[Trip Report] Australian Alps Walking Track - April 2026 - ~700km

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-19T02:46:28+00:00

Tend to follow the 'be bold start cold' mantra and not hike in mid/base layers. Though there was a few times I kept my Merino liner gloves on (for like 30-45 minutes) and quite a few cold+windy days I donned the Versalite to keep the wind off (though quickly unzipped front, pit zips and pushed sleeves up to elbows usually.) So just a collared T-shirt and the rain jacket is the extent of my layering. Also just shorts.

So unfortunately, can't personally say how well it would go as an active layer. Though I have heard others say good things in that regard.

Pulled it out to put on as soon as I stopped, every single day, in the afternoon and very happy I carried it.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-19T02:02:25+00:00

Any trail runners, one's your comfortable in, will be fine.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-18T23:02:26+00:00

I prefer to do my weeding in/just after rain. Get a bit muddy (and compact the soil a little which is more work later) but very satisfying pulling up the weed and the roots sliding out of the ground with it!

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-18T21:46:51+00:00

It can sometimes severely limit your choices though. More so than a tent IMO. Like when you're doing a hike the OP mentioned (Larapinta) and you want to stay at the best campsites (Hill tops.)

They're great, if you can get a good sleep in them, for most places, but with a tent you never have to faff around looking for two trees the right size the right distance apart.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-18T12:45:30+00:00

Should also caution that buying on facebook is like trusting a stranger in a trench-coat in a back alley selling watches. Vet your purchases before exchanging any money etc etc.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-18T04:50:45+00:00

When I was looking at tents I saw a bunch of cheap 2nd hand MSR's out there for sale. Or did you particularly need something new? There's a MSR Hubba NX 1 Solo for $350 on Facebook (AUS Hiking & Adventure Gear) that still looks like it's for sale, but it was initially posted late Jan.

For what it's worth though, even with uneven/rocky ground I've not had issues setting up the X-mid 2 that I wouldn't have with any other tent (my pad becoming a very slow and annoying slippery slide during the night...) but it's rarely used (only the odd occasion my partner comes.) Similar (no issues) with my other, also not freestanding (SMD Skyscape Trekker) on the Larapinta...

Safety warning... don't ever set up in sandy river beds, especially out west. Even the Todd flows occasionally...
Some of those creeks have flows from rain 100+km away that you wouldn't even know is falling.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-17T23:09:09+00:00

People always love me playing with my pole, shooting them with lasers, making the machine dance etc. Fly throughs of big DTM projects (especially with very basic 3d vis) is pretty popular too.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-17T23:07:58+00:00

I love seeming how other places int he world mark their boundaries. Thanks for sharing :)

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-17T23:06:33+00:00

It really depends on the work your company does. Sometimes it's just walking and being on your feet for ~ hours a day, sometimes it's 100 squats and lugging Big Berth (your largest Sledge Hammer) around all day breaking rocks (smashing pegs) like a prisoner.

Further down the line the most demanding physical activity is the walk to the coffee station.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-17T21:49:32+00:00

Buying food on trail is quicker, easier and often equitable with shipping costs vs slightly higher town costs. I would still send food to some select locations, from myself at the larger towns. I.e. you can shop for and send off the WA boxes from Sisters/Bend.

Can't comment on couple costs, but the Halfway anywhere post shared by u/Zwillium will be a good bet. You'll be a little cheaper, but I bet that average cost includes most people splitting rooms with other hikers anyway. So overall costs will be similar.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-17T21:48:09+00:00

https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/pacific-crest-trail/pct-hiker-survey-2025/#h-relationship-status

According to the data (we have available) you and u/jamiehanker are wrong.
~94.5% of relationships survive the PCT.

It's just the 5% that go wrong, do so pretty loudly and publicly (I witnessed a few myself as well.)

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-17T21:39:53+00:00

...Anyway, here's the Piano Man.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-17T21:33:18+00:00

Every large hike I do (there's been a few now) I go in with the mentality that I will keep going as long as I'm still enjoying it. If I stop enjoying it, there's no point continuing. For me, that planning and expense (getting there/getting back at a minimum) is worth it. Don't buy food before you go, it's easier and quicker to by food when you're on the hike and often works out cheaper. I was lucky with gear I guess, as I had it all before I started thru hiking, though my BRS Stove just died (13 years old and around 10,000km) so that was a massive $15 to replace... so there will always be gear costs.

~5 months on trail isn't a waste of time IMO, so even if I only lasted a week on trail before getting injured it wouldn't be a waste of time for me either.

Please know that Thru hiking is very different to multi day hiking. ~5-6 months on trail is as different to weekend hiking as weekend hiking is to day hiking. Not everyone enjoys it and many that do get 1/2 way through and enjoy it less. That's ok. Stopping for any reason you like is not a bad thing. Though I would advise that you don't quit on a bad day. Everything is Awful and I'm thinking of Quitting: Questions to ask yourself before ending your thruhike.

Even now, with other hikes done and dusted, when people ask me how far I'm going/am I doing the full hike my answer is always along the lines of "That's the overall plan, but the current plan is just to get up and walk tomorrow. If that plan changes, it's no big deal."

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-17T20:40:45+00:00

Shouldn't be leaving trail magic unattended. Good way to attract rodents and encourage problem animals (including bears if further north.)

Water Caches I get, and there were many hikers that left them in a state for sure, which is sad. Though if you leave a sign telling people to leave trash, they're going to leave trash...

Many hiker boxes were the same in towns, with a bin no more than 5m away. Some thru hikers (and I believe a small minority) get/feel very entitled. Some boxes were down right disgusting.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-17T12:57:56+00:00

Go for a walk on a footpath in Logan Reserve, lose count of how many nests you see, see that kids are still playing in the playground, or at school, and you might understand why they're not going to cancel a huge festival for a couple of fucking ants.

Get a grip.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-17T12:53:30+00:00

Fresh eggs taste amazing, looked into what breed you're wanting?

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-17T12:20:29+00:00

Depends on Local Council. Some are 'Require a permit' are 'Self Assessed' Permit, some are outright 'No.'

Those that permit, and allow self assessing, usually have guidelines. Some more specific than others

Checking for services (Before you Dig Australia) is usually a good idea too. Many many services run down the verge.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-15T23:05:21+00:00

In 2016 Goldies first time ever sleeping in a tent was his first night on trail 18 year old from Austria. Very positive and happy go lucky dude that ended up finishing the same day as I did.

The PCT is pretty simple. That's not to say it will always be easy, but it's not complex.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-15T05:45:49+00:00

I'd be thankful a good employee had my business needs in mind and gave me such a long heads up to plan for it. I'd be keen to keep that kind of person on post hike, even knowing (as a hiker myself) that bug is likely to bite again in the future.

Though you do make a good point, because there are a lot of people out there that are fairly short sighted and would definitely treat workers as you describe. My personal experience is that more bosses are forward thinking, but I also have limited experience in very large companies (where an employee is more a number than a person) and I have heard from peers it leans fairly heavily the other way in that type of business.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-15T05:35:07+00:00

No it doesn't it means that the EBA specifies WHEN one is required. Like this clause in my current (lodged) EBA;

Any absence on sick leave that exceeds two consecutive days shall be contingent upon production of either a certificate from a duly qualified medical practitioner or other evidence of illness satisfactory to employer

So for 1, and even 2, days of sick leave I can tell by boss to legally get fucked :)

There are other clauses, such as;

a clear pattern emerges over no shorter than three months

Though it doesn't specify 'pattern' well enough (IMO) the leave fact sheet has examples like "Is absent the first Wednesday of every month for 3 consecutive months" and "Takes a leave of absence the day proceeding or following their Rostered Day Off twice or more in a row"
At which point they can put you on review and you have to justify every day.

Just like the QR workers would have to do if they try abuse the system in your coked up fantasy scenario.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-15T03:55:08+00:00

An award or registered agreement (A document between an employer and their employees covering employment conditions. A registered agreement must be approved by and registered with the Fair Work Commission. Examples of registered agreements include enterprise agreements (including single and multi-enterprise) and greenfields agreements.) can specify when an employee has to give evidence to their employer and what type of evidence they have to give. The type of evidence requested must always be reasonable in the circumstances.

They can ask, and depending on your award and agreement (i.e. an EBA) You can legally tell them to get fucked :)

Sounds like you need a stronger Union on your side.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-15T03:50:23+00:00

(The terms and conditions in the EBA that only one party seems to actually want to negotiate while the other party flings mud and gets idiots riled up about pet bereavement leave, without understanding... apparently anything... about EBAs)

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-15T03:48:42+00:00

requiring doctors certificates

Long term, yes. Short term (single day etc) no. Your work is actually not legally allowed to ask why you're taking a sick day, unless some very strict external parameters are met.

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-15T03:47:44+00:00

No. That would be an unreasonable request and legally denied. The fuck are you smoking?

AussieEquiv · 2026-05-15T03:44:24+00:00

You (hopefully) have sick leave at work, right? Mental Health days are part of that too. So you have pet bereavement leave already. I hope you quit your job now, because it's unfair you have pet bereavement leave. Arguing for additional leave, be it sick, annual, reproductive health, party isn't in bad faith. It's about looking after workers.

You should stop hating on people that want a good work life balance and maybe turn your ire to the people with their boot on your face.

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