Mount Gingera Trail Pics (Aug 2012)

Jivrashia said :

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII said :

it might be best to reconsider walking 10km (one way) and 1100vm into an alpine area alone while relying on the emergency services for rescue

U mad?

I don’t think you understand – re·con·sid·er/Verb: Consider (something) again, esp. for a possible change of decision regarding it.

eg. reassess a decision to walk to Mt Gingerra alone if you’re genuinely concerned about spraining your ankle in the absence of a clearly marked track.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII said :

it might be best to reconsider walking 10km (one way) and 1100vm into an alpine area alone while relying on the emergency services for rescue

U mad?

“To each his own, but I had serious trouble. The snow hides bushes and sometimes it’s not obvious you’re standing on very uneven ground, with the potential to sprain your ankle.”

“it would be easy for someone to slip and sprain their ankle or something. I did lose the trail a few times but the GPS got me back”

If you’re concerned about slipping and spraining your ankle you can take precautions like training and strengthening your ankle muscles, wearing footwear with grip and (most importantly) placing your feet sensibly. If this is a genuine concern then forgive my bluntness but it might be best to reconsider walking 10km (one way) and 1100vm into an alpine area alone while relying on the emergency services for rescue if an accident occurs, or the weather changes or your andriod tablet crashes/gets wet/runs out of batteries. It’s a wilderness area in a national park at an elevation only 373m lower than Mt Kosciuszko – 1855m above sea level. Keep in mind that the track to Gingerra itself is uneven, rutted and rocky – maybe rather than modifying the environment to be suited to your skills and fitness you could consider gaining skills and experience – modifying yourself – to be comfortable in the wilderness.

OK it was just a suggestion for others as I relied heavily on a hand held GPS with the downloaded trail to reach the top, and it would be easy for someone to slip and sprain their ankle or something. I did lose the trail a few times but the GPS got me back (I use the ViewRanger app on an Android tablet with downloaded OSM maps). But of course I don’t want to ‘deface’ anything. That being said the trail is already ‘defaced’ to an extent with logs and other trail developments. I don’t see how it would hurt to bang in a few more wooden stakes. But of course I would never do anything without checking with the parks authority first.

In the meantime I have completed the Stockyard Spur to Gingera trail on Open Street Map so that’s a non-intrusive way to help out. I will continue adding to OSM as I come across more trails needing to be mapped, like Mount Gudgenby.

c_c said :

shauno said :

I have worked with numerous models over the years nothing wrong with a transparent case its just a strong as an opaque case. The GPS units since selective availability has been taken off will easily get these units down to 5m especially when activated your hardly going to be moving which will ensure it gets a good lock on your location. GPS units I work with at work in the offshore oil industry we have get us down to decimetre accuracy in the range of 10cm and below.

Im actually offshore Nigeria at the moment and I actually took my PLB with me as they are so small these days and Im flying in Helicopters all the time and working in very dodgy areas its handy to have in case something happens which could be anything over here.

I’m fully aware of all of this. The GPS on my phone can manage better than 1m accuracy. Creepily it manages better than 10m accuracy using WiFi only, non GPS positioning (thanks to a company that has mapped out Wifi all over the world including Canberra).

Point is the post I was responding to claimed 5m accuracy, I wanted to make clear that the actual manufacturer specs were, like most units, for greater than 100m accuracy, so there wasn’t an impression it was particularly better than other units.

As for the transparent casing, it’s well known that transparent polycarbonate (and other hard plastics) is less robust, more brittle and more prone to failure than opaque. From electronics to water filtration systems, this has and continues to be the case (no pun intended). There’s no practical reason from a design stand point to make the device transparent, it just gives a cool view of the PCP inside.

Well I like the one Ive got it does the job and more than robust enough for my purposes. The AFP uses these ones as well as they had a big order in for them when I got mine. Its water proof and floats with the neoprene cover. There is a floating one as well for the same price but I didn’t need it and its slightly bigger. My main concern was to have a very small one. If you actually checked these ones out you would be surprised they are very tough.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII said :

navigation from the fire trail to Mt Gingerra is not an issue in snow or otherwise.

To each his own, but I had serious trouble. The snow hides bushes and sometimes it’s not obvious you’re standing on very uneven ground, with the potential to sprain your ankle.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII said :

In National Parks and wilderness areas the rule of thumb is to ‘leave no trace’, this preserves the area for the next person who might not appreciate tape hanging from the trees.

That’s fine. But the trail up to the peak of Mt. Gingerra is quite obvious when there is no snowfall (well worn track with man-made steps), so I’m not sure if we’re intrusively adding, or taking away, anything at all.

Having said that:
Environmental Skills and Ethics (April 2005) – Leave No Trace Australia
(Australian Government – Department of the Environment and Heritage)

Do not build cairns or deface rocks or trees to mark your way. Flagging tape should also be avoided. If flagging tape is absolutely necessary, be sure to remove it before leaving the area.

There you go, that’s gospel.

Jivrashia said :

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII said :

“so I’m happy to mark it out a bit better during the spring. Any suggestions? A few posts? String ties? “

Hey, before you mark the trail up Gingerra it might be an idea to check with Parks and Conservation Services on whether this is a good idea.

Actually the trail is already mapped. It shows up on the topography map for Corin Dam, published by Geoscience Australia, and is also maintained.
I think what mcleodwealth is trying to say is to allow the track to be found even in the snow.
I’d say ribbons tied to tree branches is the best way to go.
.

I’m aware that mcleodwealth means marking the track (in ‘RL’) with track markers so it can be found in the snow, s/he suggests using posts and string ties. My post suggests that this isn’t necessary, navigation from the fire trail to Mt Gingerra is not an issue in snow or otherwise.

I’ve also checked my maps and the Bimberi wilderness area extends into the Corin Dam catchment area and includes the track up to Mt Gingerra, this is another reason why there are no track markers – the track is in a wilderness area. Here’s some information from the Namadgi Management Plan, if you dig around you’ll find more:

“Dissected mountainous terrain, native vegetation cover, limited vehicle access and
lack of intrusive developments mean that Namadgi is able to provide a remote
or ‘wilderness’ experience and a sense of isolation from the features of modern
society. The Bimberi Wilderness in Namadgi connects to similar areas in NSW
in Kosciuszko National Park, Scabby Range Nature Reserve and Bimberi Nature
Reserve.”

In National Parks and wilderness areas the rule of thumb is to ‘leave no trace’, this preserves the area for the next person who might not appreciate tape hanging from the trees.

If you have any doubts, pick up the phone: Namdgi Visitor’s Centre 6207 2900.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII said :

“so I’m happy to mark it out a bit better during the spring. Any suggestions? A few posts? String ties? “

Hey, before you mark the trail up Gingerra it might be an idea to check with Parks and Conservation Services on whether this is a good idea.

Actually the trail is already mapped. It shows up on the topography map for Corin Dam, published by Geoscience Australia, and is also maintained.
I think what mcleodwealth is trying to say is to allow the track to be found even in the snow.
I’d say ribbons tied to tree branches is the best way to go.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII said :

Solo walking in the snow and in cold exposed areas is risky.

Yep, would definitely not risk it if the track was unfamiliar.
But as a rule of thumb:
1) Let your family/friends know that you are doing a trek and when you are expected to return.
2) Be sure to register yourself at the entrance to the track (at Corin Dam there is one near the car park).

Safe trekking people.

shauno said :

I have worked with numerous models over the years nothing wrong with a transparent case its just a strong as an opaque case. The GPS units since selective availability has been taken off will easily get these units down to 5m especially when activated your hardly going to be moving which will ensure it gets a good lock on your location. GPS units I work with at work in the offshore oil industry we have get us down to decimetre accuracy in the range of 10cm and below.

Im actually offshore Nigeria at the moment and I actually took my PLB with me as they are so small these days and Im flying in Helicopters all the time and working in very dodgy areas its handy to have in case something happens which could be anything over here.

I’m fully aware of all of this. The GPS on my phone can manage better than 1m accuracy. Creepily it manages better than 10m accuracy using WiFi only, non GPS positioning (thanks to a company that has mapped out Wifi all over the world including Canberra).

Point is the post I was responding to claimed 5m accuracy, I wanted to make clear that the actual manufacturer specs were, like most units, for greater than 100m accuracy, so there wasn’t an impression it was particularly better than other units.

As for the transparent casing, it’s well known that transparent polycarbonate (and other hard plastics) is less robust, more brittle and more prone to failure than opaque. From electronics to water filtration systems, this has and continues to be the case (no pun intended). There’s no practical reason from a design stand point to make the device transparent, it just gives a cool view of the PCP inside.

“so I’m happy to mark it out a bit better during the spring. Any suggestions? A few posts? String ties? “

Hey, before you mark the trail up Gingerra it might be an idea to check with Parks and Conservation Services on whether this is a good idea. You can call the Namdgi Visitor’s Centre on 6207 2900.

The area is in a National Park, and the primary purpose of the park is the conservation of the natural environment. The NSW side of Gingerra (the border runs across the top) is in the Bimberi Wilderness area, where there are no signs marking trails (not even the Australian Alps Walking Track). Also keep in mind that many people for many years have been navigating to the top of Gingerra in fresh snow, sometimes at night without the assistance of trail markers. The nav is pretty easy especially if you have a map and pay attention to your surroundings – basically though if you’re going uphill, it’s the right way then coming back just follow your tracks or just go downhill to the fire trial.

There are a couple of good bushwalking clubs in Canberra – joining one is a good way to learn nav, gain experience and have company on your walks. Solo walking in the snow and in cold exposed areas is risky.