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Walking

Notes for Walkers

Before the Walk

If you are new to bushwalking, it is recommended that you contact the leader of the walk you  are proposing to attend to gauge whether the activity is within your skills and level of fitness. You are also obliged to advise the activity leader should you have any medical conditions that could impact on your ability to complete the planned activity.

You need to book into any activity, using the Member Jungle app on your phone or the Club’s website (www.wwbc.memberjungle.com.au). This applies to day activities as well as multi-day/night activities.

  • In booking via Member Jungle, all participants are acknowledging risks inherent in hiking activity, accepting personal responsibility and waiving their rights to sue the Club, the activity leader or other participants in the event of any adverse outcome. It is strongly recommended that participants familiarise themselves with the full set of conditions as detailed in Participant's Acknowledgement of Risks and Obligations

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WATAGAN WANDERERS WALKS GRADING GUIDELINE

Our club uses the national walk grading system from National Parks.

The grading system assesses a walk’s difficulty based on several criteria, including experience required, steps, gradient, path quality and signage. The walk’s final grade is based on the most difficult of these 5 criteria, rather than an average. So, some walks will include criteria that meet an easier grade.

Grade 1- Very Easy No bushwalking experience required. Flat even surface with no steps or steep sections. Suitable for wheelchair users who have someone to assist them. Walks no greater than 5km.

Grade 2 - Easy No bushwalking experience required. The track is hardened or compacted surface and may have a gentle hill section or sections and occasional steps. Walks no greater than 10km.

Grade 3 - Medium Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Some bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may have short steep hill sections, a rough surface or scrub or many steps. Walks up to 15-20 km.

Grade 4 - Hard Bushwalking experience recommended. The route may be long, rough, off track and very steep. Directional signage may be limited, walk 15 – 20 km and thick vegetation may be encountered.

Grade 5 – Very Hard Very experienced bushwalkers with specialized skills; including navigation, experience and equipment for overnight backpack camping, off track walking, may involve rock hopping, climbing steep rocky terrain, river crossings, alpine weather conditions and emergency first aid. The terrain is likely to be very rough, very steep without tracks. Walks may be more than 20km per day and thick vegetation may be encountered.

 

Unless walks leaders are confident that any rocky sections can be easily and safely negotiated, walks involving rock platforms, rocky headlands and/or river crossings should be classified as at least G4.

All walkers should note that activity leaders have the right to refuse participation to any persons they consider may present a risk to themselves or other participants OR who do not have the necessary skills for the activity OR are inadequately clothed or supplied with water or food.

Walking Equipment

To the extent practicable, individual walkers are expected to be self-sufficient.  On this basis it is highly recommended that each walker equips themselves with the following:

  • sturdy walking shoes/hiking boots;

  • suitable walking clothing, including backpack (note: jeans or other heavy cotton pants are not recommended as they become very heavy if you are caught in rain). In cooler weather carrying an extra layer of clothing is recommended;

  • a brimmed hat/cap or visor is recommended;

  • water bottle(s) - containing at least 1 litre in cool weather and 2 litres in warmer weather for a day walk;

  • lunch, morning tea and/or snacks; 

  • raincoat, gloves, sunscreen, insect repellent, and any personal medication;

  • a small first aid kit, including a snake bandage;

  • a ‘boy scout’ type whistle (for if you get lost/separated from the group).

Car-pooling

In the event of car-pooling, participants are expected to contribute to car running costs. To facilitate this the driver will zero their car odometer at the commencement of the trip and each passenger should contribute as per this table:

Return Distance Range

 

$ contribution per passenger

1-100km

 

$10

 

 

 

101-150km

 

$15

 

 

 

151-200km

 

$20

 

 

 

Over 200km

By arrangement

15c/km

 

During the Walk

During the walk all participants are obliged to keep with the group and follow any guidance provided by the leader. You should advise the leader if you are having any difficulties or wish to deviate or exit from the planned activity. If you become lost/disorientated blow your whistle.

After the Walk

We generally finish day walks around 3pm but the finish time may be extended on some walks by their length, difficulty, the weather or unforeseen occurrences. Return travel time should be added to provide an estimate of when you may reach your home.

It is a tradition in this Club that the leader provides afternoon tea (eg cake or biscuits) at the completion of the day walk, so bring along a cup and a thermos of hot water plus milk/sugar as well as a folding chair so you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. This is not only a social time but a time for your body to recover and rebuild its glucose levels. Note: afternoon tea is not provided on day walks involving travel by train.

 

2023-12-08 Edited Harwood Lockton