3 Day Navigation Hike Information for All Participants

3 Day Navigation Hike

A 3 day hike in the Wollangambe Wilderness to advance your navigation and leadership skills

Led by Ashley Burke

Information for all Participants

Have you previously attended a MountainSphere 2-day navigation training weekend? Do you want more practise and to take your skills to the next level on a 3 day hike? Do you want to consolidate what you have already learned and become a trip leader competent in wilderness navigation?

If yes, you have come to the right place by joining this 3 day navigation hike.

This information pack contains everything you need to know to prepare for and attend the trip.

Contents About the 3 Day Navigation Hike ...... 5 Aims and Objectives ...... 6 Group Size ...... 7 Typical Itinerary ...... 7 Day 1 ...... 7 Day 2 ...... 8 Day 3 ...... 8 What to Bring ...... 9 Meeting Place and Time ...... 9 Course Notes ...... 9 Maps ...... 10 Compass ...... 10 Footwear ...... 10 Carpooling ...... 11 What if it Rains? ...... 12 Starting on Time ...... 13 Public Transport Options ...... 13 Monday to Friday ...... 13 Weekends ...... 13 Directions to our Meeting Place ...... 14 Directions if Travelling via Bells Line of Road ...... 15 Directions if Travelling via Great Western Highway ...... 16 Return ...... 16 Interstate Travellers ...... 17 Pre and Post Trip Travel and Accommodation Options ...... 17 Arrival Travel and Accommodation ...... 17 Return Travel and Accommodation ...... 17 Food ...... 18 Water ...... 18 Bushfire Damage ...... 18 Level of Difficulty ...... 19 Fitness Requirements ...... 19 Description of the Terrain ...... 19 Key Metrics ...... 20 Rock Scrambling and Use of a Rope (Optional) ...... 20 River Crossings ...... 21

Dangers and Risks ...... 22 Snake Bite...... 22 Bushfire ...... 22 Unfenced Cliffs and Precipices ...... 22 Steep and Unstable Ground, Rockfall, Landslide ...... 22 Exposure to the Elements ...... 22 Burns ...... 22 COVID-19 Considerations ...... 23 Advise of Any Symptoms or Exposure Risk ...... 23 COVIDSafe App ...... 23 Hygiene ...... 23 Social Distancing ...... 23 Money Matters ...... 24 Payment Terms and Cancellation Policy ...... 24 Contact Details ...... 24 Appendix A – Equipment Checklist ...... 25

About the 3 Day Navigation Hike The 3 day navigation hike is offered only to those clients who have already attended the MountainSphere 2 day navigation weekend and who want to take their learning and navigation skills to the next level.

The 3 day navigation hike is held in the same general area as the 2 day navigation weekend, which is in the Wollangambe Wilderness north of Bell in the upper Blue Mountains. Although the trip is carried out in the same general area, and starts and ends at the same place, the route taken is entirely different and only part of the last day covers the same route as the 2 day navigation weekend. The location of each camp is different, and the route taken is for the most part also different.

The approach taken in the leading of this trip and in the teaching of navigation is also somewhat different. Clients are given greater autonomy in route planning and navigation, you will rise to new challenges and will discover hidden locations in the wilderness by applying navigation skills already learned.

As you will already be familiar with navigation basics from the 2-day navigation weekend, these skills will again be covered only as a refresher, and this will allow more time to place a greater focus on your planning the route, assessing the speed and size of the group, time needed to cover the ground, how much water to carry, when and where to stop, etc.

Your task will be to find places of exceptional natural beauty, hidden in the wilderness, with only a dot on the map given as your clue to its location. Uncover amazing natural rock sculptures, locate idyllic campsites, even discover a little known and rarely visited canyon and an ancient fern glade.

In your 3 day adventure you will consolidate your navigation skills, your leadership skills, and friendships. Work with a small team of like minded people in a wild and undeveloped environment, camp in a wilderness far from anywhere, and return from it invigorated and inspired, and having risen to new challenges.

Discover places like this, and others.

Aims and Objectives As with all MountainSphere trips, the primary aim is to have fun, to enjoy and appreciate the bush, and to build friendships.

We all have in common a love for the bush and we see it as a place to go for our personal wellbeing, enjoyment, health, and appreciation of the natural world. Navigation is simply the skill that we deploy to venture into wild places and find our way back again. So first and foremost, fun, enjoyment, friendship and appreciation of nature are our central aims and objectives on every trip.

A secondary but nonetheless very important objective actually supports the first. This secondary objective is of course the navigational aspect, where you will learn and develop your skill in navigation so that you acquire the confidence to lead a group into a wilderness and navigate them safely out again. Such a skill carries with it a level of responsibility, especially if you have people on the trip who have less experience in navigation than you do. So, an important aim of this 3 day hike is to safely expose yourself to the responsibilities of navigation and leadership, under the oversight and expertise of someone with more than 30 years’ experience in wilderness navigation and leading trips in this specific location.

Group Size To enhance your experiential learning and to maximize the opportunity for you to gain experience in navigational leading, the group size will be capped at a maximum of 5 clients. By comparison, the 2 day introductory navigation weekend is capped at 10 clients. Typical Itinerary The itinerary is less detailed than the 2 day navigation weekend to allow clients greater autonomy and leadership to plan the itinerary. However, clear boundaries can be defined regarding start and end times and campsite and lunch locations for each day.

Below is an overall schedule, and the days’ details will largely be completed by yourselves, as part of the route planning process.

Day 1 Time Activity 07:00 If driving to Bell from Sydney, this is when you should depart Sydney, depending on the suburb or area that you are coming from. Allow more time if coming from eastern suburbs, northern beaches, south coast or central coast. 08:30-09:00 Arrive at Bell. Exact location and directions are here. 09:00-09:30 Gear check, sort out gear etc, if required. 09:30-10:30 Pre-trip briefing. The principles of navigation that you learned on the 2 day navigation weekend will be briefly covered again if you need it.

You will be given a planning exercise for the first stage of the walk. Given only a few waypoints on your map, you will plan a route, assess the terrain, identify navigational challenges, and then you will present your ideas to the group and the group as a whole will agree on an approach. 10:30 We will start our walk. Take turns leading the way to the first waypoint which you need to find yourself. When you find it, you will say wow and get out your camera! 11:30 Continue on your planned route to the second waypoint, which will be where we have lunch. The route will be one which you worked out in the planning stage, and you’ll take turns leading the way. 13:00 Lunch. We are at a spot that you will remember from the 2-day navigation weekend but you will have arrived here by a different route and you will leave it by a different route as well. 14:00 You will now work out a route to get to our campsite. There are navigational challenges on the way. Identify these and watch out for them! 16:30 Arrive at Camp 1. It is in an open area by a river. There is running water nearby. We can then enjoy food, wine, company, and the camp fire, stories, cooking, everything.

Day 2 Time Activity 08:00 After breakfast, plan your route to Camp 2. How long will it take? How much water will you need to carry? Are there any places to find water on the route? Where should we stop for lunch? Look for navigational gotchas and work out your route. Discuss and reach group consensus. 09:00 Start the day’s walking. You’re in charge of the route, the pace and the timing as part of your learning experience. I’ll be there to nudge you in the right direction and help you with your decision making but the aim is for you to gain experience in being the leader. 14:30 Hopefully we will arrive at Camp 2 by about now. It is in a unique and secluded place near the confluence of some small rivulets. If we have time, we’ll visit a small but beautiful canyon nearby. It is a special place. 16:00 Settle into camp, setup tents, enjoy another evening away from it all.

Day 3 Time Activity 08:00 After breakfast, plan your route back to Bell. As with the previous 2 days, you’ll be given a fair degree of autonomy to do the route planning and decision making yourself. However there are a few tips and guidelines that will be given to you so that we all go by a safe and rewarding route, that maximizes your navigation experience and enjoyment of the amazing area. 16:00 We will most likely get back to the cars before 16:00 but you should plan on not returning to your vehicle until 16:00 in case of any unforeseen delays.

We’ll debrief at a lovely spot before we exit the wilderness and then it will be time to part company and head our separate ways.

What to Bring The list of what you need to bring is at: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~aburke/WhatToBring/EquipmentList3DayNavWeekend.htm

Please click here to access this list and if you haven’t already, let me know if you need anything. I have a very limited supply of gear that I can lend you if you there is something on the list that you don’t have and cannot readily obtain.

See Appendix A for an equipment checklist. Meeting Place and Time The 3 day navigation hike will start and end at the same place as the 2 day navigation weekend, which is at Bell. Bell is a small village north of Mt Victoria in the Blue Mountains. The walking, navigating and camping will be carried out in an area known as the upper Wollangambe, which is to the north of Bell.

We will meet on the northern side of the railway line at Bell railway station upper Blue Mountains, at 08:30 on the day of the trip.

Detailed directions to this meeting point are in the Directions to our Meeting Place section, and there are also carpooling and public transport options. Course Notes The principles of navigation that are taught on the 2 day navigation weekend are available online and in PDF format. You’ll be applying these same principles on the 3 day navigation hike, only with more autonomy.

Online course notes: Click Here PDF course notes: Download Here

BEFORE YOU PRINT ANYTHING: Please be advised that the PDF document is more than 55 pages long and it is not necessary for you to print and bring these notes with you on the trip as it is a hiking trip focused on applying these skills in a practical way.

You do, however, have the option to print selected pages to serve as a set of "cheat sheets" to help you remember the techniques you will be putting into practise on the weekend. The best pages to print are pages 34-41 (8 pages in total). You may also wish to print "The Back Page" (pages 54 and 55).

Maps You will each need your own copy of the Wollangambe 1:25000 topographic map (8931-2S), published by the Spatial Services division of the NSW government.

I normally stock these maps and you can purchase one on the day or beforehand for a cost of around $20. The map is then yours to keep after the weekend.

You also have the option of bringing your own copy, or obtain one yourself from elsewhere.

You may share one map between two people if you wish.

Spatial Services are phasing out all printed topographic maps so these maps are increasingly difficult to obtain from retail outlets. The maps I supply you are from remaining stock, or professionally printed from the digital version of the map. Compass You should each have a baseplate compass for the trip, such as one of those shown under Choosing a Compass on my online navigation page here: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~aburke/Navigation/lesson2Page2.htm#S7_2

You can share one compass between two people if you wish.

Compasses are available from most good outdoor stores and online. I also stock a range of new compasses which I can supply you at the same price that it costs me. You can choose your model of compass when you complete the trip application form, or you can order your compass simply by emailing me. Compasses that I supply you are brand new and are then yours to keep after the weekend.

If you’re really budget conscious, you can rent a compass from me for the weekend at a cost of $10- 20, depending on the model of compass. I recommend though, that you do purchase a compass because navigation is all about practise and experience, and you will gain the most from the trip if you continue to develop your skill afterwards, and for this you will need a compass! Footwear Many people ask for recommendations around footwear. This is a complex subject that could be the subject of a separate paper entirely! In a nutshell, everyone’s foot and requirements are different, however specialized walking boots are generally not necessary and trainers/running shoes/sports shoes with robust firm soles that have good grip, good support for the arch of your foot, and good cushioning for the ball and heel of your foot should be sufficient for most people. Ankle support in your footwear (shoes or boots that cover the ankles) is generally only required for people who are susceptible to ankle strain. You may email me directly if unsure about footwear.

For the occasional wading across streams, it is recommended that you bring a very light and cheap pair of sandals/crocs/thongs so that you can cross the streams safely and keep your walking shoes dry. You’ll be carrying these in your pack the rest of the time.

Carpooling Please note that COVID-19 social distancing restrictions may limit your options for car pooling.

COVID-19 restrictions aside, car pooling is recommended, especially for those coming from the Sydney metropolitan area. If you wish to participate in the carpool, please contact me, advising me of the following:

• Your suburb or area where you will be travelling from on the morning of departure. • If you’re offering to drive, how many spare seats you would have in your car for passengers bearing in mind space needed for luggage. • If you don’t have a car or don’t want to drive, please let me know so a lift can be arranged for you.

There is no requirement to drive on unsealed roads or off-road for this trip.

Carpooling etiquette is that:

• Passengers pay their driver for petrol and other costs as determined by the driver. Normally this would be around $15-20 per passenger for the return trip from Sydney. • Drivers should nominate a meeting place that is both convenient to them yet also accessible by the passenger if coming by public transport to meet you. • Everyone should be at the agreed meeting place on time.

I can connect drivers with passengers if I know everyone’s location so do let me know if you want to participate. Otherwise, you may just want to drive up independently.

I will be coming from Hornsby and have space for 3 passengers.

Studiously studying the map

What if it Rains? Whilst the Blue Mountains enjoys mostly a stable and mild climate, rain is possible.

It is very unlikely that the trip would be cancelled due to rain. Except in the case of extreme weather events, rain does not adversely impact the weekend’s activities and may in some ways enhance it. As stated in the Aims and Objectives section, the aim of the trip is to have fun, and to learn to navigate. The latter is enhanced by rain, because in adverse weather, careful route planning and accurate navigation are key to finding your way to shelter, and this is exactly what you will be doing. We have the option to choose campsites in sheltered natural rock overhangs protected from the weather. The catch is that you might need to navigate through the rain and perhaps wind and cold to get there.

The principles of navigation are taught at the meeting place at Bell railway station before we start the hike. In the event of wet weather, we will retreat to the covered section of the railway station platform to carry out this preliminary navigation lesson. We will only head out into the rain for the hike once we have thoroughly examined maps and carefully plotted a route and set bearings for the sheltered camp.

The weekend will not be cancelled by me except in the case of extreme conditions such as catastrophic fire danger, active and uncontrolled bushfires in the area, park closure, or extremes of wind, rain or cold.

You are of course free to make your own decision on whether or not to venture out into the rain for 4-6 hours of hiking in the rain to a campsite in the wilderness. Whilst I absolutely respect any individual’s decision not to come in the rain, unfortunately you are not entitled to a refund of the fee for the weekend if you decide last minute not to come. You would be entitled to a refund of the cost of your map and compass if you don’t receive these items as a result of you cancelling. I will make every effort to rebook you onto a future navigation weekend if you wish, though the fee for that weekend would need to be paid.

I am willing to hike for 3 days in the rain myself as my commitment to provide you navigation training in a real outdoor environment where you will learn how to find your way through a wilderness in adverse conditions. It is when the weather turns bad that the navigation skills you have are the most important, and that is what you’ll be learning.

It’s raining, but we’re still smiling

Starting on Time This is very important. We have a lot to get through on the first day of the trip, and we all want to reach our camp site in plenty of time to settle in before dark. We also don’t want to feel rushed, and we want as much time as possible to learn and practise navigation skills, and to take the time we need to do that.

Therefore, please arrive at our meeting place at Bell at or before 08:30. This means leaving your home at around 07:00 if you live in the Sydney suburbs, or earlier if you are farther away.

If you are running late, you must let me know by calling or texting my mobile at 0414 633 315. There is good mobile phone coverage around our meeting place at Bell.

If you are running late, we have the right to start without you. Public Transport Options Because our meeting place is at the little known and rustic Bell railway station, it is possible to travel by train to our meeting place.

Here are the train times:

Monday to Friday Blue Mountains Line – Central to Lithgow Stations Time Central 06:23 Strathfield 06:36 Blacktown 06:57 Penrith 07:11 Glenbrook 07:25 Bell 08:51 arrival (Train proceeds to Lithgow)

Weekends Stations Time Central 06:24 Strathfield 06:37 Blacktown 06:58 Penrith 07:14 Glenbrook 07:27 Bell 08:55 arrival (Train proceeds to Lithgow)

Check http://www.sydneytrains.info/ for the latest train times, trackwork, timetable changes etc.

PLEASE NOTE: You need to ask the train guard to stop at Bell otherwise the train may not stop there!

Directions to our Meeting Place Our meeting place is the northern side of the railway line at Bell railway station, upper Blue Mountains.

I recommend travelling to Bell via Richmond and Bell’s Line of Road, although travelling via the Great Western Highway and Mt Victoria is also acceptable. I encourage the use of Bells Line of Road unless for some reason it is quicker for you to go via Mt Victoria.

Our rendezvous point is here: https://goo.gl/maps/6MjQh

The directions below assume you are coming from the Sydney metropolitan area. Contact me directly if you want directions from somewhere else.

Can you find this place? It’s on the map … somewhere.

Directions if Travelling via Bells Line of Road

Google Maps Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/hOF5L

• Get onto the M2 motorway, heading west • Stay on the M2 which becomes M7. • Take the Richmond Exit off the M7. • Continue along Richmond Road until you reach the town of Richmond. • In Richmond, follow signs to Bell and Lithgow. This will involve turning RIGHT for one block and then LEFT. • Continue along Bells Line of Road through North Richmond and on to Kurrajong. Steep climb up to Kurrajong heights – watch out for the speed camera! • Keep going through Bilpin and onwards through the mountains, keep going straight ahead, past Mt Tomah thence past the Mt Wilson turnoff and onwards straight towards Bell/Lithgow. Eventually the following happens: • Speed limit drops to 60 • There is a heavy vehicle checking station on the right • There is a signposted large intersection with Mount Victoria to left and Lithgow straight ahead.

If you are at the point where the above 3 statements are true then you are at Bell.

• Just between the heavy vehicle checking station and the T intersection is a turn-off on the right called Sandham Road. This is a sealed road that goes parallel to Bells Line of Road on the other side of the railway line. Follow it until you reach Bell station (on the left). Turn into the Bell station parking area and we will all meet there.

Directions if Travelling via Great Western Highway

Google Maps Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/ekshA

• Get onto the M4 motorway, heading west • Keep going straight, through the Blue mountains, past Katoomba and Blackheath and on to Mount Victoria. • At Mount Victoria there is a single set of traffic lights, with a signposted right turn. The signpost reads “Bell” or “Darling Causeway” or “Mount Wilson”. Turn right here. • After 10km you will reach the intersection described above. Turn right and you will see the heavy vehicle checking station. The minor road that you turn off on to get to the station is a left turn, just before the heavy vehicle station.

If you reach Bell and aren’t sure about these final directions then just call me. There is good mobile phone coverage there. Return We will return to Bell on Sunday afternoon. Usually we finish the walk in the mid afternoon, around - 3-4pm. It is then about a 2 hour drive back to Sydney.

Interstate Travellers This section is for the benefit of those undertaking air travel and/or coming through Sydney Airport to attend the trip.

If booking flights, you should schedule your arrival flight to arrive on the afternoon or evening prior to the scheduled first day of the trip.

Your return flight should be scheduled no earlier than 8pm on the last day to allow enough time for travel from Bell to the airport in time to meet your flight and allowing for any unexpected delays. Normally the trip concludes at Bell at about 4pm however it takes around 3 hours by public transport to get from there to the airport and train services are infrequent. It is therefore recommended that you book your return flight for the following morning (Monday) instead of risking missing your Sunday evening flight.

Pre and Post Trip Travel and Accommodation Options It is recommended that you book accommodation in the Blue Mountains, in Katoomba or Blackheath, for both the night prior and the night after the trip.

Arrival Travel and Accommodation As mentioned, it is recommended that you book an arrival flight that arrives in Sydney Airport on afternoon or early evening prior to the trip. Then you could take a train from the airport to Central Station, a journey of about 15-20 minutes. Then at Central Station, change trains to the Blue Mountains Line and take a train up to Katoomba or Blackheath and spend the night at your booked accommodation there. The train journey from Central Station to Katoomba or Blackheath takes around 2 hours.

Return Travel and Accommodation As mentioned, rather than risk missing a Sunday evening return flight, it is recommended to book your return flight for the Monday. Our hike concludes at Bell station on the Sunday afternoon at around 3-4pm. The train service from Bell only runs every 2 hours, with one of these two-hourly services being at around 16:10. You could take this train back to Katoomba and spend a night there before getting a morning train down to Central and then out to the airport for a Monday flight. Or if your Monday flight is too early, consider accommodation closer to Central Station or the airport.

Please let me know if you require any help with your travel arrangements, it may be possible to car pool or arrange a lift to or from the airport with myself or another participant, and this could make your travel arrangement considerably easier.

Food Bring your own food and cooking utensils for the weekend. You will need to bring:

3 lunches 2 dinners 2 breakfasts Snacks

If you would like some suggestions on the sorts of food that is suitable for this type of trip, click here. Stoves are recommended for cooking. We may have a campfire. If you do not have a stove, you can borrow one or I can provide hot water for you. Water Good water can be found en route. You should only need to bring 1-2 litres with you from Sydney, although you should bring enough bottles to hold a bit more. 2 x 1.5 litre plastic mineral water bottles should be sufficient, and only one of these needs to be full at the start of the walk. Bushfire Damage We will be walking through country that was burnt in bushfires in October 2013 and again in the summer of 2019-2020. The area is severely impacted by the recent fires but is beginning to recover. New life is slowly appearing, and the colours of ash and charcoal are tempered with green. It is a beautiful area of delicate rock formations and bushfires are natural, but the frequency and intensity of recent bushfires has had a devastating impact. We will need to tread carefully as the fragile bush begins its long road to recovery.

March-April 2020, bushfire recovery underway

Level of Difficulty Please read this section carefully. This section contains:

• Fitness requirements • Description of the terrain • Information about rock scrambling and optional use of a rope to assist you • Information about river crossings

Please read all these sections carefully.

Fitness Requirements This trip is open only to clients who have previously completed a 2 day entry level navigation weekend in the same area. By being admitted on this 3 day hike you will already have demonstrated a good level of competency and fitness on the 2 day navigation weekend.

The three day hike is no harder in terrain, distance and difficulty than the 2 day navigation weekend. However, being a 3 day rather than a 2 day hike, your backpack will be a little heavier owing to the additional food you will be carrying. Apart from this, the level of difficulty is similar.

Regular exercise and prior experience carrying a backpack for overnight camping is required. Regular exercise is taken to mean something that causes you to sweat and become out of breath, carried out at least twice per week. For example, a brisk walk, jog, run, gym workout or sporting activity.

Description of the Terrain Much of the walking is through bush where there is no track. Under normal circumstances there would be a few areas of dense scrub that you need to push through. However, due to recent severe bushfires, the untracked bushland is largely bare of dense vegetation and it is possible to walk through it unimpeded.

The terrain is hilly and steep in places, especially when we enter and exit river and creek gorges.

There are 2 river crossings, as well as a few crossings of smaller creeks. The bush in the vicinity of the creeks and gorges is often dense and difficult to move through. That is why we aim to follow the open and now somewhat denuded ridges instead of creek gorges when walking.

There is the occasional rock scramble, for details on this please see the section on rock scrambling below. On the positive side the steep and difficult terrain is limited to only a few short steep sections.

Key Metrics Total distance over the three days: 8km on road + 30km in bush

Distance Walked on Day 1 3km on road + 10km in bush Distance Walked on Day 2 10km in bush (including some fire trail) Distance Walked on Day 3 5km on road + 10km in bush Altitude of Highest point: 1100m Altitude of Lowest point: 800m Difference between highest and lowest 300m point: Number of river crossings: 2, plus some smaller creek crossings. Depth of river at crossing point: About 20-30cm Width of river at crossing point: About 2m

Rock Scrambling and Use of a Rope (Optional) There are one or two places on this walk that involve some basic rock scrambling. The term “rock scrambling” refers to steep and rocky ground where ropes or other protection is not needed however you might be using both your hands and feet to climb or descend. Your hands and arms are not needed to support your weight in any way however you may use your hands for balance and added support to climb or descend. There are a couple of places on this walk where this technique is used. It is well within the capabilities of people unfamiliar with this sort of terrain.

If needed, a rope will be setup wherever rock scrambling is required. Use of this route is entirely optional and in most cases an alternative route exists which does not require rope or rock scrambling. People of all ages and abilities have used this scrambling route successfully. A photo of one of the rock scrambling routes is shown on the next page.

This route uses a short rope to assist you. An alternative route exists that does not require rope or rock scrambling.

River Crossings On Day 1 and 3 we must cross the Wollangambe River. The crossing is at a different place on each day. The width of the river at the crossing point is only about 2-3 metres. The depth of the river is below knee deep. The riverbed is comprised of smooth stones which may be slippery.

Crossing the river is simply a matter of wading for a few steps through water that is above your ankles but below your knees.

The banks on either side of the stream are bushy but there are places to easily get in and out of the water on each side. I usually stand in the water to provide any assistance needed.

Hiking poles can help with balance when crossing the river.

Some people choose to take shoes off and others don’t, but my recommendation is to leave shoes on so your feet are protected against cuts, abrasions and slippage. But if you’re wearing boots this could leave your boots saturated so in that case it may be a good idea to have a pair of lightweight sandals/runners/crocs or thongs for the crossing.

Below is a photo of a typical river crossing.

This is a typical river crossing.

Dangers and Risks All participants are required to read and sign a Risk Assessment and waiver prior to attending the trip. You may bring the signed risk assessment and waiver with you on the trip or send me a scanned copy beforehand. The risk assessment document covers some of the risks associated with this walk, although it is worth restating these here:

Snake Bite Snakes are known to inhabit the area, though sightings are rare.

Bushfire Bushfires are a part of the ecosystem in the area that we will be visiting. Recent wildfires in this area have been in October 2013 and December 2019.

Unfenced Cliffs and Precipices There are many small to medium sized cliffs, escarpments and precipices in the area, none of which are fenced.

Steep and Unstable Ground, Rockfall, Landslide Some of the terrain we will walk through is steep, loose and unstable. There is the risk of dislodging rocks or other debris, endangering yourself or others. There is the risk of slipping or falling, spraining an ankle or some other injury. Falling trees, falling rocks etc may happen through natural causes at any time. Some rock formations are delicate and fragile and may break unexpectedly if walked upon.

Exposure to the Elements Being a wilderness area, exposure to the elements is possible, and if not suitably managed can lead to exposure related conditions such as dehydration, heat stress, heat exhaustion, or hypothermia.

Burns Campfires, camp stoves, heating food and boiling water present the risk of burns. Suitable precautions should be taken when camping and cooking to minimize the risk of burns and first aid should be carried.

Once again, please see the risk assessment document for further details, and read it and sign it before commencing the walk.

COVID-19 Considerations The global COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 has wrought sudden and sweeping changes to the way we interact as a human society and the long term impacts of this are yet to be realised.

To comply with social distancing and other restrictions, and to fulfil our moral duty to stop the spread of the virus, certain measures will be adopted. These are outlined below.

Advise of Any Symptoms or Exposure Risk Please advise at time of booking of any of the following:

• If you have knowingly come into contact in the last 14 days with anyone who was then or has since been diagnosed with COVID-19. • If you have any potential COVID-19 symptoms whatsoever? Eg: Fever, cough, runny nose, breathlessness, even feeling a little bit off. • If your work or movements has placed you in a high risk category. Eg: if you work in front line health care or in a COVID cluster, or if you have had contact with nursing homes, cruise ship passengers, or anyone who has recently returned from overseas. • If you have any medical condition or are on any medication which may have compromised your immune system.

COVIDSafe App MountainSphere Adventures strongly recommends that all participants download, register and turn on the COVIDSafe mobile app. I encourage you to have your mobile phone with the app installed and BlueTooth on throughout the trip, with the phone on or near your person as far as practicably possible throughout the trip. This is not a mandatory requirement but a recommendation. You will not be penalised in any way for opting not to carry a mobile phone or for opting not to install the app.

Hygiene Hand sanitizer must be carried by every participant and used frequently. As a minimum, hand sanitizer needs to be applied:

• Upon arrival at the meeting point on Day 1 immediately before joining the group. • Upon arrival at each camp. • Upon arrival at each lunch or snack break. • Before touching or handling food. • Before touching or handling any group gear, shared equipment, or another person’s belongings. • After visiting the bathroom or toilet.

Social Distancing Friendship, teamwork, group cohesion and being together is the heart and soul of every MountainSphere trip. The reality of the pandemic means that we need to do this whilst maintaining the necessary physical distancing to stop the spread. The following social distancing measures will be adopted to ensure we all – and the rest of society - stay safe.

• The sharing of tents between people who do not normally live together should be avoided. • The sharing of food between people who do not normally live together should be avoided. • Keep to the 1.5m distancing rule when gathering around the campfire, maps or any time that we congregate.

• When walking, keep mindful of the 1.5m distancing rule and be aware that at times of physical exertion like climbing a hill, that the 1.5m rule should be extended to 3m or more. • If coughing or sneezing, cover mouth and nose with the crook of your elbow or a handkerchief, and then use hand sanitizer. Money Matters The size of the group is capped to a maximum of 5 clients. The trip requires a minimum of 4 clients to go ahead.

The cost for the weekend is $350 per person.

To which you may optionally add:

Wollangambe topographic map: $18 Compass (if I’m ordering one for you) At cost, depends on model ordered.

Payment Terms and Cancellation Policy

Please pay 50% at time of booking, with the remaining 50% due 2 weeks prior to departure.

You may pay for the Wollangambe map by cash on the day of the actual trip, or else any time in advance by bank deposit.

Payment for the compass is due at the time the balance is paid. Or you may bring cash on the day if you prefer.

If you cancel more than 2 weeks prior to departure, you will receive a refund of anything exceeding the 50% deposit that you have already paid. The 50% deposit is not refunded.

If you cancel less than 2 weeks prior to departure, the cost of the navigation weekend is not refunded. If you have paid for a map or compass and then cannot attend the trip, you can either receive a refund for these items, or have them provided to you if you rebook onto a future trip, or you can have them posted to you. You would need to cover postage costs if I have to post it to you. Contact Details I hope you’re looking forward to the trip as much as I am. My contact details are below if anyone has any questions.

Ashley Eylenburg Mobile Phone: 0414 633 315 Email: [email protected] Internet: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~aburke

Appendix A – Equipment Checklist This is a checklist for your convenience only. For the full gear list, please go to the online gear list here: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~aburke/WhatToBring/EquipmentList3DayNavWeekend.htm

Item Check 3-4 season sleeping bag Pack/Rucksack Lightweight tent Foam mat or thermarest Waterproof rain jacket (lightweight) Water Bottles (2 x 1.5L or 3 x 1.0L) Torch Fleece or warm layer Thermal top Thermal longjohns Hat Walking shoes Cooking utensils Billy or cookset Plastic cup Spoon or spork Pocket knife Food (2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners + snacks) Shirt and shorts or long pants for walking Gaiters (optional but highly recommended for the scrub) Beanie and gloves (winter months only) Optional: Spare lightweight footwear suitable for wading across the river, Eg: sandals/crocs/thongs Toiletries and first aid Toilet paper Hand sanitizer gel Band aids Compression bandage Antiseptic cream or betadine Baseplate compass Wollangambe topographic map (I can provide) Pencil Whistle – Bring one if you have one. MountainSphere can loan you this item. Optional: Mobile phone with COVIDSafe app installed and Bluetooth turned on.