Celebrating 10 Years - John Belfio

On 23rd January 2000, John Belfio went on his first YHA Bushwalk, starting as many do with an easy Sunday walk, in this instance to Lake Mountain. He quickly moved onto the more challenging day trips and extended pack carries. Exactly ten years later John was still at it. The occasion was celebrated in Federation Hut on Bruce Meincke’s Mt Feathertop weekend with the aid of a little something else that also started out in 2000.

Ten years, including several Golden Boots, is a lot of walks, so John shared some highlights of his experiences

What attracted you to us in the first place? I’d been walking regularly with a friend for a long time, but when she split with me I looked for a club to get involved with. I went along to some YHA Clubnights, was impressed with the organisation and started out with a few Sunday walks. I eventually met and became friendly with Colin Cody, as we both enjoyed more challenging (ie longer, steeper and bushbashing) walks. I did a lot of trips with Colin until he moved away from the club in 2003.

What's been your favourite walks so far? My favourite was the Alpine Walking track, Kiandra to Thredbo (Dec 2005). That walk also featured my favourite campsite, on a grassy plateau just below the summit of Mt Twynam. A magnificent view, "champagne" water and a comfortable tent site. Second on my list was the Larapinta Trail (June 2007), followed by the Razor-Viking. My favourite area close to Melbourne is the Cathedral Ranges.

Hardest moment? Billy Goat Track/Snowy Bluff (Cup weekend 2002). I've never been so tired as I was on that walk, absolutely knackered and happy to set up my tent anywhere on the track. We walked for eight hours in the sun, up and down steep hills. The leader got severe blisters, the rest of us had to carry his stuff and even then he could hardly walk. We broke into a farmhouse to try and find a phone. We rang the pub (in Dargo), but they wanted $200 to come and fetch us, eventually we found a friendly farmer willing to give us a lift back to the main road for a smaller amount.

Longest walk? 100km in a day with Colin Cody, Blackwood to Daylesford return.

What's the most important thing you've forgotten to take on walk? My boots. I realised on the way to a walk in the Snowy River area that I'd left them behind, so I had to pick up some cheap Chinese ones in Traralgon.

You have a well earned reputation for being fond of bush tucker, what's your favourite delicacy? Bogong moths - they are nice cooked, but I find it just as good to take their wings off and eat them raw.

What places haven't you been to yet that you'd most like to visit? Locally (sort of) Western Australia, overseas I'd like to go to Tibet and Mt Kilimanjaro.

Nobody walks all the time - what do you like to read or listen to away from the bush? I like books about early Australian history and exploration. Recent ones I've enjoyed have been Tim Flannery's account of the Life and Adventures of William Buckley, a convict who went to live with the aborigines and another on Major Mitchell's expedition through western Victoria. Music-wise I like a bit of AC/DC and Daddy Cool.

Do you have any suggested improvements for the club? More frequent clubnights, a greater variety of guest speaker topics (eg survival skills, plants, wildlife, travel). It was one of the things which attracted me to YHA in the first place, they had a lot of interesting guest speakers.

And finally, any advice for new walkers? Enjoy. Start with a few easy walks to build up your confidence, then try some more challenging ones. You will be surprised what you can do, don't put up barriers to yourself. I didn't know I had the capability to walk long distances or carry weight until I joined YHA. Bushwalking can help you in other aspects of your life - if you can survive in the bush, you can survive anywhere.