Timbertop is a full-time boarding, co-educational campus of Geelong Grammar School located near Mansfield , Victoria , Australia.
107-463: Established in 1953, by then Headmaster James Darling , Timbertop is attended by year-nine students attending Geelong Grammar School, although there are limited spaces and not all students are able to attend. As of 2017 approximately 240 boys and girls attend Timbertop, where they are divided into single-sex 'units' of approximately 15 students. They participate in a wide variety of physical activities including running , hiking , and skiing , as well as
214-691: A boarding school in Derbyshire . He served as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery in France and occupied Germany in 1918 and 1919 before reading history at Oriel College , Oxford . He taught from 1921 to 1924 at Merchant Taylors' School in Liverpool , before joining the staff of Charterhouse in Surrey . He was appointed as Headmaster of Geelong Grammar School in 1930 and
321-424: A bunker to protect from bushfires, essentially acting as a 'last resort' should evacuation be impossible. The bunker was opened in 2011 as a response to previous bushfires that had managed to reach school grounds, including in 2006 and 2009. Named after the previous family that owned the land that currently constitutes Timbertop, this track runs parallel with Grammar School Road , the main thoroughfare in and out of
428-408: A heavy backpack. Winter hiking requires a higher level of skill and generally more specialized gear than in other seasons (see winter hiking below). Proponents of ultralight backpacking argue that long lists of required items for multi-day hikes increases pack weight, and hence fatigue and the chance of injury. Instead, they recommend reducing pack weight, to make hiking long distances easier. Even
535-490: A high degree of activity, and a rapid increase in elevation. Other threats include attacks by animals (e.g., bears, snakes, and insects or ticks carrying diseases such as Lyme ) or contact with noxious plants that can cause rashes (e.g., poison ivy , poison oak , poison sumac , or stinging nettles ). Lightning is also a threat, especially on high ground. Walkers in high mountains, and during winter in many countries, can encounter hazardous snow and ice conditions, and
642-401: A large amount of autonomy in choosing where they go, distances walked, and food taken. Students then partake in their third and final "Solo". In 2018, the final Unit trip "Walk Canoe Raft" was replaced (indefinitely) with a third Option Hike. In total, students camp for between 50 and 55 nights during the year. Running, and in particular trail running (given the rural and hilly location of
749-563: A large number of hikers are involved. For example, years of gathering wood can strip an alpine area of valuable nutrients, and can cause deforestation; and some species, such as martens or Bighorn Sheep , are very sensitive to the presence of humans, especially around mating season. Generally, protected areas such as parks have regulations in place to protect the environment, so as to minimize such impact. Such regulations include banning wood fires, restricting camping to established campsites, disposing or packing out faecal matter , and imposing
856-458: A lesser extent other Asiatic countries, like Turkey, Israel, and Jordan. In the Alps of Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland, Germany, France, and Italy walking tours can be made from 'hut-to-hut', using an extensive system of mountain huts . In the late 20th-century, there has been a proliferation of official and unofficial long-distance routes, which mean that hikers now are more likely to refer to using
963-408: A list of " Ten Essentials " equipment for hiking, including a compass, sunglasses, sunscreen, a flashlight , a first aid kit, a fire starter , and a knife. Other groups recommend items such as hat, gloves, insect repellent, and an emergency blanket . A GPS navigation device can also be helpful and route cards may be used as a guide. Trekking poles are also recommended, especially when carrying
1070-714: A long-distance way (Britain), trail (US), The Grande Randonnée (France), etc., than setting out on a walking tour. Early examples of long-distance paths include the Appalachian Trail in the US and the Pennine Way in Britain. Organized hiking clubs emerged in Europe at approximately the same time as official hiking trails. These clubs established and upheld their own paths during the 19th and 20th centuries, prioritizing
1177-442: A normal academic routine. Additionally, students at Timbertop do not have access to devices such as computers, mobile phones , or digital cameras, and external news is typically received via newspaper or radio. Almost all communication from students to family and friends off campus is carried through hand-written letters . In order for students to receive hot water for showers, cleaning and heating, they must chop their own wood, which
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#17327660127451284-549: A quota on the number of hikers. Many hikers espouse the philosophy of Leave No Trace , following strict practices on dealing with food waste , food packaging, and other impacts on the environment. Human feces are often a major source of environmental impact from hiking, and can contaminate the watershed and make other hikers ill. ' Catholes ' dug 10 to 25 cm (4 to 10 inches) deep, depending on local soil composition and covered after use, at least 60 m (200 feet) away from water sources and trails, are recommended to reduce
1391-704: A religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer time. "Hiking" is the preferred term in Canada and the United States ; the term " walking " is used in these regions for shorter, particularly urban walks. In the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, the word "walking" describes all forms of walking, whether it is a walk in the park or backpacking in the Alps . The word hiking is also often used in
1498-437: A result of snowmelt from further upstream. Timbertop is home to a small vineyard, which was planted in the late 1980's. The vineyard, owned by Ross Ritchie Wines, produces red wines, including nebbiolo and merlot . Students who undertake agriculture, particularly viticulture, take part in the grape treading process, and other wine-making processes. In 1966, King Charles III attended Timbertop for six months. The event
1605-520: A rewarding experience for them, particularly if a route is chosen with their interests in mind. Young children are prone to becoming fatigued more rapidly than adults, requiring fluids and energy-rich foods more frequently, and are also more sensitive to variations in weather and terrain. Hiking routes may be chosen with these factors in mind, and appropriate clothing, equipment and sun-protection need to be available. Natural environments are often fragile and may be accidentally damaged, especially when
1712-696: A second "Solo" also occurs. In term 3, students participate in Downhill Skiing on Mt Buller , where they do lessons, and free skiing. The students also learn Cross Country Skiing on two unit based trips, on Mount Stirling , near GGS hut, and on the Bogong High Plains . At the end of the term, students take part in a unit based "Mystery Hike". Term 4 is the culmination of the outdoors programme. Returning students participate in Option Hikes 1 and 2, which vary in difficulty depending on
1819-586: A standard marathon (42.195 kilometres) it takes place on rough tracks and with hilly/mountainous terrain. The Hobbies programme takes place in Term 3, before ski days. Students select two hobbies from a list that includes activities including but not limited to Snowboarding, Fly Fishing, Horse Riding and Mountain Biking. All students at Timbertop are placed in units of 14–16 people. Boys units are named A through to H, and Girls units are named I through to P, making
1926-401: A total of 16 units. There are both "new" and "old" units; "old" units were constructed by students in the 1950s through to the 1970s while "new" units have been slowly replacing the older buildings since 2009. As of 2021, Old units include A, B, C, E, F, H, L, M, N and O, while new units include D, G, I, J, K and P. Students sleep, clean, study, maintain, and live in their units for the year. Once
2033-411: A variety of factors, including local climate. Day hikers often carry water, food, a map, hat, and rain-proof gear. Hikers have traditionally worn sturdy hiking boots for stability over rough terrain. In recent decades this has become less common as some long-distance hikers have switched to trail running shoes . Boots are still commonly used in mountainous terrain. The Mountaineers club recommends
2140-416: A week, units perform a "Sunday inspection", which actually occur on a Tuesday despite the name. During the inspection, every part of the unit is cleaned to a high standard and inspected by the unit's Head of Unit. Additionally, students perform two inspections per normal day to maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the unit. The units are divided into two "Schools": A School and B School. The units that compose
2247-750: A wide range of physical activity. Notable pupils included future prime minister John Gorton and Charles, Prince of Wales . Darling was a founder and first National President of the Australian College of Educators . Darling served from 1933 to 1971 on the Council of the University of Melbourne and he was a member of the Universities Commission from 1941 to 1951. Darling believed that it was of primary importance in education to cultivate sensitivity in students, but that toughness
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#17327660127452354-470: A wooden stile that leads students off the campus, where they reach a reach a quarry. This region, whilst not on the campus boundary, is located at the base of Ruby's Knoll , a small hill upon which many orienteering challenges take place. B Unit Flat is a tract of flat ground on the side of the Timbertop Creek. It gets its name from B Unit, which is the closest unit to this flat area. This space
2461-477: Is Johann Gottfried Seume , who set out on foot from Leipzig to Sicily in 1801, and returned to Leipzig via Paris after nine months. Thomas West , a Scottish priest, popularized the idea of walking for pleasure in his guide to the Lake District of 1778. In the introduction he wrote that he aimed to encourage the taste of visiting the lakes by furnishing the traveller with a Guide; and for that purpose,
2568-476: Is G unit, which was rebuilt). In fact, many classrooms on the Timbertop campus are former unit buildings which had been relocated into new buildings. As of 2020, the I Unit nameplate has been reallocated to a new girl's unit which was built by the end of 2019. Previously there were 9 Boys units and 7 Girls units; A through I and J through P respectively. New units also have a 16-person capacity. This reallocation
2675-519: Is a compulsory core subject. Timbertop has an extensive outdoors programme which encompasses hiking , downhill skiing , cross-country skiing , rogaining (a team-based orienteering sport), and camping . Students begin with two training sessions at the start of the year, in which they are taught to use and clean trangia stoves, pitch tents, and correctly use their hiking gear . They then complete other hikes to places such as Mt. Stirling , The Bluff, and Mt. Buller , to familiarise themselves with
2782-402: Is a danger for all hikers and especially inexperienced hikers. Weather does not need to be very cold to be dangerous since ordinary rain or mist has a strong cooling effect. In high mountains a further danger is altitude sickness . This typically occurs only above 2,500 metres (8,000 ft), though some are affected at lower altitudes. Risk factors include a prior episode of altitude sickness,
2889-519: Is a marked long-distance trail in southwestern Turkey around part of the coast of ancient Lycia . It is over 500 km (310 mi) in length and stretches from Hisarönü ( Ovacık ), near Fethiye , to Geyikbayırı in Konyaaltı about 20 km (12 mi) from Antalya . It was conceived by Briton Kate Clow, who lives in Turkey. It takes its name from the ancient civilization, which once ruled
2996-505: Is about 3 kilometres long, eventually reaching about 5 kilometres by term 4. Crossies are run every week before or after school starts (depending on term). "Long Runs" are longer than the other runs. The length of the runs increases every week, starting (at the start of term 1) at approximately 4 km, and ending (at the end of term 4) at around 23 km, the penultimate run before the Marathon. This run involves running up West Ridge to
3103-622: Is also home to the "Head of the Dam", a parody of the Head of the River , a large rowing event held in Australia and other states in Australia , of which Geelong Grammar School takes part. Pool doughnuts are assembled and taped together in such a way to resemble a rowing boat, and students, using their arms as oars, must paddle from one side of the river to the other in a race. Flowing directly through
3210-399: Is an historically important early sign of an awakening appreciation of the mountains, though it is chiefly designed to contrast the simple and idyllic life of the inhabitants of the Alps with the corrupt and decadent existence of the dwellers in the plains. Numerous travellers explored Europe on foot in the last third of the 18th century and recorded their experiences. A significant example
3317-433: Is especially hazardous in high mountains, crossing rivers and glaciers, and when there is snow and ice. At times hiking may involve scrambling , as well as the use of ropes, ice axes and crampons and the skill to properly use them. Potential hazards involving physical ailments may include dehydration, frostbite, hypothermia, sunburn, sunstroke, or diarrhea , and such injuries as ankle sprains, or broken bones. Hypothermia
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3424-511: Is more straightforward and a crossing can be made, if advanced arrangements are made with Canada Border Services . Within the Schengen Area , which includes most of the E.U. , and associated nations like Switzerland and Norway, there are no impediments to crossing by path, and borders are not always obvious. Hiking in winter offers additional opportunities, challenges and hazards. Crampons may be needed in icy conditions, and an ice ax
3531-498: Is not a hard climb, and is not usually considered part of the Alps. This implicit claim of Petrarch and Burckhardt, that Petrarch was the first to climb a mountain for pleasure since antiquity, was disproven by Lynn Thorndike in 1943. Mount Ventoux was climbed by Jean Buridan , on his way to the papal court in Avignon before the year 1334, "in order to make some meteorological observations". There were ascents accomplished during
3638-483: Is probably Robert Louis Stevenson 's journey through the Cévennes in France with a donkey, recorded in his Travels with a Donkey (1879). Stevenson also published in 1876 his famous essay "Walking Tours". The subgenre of travel writing produced many classics in the subsequent 20th century. An early American example of a book that describes an extended walking tour is naturalist John Muir 's A Thousand Mile Walk to
3745-696: Is recommended on steep, snow covered paths. Snowshoes and hiking poles , or cross country skis are useful aid for those hiking in deep snow. An example of a close relationship between skiing and hiking is found in Norway, where The Norwegian Trekking Association maintains over 400 huts stretching across thousands of kilometres of trails which hikers can use in the summer and skiers in the winter. For longer routes in snowy conditions, hikers may resort to ski touring , using specialised skis and boots for uphill travel. In winter, factors such as shortened daylight, changeable weather conditions and avalanche risk can raise
3852-634: Is the most popular of the routes and runs from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port on the French side of the Pyrenees to Roncesvalles on the Spanish side and then another 780 kilometres (480 mi) on to Santiago de Compostela through the major cities of Pamplona , Logroño , Burgos and León . A typical walk on the Camino francés takes at least four weeks, allowing for one or two rest days on the way. Some travel
3959-455: Is the name given to a large flat section of ground located on the banks of the Timbertop Creek, where sports lessons typically take place. The Country Club has a basketball/netball court, and several fire pits. The Darling Huts, between Scrubby Hill and Barclays Hill, are three huts: a timber slab dining hut, an accommodation hut and a mud-brick toilet block. The huts, which do not have electricity, allow students to stay overnight and learn about
4066-477: Is then placed in a boiler accompanying each unit building. In December 1951, Geelong Grammar School announced that it had an option on a piece of land near Mount Timbertop where they would conduct normal schooling combined with outdoor activities that would foster independence and initiative. The concept was the initiative of headmaster James Darling , who was inspired by the likes of Kurt Hahn and England's Outward Bound schools . The Timbertop campus opened at
4173-652: Is today referred to as the "Father of the National Parks". In 1916, the National Park Service was created to protect national parks and monuments. In 1921, Benton MacKaye , a forester, conceived the idea of what would become America's first National Scenic Trail, the Appalachian trail (AT). The AT was completed in August 1937, running from Maine to Georgia. The Pacific Crest Trail ("PCT")
4280-480: Is typically reserved for camping in the earlier months of the year. Built in stages by staff and students in 1958, the Chapel is host to several services each week. A bell adjacent to the Chapel is rung out, which can be heard across most of the school, to signal that a service or communion is starting. The funds for the Chapel were gifted by Mrs Margaret McWhae, who lived at 'Ellingerrin', a large pastoral property in
4387-726: Is very popular and a permit is required . The longest hiking trail in Chile is the informal 3,000 km (1,850 mi) Greater Patagonia Trail that was created by a non-governmental initiative. In Africa a major trekking destination is Mount Kilimanjaro , a dormant volcano in Tanzania , which is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest single free-standing mountain in the world: 5,895 metres (19,341 ft) above sea level and about 4,900 metres (16,100 ft) above its plateau base. The equipment required for hiking depends on
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4494-521: The Ancient Near East . The path was established in 2007 as a pilgrimage route between Urfa, Turkey , possibly his birthplace, and his final destination of the desert of Negev . National parks are often important hiking destinations, such as National Parks of England and Wales ; of Canada ; of New Zealand , of South Africa , etc. Frequently, nowadays long-distance hikes (walking tours) are undertaken along long-distance paths, including
4601-523: The Camino de Santiago , or Way of St. James, has become more recently the source for a number of long-distance hiking routes. This is a network of pilgrims' ways leading to the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain. Many follow its routes as a form of spiritual path or retreat for their spiritual growth. The French Way
4708-577: The Holt Liberal government in 1967 not to re-appoint him was rumoured to be because of the perceived criticism of the government's policies by the ABC. This led to considerable controversy, involving Mike Willesee , an ABC reporter, who was the son of Don Willesee , a Labor Senator. In retirement Darling often wrote for newspapers, and published his own books. In 1988 he was named on a list of 200 great Australians (of whom only 22 were living, he being
4815-473: The Lake District and Yorkshire Dales , fell walking describes hill or mountain walks, as fell is the common word for both features there. Hiking sometimes involves bushwhacking and is sometimes referred to as such. This specifically refers to difficult walking through dense forest, undergrowth, or bushes where forward progress requires pushing vegetation aside. In extreme cases of bushwhacking, where
4922-610: The Maroondah Highway and crashed into a tree in Kanumbra , outside of Merton , killing him instantly. He died at the age of 57, and was cremated. A memorial service took place at the Corio Campus three days later, on 8 December 1978. In 1996, Tim Collins, a student in G Unit, collapsed and passed away as a result of a congenital heart condition whilst on the final 6-day-long hike of Timbertop, near 'Peters Corner',
5029-557: The Middle Ages ; Lynn Thorndike mentions that "a book on feeling for nature in Germany in the tenth and eleventh centuries, noted various ascents and descriptions of mountains from that period", and that "in the closing years of his life archbishop Anno II, Archbishop of Cologne (c. 1010 – 1075) climbed his beloved mountain oftener than usual". Other early examples of individuals hiking or climbing mountains for pleasure include
5136-943: The National Trails in England and Wales, the Kungsleden (Sweden) and the National Trail System in the United States. The Grande Randonnée (France), Grote Routepaden, or Lange-afstand-wandelpaden (The Netherlands), Grande Rota (Portugal), Gran Recorrido (Spain) is a network of long-distance footpaths in Europe, mostly in France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain. There are extensive networks in other European countries of long-distance trails, as well as in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Nepal, and to
5243-511: The U.S. Congress for the National Park bill that was passed in 1890, establishing Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. The Sierra Club , which he founded, is now one of the most important conservation organizations in the United States. The spiritual quality and enthusiasm toward nature expressed in his writings inspired others, including presidents and congressmen, to take action to help preserve large areas of undeveloped countryside. He
5350-555: The Western District of Victoria . Almost all of the materials used in the construction of the Chapel were sourced locally, with the sand and gravel coming from the nearby Delatite River , the stone from the school grounds used for the wing walls and the main altar, and the stone paving around the sanctuary taken from a nearby property bordering the Timbertop Creek that was owned by the Lovick family, another prominent family in
5457-535: The right to roam in England and Wales. An early example of an interest in hiking in the United States is Abel Crawford and his son Ethan's clearing of a trail to the summit of Mount Washington, New Hampshire in 1819. This 8.5-mile path is the oldest continually used hiking trail in the United States. The influence of British and European Romanticism reached North America through the transcendentalist movement , and both Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) and Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) were important influences on
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#17327660127455564-498: The 18th century in Europe, and arose because of changing attitudes to the landscape and nature associated with the Romantic movement . In earlier times walking generally indicated poverty and was also associated with vagrancy. In previous centuries long walks were undertaken as part of religious pilgrimages and this tradition continues throughout the world. The Swiss scientist and poet Albrecht von Haller 's poem Die Alpen (1732)
5671-561: The Camino on bicycle or on horseback. Paths from the cities of Tours , Vézelay , and Le Puy-en-Velay meet at Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. The French long-distance path GR 65 (of the Grande Randonnée network), is an important variant route of the old Christian pilgrimage way. The Abraham Path is a cultural route believed to have been the path of Islamic , Christian , and Jewish patriarch Abraham 's ancient journey across
5778-583: The Dining Hall includes the Mail Room , where incoming mail and newspapers are sorted and dispersed across the school. A select number of students from each unit, must take on the role of a dishwasher/cleaner, also known as a "slushie", at the end of each meal. Their job on "slush" duty is replaced weekly. The John Lewis Centre, or JLC, is a semi-underground set of three classrooms that can combine into one room. This one room, encased with concrete, acts as
5885-496: The Dining Hall, down the hill to a large woodshed, where almost all of the school's wood is stored, and then run up the hill. The dining hall's large verandah boasts picturesque views of the surrounding hills, and maintains an imposing location, being one of the first buildings of Timbertop seen on the drive into the school. At the end of meal times, a bell is rung by one of the teachers, and everyone must pause eating and drinking, and listen to news and information given by staff. Part of
5992-465: The Gulf (1916), a posthumously published account of a long botanizing walk, undertaken in 1867. Due to industrialisation in England, people began to migrate to the cities where living standards were often cramped and unsanitary. They would escape the confines of the city by rambling about in the countryside. However, the land in England, particularly around the urban areas of Manchester and Sheffield ,
6099-639: The Renaissance in Italy (in German in 1860) declared Petrarch "a truly modern man", because of the significance of nature for his "receptive spirit"; even if he did not yet have the skill to describe nature. Petrarch's implication that he was the first to climb mountains for pleasure, and Burckhardt's insistence on Petrarch's sensitivity to nature have been often repeated since. There are also numerous references to Petrarch as an "alpinist", although Mont Ventoux
6206-496: The Roman Emperor, Hadrian, who ascended Mount Etna during a return trip from Greece in 125 CE. In 1275, Peter III of Aragon claimed to have reached the summit of Pic du Canigou, a 9134-foot mountain located near the southern tip of France. The first ascent of any technical difficulty to be officially verified took place on June 26, 1492, when Antoine de Ville, a chamberlain and military engineer for Charles VIII, King of France,
6313-578: The UK, along with rambling , hillwalking , and fell walking (a term mostly used for hillwalking in northern England). The term bushwalking is endemic to Australia, having been adopted by the Sydney Bush Walkers Club in 1927. In New Zealand a long, vigorous walk or hike is called tramping . It is a popular activity with numerous hiking organizations worldwide, and studies suggest that all forms of walking have health benefits. In
6420-403: The United States, Canada, the Republic of Ireland, and the United Kingdom, hiking means walking outdoors on a trail, or off trail, for recreational purposes. A day hike refers to a hike that can be completed in a single day. However, in the United Kingdom, the word walking is also used, as well as rambling, while walking in mountainous areas is called hillwalking . In Northern England , Including
6527-485: The area, and to build up to a three-day hike, where they choose the route and its difficulty themselves. The first "Solo" session also occurs, with students spending a day by themselves in a tent on the Timbertop Campus, where they reflect, and think about goals for the year, and future life. In term 2, students take part in a Unit Hike, but most of the term is taken up with Community Service and School Service;
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#17327660127456634-679: The area. The Great Himalaya Trail is a route across the Himalayas . The original concept of the trail was to establish a single long distance trekking trail from the east end to the west end of Nepal that includes a total of roughly 1,700 kilometres (1,100 mi) of path. The proposed trail will link together a range of the less explored tourism destinations of Nepal's mountain region. In Latin America , Peru and Chile are important hiking destinations. The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru
6741-604: The book was a major success. Another famous early exponent of walking for pleasure was the English poet William Wordsworth . In 1790 he embarked on an extended tour of France, Switzerland, and Germany, a journey subsequently recorded in his long autobiographical poem The Prelude (1850). His famous poem Tintern Abbey was inspired by a visit to the Wye Valley made during a walking tour of Wales in 1798 with his sister Dorothy Wordsworth . Wordsworth's friend Coleridge
6848-513: The book was published in 1987. The book sold record numbers and won numerous awards including "Book of the Year" as awarded by the Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA). 37°07′40″S 146°18′19″E / 37.127868°S 146.305211°E / -37.127868; 146.305211 James Ralph Darling Sir James Ralph Darling , CMG , OBE (18 June 1899 – 1 November 1995)
6955-407: The buses that transport students to and from drop-off/pick-up points on their hiking journeys meet in the vicinity of this area. Owing its name to its largely-cleared summit, Bald Hill is 644 metres in height. It is at the intersection of several frequented running routes, including Wild Dog Road (a public, unsealed road along the western approach to the hill), Blackberry Spur , which protrudes down
7062-532: The campus . Timbertop has an academic programme much like other schools. For five days of every week, classes take place on the Timbertop campus. Students take part in compulsory "core" classes, such as English, mathematics, science, Australian curriculum history, and positive education . Students must also choose electives from a list including German, French, Chinese, Japanese, music, physical education, elective history, geography, agriculture, and art. The school introduced positive education to Timbertop in 2009. It
7169-443: The campus include: The Agriculture Centre was established in the late 1980's, and primarily deals with cattle and sheep. The large paddocks at the entrance of the school, as well as a small parcel of land on the opposite side of Mount Buller Road, are reserved for grazing. The Agriculture Centre proper consists of several small sheds and pens, as well as an octangular-shaped classroom, reserved for students studying agriculture. Many of
7276-471: The choices of the hike groups. The last unit based outdoor trip is a Walk Canoe Raft, where units do some walking, canoeing, and rafting (or sledding) near William Hovell Dam . Hike Rogaine takes place towards the middle of the term. Students walk to Mt Stirling, then compete in a Rogaine on Mt Stirling. The Hiking year culminates in the Four and Six Day hikes, where students choose and design routes, and are given
7383-896: The development of extended hiking routes. In 1938, the first long-distance hiking trail in Europe, the Hungarian National Blue Trail, was established in the Hungarian wilderness, stretching approximately 62 miles (100 km). In the Middle East, the Jordan Trail is a 650 km (400 miles) long hiking trail in Jordan established in 2015 by the Jordan Trail Association. And Israel has been described as "a trekker's paradise" with over 9,656 km (6,000 miles) of trails. The Lycian Way
7490-672: The distinction of being the oldest hiking club in America. It was founded to protect the trails and mountains in the northeastern United States. Prior to its founding, four other hiking clubs had already been established in America. This included the very short-lived (first) Rocky Mountain Club in 1875, the White Mountain Club of Portland in 1873, the Alpine Club of Williamstown in 1863, and the Exploring Circle, which
7597-409: The eastern side of the hill is known as the "Veggie Tip" . At the rear of the school lie two dams, the Swimming Dam (Bottom Dam), and the Drinking Water Dam (Top Dam). Almost all of the school's drinking supply originates from the Drinking Dam, where it is treated with UV, and transported around the school. The Swimming Dam is often used in the warmer months for sports lessons and a swimming test, but
7704-415: The flora and fauna on and around the campus. Students also get to cook pizzas and other meals. Both the Dining Hall and the accompanying Amphitheatre are the central meeting points of the school. Students must assemble here at least three times a day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and must arrive on time. Failure to do so results in a small punishment run known as a "woodshed", where students must run from
7811-418: The highlands of East Africa . Hiking a long-distance trail from end-to-end is also referred to as trekking and as thru-hiking in some places. In North America, multi-day hikes, usually with camping , are referred to as backpacking . The poet Petrarch is frequently mentioned as an early example of someone hiking. Petrarch recounts that on April 26, 1336, with his brother and two servants, he climbed to
7918-560: The hill toward Mount Buller Road , and the Bald Hill Switchbacks/Face Tracks. Formerly known as "Sheepskull Hill", Barclays Hill, at a height of 610 metres, is the closest hill to the entrance of the school. Students also run up this hill, and the summit is marked by a small fireplace. From the eastern face, the Gravel Pits track cuts along the perimeter of the campus boundary, where students must cross
8025-534: The intersection of Circuit Road and an old 4WD track that leads down to King Hut, below Mount Stirling . Both Graeme Vanner and Tim Collins have since been immortalised in the form of a memorial grove of trees beneath the summit of Bald Hill which was planted in June 2024, occupying a vista on one of the most prominent geographic features on the campus. In 2006, a large bushfire , which had not only encircled nearby Mount Buller and its ski resort , but had reached
8132-413: The lyrics of this song into the inside of the roof of her Unit. In the late 1980s, writer John Marsden worked at Timbertop as head of English. While there, he made the decision to write for teenagers, following his dissatisfaction with his students' apathy towards reading, or the observation that teenagers simply weren't reading any more. Marsden then wrote So Much to Tell You in only three weeks, and
8239-453: The main gate toward Klingsporn Track . The hill is often included in runs in Term 1, as a particular section of the route that a steep set of stairs is often deemed to be grueling by the new students. Another prominent running route skirts around the western/northern side of the hill, where the track leads to Five Ways , an intersection where a track splinters off toward Darling Huts , and another leads on to Barclays Hill . A small clearing on
8346-547: The middle of the campus, Timbertop Creek begins near the summit of Mount Timbertop , flows down Rhyolite Falls , before it passes through campus, where it reaches Monty's Weir , then onward through B Unit Flat , the Country Club , the base of Bald Hill and finally converges with the Delatite River off-campus near the township of Merrijig . The creek typically flows at its strongest in late winter/early spring as
8453-481: The only headmaster on the list). He died aged 96 in Melbourne in 1995. In his obituary Darling was referred to as a prophet whose integrity, insight, intelligence and courage gave him great standing in the community. Hiking A hike is a long, vigorous walk , usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of
8560-552: The outdoors movement in North America. Thoreau's writing on nature and on walking include the posthumously published "Walking" (1862)". His earlier essay " A Walk to Wachusett " (1842) describes a four-day walking tour Thoreau took with a companion from Concord, Massachusetts to the summit of Mount Wachusett , Princeton, Massachusetts and back. Established in 1876, the Appalachian Mountain Club has
8667-544: The possibility of avalanches . Year round glaciers are potentially hazardous. Fast flowing water presents another danger and a safe crossing may requires special techniques. In various countries, borders may be poorly marked. In 2009, Iran imprisoned three Americans for hiking across the Iran-Iraq border. It is illegal to cross into the US on the Pacific Crest Trail from Canada. Going south to north it
8774-549: The public's 'right to roam' across some private land, were periodically presented to Parliament from 1884 to 1932 without success. Finally, in 1932, the Rambler's Right Movement organized a mass trespass on Kinder Scout in Derbyshire . Despite attempts on the part of the police to prevent the trespass from going ahead, it was successfully achieved due to massive publicity. However, the Mountain Access Bill that
8881-540: The rear of the school grounds, resulted in the entire campus being evacuated in a space of three hours. In this time of evacuation, students and staff reputedly ran up to the chapel to "bid farewell", in case the chapel were to succumb to the encroaching bushfire. No buildings were ever damaged by the bushfire. In 2009, the Timbertop Campus was forced to evacuate to the main Geelong Grammar School Campus at Corio due to severe bushfires close to
8988-518: The region. The only materials that were imported were the six beams which originated in Oregon. The Chapel's drawcard is a large triangular window, located behind the altar, which faces out toward the surrounding hills, with views extending across to Buttercup Ridge and the Glenroy Hills. As well as visiting guests and speakers, the chapel has seen weddings and funerals. The 'Country Club'
9095-634: The risk of bacterial contamination. Fire is a particular source of danger, and an individual hiker can have a large impact on an ecosystem. For example, in 2005, a Czech backpacker accidentally started a fire that burnt 5% of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. Because hikers may come into conflict with other users of the land or may harm the natural environment, hiking etiquette has developed. Hiking can be hazardous because of terrain, inclement weather, potential to get lost, or pre-existing medical conditions. The dangerous circumstances hikers can face include specific accidents or physical ailments. It
9202-544: The school's Swimming Dam on the second day of the term. He is buried in the Barrabool Hills Cemetery, in Highton , Geelong . On 5 December 1978, the then-principal, The Hon Charles Fisher , whilst en route to Timbertop as part of a routine visit from the main campus, fell victim to fatigued driving, potentially owing to the lengthy drive between Geelong and Timbertop, and subsequently drove his car off
9309-471: The school) makes up a large part of the Timbertop Programme. Students run between two or three times a week depending on the term. The aim of the running programme is to build the resilience and fitness of the students, to prepare them for The Timbertop Marathon, and ultimately later life. "Crossies" provide a base line for fitness, and are increased incrementally every Term. The term 1 crossie
9416-515: The school. This track is arguably more utilised than Grammar School Road, due its usage in several running and hiking routes. Additionally, the Klingsporn Track makes a feature in the route of the 'infamous' "Buller Road", a punishment run issued to select misbehaving students. The central part of the campus, this hill, at 652 metres, is completely covered in vegetation. The hill is cut in half by The Fire Break , which reaches across from
9523-517: The start of the 1953 school year with 40 students who would be building sheds, paths, roads and a plantation. The campus consists of 800 hectares (2,000 acres) with a frontage onto the Delatite River . On the 2nd February 1960, Graeme Vanner, a student who joined the main Corio campus in Geelong House (now Allen House) the year prior, then D Unit at Timbertop, drowned during a swimming test in
9630-672: The student population of the school grew from 370 to 1139 at the time of his retirement. He was a founding member of the Headmasters' Conference of the Independent Schools of Australia and was its sixth Chairman . During his time at Geelong, Darling set up the Outward Bound campus Timbertop in the foothills of the Australian Alps between Mansfield and Mt Buller where academic work was supplemented by
9737-482: The summit of Mt Buller and back to the campus. "Wildfire Crossies" are short runs done in terms 2 and 3, designed to build fitness through interval training. The Timbertop Running Programme builds up to Marathon at the end of term 4, which varies in length depending on the decision of staff, and available tracks to run, but is generally 33 km long. Whilst the Timbertop Marathon is much shorter than
9844-466: The top of Mont Ventoux (1,912 meters (6,273 ft)), a feat which he undertook for recreation rather than necessity. The exploit is described in a celebrated letter addressed to his friend and confessor, the monk Dionigi di Borgo San Sepolcro , composed some time after the fact. However, some have suggested that Petrarch's climb was fictional. Jakob Burckhardt , in The Civilization of
9951-496: The two schools vary by year, and as of 2021, A School is made up of A, D, E, F, I, J, K and O units, with B School being B, C, G, H, L, M, N and P units. The two schools are always completely separate classes, and elective subjects in one school take place whilst the other has core subjects. When old unit buildings are replaced with new buildings, they are simply converted for other functions instead of being demolished and rebuilt, with replacements built elsewhere (the notable exception
10058-676: The use of hiking boots on long-distances hikes is controversial among ultralight hikers, because of their weight. Hiking times can be estimated by Naismith's rule or Tobler's hiking function , while distances can be measured on a map with an opisometer . A pedometer is a device that records the distance walked. The American Hiking Society advises that parents with young children should encourage them to participate in decision-making about route-finding and pace. Alisha McDarris, writing in Popular Science , suggests that, whilst hiking with children poses particular challenges, it can be
10165-467: The vegetation is so dense that human passage is impeded, a machete is used to clear a pathway. The Australian term bushwalking refers to both on and off-trail hiking. Common terms for hiking used by New Zealanders are tramping (particularly for overnight and longer trips), walking or bushwalking. Trekking is the preferred word used to describe multi-day hiking in the mountainous regions of India, Pakistan, Nepal, North America, South America, Iran, and
10272-400: The writer has here collected and laid before him, all the select stations and points of view, noticed by those authors who have last made the tour of the lakes, verified by his own repeated observations. To this end he included various 'stations' or viewpoints around the lakes, from which tourists would be encouraged to enjoy the views in terms of their aesthetic qualities. Published in 1778
10379-507: Was also required for effective leadership. He revolutionised Geelong Grammar School with his educational philosophy, overhauling the curriculum and focusing less on achievement and more on learning. He encouraged selflessness and hard work over competitiveness and idleness. After his retirement as Headmaster he was for several years Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC). The decision by
10486-408: Was another keen walker and in the autumn of 1799, he and Wordsworth undertook a three-week tour of the Lake District. John Keats , who belonged to the next generation of Romantic poets began, in June 1818, a walking tour of Scotland, Ireland, and the Lake District with his friend Charles Armitage Brown . More and more people undertook walking tours through the 19th century, of which the most famous
10593-425: Was done to increase capacity for girls while maintaining capacity for boys in the long-term, and to create a 50/50 split between genders in the school. Timbertop offers a gap year programme. Assistants, known as "gappies" help with tasks such as co-ordinating activities, organising skiing, helping around the farm, supervising hiking groups and assisting staff in classes, among many other things. Notable features on
10700-565: Was established by four men from Lynn, Massachusetts in 1850. Although not a hiking club in the same sense as the clubs that would emerge later, the National Park Service recognizes the Exploring Circle as being "the first hiking club in New England." All four of these clubs would disband within a few years of their founding. Despite clubs such as the Appalachian Mountain Club, hiking during the early twentieth century
10807-608: Was first explored in the 1930s by the YMCA hiking groups and was eventually registered as a complete border to border trail from Mexico to Canada. In earlier times people mainly hiked for practical reasons, or on religious pilgrimages . Numerous modern hiking trail follow such ancient routes. The British National Trail the North Downs Way closely follows that of the Pilgrims' Way to Canterbury . The ancient pilgrimage,
10914-428: Was ordered to ascend Mont Aiguille. Because ropes, ladders and iron hooks were used during the ascent, this event is widely recognized as being the birth of mountaineering. Conrad Gessner, a 16th Century physician, botanist and naturalist from Switzerland, is widely recognized as being the first person to hike and climb for sheer pleasure. However, the idea of taking a walk in the countryside only really developed during
11021-787: Was passed in 1939 was opposed by many walkers' organizations, including The Ramblers , who felt that it did not sufficiently protect their rights, and it was eventually repealed. The effort to improve access led after World War II to the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 , and in 1951 to the creation of the first national park in the UK, the Peak District National Park . The establishment of this and similar national parks helped to improve access for all outdoors enthusiasts. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 considerably extended
11128-548: Was privately owned and trespass was illegal. Rambling clubs soon sprang up in the north and began politically campaigning for the legal ' right to roam '. One of the first such clubs was 'Sunday Tramps' founded by Leslie White in 1879. The first national grouping, the Federation of Rambling Clubs, was formed in London in 1905 and was heavily patronized by the peerage . Access to Mountains bills , that would have legislated
11235-599: Was still primarily in New England, San Francisco , and the Pacific Northwest. Eventually, there were similar clubs formed in the Midwest and following the Appalachian range. As interest grew hiking culture was spread throughout the nation. The Scottish-born, American naturalist John Muir (1838 –1914), was another important early advocate of the preservation of wilderness in the United States. He petitioned
11342-595: Was the English-born Australian headmaster of Geelong Grammar School (1930–1961), and Chairman of the Australian Broadcasting Commission (1961–1967). Darling was born in Tonbridge , England, the second child of an Englishman, Augustine Major Darling, and his Scottish wife, Jane Baird, née Nimmo. He was educated at the preparatory school in Tonbridge run by his father, then at Repton School ,
11449-482: Was widely publicised. In 1973, the then Prince Charles said that his time at Timbertop was the most enjoyable part of his whole education. In 1983, former UK Prime Minister , Boris Johnson , took a gap year as a teaching assistant at Timbertop. In 1998, Missy Higgins attended Timbertop in M Unit, where she wrote the song " All For Believing ". In 2001, the song would win Triple J's "Unearthed" competition. She wrote
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