‘I’m going on an adventure!’
The famous words of Bilbo Baggins as he runs through Hobbiton, now immortalised in meme history. The quote also inspires many hikers to hit the trails. To go forth to seek out adventure, new experiences, and cool pictures.
But… is it really an adventure if you’re simply following the garden path in front of you? Or can you try a different commute for the day – one with nice landscapes and singing birds, instead of the train line, or South Rd?
The short answer is yes – of course you’re still on an adventure! You can find adventure in anything.
As for the long answer, there are many grey areas to consider. More adventure is found off-track than on – but what are the dangers?
Do I have to tell anyone I’m going into the bush? Will I ever find the track again? Why isn’t there a track if my destination is supposedly so cool?
Let’s answer some of these questions by first addressing the three main reasons behind why you might decide to go off-track. There are many more – but we’ll focus on the following.
The first to tackle, including the ethics behind whether it’s appropriate, is leaving the beaten track for a shortcut.
‘I’m going on an adventure!’ – The famous words of Bilbo Baggins, now immortalised in meme history. Credit: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
1. It’s a shortcut
Ask yourself: does your intended shortcut take you up and down a steep gully, where you could be at risk of injury or damaging the vegetation through erosion?
Tracks are designed to concentrate human impact in one area. Your shortcut might be a more direct path, but also cross through the only population of a particular orchid in the area. Be careful to leave nothing more than a footprint when walking off-track.
An easy get-around is to use a river, creek bed, or ridge line as a feature to follow when taking the shortcut. No track builder will ever build a track on these features; it could wash away into the creek, and the ridgelines are often too high up for them to lug their materials. The added benefit of using a landscape’s features, instead of the track to navigate with, is having a better feel for the geography of the area. Bonus!
Ask yourself: does your intended shortcut have you damaging the vegetation through erosion?
Well off the beaten track!
Camping off-track, on rock!
2. To get closer to a particular feature
First, check whether this spectacular feature is a place of environmental or cultural significance – and in which case should be avoided, out of respect. If not, the reason there isn’t a track to your intended destination could be a supply-demand issue; there aren’t enough people coming to the area to warrant spending thousands of dollars on building a track out there.
Walking off-track to reach a particular destination is very popular in Tasmania. Reaching the summit of some of the Abels (all peaks in Tasmania that succeed 1,100 metres) involves a lot of bush-bashing, and travelling at speeds of 500m-1km per hour through thick scrub.
Check whether a spectacular feature is a place of environmental or cultural significance – and in which case should be respectfully avoided.
Walking off-track to reach a particular destination is very popular in Tasmania. Pictured: Tasmanian waterfall
Off-track walking to reach a certain feature is rewarding, because it generates the feeling of having really worked hard for your goal. For me, dropping into Edeowie Gorge in Wilpena Pound always seems to do this, and has me feeling like I’m the first person to visit there.
This rolls into the last reason why you might consider walking off-track…
Off-track walking to reach a certain feature is rewarding. Pictured: off-track in the Flinders Ranges
Off-track in the Flinders Ranges
3. To get away from the world, and feel like I’m the only person in it
National Parks are receiving more and more funding each year to work on visitor facilities, to encourage more people to spend time in our natural spaces. Unfortunately, this can sometimes feel like stepping out of one version of a shopping centre and into another without walls or a roof… but still with the crying babies, and teenagers wearing bum bags.
Stepping off-track and into the bush to escape the world and connect more with your primal instincts is not ‘weird’ – it’s natural! Remember, we came from the bush! Just consider what I’ve listed when contemplating some ‘me’ time off-track. Try to also remember the direction in which you left the track, and for how long you walked. If you go off for a few hours and reach Nirvana – it won’t matter how enlightened you’ve become on your stroll if you then can’t find the track to get back home!
Stepping off-track and into the bush, to escape the world and connect more with your primal instincts, is natural. Pictured Freycinet National Park
Other Off-Track Safety Recommendations
Having covered the general reasons for leaving the safety of the track, and what to consider in doing so – it is important that I also list these remaining safety considerations:
- Tell someone where you are going. Leave a note, make a phone call, or fill in a Trip Intentions Form with National Parks so people know where to look for you – then stick to your intentions!
- Try and carry a communication device: a handheld radio, phone, satellite communication device, or whistle at the very least, so you can signal for help in an emergency.
- A First Aid kit, some food and water, and an emergency layer if you’re going to be off-track for more than an hour. You may not need food and water within that hour, but if you fall over and hurt yourself you’ll be there longer than you intended!
- A navigational tool: phones and GPSs are simple to use, and National Parks provide maps on Avenza for free – but a physical map and compass will never run out of battery. These will help if you become ‘geographically embarrassed’ (lost).
I hope this information has been helpful, and provided a few points to consider next time you’re planning to head out bush.
Sticking to the safety of the track is a nice way to enjoy a walk, because you can switch off and just put one foot in front of the other… but in my mind, the risk and reward of a journey off-track will always be a winner!
The risk and reward of a journey off-track will always be a winner for me! Pictured: Tasmanian waterfall
I’m a 27-year-old guy living in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia, and I enjoy challenging myself in the outdoors. Trail running is my main passion but I’m also a rock climber, bushwalker, sea kayaker, and skier! Can’t not do it all if you want to see it all!