George Driscoll Sea to Summit Walk

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With high winds and the fickle weather at our backs, 25 hardy walkers, including 15 students and parents from St Joseph’s School, Kingswood, started the inaugural George Driscoll Sea to Summit walk at 7.45AM.

Eight hours later, having been blown upon, sprinkled upon, rained upon and even hailed upon, all 25 ceremoniously touched the Mount Lofty obelisk.

Another great walk completed, with the youngest, Michael, aged 12 carrying 4 litres of water. Part of the "Save the Murray" I suspect!

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Keeping in touch – any which way

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Our web man Jeremy may be travelling to remote and wonderful corners of Australia â yet he goes to extraordinary lengths to keep in touch, and support our website â in the North Wast WA, the mobile is used as the modem, up on the gas pole (click on pic to see it larger). See Jeremyâs blog Magnetic North at

End-to-End 3 – Mt Remarkable celebrations

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On Sat 2rd July the E2E3âs walked 23k over Mt Remarkable to Alligator Gorge Road, noted as the 2nd most difficult day walk on the Trail. Over 70 celebrated arriving safely after 8hrs of ups and downs. A chilly 7am Melrose start gave us the sunâs warm glow and first rays as we trekked up My Remarkable. A lovely sunny day provided wonderful views of this Remarkable country, so green, with the cool air making walking enjoyable. Sunday John Potter completed his 1,200km trek with the Murray Town to Melrose 16k leg. All joined in with John to celebrate. John walked with E2E3, E2E2 and E2E4 weekend walks to complete the trail in 3 years. Congratulations John.

Check out the links page for links to photo sites.

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Changes to Bus Payment

As of Monday 21st June 2010, any walks involving buses must be paid for at the time of registration.
There will be no Cash on the Day.
You can pay on line either using

  • PayPal account-very easy to set up and very secure
    PayPal using a credit card-must be done for each booking, however still secure
  • Through the office. Phone booking using your Credit Card – fiddly, however it’s secure
  • In person at the office -either cash or credit card-like any purchase.

Too easy!!

NOTE The Friends pay for the buses regardless of how many walkers turn up. Often it is the Cash on the Day walkers who fail to show up. This then leaves the Friends to cover the cost and often denies another walker a seat, particularly if it’s a limited numbers walk.

Southern and Northern Guides Now Available

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The long awaited reprint of the Southern and Northern Heysen Trail Guidebooks has come to pass and we are now filling backorders

It features the NEW Heysen Trail logo,all the recent reroutes and new accommodation and trail details.

Available in the Friends shop at Pitt Street Adelaide or we can post them out.

Linking Adelaide with Nature – a Trail Strategy

a Trail Strategy Connecting People with Adelaide’s Natural Areas.
Prepared by the Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) to help guide future trail management and provision in the State’s most visited and populated region.
The vision is for a sustainable and diverse network of trail experiences that attract people to Adelaide’s natural areas, reveal our unique qualities and assist to make healthy communities .
DEH values your feedback and welcomes any comments on the draft Strategy.
Please provide feedback on the plan by Friday 25 June 2010, See

End to End walks have commenced

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On Sunday 2 May saw the first of our 2010 End 2 End (E2E) Walks â the E2E4 group walked from Myponga to Mt Compass. Wonderful fine day, and with a coolish breeze we kept our cool. The 3 groups wound their way up and down. And up and down couple more times thru Yulte Park scrub, then traversed open hills and ridges, before caressing Mt Cone on the long and winding road home. The 22km sorted out those who forgot their walking over summer (stiffening legs on the ride home, hey). Thanks to our lovely support ladies, again there with the Haighs Frog treat to assist us on the final leg to the cars.

The E2E3 are up north next weekend, then the new E2E5 commences. (fully booked I believe). With the other Sunday walks, our busy walk season is well under way.

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Grampians 2010

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Anzac Weekend saw the Friends at the Grampians once again. Lead by Simon and Arrienne two full walking days and three boisterous nights were "suffered" in the Baptist Camp at Halls Gap. Simon lead one walk for the hardy, summitting Boronia Peak on Saturday, with Arrienne leading the not so hardy on an epic walk around the Wonderland. Why the Wonderland, well it’s a wonder we let Alice loose with a map.

Sunday saw the even hardier tackle a through walk across the Mitchell Plateau, from Mt William to Jimmy Creek. A cold start lead to a wonderful sunny day, albeit cold winds, with great views from the plateau.

Arrienne and Peter lead the left-overs with some doing a shorter walk leading to Greek cooking lessons back at camp, with Arrienne. The others undertaking a seven hour "stroll" with Peter.

Typical of Simon the nights entertainment were Zorba the Greek dancing leasons and suitably, on Anzac Day, how to rip off your friends with a game of two-up (Simon’s Rules)

Monday departure lead to Arapiles for a short walk to the top, then home.
Well done the organisers.

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Sea to Summit Trail map available

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The George Driscoll Sea to Summit Trail

A unique trail from the beach at Kingston Park to the summit of Mount Lofty â 32km with a total height gain of 1400 metres from sea to summit. The trail passes through a series of streets and parks and encompasses some existing walking tracks. Walk it in a day or over two days.

The map brochure is now available: 9-fold, includes map, waypoint details, track notes, track distances.

View Map promo.

Available for $9 from the shop/office or leading outdoor retailers.

Trail Partners: Scout Outdoor Centre and Earth Adventure