2. 2010

Overland Track, Tasmania, in December.

Just before Christmas, we loaded up our packs, feasted on a final meal, and headed off deep into the Tasmanian wilderness. The Overland Track is Tasmania's premier long-distance walking route, traversing up to 100 km (with side-trips) of pristine subalpine terrain. Don't miss the published story of this adventure!
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  • Title Day 1

    Title Day 1

  • We arrived on the bus from Launceston around midday at the Ronny Creek visitors centre, where we signed in. For conservation and crowding reasons access to the track is strictly controlled during peak season (summer), and permits must be booked well in advance. 30 people a day are allowed to start, and must travel from N to S. After signing in, we headed for the cafe. And ate, and ate, and ate...

    We arrived on the bus from Launceston around midday at the Ronny Creek visitors centre, where we signed in. For conservation and crowding reasons access to the track is strictly controlled during peak season (summer), and permits must be booked well in advance. 30 people a day are allowed to start, and must travel from N to S. After signing in, we headed for the cafe. And ate, and ate, and ate...

  • It was 2 pm before we started. Was it fear that held us back? The forecast was for freezing conditions and snow - and no showers for a week! Eeeeek!

    It was 2 pm before we started. Was it fear that held us back? The forecast was for freezing conditions and snow - and no showers for a week! Eeeeek!

  • We hoped to climb the famous Cradle Mtn at the southern end of Dove Lake, but freezing conditions and low visibility by the time we arrived rapidly eliminated our motivation.

    We hoped to climb the famous Cradle Mtn at the southern end of Dove Lake, but freezing conditions and low visibility by the time we arrived rapidly eliminated our motivation.

  • Water break

    Water break

  • After trekking for hours through sleet and snow flurries, albeit through beautiful terrain, we finally arrived at the haven of Waterfall Valley Hut, to find Diana and others huddled around the hut stove.

    After trekking for hours through sleet and snow flurries, albeit through beautiful terrain, we finally arrived at the haven of Waterfall Valley Hut, to find Diana and others huddled around the hut stove.

  • Title Day 2

    Title Day 2

  • We awoke the next morning to discover the truly appalling sight of snow crystals piling up upon the windows! The tents of those far braver may just be seen in the distance, outside in the cold.

    We awoke the next morning to discover the truly appalling sight of snow crystals piling up upon the windows! The tents of those far braver may just be seen in the distance, outside in the cold.

  • But there were no more heated buses coming for us, so we cocooned ourselves in our gear and headed off along the track.

    But there were no more heated buses coming for us, so we cocooned ourselves in our gear and headed off along the track.

  • Thankfully, the sun soon came out, and things warmed up.

    Thankfully, the sun soon came out, and things warmed up.

  • I'd hoped to return up the track and climb Barn Bluff, but it was still snowing with poor visibility up there, at the time. I'm definitely a fair weather hiker!

    I'd hoped to return up the track and climb Barn Bluff, but it was still snowing with poor visibility up there, at the time. I'm definitely a fair weather hiker!

  • View 2

    View 2

  • Parts of the trail were brilliant for comfort-lovers like myself!

    Parts of the trail were brilliant for comfort-lovers like myself!

  • And parts were most definitely not...

    And parts were most definitely not...

  • After hours of trekking, we arrived at picturesque Lake Windermere.

    After hours of trekking, we arrived at picturesque Lake Windermere.

  • Wombats had completely mined a nearby ridge. There were holes everywhere, and piles of cube-shaped droppings, which they use to mark their territory. Unfortunately, I didn't see any, although others did.

    Wombats had completely mined a nearby ridge. There were holes everywhere, and piles of cube-shaped droppings, which they use to mark their territory. Unfortunately, I didn't see any, although others did.

  • L Windermere surrounds

    L Windermere surrounds

  • View 1

    View 1

  • The Windermere Hut was warm and comfy (relatively!), and frequented by pademelons (a type of wallaby), quolls and other wildlife. They would particularly frequent the washing up area at dusk, searching for food scraps.

    The Windermere Hut was warm and comfy (relatively!), and frequented by pademelons (a type of wallaby), quolls and other wildlife. They would particularly frequent the washing up area at dusk, searching for food scraps.

  • To minimise erosion, tent platforms are available for use. They also help keep your tent mud-free! However, I'd only brought a summer sleeping bag (attempting to save pack space), and was scared of the nightly cold, and so we managed to get into a hut every night. For emergencies, or full huts, every party must carry tents, however.

    To minimise erosion, tent platforms are available for use. They also help keep your tent mud-free! However, I'd only brought a summer sleeping bag (attempting to save pack space), and was scared of the nightly cold, and so we managed to get into a hut every night. For emergencies, or full huts, every party must carry tents, however.

  • Pademelon 1

    Pademelon 1

  • Pademelon 3

    Pademelon 3

  • Pademelon & joey

    Pademelon & joey

  • Title Day 3

    Title Day 3

  • Unfortunately, today was the longest planned (but not actual!) leg for us, at 14.2 km, and Jasmijn - not satisfied with the level of challenge - decided to injure herself before we started. Perhaps tired? she'd fallen between two benches, and hurt herself quite badly. Most people try not to do such things before hiking 14 km with a massive pack, but not Jasmijn! She coped very well!

    Unfortunately, today was the longest planned (but not actual!) leg for us, at 14.2 km, and Jasmijn - not satisfied with the level of challenge - decided to injure herself before we started. Perhaps tired? she'd fallen between two benches, and hurt herself quite badly. Most people try not to do such things before hiking 14 km with a massive pack, but not Jasmijn! She coped very well!

  • Trail 2

    Trail 2

  • Trail 3 JdeB

    Trail 3 JdeB

  • Whilst taking this picture, I showed my solidarity with Jasmijn by falling off the boardwalk. All of us hikers regularly fell, due to the weight of our massive packs (usu 18-23 kg), and the uneven, muddy (or underwater) paths. I believe in prior planning however, and managed to fall onto some nice comfy - and best of all, clean - buttongrass.

    Whilst taking this picture, I showed my solidarity with Jasmijn by falling off the boardwalk. All of us hikers regularly fell, due to the weight of our massive packs (usu 18-23 kg), and the uneven, muddy (or underwater) paths. I believe in prior planning however, and managed to fall onto some nice comfy - and best of all, clean - buttongrass.

  • This lookout provided a lovely lunch stop.

    This lookout provided a lovely lunch stop.

  • Mt Pelion West from Pine Forest Moor

    Mt Pelion West from Pine Forest Moor

  • Tasmanian waratah JdeB

    Tasmanian waratah JdeB

  • We entered a mysterious forest...

    We entered a mysterious forest...

  • Moss

    Moss

  • Trail forest 1

    Trail forest 1

  • This amazing tree was growing on top of a jumble of boulders.

    This amazing tree was growing on top of a jumble of boulders.

  • Trail bog 1 JdeB

    Trail bog 1 JdeB

  • Tannin from tree leaves turned the water brown. But it was very clean, and safe to drink. The area is one of the world's most pristine.

    Tannin from tree leaves turned the water brown. But it was very clean, and safe to drink. The area is one of the world's most pristine.

  • Mt Pelion West

    Mt Pelion West

  • Waterproof boots and gaiters were mandatory. And this was mid-summer...

    Waterproof boots and gaiters were mandatory. And this was mid-summer...

  • A passing guide told us that this stream may provide the world's most pure water. It comes down a mountain in the middle of this pristine wilderness, and there are absolutely no pollution sources above it.

    A passing guide told us that this stream may provide the world's most pure water. It comes down a mountain in the middle of this pristine wilderness, and there are absolutely no pollution sources above it.

  • Paddys Nut & Mt Thetis from Frog Flats

    Paddys Nut & Mt Thetis from Frog Flats

  • After the hardest day on the route overall (due to the weight of our packs + distance), we finally reached the large and comfortable New Pelion Hut. This was the evening view from the verandah.

    After the hardest day on the route overall (due to the weight of our packs + distance), we finally reached the large and comfortable New Pelion Hut. This was the evening view from the verandah.

  • Stefan, Avi and I took a side-trip after dinner to Old Pelion Hut. The oldest still standing in the park, it was constructed in 1895.

    Stefan, Avi and I took a side-trip after dinner to Old Pelion Hut. The oldest still standing in the park, it was constructed in 1895.

  • It had some very old graffiti.

    It had some very old graffiti.

  • A nearby trail led to an ancient copper mine. The warnings 'do not enter the tunnel...' were a magnet to us, and so we donned our torches, and followed the ever smaller trail through the bush...

    A nearby trail led to an ancient copper mine. The warnings 'do not enter the tunnel...' were a magnet to us, and so we donned our torches, and followed the ever smaller trail through the bush...

  • Copper mine trail Avi

    Copper mine trail Avi

  • Copper mine tailings

    Copper mine tailings

  • Finally reaching this ancient mine.

    Finally reaching this ancient mine.

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    Title Day 3.jpg
    Unfortunately, today was the longest planned (but not actual!) leg for us, at 14.2 km, and Jasmijn - not satisfied with the level of challenge - decided to injure herself before we started. Perhaps tired? she'd fallen between two benches, and hurt herself quite badly. Most people try not to do such things before hiking 14 km with a massive pack, but not Jasmijn! She coped very well!