https://www.flickr.com/photos/187104378@N07/49682581693/in/dateposted-public/ Monday, March 14, 2016 Overland Track complete! I would recommend it to anyone in this part of the world, especially if you have a decent chunk of time to take advantage of side trip opportunities. The area is lovely and the trail less crowded than I thought it would be, probably because of a …
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Overland Track Day 8: How Much Would You Pay for a Boat Ride?
Tuesday, March 08, 2016 I woke up, dried most of the condensation off my tent, ate the dodgy couscous for breakfast, mulled over the possibility that the dodgy couscous had already been cooked, and set off towards Narcissus Hut. I had decided pre-hike to take the ferry to Cynthia Bay instead of walking around the …
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Overland Track Day 7: Beware the Possums
Monday, March 07, 2016 It poured during the night and my tent floor soaked through below my air mattress. The sky still looked ominous in the morning, so rather than hanging up anything to dry, I propped up my mattress inside my tent and hoped that everything would dry while I was gone (my tent …
Overland Track Day 6: Mice vs. Possums
Sunday, March 06, 2016 I left the Overland Track at the Pine Valley junction and walked to Pine Valley Hut, where I'll spend two nights with a day trip to the Labyrinth. The walk was mostly flat, crossing suspension bridges through meadows and a mossy forest as silent as a crypt. https://www.flickr.com/photos/187104378@N07/49683399842/in/dateposted-public/ The trail was …
Overland Track Day 5: Waterfall Day
Saturday, March 05, 2016 After breakfast I said goodbye to the Belgians, Ontario Guy and the French(Belgians?), who were planning to walk further than me today. The French(Belgians?) pointed out that they were leaving earlier than I was. You win, get-up-early-kings. My quads felt like they had been skewered from descending Mt. Ossa. I thought …
Overland Track Day 4: Mt. Ossa
Friday, March 04, 2016 Coincidentally the French(Belgians?) and I both got up at 6:00 AM, making us the best of roommates - almost. One of them snored and had a comically loud air mattress. I once received a complaint about my Thermarest Neoair, but his mattress sounded like a thunderstorm. I have no idea what …
Overland Track Day 3: Rocks, Rocks, Rocky Rocks
Thursday, March 03, 2016 At dusk yesterday I walked with the Belgians to Lake Windermere to look for platypuses, but none revealed themselves in the dim light. The night was chilly and my new sleeping bag overestimated, so I kept getting cold, waking up and adding layers. The Belgians got cold as well and moved …
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Overland Track Day 2: Lakes
Wednesday, March 02, 2016 Everyone in the hut went to bed soon after sunset yesterday, but one man started talking to his hiking partner in the dark about Europe and train fares. I laughed silently. Eventually a woman asked him to stop and he said 'what? We're going to sleep already?'. No, we were lying …
Overland Track Day 1: Not Dead Yet
Tuesday, March 01, 2016 I'm not dead yet, therefore today was a net success! Sadly the weather was not my friend or even a casual Facebook contact. It was a continuation of the day before, windy and cold and damp. I took the first shuttle at 8:15 AM (free) to the Ronny Creek car park, …
Overland Track Pre-Hike 3: Unconventional
Monday, February 29, 2016 I took the McDermott shuttle from Lanceston to Cradle Mountain today. Unexpectedly the shuttle was part of a day tour, so the driver was providing information in a stream-of-consciousness type of way, including points like 'there are some people over there, I'm not sure what they're doing' and 'there's a student …
Overland Track Pre-Hike 2: Launceston
Sunday, February 28, 2016 Launceston has a good selection of hiking/camping stores, parks and signs directing you to public washrooms, so it's basically heaven. I purchased a fuel canister and enough food to remind me of the downside of eight days in the wilderness, deciding after feeling the weight of my pack to not return …
Overland Track Pre-Hike 1: Lady
Saturday, February 27, 2016 I flew from Sydney to Launceston today. The security employees were suspicious of my water filter and Steripen and rummaged through everything in my carry-on, which was a plastic bag filled with random items. A man also swabbed my boots and pockets and asked 'are you under or over 16?' ... …
Overland Track: Introduction
https://www.flickr.com/photos/187104378@N07/49679773013/in/dateposted-public/ No thanks, but recommendation noted. Friday, February 26, 2016 Tasmania's Overland Track, a 65 kilometre hike (82 kilometres if the walk around Lake St. Clair is included), will be a relatively short test for my right foot after a persistent injury I sustained almost two years ago. The government claims that '92 percent of …
The Heysen 81: More Advice Than You Never Asked for
So now you're interested in walking the Heysen, right? You're ready for a solitary and sometimes challenging journey? When to walk: Autumn and spring have the best weather, but the Heysen can also be walked in winter (North American summer). The parts that cross private property (many many parts) are closed during the Fire Danger …
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The Heysen 80: The End
Sunday, November 27, 2016 - 14.58 km My last day on the Heysen! The sky was sunny and I was feeling better than yesterday. I was planning to have breakfast at the Cobbler Creek picnic area, then realized that the picnic area is on an alternate route, so I ate on a random bench overlooking …
The Heysen 79: How Civilized
Saturday, November 26, 2016 - 13.24 km https://flic.kr/p/2inxe5n A few route options were available this morning. I chose the official Heysen route, which heads inland past Deep Creek Waterfall, but the Deep Creek Cove alternate may have been more scenic. The trail was beautiful single track with steps(!) on the steep bits, and I encountered …
The Heysen 78: Black Friday
Friday, November 25, 2016 - 17.28 km The day began with road walking, then a fence-following drop to Tunkalilla Beach. The angle of descent was absurdly steep and I fell once. At the bottom, I met three older men with large and heavy-looking backpacks. I couldn't hear them well over the sound of the ocean …
The Heysen 77: Only Death
Thursday, November 24, 2016 - 11.63 km https://flic.kr/p/2inzzpQ My day began with a short walk over the sand dunes to Waitpinga Beach, where a fisherman told me about sea fishing. Millipedes were wandering far out on the sand, and it reminded me of hikers who lose the trail but don't turn around. Go back! There's …
The Heysen 76: THIS IS WHY
Wednesday, November 23, 2016 - 20 km I've been feeling under the weather with a sore throat, but today was my favourite day of this trip. The walk out of Victor Harbor along the ocean was beautiful - the map has it marked as not being trail, but it's actually lovely single-track - and Newland …
The Heysen 75: One Final Zero
Tuesday, November 22, 2016 I decided to take a rest day in Victor Harbor today. I have all the time in the world to finish the HT! Or a week and a half before the trail closes for the fire season. Same diff. I found the type of sunscreen I like, read a book from …
BANE OF THE TRAIL 