Books for the outdoors

There are many books titles and authors writing for the outdoors, you can get
How to books,
How to get there books,
What to carry books,
Historical hiking books,
Hysterical hiking books,

and many many more.

Every time we look at blogs we find suggestions for books, most often new and most often from Amazon, which admittedly is a great resource when looking for books. But, for us the first source of books is ABE we have used this online site to purchase both new and used books on a range of topics. Often you will find high quality second hand books available in via ABE in your country (these books are sold by local second booksellers) at very reasonable prices. To date we have purchased books in the USA, UK, Australia and Denmark and each time these books have arrived in the condition that was described and in a timely manner. Next time you are looking for a book whether it be by Chris Townsend or J K Rowling they are worth a look.

Integral Designs Unishelter

Whilst laying in my Unishelter watching the sun rise recently I begun to reflect on why I like this shelter. It is a bit more than a bivy and tarp and it weighs more than the lightest tents but for me it is my preferred option. As it provides an easy and quick solution to setting up camp, it provides that next to nature feel whilst also providing ample shelter in rainy conditions. It allows me to camp in small areas where a tent would not be suitable. The bivy has lots of space inside and it is possible to change clothes whilst inside the bivy. Entry and exit can be a challenge in the rain but a little planning can be helpful.

Things I have learnt are
1. Pack your sleeping bag and other dry clothes inside the bivy, it both saves a waterproof pack liner and allows you to assemble the bivy with your dry gear well away from the entry and thus moisture.
2. Plan at least one non cook meal if you bivy bound.
3. A container to save you midnight visits to the a nearby tree can be invaluable when it is raining.
4. Organise your gear for a quick exit in the mornings when it is raining.
5. Have your camera ready for those sunrises you will see whilst still half asleep.
6. Choose a site which gives the maximum benefits of seeing the surroundings and appreciating the stars and other sights at night.
7. A small tarp (or umbrella) can be used to protect you upon entry and exit in torrential rain.
8. Enjoy the experience and learn as you go along.

Møns Klint

The clouds parted and the sun shone so it was time to go hiking, for a while now I had planned a visit to Møns Klint about 2 hours south of Copenhagen, whilst my original plan changed a little it still gave me the opportunity to spend a couple of nights and 2 glorious days in this beautiful area.

Møn is renowned for its cliffs (klints) of White chalk, these cliffs rise around 100 metres above the sea level and are visible for many kilometres, the area has been a popular tourist attraction for many years and now has a a large visitor centre with restaurant as well as tourist information facilities. However, Møn Rundt, part of the Sjællandsleden, offers opportunities for both day and overnight hikers.

For this trip I travelled down late in the afternoon and then camped in a spot which overlooked the Baltic Sea. I set up my bivy and made dinner before taking time to sit and reflect on the day at work and the trip to Møn, as a I sat quietly looking out to sea I noticed a deer grazing on the cliffs below, it made me realise how often in my rush to get somewhere I had not really taken the time to look around.

After a rainy night the sunrise the next morning was really special and as I stared bleary eyed out of my bivy I felt that sense of belonging that often comes with my visits to forested areas wherever they may be. After packing up I headed south along the well used walking path that follows the cliff line to the Møn's Lighthouse some 12 km away, this was to be my days walk. There are many fine viewpoints along the way where you can see the chalk cliffs as well there is plenty of evidence of the erosion that continually causes landslides and sees yet another part of the klint disappear into the sea. For me it was a surprise to see the changes in the facilities at the Geo Centre where a modern building now stands housing a restaurant, galleries and tourist information, once past the centre it is less than a kilometre to a free campsite with 4 new shelters and accompanying fireplaces, toilet and running water. I continued past the shelter place, passing a military radar system before reaching the lighthouse. It was here that I begun to retrace my steps to a secluded campsite overlooking the Baltic. Having set up my bivy I sat down to relax and take in the view whilst watching the many ferries sailing to or from Bornholm along with those sailing to Køge. The evening concluded with a beautiful sunset over the farmland adjacent to the Møn's forest. The following morning saw yet another wonderful sunrise over the Baltic, from here I traveled north along the coast to the Geo centre before heading inland along the Kridtstien which took me through the forest and past a wonderful area for children to play and finally back to the car.

Møns Klint is not the only white cliffs on Sjælland (see our earlier post) but they are perhaps the most well known and given that they are about 2 hours from Copenhagen they provide an ideal location for an overnight walk in this picturesque area.

Access to the are can be gained by car or by the use of public transport with a Regional Train to Vordingborg and then bus to area of Møn.

Hiking on the Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula in Victoria (Australia) is a well known tourist area, with many Melburnians spending their summer holidays camping on the foreshore of Port Phillip Bay. On Mornington Peninsula you can find sheltered golden sandy beaches as well as surf beaches providing challenges for surfboarders and body surfers. Equally fishermen can try their luck with the bay beaches, surf beaches and rock fishing. There is also an extensive wine industry on the peninsula along with many restaurants and cafes. However, there is also many hiking opportunities which we have been able to explore over the past weeks.

Two Bays Track

The two bays track connects Port Phillip Bay with Bushrangers Bay and Cape Schanck, the trail is 26 km in length and commences ( if heading West) with a 280 metre climb from Port Phillip Bay to Seawinds Gardens which are adjacent to Arthurs Seat a 305 metre summit overlooking both Port Phillip and Westernport Bays. Seawind Gardens is an important botanical reserve consisting of many plants that were indigenous to the area and are now being regenerated to establish flora that is typical to the region. After leaving Seawind Gardens the trail heads wast to King Falls, these falls provide a respite from the settled areas around a Aurthurs Seat and the housing estates abutting the mountain. Upon leaving the falls the trail ultimately descends to the settled areas around Waterfall Gully Rd before coming to an an easement for the continuation of Gardens Rd, which links Duells Road with Browns Road. After crossing Browns Rd you soon enter Greens Bush, where you will never be far from the sight of the many Eastern Grey Kangaroos and Black Wallabies. The trail meanders through the Stringybark and Box forests of Greens Bush before arriving at Boneo Road. Upon crossing Boneo Road the trail heads west to Bushrangers Bay with its rugged rock outcrops, before finally turning south west to reach the Cape Schank lighthouse which provides an Easterly light for the ships heading towards Port Phillip Bay and Melbourne.

Greens Bush and its occupants


Peninsula Coastal Walk

The Mornington Peninsula is blessed by two coastal attractions, the calm of Port Phillip Bay and the ocean beaches of Bass Strait. The Peninsula Coastal Path follows the ocean coastline and commences at the Sorrento Ocean Beach, passing through Bridgewater Bay, Gunnamatta, Cape Schanck before concluding at Bushrangers Bay.

This 31.5 km walk along sandy beaches and trails provides outstanding opportunities for viewing Bass Strait as well as Cape Otway (to the west of the entry into Port Phillip Bay). The walk commences by following the lifesaver track (formed after 2 major shipwrecks in the 1890’s) above the rocky limestone cliffs east of Sorrento, before ultimately reaching Sixteenth Beach, from there it is a mostly coastal walk to Cape Schanck, however, high tides may impede progress and trails above the limestone cliffs may be required to complete the walk.

This walk, or parts thereof, can be recommended at any time of the year as watching the the ocean and the waves is a relaxing experience no matter what the weather.

Photos of the area are shown in our web gallery.

Gear Reviews

Ti Tri Caldera

We used the Caldera for cooking both breakfast and dinner at Wilson Prom, for breakfast it was porridge followed by coffee, whilst in the evening it was Cous Cous and coffee. For each meal we heated about a litre of water, which required approximately 35 mls of alcohol using the caldera with an MSR 0.85 litre pot.

However, we also used the Gram Cracker and Esbit Tablets (14 gm) which required 1.5 tablets per meal. When we are able to access the smaller tablets we intend to try these instead.

The total weight of the system (consisting of Ti Caldera, Gram Cracker, alcohol burner and MSR pot) was 180 gm.

Our observation is that it is efficient and user friendly system as well Birgit is impressed by the design, in future we will take a closer a look at the wood burning option, fires are not allowed in Wilsons Promontory NP even in winter


Pacer Poles

I have used the poles for well over 12 months now having previously used Carbon Fibre (CF) poles. Whilst these poles are heavier than CF poles I have always been impressed with their comfort in use in particular the handles which provide a more natural walking position. For walking I find these poles allow me to walk more upright as well providing an easy follow through with the pole.

At first glance it may appear that these poles would be difficult to use as tent poles but this is not the case and we have used them as poles for a Black Diamond Betalight as well as for a variety of tarps.

Final comment whilst there are lighter poles around I prefer to use Pacer Poles.


Montane Terra Pants

I have long been interested in these pants but as it has been difficult to find a pair to try for size I have had to wait until I could visit a "real shop" which happened in Melbourne. Putting these trousers on I was immediately impressed by the comfort level and even more surprised to find that they are sized on the large side so persons considering them may need to go down a size. Things I liked about these trousers were the pockets could be accessed even when hipbelt of pack is closed, the side thigh vents allow for ventilation as well as freedom of movement when climbing, the stretch fabric also aids movement. The fabric of the pants is not designed for winter conditions however, winter at Wilson Prom with temperatures ranging between 5 and 15 degrees C were ideal for these pants. The Montane Terras will now form part of my regular hiking kit for 3 season use.


Silkbody Long Sleeve Crew Neck shirt.

Silkbody clothing is a recent newcomer to the hiking market, these NZ made clothes consist of 72% Silk, 15% cotton and 13% wool. I used this shirt in preference to my normal icebreaker merino wool body layer. I was extremely impressed with the comfort level of the shirt, the non clamminess of the fabric even when damp with perspiration and the lack of odour. The shirt worked perfectly on its own or when combined with the Paramo Valez Smock. This shirt will now form part of the my 3 season hiking kit and I will trial it during winter as part of my 4 season kit.

Fortunately in Melbourne we have found a number of suppliers with a much greater range of silkbody clothing than appears to be currently available in Europe.

Wilsons Promontory

For our European summer holiday we travelled south to Australia to visit family and friends, and yes it is winter in Australia.

We took the opportunity to visit one of our favourite spots Wilson Promontory National Park at the southern tip of the Australian Mainland. The park takes in the southern most point on the mainland and consists of mountains, heath land, swamps and sandy beaches. The Prom as it is affectionately known is a popular tourist destination, especially in summer where up to 200 000 people can be visiting, camping, hiking, sea kayaking, surfing as well as many other sports.

There are many hiking opportunities including a number of circuit walks of varying length and difficulty. We chose to walk the Eastern Circuit walk which takes in Sealers Cove, Refuge Cove and Waterloo Bay. This popular 35 km walk can be completed easily in 2 days, but we decided to take our time and spent a night at each of the 3 campsites on the east coast.

We departed for our first day from the Telegraph Saddle Carpark, heading south along the Lighthouse track, before turning towards Waterloo Bay. The Lighthouse, located on South East Cape is a further 11 km along the track. The undulating foot track to Waterloo Bay is a pleasant walk interspersed with the occasional boardwalks over streams and swampy areas, ultimately the track arrives at Waterloo Bay with its white sandy beach and exquisite turquoise waters. From Waterloo Bay it is a short walk to Little Waterloo Bay, the first of the designated campsites on the east coast.

The following day was another short day to Refuge Cove with the highlight being the climb to Kersops Peak which provides commanding views south to the lighthouse and the conically shaped Rodondo Island as well as to the northern beaches of the prom and further north to Strezlecki Ranges of southern Victoria. Refuge Cove is a cove of 2 coves and is recognised as a safe harbour for boats and yachts in bad weather. We were fortunate to have the entire camping area to ourselves accompanied only by a variety of Australian birds.

The third day saw us walk to Sealers Cove, again a short walk, we were blessed by beautiful sunny weather which provide for excellent views both north and south along the coast. Sealers Cove was once used by whalers and sealers as it provided shelter for their boats as well as ample water for camping. The final day took as through the beautiful rainforests of Sealers Creek, before the climb to the aptly named Windy Saddle, where we were greeted by a Wombat grazing, and finally the Telegraph Saddle car park.

We were fortunate to experience 4 sunny days with crisp cool nights which made for a pleasant trip with outstanding views. We would recommend this walk as ideal for the entire family and if you are able to visit the prom when there are less people around it makes for an even more enjoyable experience.

Our equipment report on the Ti Tri Caldera, Pacer Poles, Montane Terra Pants, Silkbody shirt will follow.

Backpacking Light on the Internet

Backpacking Light on the Internet

Backpackinglight USA site founded by Ryan Jordan, this site with its associated forums, gear shop, gear reviews, publications has in my view become the premier site for information and well researched discussions on the ultra light philosophy. They have often produced new gear that is both lightweight and innovative in design. The forums contain many insightful conversations about the techniques associated with ultra light hiking. It has been fascinating to watch this site grow from one which was very much a USA based site to one that now has forum participants from Europe, Asia Australia and New Zealand.

Backpackinglight UK, this site has developed with a very different focus of podcasts and a shop specialising in light weight gear. Given the different climate and hiking conditions in the UK the site has promoted appropriate gear for lightweight hiking in the UK (and possibly Europe) and as a consequence is seen by many as in the fore front of the lightweight movement in the UK.

Backpackinglight Australia, is located in Melbourne and has been around for a while now and like its namesakes in the other countries is a provider of lightweight gear to bushwalkers, the company has imported such brand names as Integral Designs, GoLite, Montane, Pacer Poles along side of Australian and NZ brands such as Aarn and Gondwana.


It is apparent to us that the advent of these sites and their accompanying stores has led to increase in the use of lightweight techniques in the outdoors which is to be commended and we can recommend each of the online stores on these sites as being reliable providers of high quality ultra light gear.