Energy snack for your next trip – Flapjacks!

We have been corresponding with one of our readers Julia. The hot topic was hiking food, of course!

Julia is living in Spain and gets out and about doing day walks and longer trips all around Spain and the Pyrenees. It sounds like a great spot to be, and the trips, magic.

She was checking out Food to Go and decided we needed another snack recipe and shot it through to share with you all.

Let us introduce the Flapjack.

Over to Julia:

I checked out the ‘snacks’ part and found that there is something missing, so I thought I’d send it to you. It is called the ‘flapjack’, which is a very rich energy bar. I got the recipe from some English hikers and now we all make it. We are even planning a ‘flapjack competition’!

We just can’t go out there without it anymore and it is super simple to make. I cut the flapjack up in squares, the size of an energy bar, and wrap them up individually. They are soooo good and very healthy as well.

The recipe:

275 grams oats
100 grams light brown sugar
125 grams of nuts, dry fruit etc. (ginger)
150 grams unsalted butter
4 table spoons of honey
(sesame seeds)

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Mix the oats, sugar, nuts and dried fruits (cut up in small bits) in a bowl (I add grated ginger root as well)
Melt the butter and honey
Add them all together and mix well
Put in oven dish or cake tin, press together (I sprinkle sesame seeds on top and smooth them out with the back of a spoon)
Bake for 40 mins. at 180ºC (no.5)
Cool in tin and cut into squares while still warm.

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I hope you will try it and like it as much as we do!

Thanks very much for sharing Julia, we will try it out, looks yum.

Do you have a favourite snack you love to take on a hiking trip?

Have you got a recipe to share?

Drop a comment below and share your ideas with other Our Hiking Blog readers (and sweet lovers)

A Novice Tramper in New Zealand – how to get on the trail safely!

For a complete beginner, going from a casual day hike to a well-planned multiday tramp, as they are called in New Zealand, can be a daunting task. In this article, we will help you make the jump with advice on the essential backpacking gear that you will need to acquire in order to be safe, self-sufficient and comfortable. We will then focus on organizing a walk in New Zealand: with its majestic scenery, first grade tracks and handy backcountry huts, this is perfect tramper country, from beginner right through to expert.

Enjoy the ride.

Backpack

As a tramper out on a multiday hike, your average load will probably be around 10-15 kg. To make the heavy load bearable, it is essential to have a comfortable pack.

A hip belt is a must have. Prefer one that is wide and well padded.
Pick a pack that also has a good adjustable back harness.
60-70l is a good size for most people.
Make sure the fabric, zips and buckles are sturdy.
Never buy a pack without trying it on first, and never try it on empty. Ask a salesperson to help you adjust the belt and straps if you’re unsure of what you’re doing.
Don’t forget the accessories. Some packs come with an integrated rain cover, but many don’t. Make sure to get one, and grab a pack liner as well in order to make your pack as waterproof as possible.

Sleeping Bag

There’s nothing like a good night’s sleep to make you feel good. And if you want to have any of those when out in the bush, you will need to get a good sleeping bag that will keep you safe and warm.

Down bags are the warmest, the lightest and the most compact. Unfortunately, they are expensive and won’t keep you warm when wet, a problem that is made worse by the fact that they take a long time to dry.
Synthetic bags are cheaper and will retain heat even when they are wet. They also tend to dry more quickly. However they are both bulkier and heavier than down bags of the same temperature rating.
Make sure the temperature rating of your bag abides by EN13537 norms otherwise it may be wildly optimistic. The rating should give you temperatures for comfort (relaxed sleep), lower limit (sleeping curled on yourself for extra warmth) and extreme (survival). For 3-season use in New Zealand, try to pick a bag rated 0°C to -5°C.
If hiking as a couple, try to get a left zip on one bag and a right zip on the other. This way you’ll be able to zip your bags together.

Tent and Sleeping Mat

These 2 key items may not be as important in New Zealand as they are elsewhere, thanks to a widespread network of backcountry huts:

If you only intend to stay in popular, pre-booked Great Walk huts, packing a tent and mat is not necessary.
If you intend to stay in more remote huts, it is recommended to take a tent and mat in case the hut turns out to be full, or an emergency arises.
Camping is the alternative of choice for those who are on a budget and/or want to get away from the crowds.

Should you decide to camp or at least carry a tent as a safety measure, keep in mind the following:

Choose a 3-season tent that is well-ventilated and truly waterproof (>5000 mm water column). Check the dimensions to make sure you can both lie down and sit up inside. Roomy vestibule(s) are a big plus for pack storage and/or cooking in bad weather. Regarding weight, aim for a tent that works out at 1 kg/person, i.e. a 2-person tent should be around 2 kg.
Consider getting a groundsheet, or footprint, to further waterproof the tent floor.
A sleeping mat is essential for comfort and to insulate you from the cold coming from the ground. You can get either a foam mat that is light and cheap but bulky, or an inflatable mat that is heavier and more expensive but more compact and more effective.

Other essential gear

Food and cooking. Small gas stoves are cheap and convenient. Pack enough canisters for the duration of the trip. The less crockery you have, the lighter your pack will be: a billy can take care of all the cooking. Don’t forget plates, cups and cutlery. Food should be light and easy to conserve, for instance: muesli for breakfast, nuts for snacks, cheese and salami for lunch, dehydrated meal for dinner. To make the load lighter, leave all packaging at home, carefully measure the quantities needed and pack them in Ziploc bags. For more information about tramping food check out Food to Go
Footwear. Get proper tramping boots that will support your ankles. Full leather boots will be the most durable and the most water tight, but they are also the heaviest and the most expensive. Lighter Gore-Tex boots may be a better alternative. Consider bringing along a pair of sandals for creek crossings and relaxing at camp.
Clothing. Always be prepared for the weather to turn nasty. Clothes that will keep you dry and warm are essential: always take a good waterproof jacket with a hood, a warm jumper and a beanie. If you’re heading for the mountains, add thermals, gloves and gaiters. Always pack spare clothes so that you can change into something dry to sleep. Prefer fabrics that will dry quickly (jeans are a no-no).
Miscellaneous items. Map, headlamp, first aid kit, toilet paper, rubbish bag (everything must be carried out)… make a list and double check before you go!

With the gear out of the way, you will then be able to concentrate on organizing your walk.

Transport

There is one warning to keep in mind before you fly to New Zealand: they take biosecurity seriously. Declare all tramping and camping gear to customs. The easiest way to go through quickly and with no drama is to clean all your gear beforehand – be especially mindful about soil left on tent pegs or boot soles. If your gear isn’t clean enough, you may be in for a wait as it gets fumigated.

This issue aside, traveling in and around New Zealand is easy:

The country has 3 main international airports: Auckland and Wellington on the North Island, Christchurch on the South Island. From Australia, you may also catch direct flights to a few smaller airports: Queenstown and Dunedin on the South Island, Rotorua and Hamilton on the North Island.
Connecting domestic flights service a number of other cities such as Nelson, near Abel Tasman National Park.
You can also get around by rental car or bus. If planning your trip in advance, Naked Bus will provide unbeatable fares based on a simple principle: the earlier you book, the cheaper you travel.
Great Walks and other popular tracks can be accessed thanks to shuttle buses that will drop you off and/or pick you up at trailheads. Just ask the local information center (i-site) for a list of operators.

On-track accommodation

Although the romance of setting off into the bush for a few days might trick you into thinking you can just go without further ado, this is not quite true: on-track accommodation will usually need to be sorted beforehand.

If you’re doing a Great Walk, you will need to book everything in advance, whether you’re staying in huts or on campgrounds. This also means you have to work out your itinerary first, as you will need to know at which site you will be staying each night of your walk.
Booking is easy to do online on the DoC website. In New Zealand, you may also book your walks from any i-site, and take the chance to pick up advice at the same time.
Make sure you book early to avoid disappointment if you intend to do the most popular tracks during peak season: the Milford, for instance, is fully booked months in advance.
Outside of Great Walks, things are a lot more laidback and aside from a few exceptions there is no booking system. Huts are split into 3 categories: basic (bunks, water supply), standard (+ table and benches, wood heater below bushline), serviced (+ heating and sometimes cooking stove). Basic huts are free, but to stay in other huts you will need to pre-purchase nightly Hut Tickets (NZ$5 for standard huts, NZ$15 for serviced huts) or a Hut Pass (NZ$122 for 1 year or NZ$92 for 6 months). Tickets and passes can be bought from i-sites, DoC offices and many camping stores.
Neither the tickets nor the pass guarantee you a spot in the huts – outside of Great Walks, huts work on a first come, first served basis. If the hut happens to be full, you’ll have to try to squeeze in or put up your tent outside instead.
You can camp on those non-Great Walk tracks for free most of the time. The only exception is camping by a serviced hut, which is charged NZ$5 a night. All campers are welcome to use hut facilities.

Safety

Last but not least, keep these simple safety tips in mind before you go, and don’t forget them once on-track:

Always make sure you have everything before you go – checklists are a must.
Pick a track suited to your fitness and experience level – if in doubt, start with an easy Great Walk then gradually work your way up to harder tracks. New Zealand is not a flat country, so always be prepared for steep bits, even on easy walks. Estimates given on signs are always for actual walking time, and don’t account much for dallying and taking longer breaks.
Be mindful of the weather – if the forecast is for heavy rain or other difficult conditions, you may want to reconsider going, especially if the track involves creek crossings.
Rivers are dangerous – if in doubt about your ability to cross safely, turn back. Never go into a flooded river.
Take at least a day’s worth of extra food – if you get stuck, you’ll be happy you did.
Make your intentions known – give your full itinerary and due date to a trusted person so they can sound the alarm if you don’t make it out in time. All huts have logbooks, make sure you leave an entry in all of them so that rescuers may find you more quickly should an emergency arise.

That’s it – you are now fully equipped to start your own adventure in the wilds of New Zealand. Make sure it’s a good one!

What do you think of the list?

Have we overlooked or missed anything?

Have you tramped in New Zealand? We would love you to share your experiences, shoot us a comment below.

Stephanie Cotteret is a freelance travel writer and photographer who is currently enjoying many “tramps” in New Zealand. She is a regular contributor to Australia-Australie.com , France’s leading website for Working Holidaymakers and backpackers. Check out her photography portfolio online , or contact her on toothbrushnomads[at]gmail[dot]com.

South Coast Track Tasmania – Trip report and great photographs

Sometimes we come across fantastic trip reports and this one about the South Coast Track in Tasmania is a winner.

Maintained by “The Sons of the Desert”, this site is interesting, quirky, well written and contains some really great information.

We suspect very clever people , who can actually write and photograph, are behind it.

With “the Son’s” permission we have linked to a couple of their excellent images and stolen some amusing and enlightening pieces of text.

Please read the full trip report, it is well worth your time if you are planning the South Coast Track or just want to see why you might never go there….or, just live the adventure vicariously.

In no particular order, some images and selected quotes:

But as we descended the south-easterns side of the mountains two things happened. The first was that the flora went from alpine to rainforest! A complete, dramatic change which contributed to making the thousand metre descent quite challenging. The other thing was that the well made track ended; that was the last of well made tracks until the final day.

So what we were left with was descending what was alternately a muddy trench or a root filled running watercourse down a thousand metre descent all overgrown with rainforest undergrowth. The horizontal distance was about 2k; it took almost five hours.

Top of Ironbound Ranges looking toward Louisa Bay and beyond

We then walked on to our intended campsite at Prion East. When we had almost achieved it we found that (not for the first or last time) storms had destroyed the track work, and there was a twenty metre almost vertical sand and slippery rock climb to get to the campsite. When we got the campsite, we found that there was no water: the only water was in soaks at the bottom of the climb!

Mmmm, water is king!

The people who came in the other direction arriving at Granite Beach camp were shellshocked. It started with a relatively tolerable 600m climb through moderate mud and up waterfalls laughingly called track. But when we got to the top, there was a traverse across the ridge line for a few km that was extraordinary. Many people were getting in the mud up to their waists. I managed my thighs but no higher.

South Coast Track mud - fun in the sun (or rain)

Interesting how psychology changes: at the cold moment I would have paid thousands to be transported back to civilisation. Warm in my sleeping bag I would have paid a lot *not* to be transported out and miss out on completing the walk!

Cold is bad, warm gear is great!

We hope you enjoyed the article over at The Sons of the Desert site. Many thanks to them for granting permission to share the information here.

Have you hiked in mud or water like this?
Enjoy or never again?
Shoot us your thoughts and experiences below, we love to share.

The Overland Track weather

Congratulations and many thanks to the Bureau of Meteorology!

Drum roll…… the Overland Track now has its very own weather forecast.

Yep, a specific seven day forecast for the Cradle Valley. It includes forecasts for “the Overland Track area”, New Pelion Hut and Lake St Clair. Up until now we have always relied on the Mt Reid and Lake St Clair forecasts. That left about 80km in the middle!

Head off to the B.O.M. site to check it out – Cradle Valley forecast.

Because this is a very short note, we thought some indulgence with a series of “weather” photos taken along the Overland Track might be fun.

Barn Bluff topped lightly in snow. This trip was in winter heading back to Cradle Mountain from the Walls of Jerusalum.

A wet day on the track as a walker tries to use a plastic poncho to protect his camera gear….

This was a trip in July, lots of the track was like this. Snow shoes weren’t necessary but the snow and ice was very slippery.

Speaking of ice, we loved these patterns.

This shot was on day five of a quick trip through from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair. We had not seen the top of ONE range in four days because of low cloud, rain and fog. As we headed out on the boat, out came the sun!

Echo Point, a top spot to camp when the lake is low.

Ah, the last day on the track on a February trip. A few of us rinsed out some clothes or swam in them to freshen up. It was a beautiful day as we camped at Echo Point.

What sort of weather have you experienced on the Overland Track?

Have you had all days of sunshine, a mix of sun and snow or just terrible weather?

Shoot us a comment below or post your Overland Track weather images on our Facebook page. We would love to see them!

See and Learn with Cheap Car Rentals

Cheap car rentals will drive you like you’re at home to the largest City in Australia. The immense City of Sydney will make you see fantastic tourist destinations and learn many attractive outdoor adventures that will fully complete your holiday. Due to the vast land covering the city, you need not just a car to breakdown at the middle of your excitements but a completely equipped motorhome that will make your travel fast, comfortable, really safe and absolutely won’t be missing a thing in your itinerary.

Your first hundred miles from the airport will drive you across the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. From this beautiful bridge, you will see the excellent view of the places you will be going into. Surely, your motorhome will give you a stop at the Sydney Opera House. Its breathtaking beauty and design will truly impress your creative mind. The architectural design amazes not only local tourist, but many well-known artists, architects and engineers worldwide.

Cheap car rentals will drive you to your next stop – that would be at Marramarra National Park. This place will make you feel the difference between real nature and the urban jungles in the cities. It is just the best place to take a real nature hike with endless verdant landscapes that will thrill your trek to the max. A brief stay at the coastlines will increase your excitement to wild surfing, sun bathing and jumping night at the bonfire.

The Sydney Aquarium – the heaviest tourist destination, will give you an up close experience with the wild and rare aquatic life. You will learn how native and endangered marine live together as you view them through over 160 meters of underwater tubes. This could be a great family and educational tour at the same time.

With Cheap car rentals, you will see, learn and love the many God-given gifts of
Sydney.

New walking shoes – stepping out in style!

We are approached quite frequently by businesses keen to promote their ideas and/or products via our website. We have a policy of not accepting everything that come our way for a number of reasons. For example, we don’t want anything not related to the outdoors filling up the site with junk.

Recently we were contacted by Natureshop.com, who loved Our Hiking Blog and when we perused their website, we found we loved them.

Nature shop is a carbon neutral online retailer selling products with a strong environmental and social ethos. A quick glance at their about us page will make you aware of how committed they are. They specialise in a variety of footwear and gear such as
Merrell footwear or Teva sandals and shoes

Johanna Beach - Great Ocean Walk - Frank used Teva walking shoes for a few trips here guiding, they were excellent

They did offer us a product each from their extensive range and we are both very excited now that our parcels have arrived. I am looking forward to trying out my new Merrell Siren’s while Frank opted for a pair of Teva Event M’s. We will let you know how these styles go, with consideration to comfortable and durability, two of the essentials of good footwear.

In the meantime we suggest you have a look at Nature shop . It great that they have done all the research about how the products are made and that everything availabIe has been produced in an environmentally responsible manner. It’s also good to know in this age of consumerism that when we go shopping the some profits are use for good.

Oh, and they offer free return shipping and a long return policy. Quite a positive approach.

Do you buy much gear online? How has your experience been?

We’d love to hear about your experiences.

Sue

Lake side for New Year’s Eve

It was very hot in Tasmania over the New Year period. We usually hike “out of season” when the days are cool and the nights cold and clear. It usually rains or there is heavy weather.

On this trip, out back of Cradle Mountain to celebrate New Year, it was HOT! We struggled with the heat and reflections off the hot track.

Looking back at Lake Rodway after the climb out from Scott Kilvett Hut

It was fun, of course, great fun!

We headed into a Lake not too far from the Overland Track and set up camp. Being a bit circumspect here as the area is delicate and there are no toilets so it is not a campsite we would want to see overrun.

Camping on the beach

It was late afternoon by the time we had set up and the sun was starting to drop thankfully.

The start of our New Years sunset fireworks

We had carried in plenty of nibbles, some wine and a small bottle of Coke (to mix with the bourbon of course)

The sunset started to change

Alone on the beach, it was calm and warm. The mosquitoes decided it was time to wake up.

The cloud patterns were amazing

As the evening progressed we enjoyed a chicken curry and rice for dinner. Nice and simple for a quick bushwalking meal.

The show really started to include reds and orange

The show started to include reds and oranges

The red wine was tasting quite good but our friends, the mozzies, were very hungry. This was made worse by our small supply of bug repellent.

Sunset hit its peak, this is one of about 30 images

It was an early night with us, well asleep before midnight. We stayed for two nights at this spot, enjoying a relaxed New Years Day. The trip out to our hire car at Cradle Mountain was broken up by a night at Waterfall Valley. We met lots of great people heading off to walk the Overland Track. It was fun to watch them set up on their first night out.

All in all, a terrific way to spend New Years Eve as part of a short Tasmanian holiday.

What did you get up to on New Years Eve this year? Were you out and about with friends, camping, bushwalking or working?

Shoot us a comment below, we would love to hear what you got up to.

Oh, if you want to check out more photos of our Tasmanian holiday, Sue put up an album over at Our Hiking Blog facebook page. They include Maria Island, Hobart, camping and eating!

Off to Tassie for a couple of overnighters…..

Just a quick update to let you know we fly out tonight to our beloved Tasmania.

It has been a day of packing and trying to not exceed Jetstar’s baggage limits. We have dehydrated a few meals but will do most of the shopping in Launceston tomorrow before we head up to Cradle Mountain.

The plan is for a couple of nights around Cradle for New Year, maybe at Scott Kilvett and then Lake Ball.

Then, back into civilisation and down to Lake St Clair and into Pine Valley.

We have hired a car and will end up at Hobart for…

Vegetarian hiking recipes

We love it when readers share information and new ideas. Sonja contacted us recently about Food to Go and asked how many vegetarian recipes there were in the eBook. She is heads off on many multiday trips in Australia and was looking for some new ideas.

There is a vegetarian backpacking food section in Food to Go but it is not massive. We sent Sonja a copy to check it out i.e. if she was not happy, she did not have to pay for it.

The upshot of these communications was we did a swap, Sonja received…

Cheap Car Rental Melbourne: The Best Tool for Enjoying Melbourne

When you’re visiting a place like Melbourne that’s got so much to offer in terms of fashion, food, culture and many other things, you need cheap car rental Melbourne. First of all, you need something that you can use to get around to experience the whole place. Another thing is that you need it to be cost effective so that you can go around spending money on other things that matters. Yes, it’s the food, the culture, the fashion, everything in Melbourne that deserves top dollar.

Given a few days, three days at the most to spend in Melbourne, cheap car rental Melbourne will cut your traveling time to a fraction where you don’t have to wait around for the right bus to get somewhere and you also don’t have to share your ride with strangers. It’s true that you can see a lot of Melbourne in a group tour but then, that would be a different experience altogether considering that you have other people to share it with and it might not even be your family. When you’re going on a trip, alone or with someone, it’s more fun when it’s just you and the people you want to be with riding on the vehicle.

There might be something that you wanted to try out while you’re in Melbourne and this might cost you a hefty sum of money. If it’s dining in a fancy and popular restaurant for example, you need to put some funds into that to ensure that you can enjoy your time there. When your car rental is taking a big part of your budget, you might have to forgo this experience. With cheap car rental however, you can do anything and possibly everything you want in Melbourne because you some money to spend coming from your transportation savings. Indeed, cheap car rental Melbourne is a great tool to enjoy your time in Melbourne.

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