Tag Archives: bushwalk

Sue, Paul, Bethany and Stephen at the summit

Mont Gros Morne – Newfoundland – CANADA

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

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Views over Laghetto del Lauson

Gran Paradiso – ITALY

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.  

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Sue on Trolltunga

Skjaggedal – Trolltunga

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

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Sue on via ferrata Gustavo Vidi

Via Ferrata Gustavo Vidi

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

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No fear

Preikestolen – Pulpit Rock

Saturday 1/07/2017    Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock)

                                         Stavanger, Rogaland County, NORWAY 

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

This walk is accessed from Stavanger, a large town in southern Norway. We reached this destination by ferry and then bus from Stavanger which took over an hour each way. It is possible to drive from Stavanger by taking a car ferry to Tau. A fee is payable at the car park at the start of the walk.

Highlights of the walk include stunning fjord views and according to the tourist brochure “the worlds most breathtaking viewing platform” – you just have to share it a multitude of other people.  Continue reading

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Skagedals-vatnet (the lake below Keipen)

Geirangerfjord – Skagefla – Keipen – Homlong

Sunday 25/6/2017     Homlong – Skagefla – Keipen – Geiranger

                                       Geirangerfjord, NORWAY

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

For this walk we based ourselves at the small town of Geiranger at the end of the Geiranger Fjord. We reached this destination from the Hurtigruten coastal ferry. Next day we took a short scenic cruise around Geirangerfjord before being dropped off at Skagehola on the way back to Geiranger. This drop-off enables walkers to walk back to Geiranger as a one way trip.

Highlights of the walk include the stunning fjord with plentiful waterfall views, several historic farm buildings and some awesome high level mountain scenery.  Continue reading

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Rainbow over Jokulgilskvisl

Landmannalaugar Valley

Monday 7/08/2017   Landmannalaugar Valley

                                      Fjallabak Nature Reserve, ICELAND

Participants: Jenny Asquith, Greg Burke, Andrew Burns, Sharon Burns, Stefano Cacioppo (Guide), Enrico Chierici (Guide), Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report), Tony Fitzpatrick, Simon Marlton, Danilo Ortelli, Jenny Woods

The Landmannalaugar Valley is a popular area of Iceland for trekking. The most popular walk, a six day trek starts from the campground. This excellent day walk takes in many features of the area and you access three peaks for fabulous views of the dramatic volcanic landscape and painted hills. Continue reading

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Allt Airdeasaidh with Sail Mhor

Allt Airdeasaidh Waterfalls

Monday 24/7/2017   Allt Airdeasaidh Waterfalls

                                      Ross and Cromarty, SCOTLAND

Participants: Caroline Davies, Peter Davies, Stephen Davies (Photos,  Report), Sue Davies

This short scenic walk is located to the south of the main road from Ardessie on Little Loch Broom. This area is on Scotland’s north coast just west of Dundonnell and virtually underneath the 767m high Sail Mhor.  Continue reading

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Views near Mt Ulriken

Mount Ulriken – Mount Floyen

Thursday 22/06/2017   Mount Ulriken – Mount Floyen

                                          Bergen, NORWAY

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

This popular day walk is easily accessible by bus and gondola from Bergen. It is best to hike from Mt Ulriken as it is considerably higher than Mt Floyen. Another gondola at Mt Floyen allows for a quick and scenic ride back into downtown Bergen.  Continue reading

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Just north of Redgate Beach

Boranup Karri Forest – Redgate Beach – Lake Cave

Wednesday 8/11/2017   Boranup Karri Forest – Redgate Beach – Lake Cave

                                            WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

Today saw us driving through a Karri forest, walking another small section of the Cape to Cape Track at Redgate Beach and taking a guided tour through Lake Cave.

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Quokkas at Rottnest

Rottnest Island

Wednesday 1/11/2017   Rottnest Island

                                             WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Participants: Stephen Davies (Photos), Sue Davies (Report)

Located 19km off the West Australian coast to the west of Freemantle, Rottnest Island (“Rat’s Nest”) was named after the small native marsupials called quokkas (Setonix brachyurus) found here by Dutch sailors over 200 years ago. It is also home to sea lions and seals, native birds and three endemic tree species. Human settlement dates back at least 30,000 years when then island was still connected to the mainland. Continue reading

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Granite Bouders at Greens Pool

Mount Hallowell – Lights Beach – Wilson Head – Green Pool – Elephant Rock

Sunday 12/11/2017   Mount Hallowell – Lights Beach – Wilson Head

                                       Denmark, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

                                      Minang country

Participants: Ian Cockerill, Junko Cockerill, Stephen Davies (Photos, Report), Sue Davies, Dave

At Ian’s suggestion we found ourselves in Denmark for a couple of nights. He and Junko driving down from Perth for the weekend to stay with friends in the next street and to join us for a local walk with Dave. The weather in Denmark was overcast and decidedly cooler than the rest of the weather we had previously encountered on this trip. This made for much more comfortable walking conditions. Continue reading

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