Twilight Walks commence this Wednesday evening

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As the walking season comes to a close Twilight Walks commence.

The first Twilight Walk is this Wednesday evening at Walkerville. Come along to check out the changes to the Torrens linear park near the city, or see it for the first time. Meet in Walkerville at 6pm. Optional pub dinner after. Register online here.

Next week’s walk is from Goodwood through the southern parklands – the Jacaranda trees are in flower. Register online here.

The rest of the Twilight Walks will be updated onto the website in the next week.

Current Bushfire Info on the Trail from CFS Smartphone App

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Whilst we wouldn’t normally email you with technology news about smartphones, this news might be of particular interest to late season bushwalkers who have a smartphone and are walking the Heysen Trail or other trails.

Yesterday the CFS released a smartphone app which may be a better offering than third party bushfire information apps. It provides users with the location and status of current bushfires, current wind direction and prescribed burn details, which can be viewed on an interactive map with your current location. This is particularly useful for bushfires that have started during the day within the landscape you are walking.

You will need mobile phone reception from your carrier to access data with this app.

Late season walkers should be highly aware of bushfire conditions. Several bushfires have already occurred throughout the state and in areas where the Heysen Trail passes through.

View further more information about this smartphone app on the CFS website, or search for CFS FireApp.

End-to-End 4 on Their First Weekend Away

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A warm weekend for End-to-End 4 on their first weekend away – though not the stinker that End-to-End 3 encountered – climbing Peters Hill north of Kapunda.

Based in Kapunda, we found on the Trail: long grass, black chuffs, a blue tongue lizard – though no snakes, long grass and the green, green vistas from Peters Hill. A group checked out Marschalls Hut for lunch while the others enjoyed higher views.

Our first group dinner was a great success with loads of great food put on by the ladies of the primary school, as they did for End-to-End 3. Many thanks to the ladies.

We thank Nick and Heather for their efforts this year in getting the group to Peters Hill. I suspect thanks also go to Jerry for his background support. Thanks also to all the leaders, and those that ensure we have safe and enjoyable walks.

Next year to Burra, and way beyond.

For more photos visit www.picasaweb.google.com/ralcock1

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Temporary closure of the Heysen Trail through Kuitpo Forest

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Due to a motor sport rally the Heysen Trail will be closed in some areas passing through Kuitpo Forest on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 October.

The running of the Kuitpo Forest Rally will mean the forest is closed to walkers around Knotts Hill, Bells Gully and Christmas Hill, in effect closing the trail from Woodgate Hill Road (map 2.8) to Old Coach Road (map 2.10). Bells Gully is not marked in the guidebook, it is north of Kyeema Conservation Park and south of Brookman Conner Road.

Further information about the Kuitpo Forest Rally can be found at www.kuitporally.com

Commencement of Fire Restrictions

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Walkers should be aware that fire restrictions have commenced in all parks and reserves. Normally set for 1st November, restrictions commenced this week. Walkers camping along the Heysen Trail in national parks, conservation parks and reserves should be aware that no wood fires or solid fuel fires are permitted. Gas fires are permitted in most parks, except on days when a Total Fire Ban is declared.

As it is now late in the walking season, walkers should be aware that burn-offs are currently being undertaken in 125 national parks, conservation parks, reserves and forests throughout the state. This may result in the closure of sections of parks and of the trail. Walkers should also be highly aware of bushfire conditions. Several bushfires have already occurred throughout the state and areas where the Heysen Trail passes through.

The Heysen Trail is in a state of transition as the Fire Ban Season commences across the trail, and the trail in those areas closes. Details of dates can be found in last week’s news item: http://www.heysentrail.asn.au/?news_id=252

More details of this week’s commencement of fire restrictions can be found here: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/

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Useful Links

Nature Foundation SA’s Walk for Nature

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On Sunday our president, Robert Alcock, donned a bandanna and joined over 300 walkers on the Heysen Trail from Bridgewater to Woodhouse. The walk raised money and awareness for the work of the Nature Foundation of SA, a group dedicated to saving native wildlife and protecting our natural environment.

For more info on the Nature Foundation visit www.naturefoundation.org.au

Read more about the walk at www.adelaidenow.com.au

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Fire Danger Season Dates

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The dates for the upcoming Fire Danger Season are not expected to change for the three Fire Ban Districts affecting the Heysen Trail. Due to the high threat of bushfires the Heysen Trail closes when the Fire Danger Season commences.

Dates for only two of the 15 Fire Ban Districts have been brought forward, those being the two outback pastoral districts in the far north of the state.

Further details can be found in this CFS media release.

It is expected that the:

  • The Flinders Fire Ban Season will commence as scheduled on November 1, affecting the trail north of Wirrabara.
  • The Mid North Fire Ban Season will commence as scheduled on November 15, affecting the trail between Tanunda and Wirrabara.
  • The Mount Lofty Ranges Fire Ban Season will commence as scheduled on December 1, affecting the trail south of Tanunda.

Closer to the above dates up to date information can be found on the CFS website: www.cfs.sa.gov.au

The trail will reopen at the end of the Fire Danger Season in April 2012.

Some sections of the Heysen Trail remain open year round, including conservation parks, reserves and forests, although these areas may be closed on days of a Total Fire Ban. Read more about which sections remain open at www.heysentrail.asn.au/heysen_trail/fire_danger_season.php

Saturday’s 25th birthday party a big success

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80 or so guests and members celebrated 25 years of volunteer service on the Heysen Trail with bushwalks, Irish jigs, koalas, all with the sun shining on our picnic.

Irish band ‘Inesheer’ provided the music, while red and white balloons on Karka Pavilion were the colourful backdrop to speeches (short ones!) by our President, Robert Alcock, Chief Executive of the Dept of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Alan Holmes, and guest speaker John Kenneally of radio 5AA.

A new Memorandum of Understanding between DENR and the Friends of the Heysen Trail was signed, then our Patron, Warren C Bonython AO, resplendent in his bright orange shirt and yellow short shorts, cut the birthday cake.

Many thanks go to the organisers, Jeanette Clarke and Chris Porter, for the well organised celebrationary day.

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Beautiful walk, awesome weather and a great group

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On Sunday, End-to-End 5 crossed Mount Lofty during a great day’s walking through some of the best of the Adelaide Hills.

Although overcast weather threatened the start of the walk, the group was sun drenched at Mount Lofty summit for the all-important group photograph. With the theme of this walk being ‘orange’, much of the group donned something of that colour. Our orange presence was evident to all spectators and other walkers we met along the trail with some interesting facial expressions displayed by those who are endowed with reliable colour perception skills.

Over almost two years the walkers have consolidated into a close-knit, supportive and capable walking team. Well done End-to-End 5ers! Visitors are always welcome to join us – you may even want to stay!

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