Have you ever wanted to know how to use a hand line when bushwalking? That is, if you are hiking in remote and rough terrain, and all you are carrying is one light rope and one carabiner, how do you safely get up or down a steep rocky obstacle where a rope is needed? How to anchor yourself at the top, belay someone down, pass packs, and get down yourself? These are not the skills of a rock climber or an abseiler, who would have access to all the required equipment. These are the skills of the bushwalker, who just has one rope and one carabiner, and needs to get their group safely past an exposed or steep rock that is below the threshold of rock climbing but still a challenge for a bushwalker who encounters an unexpected obstacle in remote terrain. This was the first rope skills day of this type to be operated by MountainSphere Adventures and the 3 girls who joined this day had an amazingly fun time. After learning a range of useful knots and hitches, the girls rigged a hand line with belay and anchor. It was a nice day and there was time left after lunch so for some additional fun the girls learned prussiking and abseiling. The skills will equip the girls with skills to improvise and make safer a potentially hazardous obstacle in remote terrain when very limited equipment is available. Vital skills for the bushwalker and leader.

Once or twice per year, MountainSphere Adventures runs a 3 day version of my ever popular 2 day navigation weekend. The 3 day navigation hike is for people who have previously attended a 2 day navigation weekend who want to refresh their navigation skills and practise it in varied terrain, including long stretches of off-track wilderness hiking where there is no track or trail at all. There was just one 3 day navigation hike this year, on 25-27 October. The weather was absolutely perfect for the whole 3 days. Not a drop of rain, no wind, and clear skies. The clients enjoyed long stretches that they could each lead, at least half a day each, and varied terrain. The campsites were idyllic, we discovered a small canyon and hidden Jurassic fern cavern, we hiked remote untracked ridges with sweeping views of the wilderness. We did compass sightings, compass navigation, landscape interpretation and the full suite of navigation skills throughout the weekend. On the last day we found a lovely stream with small beach and rock slab, a perfect spot for a swim and our final lunch at the end of a wonderful 3 days.

This was the first navigation weekend in what will be a busy autumn season for navigation weekends. Despite rain on Friday and a misty drive up from Sydney, the weather in the upper mountains was warm and clear on Saturday morning when we gathered at Bell railway station. Unusually for this area there was no wind throughout the weekend. After a briefing on navigation at the car park we set off on the walk and by lunch time we were in the wilderness with 360 degree views of the beautiful wilderness. The navigators learned how to use a compass to identify distant peaks and then to navigate to our destination. Our campsite was in a beautiful natural crater framed by cliffs above a lush green swamp. The rain held off until after we’d gone to bed. Sunday was very damp and drizzly all day long but the rain was so light it did not interfere with our plans at all. Everyone had laminated maps which were protected from the elements whilst still allowing them to be drawn on in pencil. The walking today was quite challenging in varied terrain which provide opportunities to learn new skills. A steep descent and ascent to cross a river followed by lunch with more panoramic views. Then the clients mapped the unmarked trail that they followed back to our waiting cars. What a great weekend!

At last a navigation weekend with sunny weather and clear skies on both days! This weekend was one of glorious weather, cool crisp mornings, a brisk westerly wind, and warm days. It was a great group of enthusiastic navigators who joined this trip and everyone had lots of fun and learned heaps of new navigation skills to equip them for their future adventures. Our campsite was a massive cavern amid an intricate sandstone labyrinth, a magical place to spend time together and catch up around the campfire. The route is perfect for learning all aspects of bush navigation with map and compass, as well as being a moderately challenging hike in varied and beautiful terrain. A wonderful group of people and a fun and memorable weekend enjoyed by all!

antastic weather and an even more fantastic group of people joined this most recent navigation weekend on 3-4 May. We embarked on the hike after a 2 hour briefing and navigation lesson at our meeting point. The navigators learned the process of bush navigation, how to plan a route and how to use the terrain to help you keep on track. Lunch was had at a place with 360 degree views of the surrounding area and this was the perfect place to learn new skills. We reached an awesome campsite which we shared with another group of 2 walkers. On Sunday we did a longer walk, navigating and learning new skills along the way, heading back to our start point by an entirely different route. There was a mix of terrain which set the scene for various ways to apply the skills of navigation. Many new friends were made quickly on this fun weekend and we are already planning our next adventure together. A fantastic and successful navigation weekend!

The forecast during the week was pretty wild for this weekend, with an east coast low developing, rain forecast and a vicious cold snap forecast for Sunday. But after driving across Sydney in dense fog early on Saturday morning, we burst through to clear blue skies and no wind on the climb into the mountains. We gathered at Bell station in the clear sunshine and clearing mist, optimistic about the weekend ahead. It remained a glorious day all day and the small group enjoyed the spectacular scenery while learning to navigate their way to our campsite using the terrain, their maps, and their compasses. There were ample opportunities to learn a range of navigation techniques on the way. It was a long day and we arrived at the campsite both mentally and physically tired but very happy after an amazing day. By the time our tents were up and water bottles filled and firewood collected, it was already getting dark. We had a pleasant evening around the small campfire, and the weather remained fine on a clear and starry night. The next day dawned cloudy and because of the forecast of wind and rain later, we made an early start. Up into the weak sunshine that briefly broke through the clouds for our group photo at an amazing viewpoint, and this is where the group planned their navigation route for the day. Then it was off on quite a long but scenic and educational hike. The forecast wind never eventuated but it turned cold and we walked layered up the whole day. Lunch was had in a truly amazing place with 360 degree views of the surrounding wilderness. Then the clients navigated their way back to the cars by a new and different route. A fantastic weekend enjoyed by all and no rain and no wind!!!