Grampians Trail Reopens Post-Fire
The Grampians Peaks Trail has reopened following fire-related closures, giving hikers renewed access to one of Australia's premier trekking destinations. Meanwhile, rescue operations highlight ongoing trail safety concerns—a Crook County resident helped rescue a lost Bend hiker in Oregon's Ochoco National Forest, and a 60-year-old visitor was airlifted from a Maui trail after a leg injury.
The complete 164-kilometre Grampians Peaks Trail is now open to through-hikers for the first time since the devastating 2024-25 bushfire season. The fires ravaged more than 135,000 hectares, which is nearly 80% of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park. Recovery efforts were supported by a $36 million government investment. The restoration work was extensive, with large sections of the trail's vegetation corridors having disappeared in the blaze. Crews undertook stabilization and definition work on approximately 20km of the track. The project included the installation of roughly 100 new stone steps and more than 600 yellow wayfinding triangles to better mark the rocky terrain. Six hike-in campgrounds were damaged by the fire, with five reopening this week: Barri Yalug, Duwul, Durd Durd, Yarram, and Wannon. Repairs involved installing new timber tent pads, replacing water tanks, and fixing solar power systems used for phone charging, with helicopters used to sling-load materials into remote sites. In Oregon, the rescued Bend hiker was identified as 26-year-old Brian Ichkhanian, who became disoriented on March 1st near Lookout Mountain. A 17-person Crook County Search and Rescue team was deployed with snowmobiles, a K9 team, and a drone to navigate the heavily wooded and icy terrain amid continuous precipitation. After walking through the night, the hiker located a nearby home, and the resident drove him back to his vehicle. The Maui rescue on March 2nd occurred on the Waiheʻe Ridge Trail, a 4.5-mile round trip known for its steep, 1,600-foot elevation gain and potentially slippery conditions. Firefighters hiked to the injured 60-year-old man, who was visiting from Washington, near the top of the trail to provide initial medical care. He was then airlifted by the Air 1 helicopter and transferred to a local hospital for treatment.
