Off-Track Walking

It is fantastic to be able to walk along designated trails like the Cape to Cape Track and the Bibbulmun Track. There is a certain element of security and reassurance knowing that a well marked trail lies ahead, plenty of help and options to bail out if it gets too hard and that the chances of getting lost are highly unlikely.

But where is the challenge in that? The thing I like about hiking is that you can put yourself in a position (of insecurity) that tests your courage and mental toughness. I'm not talking extreme hiking - simply off-track walking.

I'm no Bear Grills, but I do like the idea of exploring new places. Planning such an adventure often means purchasing topographical maps, looking at Google Earth images on the laptop and getting a general feel for the area.

I have long held a burning desire to try and walk an area of the Goldfields near Burra Rock, Victoria Rock and Cave Hill. If you have ever been around these parts of the bush, you will know that there are many granite rocks to explore. Unroll a topo map and the number of granite options increase significantly.

One has grabbed my attention - Toonarrie Rock. More details (albeit limited) available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_rocks_in_Western_Australia,_T-Z

The 'Rock lies on a crow's flight-path from Burra Rock to Victoria Rock. My topo map suggests it is around a 12km walk from Burra Rock and 18km from Victoria Rock. It does not lie on any 4WD Tracks - the only way in is by foot!

The size of the rock alone (over 1.5km long and o.5km wide), makes me ponder what it would be like to stand on it. Is it high? Does it have any cave formations? Is it home to a colony of anything? Does it trap water in any way (like the dams at Burra Rock and Cave Hill)? Perhaps a prospector once crossed it on the way to Coolgardie?

I don't know the answers but would sure love to find out!

Finding out means taking a compass, map, GPS and to some degree an element of courage. And not to mention time as well - something I tend to be rather short of. But I am committed to the cause and what I need to do is book a weeks annual leave and just do it!

A small confession - I already tried it once (last year) - but never found Toonarrie Rock - having misinterpreted some co-ordinates. Apparently I missed it by less than half a kilometre.

That was one of those courage moments. Walking for half a day in the remote Goldfields, following the GPS and then arriving in the middle of nowhere with the read-out showing 0.00m to go! Sitting down with maps and rulers trying desperately to fathom where I could be.

I made it back to the car the next day (after conceding it best to just camp for the night) but learnt lots of valuable lessons.

So there is some unfinished business.

Interested in taking some courage pills with me? I would love to be able to share the experience - finding people with the same passion has been difficult.

Either way, I hope to be able to bring some photos and stories inside the next 12 months!