IWAS Example  (copyright)

 

Title                              Cedar Brush Creek to ‘The Basin’

Name of Walk              Great North Walk

Location                       A part of the Great North Walk, mainly within Watagan Forests, New South Wales, Australia.

Nearest Towns:            Wollombi, to the north or Wyong to the south-east.

Altitude                             Lowest, Cedar Brush Creek, 60 metres. Highest, Walkers Ridge Road, 380 metres.

Map                             (Topographic mapping preferred)




Sections 1 to 3 shown.

 

Published Topographic Maps Required/ Recommended

Map Name

Scale

Doralong

1:25000

Morisett

1:25000

Murrays Run

1:25000

 

 

 

Assessed Grade:  2.2

 

 

Special Notes (Useful cautions or salient advice for prospective recreational walkers)

  1. Steep section at start of descent to/ascent from the Basin Track. Slippery in the wet.
  2. Take precautions against leeches, especially in wet conditions.
  3. Some vehicular traffic on Walker’s Ridge’s gravel road. Also nuisance trail bike riding on weekends.
  4. Path across semi-pastoral land and along a fenceline in Section one, is public land, not private.

 

The Assessment Process

Assessability (Describe why it is assessable)

It is within an assessable zone as it is presently used for recreational walk as part of the Great North Walk, a route spanning Sydney to Newcastle, approximately 250 km.

The track has been in continuous use since 1988, with occasional diversions made when there is forestry work or a high fire hazard.

There are no other factors that make it inaccessible in normal conditions, although heavy rains may make it difficult or inaccessible.

 

Sections Created (Describe the sections, show them on a map and write why these were selected)

 

Section Number

Section

Distance (km)

1

Cedar Brush Creek Road to forest road

1.9

2

Forest Roads

5.0

3

Basin Track

3.1

 

Total Distance

10.0

 


Map showing sections in colour appropriate for their grading (see notes below).

 

Section two is principally along minor forest road, whereas sections one and three are on narrow foot track. Section three could be made into two sections since it is steep at the between the forest road and the basin track. However the steep section is short, approximately four hundred metres in distance, and there are no other discernable differences in grading in the rest of that section, so the single section has been maintained.

 

Assessment (Showing points allocation for each factor, totals for each section, and appropriate colour representing the grading)

 

Assessable Factors

Section 1

Points Allocated

Section 2

Points Allocated

Section 3

Points Allocated

Surface

2

1

2

Context

2

1

2

Incline

2

1

3

Width

3

1

3

Totals

9

4

10

Grading

2.7

1.0

3.0

Colour on Map

Pink

Light Yellow

Pink

 

Further Notes on Each Factor in each section (Showing the final calculation)

 

 

Grading for Sections 1 to 3

Distance (km)

Point x Distance

2.7

1.9

5.1

1.0

5.0

5.0

3.0

4.1

12.3

Totals

10.0

22.4

Divide by Distance of

10.0

Grade: 2.2

 

 

Feedback on Walking Times (A framework for estimating walking times)

Below is a matrix available for other walker/ walking group providing feedback of their own time spent on the route. Examples of possible results are included.

Their times could be based on

  1. total time in hours, excluding times spent on stops of over ten minutes
  2. ‘normal’ weather conditions, and
  3.  walking conducted in daylight hours.

Although IWAS does not estimate walking times, this matrix will provide a pragmatic way of assisting future walkers of likely times needed to complete their walk.

 

Oldest Person->

Size of

Group

<15

<25

<35

<45

<55

<65

<75

Over 75

1

 

2.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3-4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5-6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7-9

 

 

 

 

3.5

 

 

 

10-15

 

 

Times entered in appropriate box

 

 

 

 

 

16-20

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.0

 

21-25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over 25

 

3.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Example only

 

Positive Features (unrelated to IWAS assessment and grading but an opportunity to point out positive features. There should be a word size limitation to prevent ‘spruiking’).

            Scrub turkeys, wallabies

Birdlife

            Orchids and birds nest ferns

            Eucalypt forests and rainforest

            Picnic and camping facilities at ‘The Basin’ campsite.

 

Published References (An opportunity to refer to useful publication, websites or other information sources.)

 

Other Assessment Details

Date of Assessment:                 May 7 and 8, 2006

Weather Conditions:                 Sunny, 22 C. maximum.

Name of Assessor:                   G McDougall

Contact Details             Email: utravel@optusnet.com.au

Phone: 61.2.98103695.