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!!!

The week leading up to this navigation weekend brought heavy rainfall to the Blue Mountains and devastating floods to other parts of NSW. But miraculously the forecast for the weekend was for fine and sunny weather. And so, as the rain eased off during Friday, and as all went quiet during Friday night, it was indeed looking great for the weekend. And so the trip went ahead and the group gathered as planned on Saturday, on a quite cold and windy morning but with the promise of improving weather to come. The usual morning briefing at Bell was shortened so that we could start walking sooner to get warm. This we did, and after finishing the briefing after a 2km walk to warm up, everyone was ready to navigate the rest of the way to camp. Lunch was had at a spectacular viewpoint with panoramic views of the wilderness to the north and east. The group learned to use their maps and compasses to identify the natural landmarks around them, an important part of the skill of bush navigation. Thus the group navigated capably to the campsite for the night, and the river crossing was straightforward as by now the water level had dropped significantly since the rain of the past few days. Choosing the campsite for the night was a little challenging due to one being taken by another group and another campsite partially inundated after the rains. So we headed to an alternate location on a ridge where we camped under the stars and enjoyed a peaceful evening of clear night skies, a vivid panoply of stars, and a wind which had abated to only a light breeze. Next day dawned sunny and still, our camp was a great spot to watch the sunrise. We explored the area a bit more and planned how to navigate a new route back to the start point. The route today included a variety of landscapes including fire trails, unmarked tracks, and a little off trail wilderness hiking. Our lunch spot was a wonderful viewpoint with 360 degree views of the surrounding area, so of course the compasses were put to good use again. After quite a long and active 2 days of hiking the group arrived back where it all began by about 3:30pm. The group parted company tired but happy, new friends made, many happy memories, and a huge amount of bush navigation skill learned for when they next head out.

A small group of 4 for the first navigation weekend of the spring season. The commencement of the spring navigation weekends was delayed due to me being incapacitated due to injury. So it was great to finally get out on another navigation weekend with a small group of great people! The weather was dry, warm, sunny and windy the whole time except when the wind dropped overnight. Our campsite was very peaceful, in a beautiful billabong surrounded by mannifera gums and beautiful rock formations, with frogs chirping. The clients learned a whole lot of great new bush navigation skills as they hiked, and put these skills into practise right away, taking turns to lead. The small group meant that everyone had several goes out in front leading the way with map and compass. After a cold night it was another warm day on Sunday and we walked through a variety of different landscapes which provided the opportunity to apply navigation techniques in different ways. We were back at the cars well before the forecast thunderstorms which did not seem to eventuate, so all in all a fantastic weekend was had by all!

A cool change with thunderstorms swept across the mountains late on Friday, by Saturday morning all was calm and misty when the group of 8 met at Bell for the latest navigation weekend. It soon fined up to a beautiful warm day, and on both days of this navigation weekend we took a little time out for a refreshing dip in the Wollangambe River! But as well as being a great wilderness hike in beautiful weather with opportunities for swimming in the clear river rapids, it was a highly educational weekend filled with skills training on how to read a map and how to use a map with a compass to find your way. These are the indispensable skills of the bushwalker who wants to explore wild places off the beaten track. We saw almost no other walkers out on this weekend and we had an amazing campsite all to ourselves. As well as learning navigation, we squeezed in a short rope skills session as well. It was a pleasure to have such a diverse group of people on this navigation weekend, including a couple who had travelled all the way from Singapore to come on this hike and improve their navigation skills. The long journey here to do this course was definitely well worthwhile and was enjoyed by all!

Given the high winds and extreme heat we have been experiencing in the leadup to this weekend, we were so lucky to find mild temperatures and not much wind or rain for this navigation weekend! Just 3 clients attended this time, making it a nice close-knit small group, and the smaller numbers meant that each client got plenty of opportunity to take turns leading. Due to one of the attendees not feeling well on the second morning we decided to change the usual plan for Sunday. I retrieved a car and brought it closer to where we were camped and then we were able to do some trail navigation skills and learn other new techniques while not needing to do a full day of hiking on the last day. All went very well with the modified programme for the second day and a great weekend packed with the learning of new skills was had by all, topped off with a lovely evening in an idyllic campsite in beautiful weather!

A great group of 8 people joined this navigation weekend on a very warm and sunny Saturday morning. This was the final navigation weekend of the spring 2025 season. The weather promised everything for this weekend. A hot and windy morning, thunderstorms later, and then a 10 degree plummet in temperature overnight leading to a cold morning on Sunday and a fine mild spring day. In the end the thunderstorms did not eventuate, just a rumble of distant thunder and a few light sun showers. The group learned a wealth of new navigation skills on Saturday and navigated their way to our beautiful campsite. We took a little time out for a quick swim in the river on the hot afternoon. Sunday morning was cold and clear, the group consolidated their skills and learned new ways of applying them in a variety of different terrain types. There was a very steep crossing of the gorge which everyone managed very well, and then a great lunch spot with 360 degree views of the surrounding area. By the time we completed the hike everyone was tired but happy after a fantastic 2 days in the wilderness having enormous fun and learning heaps of new bush navigation skills!