Search Results

2:30am alarm, oh so jarring, as the cold of the morning hits but the excitement of what’s to come kicks in. Layers on, breakfast packed (snacks and lunch, too, it’s going to be a long day) hot cuppa in hand for 3:00am departure. It’s clear as a bell and oh so chilly. The stars are amazing, the Milky Way so close you could almost reach out and grab a star. We drive slow, the wildlife of the high country is active in dark of the very early morning; wombats, wallabies, rabbits, deer all on the road as we climb to our start point. We arrive at Charlotte Pass, the only car on the road, the entire trail to our selves for the duration of the hike. Head torches on, nervous wees done, and we start right on time at 4:00am, still pitch black and getting colder as we go. -3.5° as we set off but the layers are working a treat. Boldly starting colder is a fab rule as the muscles start to heat up as the trail steadily rises towards the top of Australia. The group splits with the speed demons up the front with Margie and the steady walkers down the back with Sharon. Slow and steady we climb, a red glow on the horizon. Shooting stars guide the way. We pass Seaman’s Hut, a stream of red and white lights in the blackness, snaking up the trail. We regroup at Rawson Pass for a toilet break and a quick snack to begin the climb to the top. Twighlight reveals the stunning terrain we’ve been walking for the past 7kms, and wow, what a stunner this place is. The trail now rockier underfoot, it’s a bit harder to maintain the quick pace, puddles are frozen solid, our water bladders, too. Note to self, bottles are best in alpine conditions… Getting to the top is tough, steady up hill, and spectacular as the horizon tints hot pink and orange, the sunrise only moments away. We arrive at the summit, 2228 metres elevation, with excited cheers. The first at the top snapping photos in the gloomy light and cheering on the stragglers at the back who feel every single step up the mountain. Support, encouragement, accomplishment and celebration bring tears to a few eyes. We have the summit of Kosi all to ourselves, not another living soul, an absolute miracle or maybe testament that we are a bit crazy to start hiking at 4am. We don a few more layers to keep out the biting chill and enjoy a hot cuppa as the sun finally emerges over the horizon, the sky quickly brightening to blues, mauves and dusky pink. Thousands of photos taken, a quick moment of reflection and a bit more celebration we continue our journey, some continuing 14 km more to conquer The Main Range, past lakes Albina, Club and Blue, up Mount Curruthers and across the fabled Snowy River, we meet back at Charlotte Pass. 9 hours and 23 kms of hiking later… Feet are sore, legs are aching, and smiles are huge as the reality of ‘type 2’ fun kicks in. We thank the weather gods for blessing us with absolutely perfect blue bird weather, a rarity in this part of the world. The rugged Main Range, the very rooftop of Australia, Mount Kosciuszko, where the views across the Australian Alps stretch as far as the eye can see, and we are so glad we came on this day to witness the sheer beauty of this place.

Hello WEA Community, Ever wondered how we rate our hikes at WEA? We use the Australian Walking Track Grading System (AWTGS), ensuring you can choose your outdoor experience with confidence. How It Works: Grades range from 1 (easy) to 5 (hard). The AWTGS considers distance, gradient, path quality, signage, steps, experience, and time. Basic Outline of Grades - Grade 1: Up to 5km, no experience needed. - Grade 2: Family-friendly, under 10km. - Grade 3: Some experience, up to 20km. - Grade 4: Experience needed, longer and rougher. - Grade 5: For seasoned hikers, challenging remote treks. The key point is that a hike's grade is determined by the highest score among any of the above criteria. If one criterion is graded 4, the overall hike is considered grade 4, regardless of the scores of other criteria. This logic aligns with the understanding that even a 1km hike with excellent signage and a well-constructed track can be challenging if it ascends a steep mountain. Information is Power: Click on this link for a great article by National Parks NSW that goes into details of hike grading, it is a great read and will ensure you choose the perfect hike for you. https://blog.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/whats-the-best-hike-for-you/#:~:text=Grade%201%20is%20up%20to,don't%20need%20no%20metres Dive in, explore, and let the adventure begin! Happy hiking! xXKat and Sharon

Activity Levels for Women Embrace Adventure Sometimes, it's hard to know if our adventure is a good fit for you. You can always send us a message; we'll give you a ring to chat about what you're looking for and how we can help you. Our Women Embrace Adventure team assesses each adventure's fitness and physical demands to help you gauge if it aligns with your fitness level and desired level of activity. Our four activity levels are categorised as RELAXED, MODERATE, HIGH ENERGY and CHALLENGING. Relaxed Adventures that exercise your mind more than your body and are designed for women who prefer a leisurely, less rigorous experience. If you can walk up to 5kms per day on flat terrain and paved pathways, enjoy spending a few hours in museums, relax on a boat or enjoy lunching with a great bunch of women, or want to try kayaking for an hour, then these types of adventures are for you. Moderate Moderate adventures at Women Embrace Adventure get you on your feet! You should be in good physical condition and have a moderate level of fitness for these adventures. You should be comfortable walking at least 10 km on uneven surfaces, stairs, and natural trails or kayaking approx 8- 10 km at a leisurely pace in calm waters for 3 hours. High Energy High-energy adventures are designed for women who enjoy more of a physical adventure and crave being on the go! You should be prepared for itineraries that include (but are not limited to) a full day of hiking on rolling terrain up to 20kms, multi-day hiking trips with back-to-back hiking days on moderate to steep trails, kayaking on flat water for up to 14kms over a period of 4 - 5 hours. Challenging Challenging adventures at WEA get your heart rate really pumping, and you are more athletic. These women’s trips are demanding yet deeply rewarding and designed for seasoned outdoor enthusiasts.  You should be in excellent physical condition and be able to hike up to 25 km per day in steeper, more rugged terrain or kayak for up to 20 km over a full day. We work hard to plan a large variety of adventures that suit lots of different fitness and energy levels. Whether it's a relaxing Ladies Who Lunch afternoon or it's a climb to the top of the world you are after, we have an Adventure planned for you! Sing out if you have any questions; we'd love a chat.