Search Results: blue mountains

Best Hikes of the Blue Mountains – Porters Pass and Colliers Causeway

Porters Pass and Colliers Causeway The Porters Pass and Colliers Causeway tracks are part of a network managed by Blue Mountains City Council, as opposed to National Parks. Popular with rock climbers, these historic tracks give you a great view west across the Kanimbla Valley from above and lead you alongside dramatic sandstone faces and … Read more

Best Blue Mountains Hikes – Colliers Causeway

Centennial Pass to Porters Pass via Colliers Causeway When it comes to things to do in the Blue Mountains, going for a bushwalk or hike is usually somewhere near the top of everyone’s list. Here’s one of the best Blue Mountains hikes of around 3-4 hours and best of all, it’s not affected by the … Read more

Blue Mountains Geographical Encyclopaedia: Book Review

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.”… or so Juliet said to Romeo in the 1500’s. Jump to today and think about places around you, your town, your favourite lookout, river, ridge or mountain. Just like Shakespeare’s classic tale, there’s a story behind every … Read more

Blue Mountains – Open for business… Still!

Last Updated Nov 22, 2019 November 2019 Update: Since moving to the Blue Mountains in 2017, I’ve become aware of a certain understanding that comes from people who’ve been here for many generations, seeing many bushfires come and go. I call it, ‘To hold people tightly and things lightly.’ Over this month, we’ve seen fires … Read more

Introduction to Navigation Course Tasmania

4 Day Navigation Retreat Learn to navigate Escape the day-to-day and find yourself in takayna/Tarkine, on lutruwita/Tasmania’s stunning west coast for 4 days learning navigation and connecting with this remote and wild place. Based at Corinna Wilderness Village, we will come together and learn to navigate by traditional map and compass, read and interpret topographic … Read more

How do we search for a missing hiker?

The Anatomy of a Search This story is a work of fiction, based on my 19 years of actual search jobs with NSW SES Bush Search and Rescue (BSAR), formerly Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad. It first appeared in Wild Magazine #187 Autumn 2023. Saturday 8.38 am The headlights of the Forester worked hard to cut … Read more

Suunto Vertical Review

I’ve always enjoyed reviewing Suunto’s sports watches. Over the years I’ve looked at the 9 Peak and Spartan Baro HR and each time they impress me, drawing me closer to jumping ship permanently into the Suunto world. With their latest offering, the Suunto Vertical, they’ve finally convinced me. Why choosing the right watch is important … Read more

Zoleo Satellite Communicator Review

Getting the message out Where I live in the Blue Mountains, (where much to the local’s dismay, is considered part of Greater Sydney), it doesn’t take long for mobile coverage to drop out along even the most popular bushwalking tracks and trails. The sharing/democratisation of information online has meant that so many more of us … Read more

Sea to Summit Sleep System Gear Review

Gear Review Sea to Summit is one of those gear companies I’ve always admired for their innovation in coming up with solutions to little problems that niggle outdoorsy folk like us. It’s almost as though they’ve got inside our heads and heard us when we imagine: “Geez, I wish there was a thing/widget/design for ‘x’ … Read more

Rescued Podcast // Ep 003 – Matt U’Brien – Empress Canyon

In 2020 over 3.7 million people from Australia and overseas visited the Blue Mountains – The most visited National Park in New South Wales. They’re drawn to the dramatic clifftop views, deep valleys and diverse habitats that stretch over the 1 million hectares of this World Heritage sandstone plateaux, a landscape that is constantly being … Read more

Rescued Podcast // Ep 002 – Matt U’Brien

Stories from Blue Mountains Police Rescue Squad View on Zencastr Matt U’Brien’s story is powerful. During his 17-year policing career (mostly within the Blue Mountains Police Rescue Squad), he’s done literally hundreds of rescues and saved countless lives whilst risking his own.  What’s unique about Matt, is that during this time he also found himself … Read more

Rescued: An Outdoor Podcast for Hikers and Adventurers

Rescued is a podcast of conversations with rescuers and those who’ve been rescued. It’s about the lessons we learn about ourselves, the places we go and why – without judgement or shame – to help us have better adventures, manage risk and deal with the unexpected. Caro Ryan What happened? It’s the first thing we … Read more