The Strzelecki Bushwalking Club is inviting bushwalkers from across Gippsland to a special combined clubs’ weekend.
This ‘gather round’ of Gippsland’s walking clubs shall take place on the weekend of the days 24/25 October and shall showcase the majestic Erica/Rawson and Walhalla areas.
The weekend will feature eight guided walks with four offered each day.
The program has been carefully constructed to cater for a wide range of walkers, from those seeking an easier option to experienced hikers looking for a challenging adventure.
We are lucky to live in a very beautiful part of Gippsland, and the walks will include journeys into Alpine areas and the Walhalla area which shall focus on the history of our early pioneers.
Some of the walks will travel on iconic trails of the region with other opportunities to travel on tracks that are largely unknown.
Some people will be ticking off a bucket list walk while others maybe choosing to travel on a trail that they did not even know existed.
This event has been organized by Strzelecki’s walks Co-Ordinator, Jim Rowley, who has been working tirelessly over the last few months to organize this event.
Jim, together with a group of knowledgeable and competent walk leaders, shall guide participants throughout the program.
An invaluable addition to the weekend is the comprehensive walk booklet prepared by our resident cartographer, Martin Norris.
The booklet contains detailed maps and a thorough description of each walk.
The booklet is beautifully illustrated with photos of the local landscapes and locals of days long gone by.
The booklet is an excellent resource to help walkers prepare for their weekend and help them enjoy their chosen walks.
Martin’s expertise in this area has produced a resource that will be accessed by walkers well beyond this event.
Another feature of the weekend will be the social event on Saturday evening at the Erica Hotel.
This event will provide walkers a chance to socialize with each other and compare notes after a long day on the trail.
The exact numbers of walkers expected in the region over this incredible weekend are still unknown as the Strzelecki Bushwalking Club has only recently sent out invitations.
However, we have received an early influx of walk registrations which is indicative of a “bumper weekend”.
The Strzelecki Bushwalking Club is fiercely supportive of our local areas, and we expect this event to be a huge economic gain to the Erica/Rawson/Walhalla townships with potentially hundreds of walkers and visitors in the area for the weekend.
We have directed walkers to the various accommodation options, and many have already made bookings in the area.
It is highly likely that walkers will sample the local coffee shops and eateries after long days of walking.
Of course, the Strzelecki Bushwalking Club hopes that many of the walkers enjoy the event and will return to the area in the future.
What a great way to enjoy a spectacular area of Gippsland and to help local businesses at the same time.
