5/1/1986 – 15/1/1986 Pokhara – Annapurna Sanctuary – Poon Hill
NEPAL
Participants: Peter Davies, Stephen Davies (Report, Photos), Ram Hari Kndel (Porter), Ram Karki (Guide)
Following our aborted attempt at completing the Annapurna Circuit due to excessive snow fall above Manang we decided to attempt the Annapurna Sanctuary trek, which should take us between 7 and 10 days. Continue reading
18/12/1985 – 4/1/1986 Annapurna “Circuit”
NEPAL
Participants: Peter Davies, Stephen Davies (Report, Photos), Ram Hari Kndel (Porter), Ram Karki (Guide), John Meehan (1 day)
Steve and Pete’s tale of their 1985 trek from Dumre to Manang on which they encountered an overnight snowfall of about 1 metre at Hongde. We had arrived at Hongde where we encountered a very significant snowfall which forced us to abandon our plan to complete the Annapurna Circuit. As the weather improved and after some retreating parties set tracks in the snow we managed to get a little way up past Manang to check the scenery before turning back. Continue reading
Saturday 12/09/2014 Slemenova Spica
Kranjska Gora, SLOVENIA
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies
About 9km south of Kranjska Gora on route 206 after a climb and series of hairpin bends in the road you reach the car park park at Vrsic (1611m). Although there are numerous trails heading off in all directions from this carpark our aim was Slemenova Spica, so we sidled up the hill towards the north to reach Vratica (1799m) before turning west and continuing towards Slemenova Spica. Continue reading
Thursday 1/03/2018 Steamers Beach – Kittys Beach – Whiting Beach
Booderee National Park, NSW
Tharawal country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Geri Louis, John Louis, Trish Law, Dave Whitelaw
Located on the south-east corner of Booderee National Park this walk takes you to three beaches each with a distinctly different aspect and feel. Along the circuit you pass through scenic bushland, several great vantage points and Blacks Waterhole. Encounters with red bellied black snakes are common in the warmer months. Continue reading
Wednesday 28/02/2018 Murrays Beach – Murrays Hill – Snapper Point
Booderee National Park, NSW
Tharawal country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Geri Louis, John Louis, Trish Law, Dave Whitelaw
Located on the north-east corner of Booderee National Park this walk takes in the awesome Murrays Beach. Around the circuit you pass through scenic bushland, one this occasion recovering from a recent bushfire, several great vantage points which provide fleeting glimpses of the coastal cliffs and Governor Lookout with views of Bowen Island and Jervis Bay. Continue reading
Tuesday 13/2/2018 Darlington – Bishop and Clerk
Maria Island National Park, TASMANIA
Paredarerme country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
This scenic day walk to the rugged rocky outcrops known as Bishop and Clerk provides panoramic views over Fossil Bay to the west on Maria Island and across the Tasman Sea to Freycinet Peninsula. Continue reading
Monday 12/2/2018 Darlington – Painted Cliffs
Maria Island National Park, TASMANIA
Paredarerme country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
It is a short walk from the main settlement at Darlington to the impressive Painted Cliffs at the southern end of Hopground Beach. They are accessible on a low tide with small swell. Continue reading
Sunday 11/02/2018 Mount Amos – Wineglass Bay – Hazards Beach
Freycinet National Park, TASMANIA
Paredarerme country
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
This walk provides photo opportunities to capture the iconic Wineglass Bay panorama from the top of Mount Amos. Key features of this fantastic day walk include the crescent shaped white sand of Wineglass Bay with the chance to swim in it’s crystal clear turquoise waters all surrounded by native forest and nearby rugged granite peaks. Continue reading
Saturday 11/8/2001 Mont Gros Morne
Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland, CANADA
Participants: Bethany Davies, Paul Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
We awoke much later than planned to overcast conditions. Despite our best efforts we were still not on the trailhead until 11:40am. Boy, laden down again, a Lowe pack, Bronica medium format camera and three lenses, two Canon EOS cameras with two more lenses with the tripod and bumbags and 2L bottles full of water. It very hard going for the first 4km of gradual uphill climb, obviously too much wine last night. We stashed a 2L drink bottle at about the 4km mark. From here it was a very nice wander through the forest, and rapids lookout meandering uphill to the base of Mont Gros Morne. At it’s base the trails split near a couple of small tarns. The weather to this point has been cool but we were pretty warm owing to our exertions. Continue reading
14/07/2017 – 19/07/2017 Gran Paradiso
Gran Paradiso National Park, ITALY
Distance: 97km Total Ascent: 5,520m Total Descent: 4,800m
Time: 35 hours
Participants: Jenny Asquith, Hannah Brody, Mel Brody, Paul Brody, Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (report), Erica Fantini (Guide), Karen Laverack, Simon Marlton
Gran Paradiso is Italy’s oldest national park. It includes numerous soaring peaks, massifs, glaciers, interconnected ridges and cols separated by deep tranquil valleys and rushing streams. Within the park the 4061m Gran Paradiso is the dominant peak but there are also sweeping panoramas beyond towards the Matterhorn, Mont Blanc and Monte Rosa. Closer up one an observe alpine meadows and ice-smoothed rock faces. We observed chamois, ibex and alpine marmots and many wildflowers.
Throughout the area there are many different signposted walking trails. Here we participated in our first ever guided walk, as we had decided to join a group of friends to explore this area of Alpine Italy.
Thursday 29/06/2017 Skjaggedal – Trolltunga
Odda District, NORWAY
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
This walk is accessed from the small town of Skjaggedal near Odda, south of Bergen. We reached this destination by hire car, driving from Tyssedal. A fee is payable at the private car park at the start of the walk.
Highlights of the walk include stunning lake views, the iconic “Troll’s Tongue” and high level mountain scenery. Continue reading
Monday 10/07/2017 Via Ferrata Gustavo Vidi
Madonna Di-Campiglio, ITALY
Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)
About 1km north of Madonna Di Campiglio, at Passo Campo Carlo, we caught the gondola up to Passo del Groste. This had the advantage of avoiding a lengthy slog up a fairly long and winding path up through the meadows below the mountains. From here we our aim was to walk and scramble the Via Ferrata Gustavo Vidi. Continue reading