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2nd trip to Australia: Pt 1 - Tasmania (Overland Track bkpk)
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:06 pm
by Snow Nymph
Tues-Fri, Nov 4-7, 2008
CA to Adelaide To Tasmania
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/65 ... 6628_WKru8
I left LA Tuesday, took Jet-Ease tablets, sipped on wine, and got more sleep on this flight, which I lose a day somewhere in the time zone, arriving in Adelaide on Thursday. My luggage got lost somewhere between flights. I also lost my iPod on the last flight, which didn't get turned into Lost & Found. Peter from UA found my luggage in Sydney and got it to Melbourne by Friday. SnowDude and I flew to Melbourne Friday on our way to Tasmania, and picked up the luggage, which had freezedried food, clothes and gear for our 6-day backpack on the Overland Track. Luckily we had an extra day Saturday to repack and shuttle for this trip. SnowDude did an excellent job organizing this trip, which included hotels, car rentals, bus shuttles and ferry ride as this was a one way trip from North to South.
Back with SnowDude in Adelaide on Thursday
Back to the airport to fly to Tasmania on Friday (another time change)
Echidna buries face to hide, then looks out to see if we're still there
Packed and ready to go for a 6 day backpack on the Overland Track
Day 1: Overland Track, Tasmania (Ronny Crk to Waterfall Vall
Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:49 pm
by Snow Nymph
Day 2: Waterfall Valley to Barn Bluff dayclimb
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 4:05 pm
by Snow Nymph
Monday, 10 Nov 2008
Day 2: Waterfall Valley to Barn Bluff dayclimb
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/65 ... ZtRN#P-1-9
Day 2 on the Overland Track. We heard the groups coming in during the week were smaller than the Sunday group so we decided to stay at Waterfall Valley one more day to get out of sync with the big crowd from Sunday. After the weather lightened up a little, we headed for Barn Bluff (1559m), the 4th highest mountain in Tasmania. Even though we had no visibililty, it was a cool dayclimb with a little class 3 to make the climb really worthy. We got back to the hut and found a hut mate who seemed a little strange, especially since he started a fire to cook his dinner (Ranger was on him right away, also had no permit). We offered him our stove, and later wondered if he would be warm enough with only his blanket and no padding to sleep on. We later found out Carl didn't walk out like he was supposed to, but was still on the trail and rangers were looking for him for 3 days. I think he was just a loner and probably harmless. He gave us a handmade leather wallet in return for fuel. I have to admit, we were a little concerned before going to bed about sleeping with him. [All photos except indoor, were taken with underwater camera case over camera]
Wallaby and Joey peeking out
Beautiful terrain in Waterfall Valley
No visibililty, but got a glimpse of what we were climbing
Some fun class 3 climbing
There's the next cairne. I thought this was the end of the hike for me after seeing SnowDude struggle on this one. For those that don't know, I have a torn rotator cuff and can't use my arm.
Coming back was a challenge in some places (also raining), and had to find a different way than how we got up
Our 3rd wombat in 2 days! An Australian we talked to said he had only seen 2 wombats ever!
They have tent platforms to set up on
Day 3: Waterfall Valley to Frog Flats
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:39 pm
by Snow Nymph
Tuesday, 11 Nov 2008
Day 3: Overland Track, Tasmania (Waterfall Valley to Frog Flats)
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/65 ... 4678_WRPdE
Day 3 was a long day for us. We started the day off by finding a family of Quolls in the wall of our hut. Cool little animals! Original plan was to walk from Waterfall Valley to Windemere Hut, but since everyone else would be there, we wanted to end up somewhere in between. So we passed Windemere and headed for Frog Flats, which had tent sites without platforms. We stopped at Lake Windemere too wash up a little and rinse out some clothes. It was a long day of hiking, but we had Frog Flat all to ourselves. Total for the day was about 15km. SnowDude kept telling me: Today is a good day to see a snake. Yep! We saw a Tiger Snake, but it was too fast for the camera.
Morning surprise in the wall of the hut . . . a family of Australian Quolls! Mama and 5 babies (not sure what babies are called)
Southern Snow Skink . . . SnowDude kept telling me "today is a good day to see a snake". Skinks are the main meal of the snakes here and we saw a lot of them sunning themselves on the boardwalk. We saw a Tiger Snake, but I was too slow with the camera.
Looking back at Barn Bluff and Cradle Mountain. We had to go towards Cradle Mtn, then turn west to climb the other side of Barn Bluff yesterday (rain and no visibility)
Mt Oakleigh, Mt Pelion East, Mt Doris, Mt Ossa, Mt Pelion West and Lake Windemere. We will climb Pelion East, Mt Doris, and Mt Ossa in the next few days.
Beautiful terrain . . . it kept changing
Day 4: Frog Flats to Pelion Gap, dayclimb Mt Ossa and Mt Dor
Posted: Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:55 pm
by Snow Nymph
Wednesday, 12 Nov 2008
Day 4: Overland Track, Tasmania (Frog Flats to Pelion Gap, dayclimb Mt Ossa and Mt Doris)
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/65 ... 6870_xUtBp
Day 4 was another fair weather day. We started off by looking for platypus by the river near camp. We signed in at the new Pelion Hut and headed for Pelion Gap. There were already a lot of packs sitting on the platforms, from people who were bagging Mt Ossa. The last ones returned and left by the time we started. Mt Ossa (highest peak in Tasmania) was a fun peak, with a little snow glissading on the way down. I went on to Mt Doris since it was so close, and SnowDude went back to camp to set up. Someone earlier mentioned sleeping under the stars, so SnowDude did it. It was a windy but beautiful night out.
Mt Ossa from Pelion Gap
Snow crossing
Mt Doris and Pelion East from snow crossing
SnowDude almost to what we thought was the top, but it was just a saddle
Still more snow, but we had plenty of daylight
SnowDude made the high point
I had to settle for something climbable with one arm
Wheeee!
Double Wheeee!
Being the peak-whore that I am, couldn't pass up Mt Doris
Its Fri and we're off for a 3 day weekend! Back Tues!
Re: 2nd trip to Australia: 1st wk Tasmania (Overland Track bkpk)
Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 7:53 pm
by Trail Bud
So that 's what a Wombat looks like. Nice pics! (as always).
The plants with their shapes and colors are cool too.
Thanks for sharing.
Day 5: Overland Track, Tasmania (Pelion Gap to DuCane Hut, w
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 5:48 pm
by Snow Nymph
Thursday, 13 Nov 2008
Day 5: Overland Track, Tasmania (Pelion Gap to DuCane Hut, with dayclimb to Pelion East)
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/65 ... 6453_Pvui9
Day 5 was another nice day. We packed up, the did a quick dayclimb up Mt Pelion East, which was really windy and showed precipitation coming in from the north. We got back on the Overland Track and stopped at Kia Oro Hut to sign in, then wash our hair. It felt really good! We had lunch just past the hut by a waterfall. By the time we got to Ducane Hut, I wasn't feeling well. We set up camp on the platform by the hut (emergency shelter) just before the rain came down. We had dinner in the hut, and relaxed awhile. It was a restless night for me with my stomach making a lot of gurging noises. My gastrointestinal system was not happy.
Beautiful sunrise
Dayclimbed Mt Pelion East . . . SnowDude on the high point
Mt Pelion East, now we're out of the wind
Looking north at Mt Ossa and Mt Doris
Felt good to wash up after 5 days of cold
Re: 2nd trip to Australia: 1st wk Tasmania (Overland Track bkpk)
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 7:45 pm
by hikerduane
Thank you for the great pics of your trip and the critters, great adventure.
Day 6: Ducane Hut to Lake St Claire
Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2008 9:23 pm
by Snow Nymph
Thanks, Doug and Duane!
The animals here are so cool! An interesting thing I learned about echidna's this trip: Their front feet face forward, but their back feet face backwards! :retard: They're the cutest little things, and have really strong feet. Some are shy, and some go about digging with us around. They have spines coming thru the fur, and most of them bury their heads in the dirt if you get too close. :retard:
Friday, 14 Nov 2008
Day 6: Overland Track, Tasmania (DuCane Hut to Lake St Claire)
PHOTOS: http://snownymph.smugmug.com/gallery/65 ... 2179_FXmwD
Day 6 was another nice day for walking. We were a little concerned because of the bad weather the night before. Since we stopped earlier than we planned, we had to make up time to get to the ferry by 3:30pm. We were on the trail before 7am, and skipped breakfast. Our stomachs were still perculating and we were afraid to add to it. We stopped for the quick side trip to D'Alton Falls, passed thru Windy Gap Hut and Narcissus Hut and to the Ferry, arriving 1/2 hr early. Weather was coming in, and by the time we crossed St Claire Lake (deepest in Tasmania), rain was coming down again. SnowDude rented a nice cabin in advance, got a great bottle of Tasmanian wine, we spent a warm night in a comfortable bed.
Since we quit early, we had a long day ahead of us, and got on the trail before 7am
Took a short side trip to D'Alton Falls
Weather doesn't look good above
But is nice where we were
This was probably the friendliest echidna we've seen so far
We made it to the Jetty 1/2 hour early
SnowDude had a cabin reserved
Port Arthur (portal for convicts) & Tasmanian Devil Park
Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 3:24 pm
by Snow Nymph