Spring hiking in Tasmania? Will there be snow or just rain?
Hiking the Overland Track from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair?
A leisurely bushwalk on a World Heritage "Top 10 Hikes in the World"
We have just returned from a seven day, six night trip on the Overland Track in Tasmania. There were four of us in the party with the plan to take our time and enjoy any good spring weather we might get along the way. With typical Tasmanian weather variability we were blessed with some great sunny days and also snow, sleet and rain in various forms. All this was expected and we were well prepared for any conditions.
Why hike the Overland Track again you may ask? Because we LOVE it!
In this post we will just make a few comments and observations about the trip, as there are many other posts on Our Hiking Blog about hiking the Overland Track. Check out the links to them at the bottom of the page.
Heading up the Horse Track as an alternative to the big grunt up Marions. Perfect for someone with barthmophobia. It is still a bit of a "climb" but over a longer distance. Every time we do it it seems to get harder....
We were hoping for snow, in fact a lot of snow! It had snowed heavily a couple of weeks before and while there was some on the Cradle Plateau it was very slushy and soft. Above is Sue heading across the Horse "Track" towards the intersection with the Overland Track proper (where it intersects just before Kitchen Hut)
We had planned to take snow shoes (Yowies) but Frank ended up the only person carrying them as the snow was patchy and not forecast for the duration of the trip. They were OK in this section but because the snow was so soft and slushy they broke through to ground several times and it was quite difficult to get them out of the snow.
Heading across to Kitchen Hut (with Cradle Mountain in the background). The snow was particularly soft here as there was a lot of water running across the ground (under the snow)
The Overland Track was easy to find in the snow. We had fantastic weather on day one.
We left the Ronney Creek car park (the official start of the Overland Track) at 1pm. Slow as ever, and hindered by the snow, we reached Waterfall valley Hut at 7pm. Sunset (above from just before the Barn Bluff turnoff) was at 6:07 so we had quite a bit of walking with headlights in the dark.
Cooking dinner at Windemere Hut we were surprised to be the only party in the hut that night. We were lucky enough to get ABC radio reception here and were able to listen to the AFL football and hear our team win the game and make the Grand Final. We also had Pelion and Kia Ora huts to ourselves which was surprising (but nice for a change, we have been at Pelion Hut when it was at it's capacity of 60 people)
Of seven days hiking, we had two totally fine days. The rest was a variety of "weather". Pictured above is John heading down the track. Tasmania has had a significant amount of winter and spring rain and the track was quite wet in places.
At Pelion Gap and the Mt Ossa turnoff. That evening we discovered we had red faces from sunburn! Colin had left Pelion Hut early hoping to climb Mt Ossa. When he arrived it was covered in cloud and after waiting an hour decided to head on to Kia Ora. As he says, no use climbing a mountain if you can't see the view. We arrive in sunshine and a cloud free Ossa!
Sue heading down Pelion Gap towards Kia Ora Hut. Nice bit of snow here but not enough for snow shoes.
It was a "bit chilly" on a couple of days. Pictured above is Frank feeling the cold.
We had never been into Ferguson Falls (which are between Kia Ora and Bert Nichols Hut) and were lucky to have chosen a great time of the year as it was PUMPING! We could not believe the roar of the water nor the sheer volume coming over the waterfall. It was a great side trip.
Above is a great view of the Acropolis from Bert Nichols Hut. The new hut is an interesting addition to the Overland Track. There is a very long, funny and interesting post on Bushwalk Tasmania about the Hut development. (some people love it, others hate it- we can see both sides)
We completed the walk at Echo Point Hut as the jetty at Narcissus was under a metre of water due to the high level of Lake St Clair.
In conclusion, a few reflections on this walk may be useful for anyone planning a spring bushwalk on the Overland Track.
- the snow was wet and really soft. Travel time was slow and snow shoes unhelpful
- temperatures were never below freezing so the tracks were slushy and wet rather than icy as we had in our Winter Overland Track
- We took it easy and just went from hut to hut. It made for a very relaxing trip, leaving late (between 9 and 10 am) each day and arriving into the Hut most days between 2 and 4 pm. It was a great way to "do" the track.
- We saw 22 people in total for the whole seven days (and saw no one for 3 of the days). If you are experienced, well prepared and not too ambitious it may be a good time of the year to hike the Overland Track without the seasonal "crowds"
- we allowed 7 nights and 8 days in case the weather held us up (or if we wanted a side trip). Snow is very common in September and there had been a large dump two weeks before our trip.
- we ended coming out "early" and had a night at the Derwent Bridge Hotel. It was great and we really enjoyed the food and hospitality.
Related Posts
How to hike the Overland Track - our eBook on getting the trip done - 2009/10 update
Backpacking the Overland Track - a view from the States
Planning food for a multiday hike
Various Overland Track posts
The Overland Track - Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair - a nice slow trip
Overland Track - Winter hike - a photographers paradise
There are photographs of the Tasmanian Wilderness and then there are beautiful images.
Pieces of art that reflect the beauty of the area and tell a story that excites you and makes you want to be there!
Ice on duck boarding - Dave Noble
In this post, we highlight a TINY part of a fantastic photographic essay of a recent hike across the Overland Track in Tasmania by Dave Noble (and party). The walk from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair covers about 85km of some spectacular wilderness in the heart of Tasmania. It is usually undertaken over five nights but in this case the trip was planned for 10 days to allow for side trips and photography.
The glow of a coal stove - Kia Ora Hut - The Overland Track - Dave Noble
Frank has enormous respect for Dave Noble who has been hiking in Tasmania (and many other places) since the early 1970's. He has achieved many feats that are the envy of less adventurous bushwalkers. These include extensive multi-day hikes in the South West National Park in Tasmania in the mid 1970's and then a multitude of fantastic trips in various places across Australia.
Close up with reflection - Overland Track - Dave Noble
We encourage you to visit Dave's site and read the full trip report and check out the terrific images of this winter hike: The Reserve in Winter - A Walk Along Tasmania's Overland Track - July 2009
Related Posts:
Overland Track - Winter in Tasmania - some lessons
The Overland Track eBook - information post
Overland Track eBook reviews
The Overland Track solo - Sue's trip report
Additional Information
Overland Track 2008 - Great trip report by Matthias
Bushwalk Tasmania - the resource for Tasmanian Bushwalking
All photographs are used with the kind permission of Dave Noble
Cradle Mountain adventure - a short story
Adventure around Cradle Mountain?
Fact or fiction?
A day hike around Cradle Mountain with a twist (or two)?
Then this story is for you!
Frank stumbled across a very enjoyable blog today titled American in Oz. He reads a lot of blog posts about Tasmania and especially the Cradle Mountain area in Australia's most southern state, Tasmania. These post are a great source of inspiration and fun when he is stuck in his "real life".
This post , Tracks Less Travelled, a Tasmanian short story , really got his attention and the beautiful word craft and surprises in the story had him captivated.
Another fantastic image by Tasadam, Definitive Cradle Mountain - This picture is from a set titled The Overland Track - Tasmania - well worth a look at all his great photographs.
The following are some exerts from the story by annielaural:
" At the same time that she was fearful of stepping off the planked trail, she wished she had the courage to head off cross-country, to snake up the face of Marian’s Lookout, to beat Chris to the top. The competition between them never failed to engage her "
" Nueva’s was far more moderate in grade, longer with twelve hundred year old King Billy and Pencil Pines growing close to the water. Pandani towered over her head in the protection of the Ballroom Forest and Cutting Grass and Sassafras, growing far too close to the track, waited to wound. Daydreaming here was out of the question."
" It was still early afternoon. She had three more hours of daylight. A night in the dark on the trail was not appealing. She had plenty of clothes if she kept moving, but she didn’t have enough cold weather gear to spend the night out here, especially if it rained, and it was bound to rain as the temperatures cooled down "
To read the whole story (and it is a lot different to what you would normally read here), go to the full post on "American in Oz" , Tracks Less Travelled - a Tasmanian short story
We hope you enjoy it.
Related Posts:
The Overland Track - Planning the walk from Overseas
Hiking the Overland Track - a view from the States
Cradle Mountain local walk and Cradle Mountain Lodge
Overland Track - Tasmania in Winter - some lessons
The Overland Track in Tasmania is a fantastic 6 days hiking experience. It is isolated, can throw up tough conditions and challenge you both physically and mentally. In fact, unless you are adequately prepared for bitterly cold and mind numbing conditions in winter, you risk serious problems (and the possibility of death) No joking. Inside the Kitchen Hut, I found an Aussie family from Brisbane, with a twelve year old child. They started the previous day, but got trapped from the excessive winds. I was actually quite glad to see them safe and alive; other hikers the previous night had told me of this family.
Walking the Overland Track in winter needs thorough planning, excellent gear and experience in tough Tasmanian conditions.
In this post we are shamelessly plugging our Hiking the Overland Track eBook, not as a way to make us rich, but as a good resource to help you plan your trip and reduce the risks to a managable level.
Why the plug?
We have just finished reading Aaron White's blog Aaron's Assonant Advertures In Australia and want to share some of his posts with potential Overland Track hikers. We highly recommend reading Aaron's Overland Track posts to get the full story.
We really enjoyed Aaron's writing style and story telling ability - it is great read.
This first post : Overland Track Chronicles - Rugging up sets the scene for his recent winter trip.
As reasonably experienced Tasmania hikers, reading his story immediately created warning bells in our minds, so we decided to post some snippets of his experiences and make a few comments about them so others who attempt the Overland Track in winter can be better prepared.
So read on, snippets from Aarons posts about a "hearty native Minnesotan" hiking the Overland Track in early winter. (with our comments below):
Buying Gear:
Without hesitation, he led me to a corner that was a forest of hangers with only rainjackets. "It rains a lot in Tasmania, so you'll need a good shell layer. This jacket here is 100% rain and wind proof. Feel it. Real gortex."
Mmmm gortex. I felt the smooth, yet rubbery sleeve and subtley turned the affixed price tag to my direction. $800.
"So will this keep me warm as well?" I asked.
"Oh no, sir!" The definity of his answer jabbed a hole right through what was left of my not-ignorant face. "This is just a shell layer. You'll need a good fleece jacket, coat, and of course (chuckle) thermals. I mean you at least have thermals right?"
Read this post: Best Hiking Clothes for a multiday hike in Tasmania - the layering principal
I found a cheap rain jacket for sale at a random Sydney shop for $40. In Launceston, I bought my stove, fleece coat, fleece gloves, tent and some wool socks at the local K-mart. I wasn't a Super Backpacker Man, but I think I was alright.
In the Overland Track eBook we go into detail about gear selection, what you need to take and what is not required.
Planning:
That night though, I didn't sleep, not even for a minute. I tossed, turned and froze to death under my pile of blankets in the heated Tasmanian room. Launceston isn't even in the mountains. I already knew my light summer sleeping bag would not be enough, even when fully clothed. I thought of my gear, my garbage bag gaiters, my lack of sleeping mat. Why did I buy potatoes?
I rolled out of bed at 5:59, yelling at my 6:00 alarm to wake up. I saw that it was the morning of May 13th (duhn duhn duh!!!!). I repacked my bag, cut back on some of the food, tossed out my potatoes. I removed the one pair of comfort clothing I saved for my first night off the mountain and cut back on a few other odds and ends. The bag was still too heavy, but it was at least manageable.
Read this post: Hiking gear what are the basics to get started
I still wasn't content. I threw on my hiking boots and headed to the 24hour Kmart for a camping mat. Freezing to death from no ground insulation was not the way I wanted to kick it. I walked a half block before I hit another obstacle to my coming hike: my ankles were in intense pain.
Three hours later, I arrived and Cradle Mountain National Park, ready to go, pain or not. I caved in a bought some actual rain pants at the inflated middle-of-nowhere price of $60
Many hikers leave on a sunny day, unprepared, without raingear or warm clothing and die when trapped in a snowstorm. I was undertaking it in mid-May, when you don't have to pay the $150 fee, but have to deal with less desirable weather and very short days.
Hiking during the non fee paying season is Ok if you are experienced and prepared. There is minimal support from Tasmanian Parks and Wildlife Service and less people around to help get you out of trouble. 
The Overland Track:
"Continue on? Isn't this the hut?"
"Oh no, this is just Kitchen Hut, an emergency shelter. The first overnight hut is another two hours further on."
That put me at just more than halfway done with the day. I was already exhausted: my back hurt, my ankles hurt, and one layer of face had been not so carefully removed by unhindered, blowing precipitation. There was thankfully only 30 minutes left on the open mountain face.
I collapsed upon opening the door. I just wasn't in enough shape for this first day of climbing, but a good nights sleep would hopefully give me the strength for the next. The hut was quite nice, with wooden bunks to sleep 25 and a gas heater to dry off all of our gear.
Even with a rain jacket, rain pants, fleece coat, hooded sweatshirt, t-shirt, and jeans, I was soaked all the way down to my thermals. I had a backpack cover over my water resistant backpack, but this proved useless: everything in my pack was wet. That day, even the super backpackers, with their $1000 dollar backpacks and special waterproof covers learned the lesson that "waterproof" is a myth.
Read this post by Matthias at Matt Worldwide: Preparing for a 10 day hike in South West Tasmania
Do not take cotton clothes such as jeans or track pants, once wet they will NOT DRY .
The second morning - leaving Waterfall Valley Hut
I jumped out of the creek, gave it the finger, and stomped through the pouring rain back to the hut and threw my fifty pound pack in the corner.
"I'm done! It's cold, rainy, everything is wet, it's too f**king foggy to see anything, and there is a f**king knee deep creek right at the start of this horrible day. Now, I'm going to have to walk with wet feet for the next 25km. I paid $1000 to do this piece of s#$t walk and it has been nothing but one... big...f**king...disappointment. I'm not putting up with this. I'm going back. That's it. F%$k this s*&t!"
The others at the hut were not really expecting such a tirade, especially minutes into the second day of the hike. Everyone, just kept on eating the breakfast in uncomfortable silence, until a young German woman finally asked the one question on everyones' mind. "Is there any way around this knee deep creek?"
"No!"
Five minutes later, I had my socks wrung out, I had my clothes put back on and was ready to move on.
Arriving Windemere Hut
I removed my completely wet gear and went into my backpack for my dry change of clothing. Even after repacking everything in garbage bags, my clothes were still damp. The left me with no dry clothes and the temperature was quickly dropping.
Within minutes, I was shivering uncontrollably and started feeling a bit faint. I could tell I was showing the early symptoms of hypothermia. I threw on my fleece coat even though it was wet. That is one thing I love about polar fleece, it is the amazing fabric that maintains warmth, even when wet.
Lightweight plastic garbage bags are not waterproof - they perforate easily and you gear will get wet. You need to double bag critical gear inside a pack liner (pack covers will not keep your pack contents dry!)
The previous night, Brian (a guy Aaron met on the Track) had slept in a tent in the rain, instead of the hut. Everything he owned, including sleeping back was soaked. His body was not forgiving him for the prior two days' punishment. He was cramping, worn-down, cold. Instead of pushing on that day, he decided to rest another day. This was an option I chose to wave, despite the inconceivably worse weather that day.
Since I was not going forward, I wanted to head back and see all the various side trails along the way I had passed up. - At this point Aaron decided to return to the Cradle Mountain end of the walk and not risk worse weather conditions that were forecast - a wise move.
I awoke in the middle of the night with the startling discovery that the Socks Paradox was in fact a myth. Once I donned my fifth pair of socks, wrapped my feet in a sweater, put the bottom of my sleeping bag in a canvas shopping bag, I was able to make my feet merely cold. It was a long, blustery night. The wind tested the structural integrity of the cabin.
I wasn't the only person who had a cold night. A young British bloke spent the night with merely a blanket. His one pair of socks was soaked from the previous day's walk. The sneakers he brought were still wet and he had no rain coat. The temperature was below freezing that day. Despite this, he pushed on. This is how people die.
The End- back at the Cradle Mountain Area
I was in my element, until I reached the top of the mountain.
Suddenly, I found myself in North Dakota mid-blizzard or maybe on top of mountain mid-blizzard, same difference. I pushed forward through knee-deep snow, which was good, because it stabilized me from being toppled by the wind. I was glad it was only a couple of miles back to Kitchen Hut.
They decided to head back to the park with me, so we headed out into the blizzard. At first it wasn't too bad, but after fifteen meters, the wind came back with a vengeance, the strongest I've faced on the trail. Being from Queensland, the boy had never seen snow before, now he was stuck in Antartica. They wisely turned back.
Many thanks to Aaron White for his great insights and honest appraisal of his Overland Track experience. Remember, you can read Aaron's eight posts on his blog, Aaron's Assonant Adventures in Australia.
Related Posts
The Overland Track eBook - information post
Overland Track eBook reviews
The Overland Track solo - Sue's trip report
Additional Information
Overland Track 2008 - Great trip report by Matthias
Bushwalk Tasmania - the resource for Tasmanian Bushwalking
Win a free trip to Tasmania and hike the Overland Track
Hike the Overland Track free?
Win a trip to Australia and a free trip on the Overland Track with Cradle Mountain Huts?
We stumbled across this opportunity today for anyone who owns a pair of Blundstone Boots (an Aussie icon in work footwear)
Head off to the Blundstone Canada web site and check out the competition they are running to win a FREE trip from Canada to Tasmania. Included is a guided walk across the Overland Track with Cradle Huts. (worth around $A2500)
This is the blurb off the website:
The Cradle Mountain Huts Walk an all inclusive experience for two people 5 nights - 6 days
The Cradle Mountain Huts six-day walk follows the iconic Overland Track through Tasmania's World Heritage Area. This 40 mile journey offers a rare privilege - one of the world's great walks through an ancient and richly varied landscape is normally accessible only to the hardy - for at the end of each day hikers sleep in private, environmentally-sensitive cabins.
There are hot showers.
Food and wine can feature almost as much as the mountains, rainforests and indigenous wildlife. The huts have been designed to complement their sensitive surroundings. Each hut contains twin share accommodation, toilets, heating, full kitchen facilities and a living/dining area. The guides on this unhurried journey share their knowledge of the landscape, the flora and the fauna, to ensure a rich and informative journey.
The competition runs until the 30th June, so get in quick.
We love our Blundstone boots and had a pair each for years. They are are great Aussie icon...
Related Posts:
Hiking the Overland Track e-Book
Release of the Overland Track book
Continue Reading ....The Overland Track - advice from a first timer
Planning to hike the Overland Track and not sure what gear you need?
You have read all the advice (including our Overland Track ebook) and STILL want more information?
Just love to read about other people's experiences to build up your knowledge base before you tackle one of the world's Best Hikes?
Want to hike the Overland Track solo but not sure if you can?
In this post we share some reflections of a recent solo Overland Track trip by Matthias, a young German guy who now lives in Hobart. He did the walk in late 2008.
Matthias has a fantastic blog called Mattworldwide that we have been following for the last few months as he documents his time in Australia, and in particular, Tasmania. He is a great bloke, who is a really interesting thinker and VERY organised. (maybe it is his German background)
We communicated a fair bit before his trip and he used our Walking the Overland Track ebook to help him plan the walk. .
Matt and his first mud on the Overland Track - to see all Matt's Track pictures click here
Matt kindly agreed to us reproducing some of his comments about the walk. We strongly encourage you to read the full story and his extensive notes on his blog post Overland Track 2008. We have added some comments in italics.
Matt's thoughts and recommendations:
This trip was my first long hiking trip and I knew that a lot of things would go wrong and that I would make mistakes. It was mostly about getting experience, and I got a lot of helpful experience. After all, here are some thoughts and recommendations from me based on my trip:
- A 1 litre water bottle is not enough, when it’s hot and sunny it can happen that you run out of water very quickly, like it happened to me on the first day. Whenever you find a good possibility to refill (like a creek) drink as much as you can and then fill up your bottle completely. It can be a long walk until you get another possibility to refill.
Agree in part, water is very heavy and there are many opportunities to refill on the track. Because we have walked the track so often, we know where the creeks so take some extra but not too much!
- Maybe don’t take bottles at all. Next time instead of a bottle I will carry a flexible water tank with about 2 litres that I can store in the top pocket of my backpack. I’ve seen a lot of people carrying these and they have a tube that goes to your mouth so you can drink easily anytime. I think that’s more convenient.
- If you’re camping with your tent, take some string with you. It can be a bit difficult to fix all sides of your tent on the tent platforms that are provided at most huts. The biggest problem is that they don’t have hooks in the middle of the platform and they are all different size, so it’s good to have some string so you can fix your tent if there are no hooks left on the platform.
Agree, or an alternate we use is large elastic bands (they stretch)
- It’s helpful to carry a tea towel to dry your dishes. You don’t need soap, just take a sponge with a rough surface on one side.
A large "Chux" works really well as a tea or body towel. They dry quickly as well.
- I didn’t have real hiking trousers and carried old cotton shorts and long replacement trousers. It’s definitely worth investing in good water-proof and dirt resistant hiking trousers. Take some with zip-off legs and you only need to take one pair of trousers with you.
Cotton is always a no no, once wet it will take a LONG time to dry.
- Only wear rain clothes when it actually rains. Most rain clothes are so wind resistant that you will sweat a lot more by wearing them. One day it looked like rain so I put on my rain over trousers. After a few minutes of walking I changed again, it was too hot.
- The quality of my sleep depends much on the quality of my pillow, I found out. It’s a good idea (thanks Frank) to carry an empty pillow case and fill it with clothes when you go to sleep. I didn’t take one with me (somehow forgot) and most nights I had very bad sleep.
- Take a light daypack with you, a small backpack for daytours or sidetrips. It doesn’t need to be ergonomic or expensive, a very cheap one that can be folded to small volume will do fine. It’s very good to have a daypack if you want to do some sidetrips like the climb to Mount Ossa or Cradle Mountain. You can leave your big pack at the junction (everyone does that, sometimes there are even platforms to store your backpack) and put lunch, water, first-aid, valuables etc. in your daypack. I didn’t carry one and made the mistake of taking my water bottle up to the summit of Cradle Mountain. What a mistake, you definitely need both your hands free to do all the dangerous rock climbing.
Matt on top of Mt Ossa - December 2008 - check out the snow in the background
- It’s worth doing a precise menu and food planning even if it doesn’t really sound necessary. I didn’t do much planning, I just took a lot more food than necessary to be able to extend my stay by several days in case I wanted to. In the end I didn’t extend much and brought a lot of food back home from my trip.
Agree, we have a large section of how to plan your menu in the Overland Track eBook
- Also it’s good to carry dry food and mostly things that only need added water, as water is supplied on the track. I carried some cans with tuna or soup with added bacon etc., but cans take up a lot of weight so next time I’ll leave them at home, except maybe tuna which is small and good.
- It worked very well for me to dry some food using a food dehydrator. While it didn’t really work drying fruit (was ugly and it’s cheap at Woolworths anyway) I was successful with drying spaghetti bolognese or sweet curry rice with banana. Next time I will prepare more dried food. A friend I met on the track carried 1kg of oats and a pack of milk powder, so every morning he was cooking oats for breakfast. Sounds nice and easy, but maybe it gets boring after some days.
Drying food is great - check out this post on how to dry spaghetti
- I probably wouldn’t carry a camera tripod anymore. While I got some really nice photos that wouldn’t have been possible without it, at 1.5kg it’s simply too much weight. Every kilo counts.
- My tent was way too heavy. It weights around 2.5kg, I will try to replace it with a 1kg one before I go hiking again.
- I always carry too many gas cans. Half of the trip I still used the almost empty can from my cycling trip earlier this year. With the right gas stove (I have a good one from Kovea) they almost last forever. One 230g gas can is definitely enough for a 8 day hiking trip, even if you use it twice a day or more to cook stuff. It’s good to go inside the hut for cooking, less wind saves you gas.
- Check your footwear before you leave!! In my ‘group’ there was a girl who had to fix their shoes with duct tape every day because they were falling to pieces after one or two days. Fortunately she found a ranger who could supply tape. It’s a long walk and it can kill your shoes, I’m surprised how worn my own (pretty good) shoes look after the Overland Track.
Yep, many people have this problem. This guy had a lot of trouble with his old boots and had to evacuate.
- Mosquitoes, there are so many of them!! If you don’t take any of the common sprays or cream you will get really annoyed by them. Especially if you wear shorts or t-shirts they will bite you everywhere!
- Don’t underestimate temperatures. Even if it’s very sunny and hot during the day, it can become surprisingly cold at night. If you’re camping in a tent, make sure you carry a warm sleeping bag or additional clothing for the night.
There was snow on the Overland Track in December and January this year. Conditions can change quickly at any time of the year.
Many thanks to Matthias for his great insights. Don't forget to check out all his Overland Track posts , they are excellent reading.
Related Posts
Hiking the Overland Track - the downloadable eBook
Hiking the Overland Track - eBook reviews
The Overland Track
Planning to hike the Overland Track in Tasmania?
Want to trek one of the Best Hikes in the World?
Need some help to work out transport, food and gear?
Confused about how to organise flights, Overland Track bookings, bus transfers, the ferry on Lake St Clair and getting your clean clothes to the end of the track?
Not sure what food to take or how to plan your hiking menu?
Worried about what gear you really need to carry for five or six days?
Steve, one of "Our Hiking Blog" readers, was a winner (and a great volunteer editor) of our recent Overland Track e-Book competition. He received a free copy of the downloadable book and has kindly written a review to share with our readers.
I came across this great resource during one my regular online visits to the bushwalking forums , Bushwalk Tasmania and Frank and Sue's own blog “Our Hiking Blog”.
I am from Queensland Australia , and am planning a return trip to do the Overland Track and I have been trying to plan my trip from afar.
The logistics of planning my first solo OT trip is rather daunting.
I am a fairly experienced through walker, but am still anxious about organising the fine details of such a trip from a long way away.
Frank and Sue's e-Book has been a “godsend”.
The fine detail of “how,when, where and why” are comprehensively covered and the links within to other associated walking resources are invaluable – something no other hard cover book could even attempt to cover.
This one resource will open up an information gateway to a safe and less complicated trip into some of the most spectacular areas in Australia. From which bus to catch there, to what food and gear to take and where to get it in Tassie, is covered.
There are many Overland Track resources available (and this e-Book refers you to these ). What is not covered in these other resources are the specific logistics of organising such a trip.
Frank also offers his opinion and give his wise advice about a range of OT specific areas and it has assisted me greatly in my planning.
Thanks for putting together such a valuable resource.
Steve C. 29/12/08
Many thanks to Steve for taking the time to review the book and we really hope it helps him have a great trip in May 09, where he plans to walk the Overland Track solo.
You may be interested in other reviews of the Overland Track e-Book - you can read them on the review page or check out more detail on the book on this post.
Related Posts
The Overland Track solo - Sue's trip report
The Overland Track - e-Book
Overland Track - track images
More pictures we really like of the trip
The Overland Track e Book reviews
We recently sent copies of the Overland Track downloadable book to a couple of great bushwalking and hiking sites for them to check out and possibly review.
Well, we are humbled by their responses, which were well beyond our expectations.
Pelion Hut - Overland Track Tasmania
Rick McCharles from besthike.com wrote a great review: eBook for the Overland Track
Some of the highlights from Rick's post are: (for us anyway!)
The best walk in Australia — our #10 best trek in the World — is Tasmania’s Overland Track.
John & Monica Chapman self-publish the best guidebook for the OT. (Chapman’s guidebooks are the best in the world, in fact.)
But personally I prefer the just released Overland Track eBook (PDF format) by Frank & Sue Wall.
Why is an eBook better than a hard copy guidebook?
easy for the authors to update links to web pages and email addresses downloads instantly I can carry it on my iTouch
And DIRT CHEAP for 18,000+ words and heaps of photographs
Brilliant.
This is exactly the kind of information I need when planning a major hike.
besthike.com is a "must subscribe to" site that lists the best hikes in the world (as Rick notes, the Overland Track comes in at number 10) There are also lists and information on "best hikes" by continent. Good stuff for planning your next trip
Nik, the site founder and administrator of Bushwalk Tasmania kindly wrote a
review on the Overland Track book for the forum.
Here is a snapshot of his post:
frank_in_oz has just released his downloadable eBook, 'Hiking the Overland Track'. I've had a read through it and it is an excellent resource for people who are looking to walk the Overland Track, and I highly recommend it particularly for people who are not experienced bushwalkers, or who are not familiar with Tasmania.
It includes a wide variety of topics to help people get organised for their Overland Track walk, not just track notes for the walk itself. Some of the topics covered include:
- Flights, bus trips and accommodation, park fees, track booking and track fees
- Gear, food, brief track notes, and references to other sources of information (including Bushwalk Tasmania, of course)
- Dealing with animals from possums to snakes, minimal impact walking, maps, etc
Bushwalk Tasmania forum is a fantastic spot to "hang out" and discuss all aspects of bushwalking in Tasmania. It is a really well moderated forum with many members who are willing to share their experience. As the site says: Information for bushwalkers from bushwalkers.
Related Posts:
Hiking the Overland Track e-Book
Release of the Overland Track book
Continue Reading ....Hiking the Overland Track - the downloadable book
Searching for advice on hiking the Overland Track in Tasmania?
Want good, simple tips from experienced bushwalker's on how to plan your Overland Track hike?
Are you having trouble organising the walk from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair on the Overland Track?
Is coordinating the Overland Track booking, transport to Cradle Mountain, your flights and getting home again just too confusing and complicated?
Frank and Sue at Our Hiking Blog announce - "The Overland Track" e-Book updated for the 2009/10 season.
Yes, we walked the Track in September 09 and have updated the book for this hiking season.
Review: Frank & Sue have just released their downloadable eBook, 'Hiking the Overland Track'. I've had a read through it and it is an excellent resource for people who are looking to walk the Overland Track, and I highly recommend it particularly for people who are not experienced bushwalkers, or who are not familiar with Tasmania.
It includes a wide variety of topics to help people get organised for their Overland Track walk - Nik- Bushwalk Tasmania forum
Why write "the book"?
For several years we have been answering our readers questions about many aspects of "doing" the Overland Track. We felt there was a great opportunity to create a downloadable book covering all the different areas of planning and undertaking the walk that we have learnt on over the 12 Overland Tracks we have completed.
In addition to all the topics you can read on Our Hiking Blog, we have added several thousand more words, graphics, tables, links and ideas to the downloadable version and packaged it into one document.
Review:
- The best walk in Australia — our #10 best trek in the World — is Tasmania’s Overland Track.
- John & Monica Chapman self-publish the best guidebook for the OT. (Chapman’s guidebooks are the best in the world, in fact.)
- But personally I prefer the just released Overland Track eBook (PDF format) by Frank & Sue Wall.And DIRT CHEAP for 18,000+ words and heaps of photographs
Brilliant.
This is exactly the kind of information I need when planning a major hike.
Rick McCharles - besthike.com
Do you need to know:
- What hiking gear you will need?
- What food to take?
- How to organise your meals?
- How to get the start of the walk and home again?
- What are the best transport options?
- What first aid kit you need?
- Can you walk the Overland Track solo?
- How hard is the Overland Track?
- What is the best way to get to Cradle Mountain?
This sixty + pages Adobe PDF file with 18,000+ words and heaps of photographs is now available to download for A$14.50
Download the FREE sample of the Overland Track book here and get a "feel" for the guide and format
The sample contains:
- The full table of contents
- Sample sections from the book
- Some background on the book and us.
You are just required to provide your name and email address and the sample file will be emailed to you immediately.
The full Overland Track eBook contains several chapters such as:
- Planning your walking dates - juggling flights, booking and transport (including a tool showing how we work out all the option)
- What are the best transport options? Is the cheapest the best?
- Best Overland Track walking resource
- Menu and food planning (including a great tool to help make it easier)
- Clothing - what will I wear?
- How to save weight, your feet and your back OR what to chuck out before you leave.
In most sections of the eBook there are special tips that are highlighted, or bolded. These tips are drawn from our experience of many trips along the Overland Track and have made our life much easier and each trip a great success.
Here are a small sample:Tip: If you are using public transport and want to complete the Overland Track in the cheapest and easiest manner – fly into Launceston and home from Hobart
TIP: We are prepared to pay the additional cost for this type of service. The Public transport option can be very time consumingTIP: the trick we find here is to ensure you have measured portions for each day at probably 20% more than we would eat at home. Put them in a pile and count em off, 6 breakfasts, 6 bags.
TIP: Remember unless you plan to eat it, what you start with in your pack on the Overland Track, will still be on your back at the end
TIP: Even a cheap headlight is better than a torch. It leaves your hands free to cook or read or hike in the dark if you are really slow. You need something, there is no power or lighting on the Overland Track - yep - NONE (not even to charge your camera battery)
TIP: Take a waterproof jacket - No, NOT a poncho, no, not a spray jacket, a WATERPROOF coat - it rains (and snows, and sleets) a LOT in Tassie
Click here if you would like to purchase the Overland Track downloadable book.
NB: The Overland Track eBook is designed to use in conjunction with John Chapman's book Overland Track - which we believe is THE recommended guide for this fantastic world heritage hiking experience.
Yes, Chapman's book is THE one you should study from cover to cover BUT the Overland Track eBook adds value and is a bit of fun (we hope), for example.
- What is the best way to get to Cradle Mountain?
- A REALLY detailed gear list, including honest comments on why or why not you should take each piece of gear
- What to do if you meet a naked German whilst swimming in Lake Windemere! (depending on if you are male or female, and the swimmer is male or female, the answer is open......to.... your.....interpretation (or mood)........)
- What do you do if you see a tiger snake (hint, first step, stop walking)
Read the reviews of the book if you are still not sure - we think they are pretty good!
We are offering a 100% money back guarantee on the Overland Track eBook. Yes, if you don't find your A$14.50 was well spent, we will refund the whole amount. No hassles, just the cash back.
We are that confident it will help your planning and enhance your trip heaps! If you buy the Overland Track eBook and you think it is a heap of rubbish, immediately send us a grumpy or nice email and we refund the full amount into your account within 24 hours (unless we are away bushwalking, then we we do it on our return) Again, no hassles or question, just the cash back.
What is an eBook? Wikipedia have a definition of course: An e-book (for electronic book: also eBook) is the digital media equivalent of a conventional printed book. In the case of the Overland Track eBook - the file is an Adobe PDF document with the advantages of being able to read it on your computer or other electronic device or printing it out to read at your leisure.
Walls of Jerusalem to the Overland Track and Cradle Mountain (via the Never Never)
Get away from the crowds in the Cradle Mountain - Lake St Clair National Park?
Enjoy a great 7 to 8 day hiking trip in some spectacular Tasmanian Wilderness with some luxury accommodation at the end?
We leave tomorrow to walk from the Walls of Jerusalem to Lake Adelaide, Junction Hut, across the Never Never and then onto the Overland Track. We join the Overland Track at Hartnett Falls and then head north to Pelion Hut, Windemere and Scott Kilvett Hut.
This walk is a great way to enjoy some time away from the sometimes busy Overland Track, get into some "off track" bushwalking and combine the beautiful Walls of Jerusalem area with , what we believe, is the best end of the Overland Track - the north to Cradle Mountain.
We did this same walk in July last year and really enjoyed the snow and fantastic scenery. This time, longer days and warmer weather, should also give us all a great experience.
Below is a screen shot of the whole track we have planned. It is displayed via Mapsource but overlayed on a Shonky map. Click on the map to enlarge it (and make it readable!!)
There will be six in the party Sue, Frank and Tom on his first Tassie hike. Colin, Alex and Paul make up the rest of the group. Paul and Alex have not hiked in Tasmania but have in New Zealand.
This trip is planned to be quite leisurely with the maximum day around 15km. The whole trip will be about 84 km and we plan to be out 7 nights.
The logistics are very similar to planning the Overland Track and many of the principals we applied to meal planning, transport, clothing and our gear list are straight out of our Planning the Overland Track downloadable eBook.
Remember, this trip is NOT a substitute for walking the whole Overland Track, end to end, and should only be completed by bushwalkers who are experienced in Tasmanian conditions.
Related Posts:
Living on the Edge – or was it cold? Pictures of Walls of Jerusalem to Overland Track via the Never Never
Launceston to Dixon Kingdom Hut – Walls of Jerusalem – Winter
Walls of Jerusalem – Mt Jerusalem – Winter
Dixon Kingdom Hut to Meston Hut – Winter
Meston Hut to Kia Ora Hut – via the Never Never – Winter
Kia Ora Hut to Pelion Hut – Winter
Pelion Hut to Windemere Hut – Winter
Windemere Hut to Cradle Mountain Lodge - Winter
Overland Track - Advice, help and planning - new e-Book release
Do you need good, practical advice from experienced bushwalker's to plan your Overland Track hike?
Are you having trouble organising the walk from Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair on the Overland Track?
Is coordinating the Overland Track booking, transport to Cradle Mountain, your flights and getting home again just too confusing and complicated?
Do you need to know:
- What hiking gear you will need?
- What food to take?
- How to organise your meals?
- How to get the start of the walk and home again?
- What are the best transport options?
- What first aid kit you need?
- Can you walk the Overland Track solo?
- How hard is the Overland Track?
- What is the best way to get to Cradle Mountain?
Ok, so FINALLY, Frank and Sue at Our Hiking Blog have written an eBook that answers all these questions and , of course , more. Much more, in fact (to be really cliched!)
For several years we have been answering our readers questions regarding all of the different topics we listed above. Just the little annoying things that don't seem to be in any of the notes or books anywhere or are in so many different places they are very hard to find.
We have been planning a downloadable eBook for ages but have never really has the time until now. It has enabled us to consolidate all the information we have learned into a BOOK (well, 50 plus pages with HEAPS of VALUABLE information - if you want to call that a book....... ) and are NEARLY ready to publish the Overland Track eBook.
The Overland Track eBook includes updated versions of posts you can read on Our Hiking Blog, but in addition, we have added several thousand more words, graphics, tables, links and ideas to the downloadable version. It means you can print out all the great tips and ideas that have been posted here, as well as a whole lot more new "helpful hints" we know will REALLY help, in one, searchable and easy to read Adobe PDF document.
The Overland Track eBook is nearing completion and will be ready for publication in the next couple of weeks (we hope, as we are off to Tasmania hiking some of the Overland Track in a few days!)
UPDATE: The Overland Track book has been released and is ready for purchase - Read more information and download the free sample with all the chapters, sample pages and more using this link to the Overland Track e-Book.
Send us an email and we will notify you when the downloadable book is finished and available. It is currently with several experienced bushwalker's for proof reading and checking of detail.
The eBook contains several chapters such as: In most sections of the eBook there are special tips that are highlighted, or bolded. These tips are drawn from our experience of many trips along the Overland Track and have made our life much easier and the trip a great success. Here are a small sample: Tip: If you are using public transport and want to complete the Overland Track in the cheapest and easiest manner – fly into Launceston and home from Hobart. TIP: We are prepared to pay the additional cost for this type of service. The Public transport option can be very time consuming TIP: the trick we find here is to ensure you have measured portions for each day at probably 20% more than we would eat at home. Put them in a pile and count em off, 6 breakfasts, 6 bags. TIP: Remember unless you plan to eat it, what you start with in your pack on the Overland Track, will still be on your back at the end. TIP: Even a cheap headlight is better than a torch. It leaves your hands free to cook or read or hike in the dark if you are really slow. You need something, there is no power or lighting on the Overland Track - yep - NONE (not even to charge your camera battery) TIP: Take a waterproof jacket - No, NOT a poncho, no, not a spray jacket, a WATERPROOF coat - it rains (and snows, and sleets) a LOT in Tassie The Overland Track eBook is designed to use in conjunction with John Chapman's book Overland Track - which we believe is THE recommended guide for this fantastic world heritage hiking experience. (don't leave home without it) Yes, Chapman's book is THE one you should study from cover to cover BUT the Overland Track eBook just adds a bit of value, like what is the best way to get to Cradle Mountain; a REALLY detailed gear list, including honest comments on why or why not you should take each piece of gear; and what to do if you meet a naked German whilst swimming in Lake Windemere! (depending on if you are male or female, and the swimmer is male or female, the answer is open......to.... your.....interpretation (or mood)........) The Overland Track eBook will sell, on Our Hiking Blog, for A$7.00. Send us an an email to register your interest . We are offering a 100% money back guarantee on the Overland Track eBook. Yes, if you don't find your A$7.00 was well spent, you be refunded the whole amount. No hassles, just the cash back. We are that confident it will help your planning and enhance your trip heaps! If you buy the Overland Track eBook and you think it is a heap of rubbish, immediately send us a grumpy or nice email and we refund the full amount into your account within 24 hours (unless we are away bushwalking, then we we do it on our return) Again, no hassles or question, just the cash back. What is an eBook? Wikipedia have a definition of course: An e-book (for electronic book: also eBook) is the digital media equivalent of a conventional printed book. In the case of the Overland Track eBook - the file is an Adobe PDF document with the advantages of being able to read it on your computer or other electronic device or printing it out to read at your leisure.
We will email you when the book is released, just to let you know it is available. That will be it, one email, no spamming, mailing lists etc. 
Backpacking the Overland Track, a view from the States.
Leon and Alan after signing in at Ronney Creek to start the Overland Track
This guest post is from Alan, who kindly agreed to post about his experience with planning the Overland Track from the U.S.A and walking the Track with a couple of Aussies.
Alan is a keen hiker around the New Jersey area and he heads out most weekends with a group. The term bushwalking was new to him as multiday hiking in the States is usually referred to as backpacking. Hiking is the U.S. generally refers to day trips.
Here is Alan's story:
This story began about 5 months ago. Sarah, my 20 year old daughter, had opted for a semester abroad during her 3rd year of college. I’m in the middle (if there is ever such thing as a middle) of a divorce. My finances are uncertain at best but I can’t imagine not seeing Sarah for the entire 5 months that she will be away. I begin to explore “bushwalking” ideas in Australia initially as a way to save some money but also as a challenge….an adventure which I much needed at this time.
Google “bushwalking Australia” one Sunday morning last January and up comes Frank Wall’s blog. I begin to read with interest. This guy seems to know a lot about the topic. I google some more and keep coming up with the Overland Track. Having never heard about it and feeling appropriately intimidated by the idea of several days with a backpack I decide I’m up to the challenge. Just the right amount of anxiety and excitement.
I send Frank a personal e-mail attempting to get his opinion about me walking the OT solo. He is encouraging and I begin to plan the trip. I read everything I can find about the OT and bushwalking in Tasmania. I even posted on the Bushwalk Tasmania site looking for a walking partner. Eventually I find that the “season” is over just before I plan to arrive and this makes arranging transportation to and from the OT more complicated. Frank jumps in and makes calls for me. This guy really exudes the kindness I’ve heard described about Aussies.
After a couple of months of back and forth with Frank he suggests the possibility of joining me. Sounds great. I’d rather have the experience of bushwalking with someone and especially someone with Frank’s knowledge and caring. Eventually, Frank decides to travel to Tassie and even brings his friend Leon. I had no idea how amazing it was going to be to spend 5+ days with these two blokes.
Jumping ahead…I arrive in Sydney on May 3 and on May 6 I fly into Launceston to meet Frank and Leon for the first time. We share a cab into town where Frank had made reservations at a local pub and for transportation to Cradle Mountain the next morning. Dinner with the creator of the Bushwalking Tasmania website, Nik and his wife Heidi, along with the 3 of us, was a great start. Some good beer, wine and Wallaby made for a fine evening.
The boys resting near Mt Ossa platform.
I’ll spare all of the details about the walk and just paint a broad picture of the experience. Shit weather for the first 2 1/2 days, knocked down by very strong winds, wet boots from the beginning to the end, beautiful enchanted forests, gorgeous mountains (when they were visible through the clouds, freezing rain, non-freezing rain and mizzle). Difficult walking with a heavy pack, lots of fun, the damn roots, and above all the amazing people I met along the way….Jonno, Emily, Ryan, Kendal, Dor, many others whose names I can’t recall and above all my new dear friends Frank and Leon.
I can’t wait to get back to Tassie. ……
Related Posts:
The Overland Track - What scenery - Frank's report on this walk
Planning food for a multiday hike
The Overland Track - Planning the walk from overseas
Various Overland Track posts
Overland Track Tasmania - Sue's solo trip report
Want to walk the Overland Track solo?
Not sure if you have the experience or are brave enough to do the hike on your own?
What is it like hiking the Overland Track solo?
Sue headed off to walk the Overland Track in Tasmania in march 2008. It was her first solo hike. She decided that, rather than writing up a detailed trip report (how far, how long etc), she would focus on reflecting about her preparation, the people she met and observations she made along the way. Anyone who is planning the walk should refer to the numerous references that are available. We have listed some recommendations at the bottom of this post.
Sue's Overland Track
I am still not sure how, when, where or why the idea of doing the Overland on my own came about. Perhaps the week camping at Blanket Bay, on my own (after the family had gone home) in January. I think I also hoped that someone, anyone, would offer to accompany me BUT it appeared that no one wanted to rain on my solo parade.
Part of any trip is the experience of planning. I had never planned a trip before and had always been very happy to leave the details to Frank. I began by looking at the bus timetables, then available flights, accommodation in Launceston and Hobart and finally booked the Overland Track. Meal planning is fairly easy and has become easier with the purchase of a food dehydrator.
The weeks prior to leaving I conjured up every “if” scenario possible missing planes, buses, bad weather, and really bad weather. I had been concerned about the mental aspect of walking on my own. I knew I could physically deal with the Overland (having done it before) but who was going to jolly me along when fatigue set in? Sitting at Tullamarine airport an hour before my departure, watching black storm clouds race across the sky, did nothing to alleviate my anxiety.
Barn Bluff sunrise on a frosty morning
Once in Launceston, having done my fresh food shopping, I became resigned to the inevitable and a sense of calmness enveloped me. I had a great nights sleep and was awake well before the alarm went off. All went according to plan and at 7:00am I was on the bus and on my way. The sun started shining on the bus trip and my sense of optimism began to improve.
I decided to take to the Horse Track as it’s a steady climb onto and across the plateau, opposed to the steep incline of “Marion’s”. Prior to turning onto the Horse Track I met a young woman who was walking the “wrong way”, she and a friend had come onto the track via the Never Never. Her friend had walked out from Pelion on the Arm River Track and she had continued on alone. This bolstered my confidence.
I had stopped half way up the Horse Track, beside a small creek for lunch, and didn’t feel the need or want to stop at Kitchen Hut. I wanted to escape the vicinity of day trippers as this is when my adventure would truly begin. Just after passing Kitchen Hut I met the bus driver from Cradle Huts walking out a client who had found the going too tough. She had lasted about half of the first day. He provided information about the fagus (Australia’s only deciduous plant that begins to change colour about ANZAC Day) and employment with Cradle Huts ,something Clare is keen to try.
Following recent rain it was great to be able to look into Waterfall Valley and see waterfalls. I arrived at Waterfall Hut at about 4:30pm, just before the rain and the steady stream of walkers who had climbed Cradle Mountain. We were all met by Bill (volunteer hut host) and the lovely ranger (whose name I have yet to retrieve from my memory bank). The hut was quite full, with some opting to camp. The dangers of the weather became evident when a trio of young people arrived, one of whom was experiencing the first stages of hypothermia. She was quickly cared for by her companions following the directions of Bill and the Ranger.
Autumn Fagus
The highlight of the evening was meeting the couple who had got onto the plateau, via Marion’s lookout, the day before as I had sat at Tullamarine Airport watching the storm clouds race by. I learned that getting onto the plateau in bad weather is a challenging experience – enough to make a grown woman cry. They had spent the previous night at Waterfall Hut and then continued on to Windermere where they planned a recovery day snuggled in their sleeping bags reading. Until it was discovered they where missing a sleeping bag which had to be back to Waterfall Valley Hut! This delightful, friendly and highly amusing couple then backtracked to their previous nights hut. They decided not to continue on the Overland but to go back to Dove Lake via Scott Kilvett Memorial Hut.
Memories of Friday - sun rise reflected on Barn Bluff, a clear frosty morning and frozen pipes. A brief stop at the turn off to Lake Will to talk to the guide from Cradle Huts. As this is a short day I was at the hut by lunch time. One of the downsides of sleeping in the huts is the nocturnal habits of others – snoring and early morning flatulence, so I decide to sleep in the tent. This new, Sea to Summit (Wilderness Equipment ) Dart, was on it's first trip. I found it very cosy to sleep in and enjoyed the solitude.
Camped at Windemere in our new Sea to Summit - Dart
The Ranger,had followed us with news that we were in for some serious weather.
She had serious concerns about the trio with the girl who had hypothermia at Waterfall Valley Hut, their gear and their ability to cope. This is a frequent issue on the Overland Track.
I ate dinner in the hut and watched others prepare theirs. Tonight I met a Dutch gentleman who was doing the walk in 3 nights. His daughter had come to Australia 6 years ago on her GAP year and met a Tasmanian. After many years of travelling between the two countries, they had settled in Tasmania, and are to marry in September.
In light of news about the weather I felt it was important to get started ASAP on Saturday and had asked Sandra and George if I could walk with them. The wind was freezing, especially across the open and exposed Pine Forest Moor. We did experience a lot of weather – rain, wind, sleet and even sunshine.
It was great to arrive at Pelion and find the hut warm, almost a tropical atmosphere as people tried to dry wet clothing and boots. It had been a long day for most of us and it showed in own demeanour. Quiet chatter, most where tucked up in bed as soon as the sun set. The weather had sent many of the campers indoors.
We awoke to rain. No one was keen to get going as the prospect of the walking in the rain was not something anyone was looking forward to. I walked with Sandra and George again until the Ossa platform. Once in the open, I began to feel the need to increase my pace to keep warm. Even through the wind continued to blow, the rain eased and there were some sunny moments. The colours of the wet trunks of the Alpine Yellow Gums, with the sun reflected on them, were stunning.
Sandra and George arriving at Kia Ora - great day for ducks!
Kia Ora hut resembled a Chinese laundry and felt like a sauna. This evening only two hardy couples where camping. We had a very entertaining and amusing evening watching each other cook dinner. I had never realised how difficult it was to open a can of spam! We spent some time comparing cooking equipment and food. I was amazed at what some people had carried – gas barbeques, tinned fruit. At some point the fire had gone out, it became a personal challenge among some to get it going. George felt that he should be rewarded with personal favours for his persistence and success.
People carried all sorts of gear and food - cooking spam at Kia Ora Hut
We all adjusted our watches to not daylight saving time, only to discover later that we were in fact a week early. Much discussion was held regarding tomorrow’s destination, was it to be Windy Ridge Hut or onto Narcissus Hut? Much depended on the weather and how we felt. Sandra and George decided to camp at Windy Ridge.
Snow on Du Cane Ranges with Kia Ora toilet in foreground
The two girls the Ranger was concerned about had decided to exit the Overland Track at Pelion Hut via the Arm River Track. The third member of the group, Derek (German) had continued on. I discovered he had a job building a stable and had asked for some time off to do the Overland Track. His boss had asked if her daughters could accompany him, as they had always wanted to do the walk. He felt he couldn’t refuse his employer and had ultimately been stuck with the girls. His relief that they had gone was palpable.
The scent of burning boots permutated the hut, someone had left their boots too close to the fire. There was general concern that we may succumb to the fumes, windows were opened. I spent some time trying to conceptualise daylight saving – did we in fact get an extra hours sleep and how???? Not a good sleep – a lot of snoring, oh for a set of ear plugs.
Wayne and Coralie, with Du Cane Hut in the background
The weather on Monday continued – showers, strong very cold wind and just as we were leaving, snow. This continued to fall for most of the day. As I wasn’t sure of this evening’s destination I walked with Wayne and Coralie until we got to Hartnett Falls. They wanted to see the falls and having seen them before I decided to press on. I got to Windy Ridge at noon and after a brief chat with a track worker about the current renovations, I continued on.
The renovations on Windy Ridge Hut
New ranger's hut, Windy Ridge
I made a brief stop for something to eat but very quickly started to feel cold. Onto Narcissus. Wayne and Coralie caught up with me. I passed the 4 girls of Brisbane and they passed me and then I passed them again. After 6 hours of walking and with very wet (blown out Gortex liner in left boot) and sore feet I arrived. Again the hut it was packed.
Much discussion was held about the inability of the ferry service and the bus service to coordinate their timetables. The ferry arrives into Cynthia bay 10 minutes after the bus leaves!
Next day many where up early to get the 9:30 ferry. Some decided to walk to Echo Point Hut or to complete the Overland Track by walking the length of Lake St. Clair. I had booked the 1:00 ferry and was very happy to stick with my plans and hopefully see George and Sandra. I used the time to sweep the hut and collect rubbish that had been left, organise my pack, do a couple of sodoku’s and make the most of this last opportunity to enjoy the solitude.
The Cradle Huts group began to trickle in at about noon and a French man who had been defeated by fast flowing, very cold creek on the Cuvee Track returned.
I enjoyed my first solo walk immensely. The opportunity to walk at my own pace to stop when I wanted to, to gaze at magnificent vistas, to enjoy my own company and to appreciate the solitude. One of the joys of walking is meeting people of all ages from many and varied backgrounds and countries all over the world. The Ranger at Windemere said that 70% of all walkers on the Overland are from overseas.
Narcissus Hut
Thanks to all who allowed me to be part of their experience – Colleen, Danielle, Jo and her mum (Brisbane), Tim ( Canadian), Derek (German), Sandra and George, Wayne and Coralie, Helga and her friend (German) Simon and Sarah.
Before I left I had many people ask my WHY??? I have thought about it quite a lot and there is no simple answer. I love walking and walk everyday and have done so for years– no, not just walking around but to work, after work, with the dog, with Frank, on the beach and around the river. I love the rhythm of walking, the opportunity it gives me to interact with the environment. It’s almost meditative. I am sure those who surf, run, ride bikes feel the same about their experience.
Walking in remote places, carrying all that is needed to survive just intensifies that experience. It offers the opportunity to escape the complications of modern life, to “refrag my hard drive”, to prioritise what is important, things always seem so much clearer and simpler out there. With no distractions, the full beauty of these sometimes wild and remote places can be appreciated fully.
It usually takes a day or so to unwind to stop thinking about the children, the bills, work and a hundred other things. I am never in a hurry to return to the real world. Last year after a weekend in The Walls of Jerusalem, a friend who was with us, made the inexcusable mistake of talking about the “real” world while were still out there. It was like being woken half way a through great dream. My mood darkened and my pace increase as she continued about the trivialities of life in such a beautiful tranquil place. The moment was spoiled.
A multi day walk carrying a pack can also be physically challenging. In this “modern world” very rarely do we have the opportunity to extend ourselves physically, to overcome challenges – like climbing mountains, crossing rivers and dealing with weather. The sense of self satisfaction is at time immense. Finally, one of the joys of walking is meeting people, of all ages, from many a varied backgrounds and countries all over the world.
Related Posts
The Overland Track solo?
The Overland Track - Planning the walk from overseas
Hiking food preparation - Part One
Hiking food preparation - (Part 2) Lunch and dinner
Suggested reading
The Overland Track - John Chapman - the definitive book
Bushwalk Tasmania forum - Overland Track and Cradle Mountain
Parks Tasmania - The Overland Track - bookings, track notes etc
