Letter of the Issue ]

(Re: Wild #187’s cover story on Tasmania’s wild Frankland Range)

Dear James,

In February 2013, Paul (left) and myself (right) plus Shaw did an epic trip doing both the Frankland Range and the Mt Anne Circuit. This picture was taken after completing our second trip—the Mt Anne Circuit. I ripped my only pair of shorts just two days into doing the Frankland Range. Looks like Paul’s jacket and shirt were also victims of our tough walk.

Thanks,

Desmond Norman Mena Creek, QLD

Dear Wild,

I really value the increasing space in the pages of Wild that is being given to climate change reporting and analysis. Clearly, to achieve the emissions reductions required will necessitate some material changes to our comfortable lifestyles. Of course, this is a truth that is very hard to accept and choosing not to fly appears to be a particular bugbear. And yet the emissions of a single long-haul flight—plus the climate impacts due to the contrails, induced cloudiness and nitrous oxide derivatives produced–can equate to up to 15 tonnes of CO2 equivalent in warming (the planet can probably cope with about 1.5-3 tonnes per person per year). Every flight you take leaves a cruel debt of climate damage that will resonate for generations. As hard a truth as it may be to accept, we simply must stop flying so much.

Patrick Hockey Clunes,

VIC

Hi James,

I’m sorry to read the last of Bob Brown’s pages in Wild. I’ve not met Bob but a decade or so ago a Tasmanian friend was driving me to Western Creek to begin a walk on the Central Plateau. We were on a back road close to the Tiers when he stopped the car outside a farm gate. Beyond the gate, a dirt road led to a weatherboard cottage but it was the gate that he stopped to show me, or rather, the sign on the gate. It read ‘Trespassers Welcome’. He told me that it was Bob’s place and to me, that says as much about the man that I need to know. That sign must be a rare thing and I’m both surprised and sorry that I didn’t think to take a photograph of it.

Kind regards,

Michael Round Adelaide, SA

Hi Wild,

(Ed: I’m glad you survived. But I bet the others didn’t let you do much walking up front, Desmond. That hind cheek would be a sorry sight to follow for the remainder of the walk.)

Each Letter of the Issue wins a piece of quality outdoor kit. They’ll also, like Desmond in this issue, receive A FREE ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION TO WILD. To be in the running, send your 40-400 word letters to: editor@wild.com.au

I was flicking through your Autumn issue again at lunchtime—it was a good one. I wanted to say that I thought ‘Anatomy of a Search’ was really good. I particularly liked that our hero died—stupid hurts. But I enjoyed the Scandi skiing piece and the Tassie packrafting, and I empathised with Dan’s attachment to good gear. I also sympathised with Megan breaking herself before a planned trip and lots more. Like I said, a good issue.

Thank you, Brian Farrelly Canberra, ACT (Ed: Flattery will get you everywhere!)

On the building of infrastructure in national parks on NSW’s South Coast:

“Commodifying the “wild” is not done for the best interests of the people who choose wild.” KH “Building unnecessary extensive hard roofed infrastructure in wild areas of OUR national parks will negatively impact the amenity for all users and it will degrade the remote and wild characteristics of the park; ultimately, it will diminish the value of Beowa National Park - the last wild corner of NSW.” MR wild.com.au/subscribe

EVERY published letter this issue will receive a pair of Smartwool PhD crew hike socks. Smartwool is well known for their itch-free, odour-free Merino clothing, and their technical PhD socks have seamless toes and are mesh-panelled for comfort.

Desmond’s Letter of the Issue will get something special: A Smartwool sock drawer. It’ll include hiking, running and lifestyle socks, enough for anyone to throw out all those old raggedy, holey and often stinky socks they’ve been making do with.

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