New Heysen Trail Maps for Sale

Heysen Trail new September 2014 map sheets no bgA new series of Heysen Trail maps have been released.

Over the next 12-18 months the Southern and Northern Guidebooks are being gradually replaced with fold-out map sheets.

The first two map sheets are available for purchase now via our online store, for $15 with postage from $1.45.

The maps are double sided and printed on water resistant paper. The maps include elevation profiles with kilometre markers and crossing point names. The new map style allows walkers to gain a “big picture” understanding of where they are on the trail, with a continuous trail line and a constant 3-5km of mapping around the trail.

Remember, you can sign up to receive re-route notifications for your guidebook or map sheet editions. All guidebooks and map sheets published since 2008 are available for notification.

There will be 8 maps in this series:

  • Map 1: Cape Jervis to Kuitpo Forest – available now
  • Map 2: Kuitpo Forest to Tanunda – available now
  • Map 3: Tanunda to Burra – coming soon
  • Map 4: Burra to Spalding – coming soon
  • Map 5: Spalding to Wirrabara Forest – coming soon
  • Map 6: Wirrabara Forest to Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park – coming soon
  • Map 7: Dutchmans Stern Conservation Park to Mernmerna Creek – coming soon
  • Map 8: Mernmerna Creek to Parachilna Gorge – coming soon

The Friends End-to-End group 4 complete the Heysen Trail

End-to-End 4 - final day

On Saturday 16th August the Friends End-to-End group 4 completed the Heysen Trail. Congratulations to the 38 walkers who completed the 1,200km Trail on that day. Five walkers had walked each of the 61 End-to-End 4 walking days over 6 walk seasons, a real commitment and achievement. They are Pam O’Donnell, Gary Dawes, David Weinel, Giles Walkley and David Sando.

David and Michael Weinel may be the first father and son to walk the length of the Heysen trail together?

Dean Mortimer completed the Trail for the second time, and Kevin Liddiard completed the Trail for the third time.

Heavy rain on the Thursday night and Friday prevented our bus from travelling off the bitumen. We are thankful to the 4×4 vehicles which enabled us to ferry the walkers over very slippery roads on Friday and Saturday. Surprisingly, on the Trail, the walkers had little need for raincoats. Celebrations were held at the Northern Trailhead and at the celebratory dinner on Saturday night.

Walking SA 12 Month Celebration – Friday 29th August 2014

It’s 12 months since the ‘new’ Walking SA was established. Celebrate the achievements of the past year.

The evening will also be a special opportunity to:

  • Farewell and thank Brian Goodhind, Administrative Officer of Walking SA
  • Welcome Mel Paull, new Executive Officer
  • Briefly outline plans for future activities

6pm – 8pm
Friday 29th August 2014
Caledonian Hotel
219 O’Connell Street, North Adelaide

Please RSVP, read more at walkingsa.org.au

Now available – shirts and jackets with your End to End group logo

Friends of Heysen Trail merchandiseShirts and jackets with your End-to-End group’s logo are now available.

Order online at www.sportscentre.com.au/products/buy-online/friends-of-the-heysen-trail

Logos for all the current End-to-End groups, or the Friends round logo, are available.

Your order can be posted to you, or you can pick it up.

If you already have a favourite shirt or jacket you can be supply that to our supplied and one of the logos can be embroidered onto it. The cost for this is around $12, somewhat dependent on the garment fabric.

Pick-up address:
Sports Centre
142 Port Road, Hindmarsh
08 8346 3411

To supply a garment drop it off to the Sports Centre and pin a note to the item with:

  • Friends of Heysen Trail
  • your name
  • your phone
  • email
  • logo required

Snowfall for End-to-End Minus 1 group

Snow on the summit of Mt Bryan, Saturday 28th June 2014

Snow on the summit of Mt Bryan, Saturday 28th June 2014, End-to-End Minus 1The End-to-End ‘Minus 1’ group experienced snow on the summit of Mt Bryan on Saturday.

pCheck out some of the photos at facebook.com/HeysenTrail (no login required).

At 936 metres Mt Bryan, north of Burra, is the highest peak in the Mt Lofty Ranges and occasionally sees a snow fall. The group is spending five days hiking the trail, starting on Saturday in Hallett, and ending two days south of Burra this Friday. Recent rainfall has flooded paddocks and roads, so their walks between Mt Bryan East and Burra have been postponed to another time. Meanwhile they are continuing their journey southwards.

The photos look more like Tasmania, rather than from where they are in the Mid North of South Australia. Keep warm guys!

Thanks for the photos Robert Alcock and Michael Middleton.

Interview between Friends Council and ultra-marathon runner Richard Bowles

The Council of the Friends of the Heysen Trail was able to sit down and chat with ultra-marathon runner Richard Bowles, who recently completed his 15-day run of the 1,200 km Heysen Trail.

In the interview he talks about his excellent experience with the Heysen Trail – the scenery, the way marking, the huts, the people. He goes on to describing himself as not a runner or superhuman, yet why he undertakes such runs, talking about headspace and motivation. He talks about food, shoes and why he camped on the trail.

Captions are available in the video.

Transcript:

Richard Bowles >> I’ve ran many trails around the world and if I’m honest this [the Heysen Trail] is the best marked, the best looked after, the huts are amazing, you guys have done a wonderful job. You should give yourselves a round of applause.

Video of Ultra-Marathon Runner Finishing the Heysen Trail

Further to yesterday’s email about ultra-marathon runner Richard Bowlescompleting his 15-day run of the Heysen Trail, you can view the Seven News TV video at https://au.news.yahoo.com/sa/video/watch/23626381/run-richard-run/.

Richard ran to promote the work of Red Dust Role Models.

“Health is a basic human right” says Richard. Red Dust state it is essential to the social development of Indigenous people in remote communities.

Health promotion strategies improve and transform lives and have a sustainable impact on social, economic and environmental conditions. Health promotion is a practical approach to achieving greater equality and closing the gap.

You can donate funds to the cause at

1200kms.gofundraise.com.au

Ultra-marathon runner finishes Heysen Trail in 15 days – watch Seven News tonight

Ultra-marathon runner finishes Heysen Trail in 15 daysUltra-marathon runner Richard Bowles has completed his run of the Heysen Trail. Finishing this afternoon at Cape Jervis after 14 days, 8 hours and 32 minutes on the trail. He was welcomed by his crew and our President Robert Alcock, who was there with a nice cold beer on hand. Well earnt mate!

He was interviewed at Cape Jervis by Seven News, so you can catch the story on tonight’s news.