Great views towards the lake and incredible sunset. The second day was a fair bit more difficult, the start along the hills overlooking the ocean was very picturesque. The great sand patch was definitely a mission in itself, you’re exposed for a decent 45 minutes so be sure to have a snack, water and put on some sunscreen in the shade at the southern end before you cross. We made the second camp in roughly 6hrs and 40 minutes. Day 3 and we were starting to feel it, I had by now accrued some pretty gnarly blisters on my feet and my legs were getting quite sore. I’d recommend investing in magnesium tablets, they have been a lifesaver for me. Also a bit of sudocrem or even paw paw ointment came in handy for a bit of chafing in the thigh area if you’re prone to it like me. The scenery on day 3 wasn’t quite as nice as the previous 2 days but still quite enjoyable. The elevation profile was a bit intense in some areas however we managed to make the 3rd camp in about 5 hours. Day 4 came around and bit this point we were contemplating combining the final two days into one and making the 35km slog to the finish line in one hit. We we’re sore, a bit stinky and just wanted to get home at this stage. We set of early, just past first light and began what would easily be the toughest walk of the entire trip. By my feet we pretty much numb to the pain of the blisters and my knees we’re not very happy with me at all. We tried to make as few stops as possible to get to the finish line, both to save time and also to not allow our bodies to realise how much pain we were in. (It was at this point that I realised I was not quite the seasoned hiker I was) We had decided that in between breaks we would all just walk at our own pace and whoever was furthest ahead would decided when and where we would take breaks. The end goal was the only thing in mind by now and we would stop at nothing to get there. After 10 hours, 34 minutes and 27 seconds (a figure that will remain ingrained into my memory for years to come) we finally reached the Carlo Sandblow and stopped for a moment to take it all in before making our way across the final obstacle of this Goliath walk. The only thing I could think about is how good my feet are going to feel without these boots on, and how good that first beer at the rainbow beach surf lifesaving club will taste. On completion the three of us who had spent the last 4 days together hiking through the wilderness, vowed to never attempt something like this again without some solid preparation. (We had originally decided to do this hike one night while drunk). However, looking back I do think I will one day do this hike again. Hopefully with a bit more preparation and experience, it will be more enjoyable the second time round. I know this may not be as informative as others but I hope sharing my experience can help anyone wishing to take this hike on. By now I have completed 3 other great walks in south east Qld and have found them all incredibly satisfying all in their own unique way. Good luck Angus |
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|
Sunshine Coast Hinterland Great Walk (Kondalilla National Park) |
4 Oct, 2018 |
Hard |
58km 4 days |
|
|
Mount Beerwah Summit (Glass House Mountains National Park) |
6 Jan, 2018 |
Very Hard |
2.9km return 3 hrs |
|
| Challenging climb not to be taken lightly. Most of the climb is a very steep cliff face, the are plenty of hand and foot holds, even for my size 13 hoofs. But be sure to have a solid grip, if you slip you’re a goner unless you get lucky. But don’t be discouraged, I saw a bloke well into his 50’s running, yes running down the cliffs on my way up. The view is worth the climb | ||||