the story
Just got back from a magical week in Tasmania on the overland track, low impact tourism! After a day in Launceston mainly getting food ready (and a scrumptious dinner) we caught the bus on the Tuesday morning. Heading up through the mountains to cradle mountain, it got colder and there was more snow on the side of the road. When we arrive we got our gear on and caught the bus up to the start.
The first walking day was the hardest – skirting around the base of cradle mountain in sometimes waist deep powder, and a real blizzard. At the start it was steep, but towards the end, the pitch flattened out as well, and the weather calmed for a while. We spent that first night in a hot and crowded hut, warm comfort in comparison to the outside.
The second day was a short day, and we left after all the other groups who were skipping the hut we were to stay that night. It was beautiful in the morning and then quite miserable weather some of the time, but luckily didn’t close in completely until we arrived at the hut at about lunch time. Its funny how snow is beautiful when you can look out at it from a warm hut, but a bitch when you’re in it. We stopped briefly at lake will which was pretty. That night we also met matt and simon, guides to the group which were doing it at the same time as us. They were fun and we had great discussions with them. Matt was a wealth of natural knowledge.
The third day was longer and had some beautiful scenery including button grass, spectacular views of mt ossa and barn bluff as well as little glades of rainforest. The walk was generally easier, and there was much less snow by this stage, but lots of mud from melted snow, and rain.
The fourth day was a short hard hike from new pelion to kia ora, where again we arrived early. By now the weather was so pleasant, warm enough to hike in a thermal top, tshirt, shorts and overpants – no waterproof jacket or long johns required! This was quite a hard short walk, with spectacular views again. Halfway we reached the pelion pass, and tried to ascend ossa. There was a strong cross wind blowing through the first saddle, and deep snow up the other side. After a harrowing ascent up a narrow chasm (as seen in a photo with blue sky on the map) we were faced with ice and a blizzard we couldn’t get through. So, we slid down our bums. It was a fantastic experience though, and fun to be mountaineers.
On the fifth day we were greeted by perfect sunshine and a ‘hot day’. It was a shortish walk again, but with the most spectacular waterfalls I have ever seen. The snow had continued to melt, and it was as if a dam had burst its banks! It looked about 10 times as much water as there usually is (from looking at photos). At Fergusson falls we stayed about 40 minutes lying in the sun and bathing our feet, it was just so lovely. A lot of the day was through magnificent rainforest covered with moss.
The sixth day was also beautiful, but the walk out was through pretty standard aussie bush, we even spotted a snake! We arrived early to have lunch at the ferry platform in the hot sun and caught the ferry to the other side. They sent a boat which couldn’t fit everyone so they compensated us with a free beer! Yum. Funny to see civilisation, everyone was clamouring for hot showers and all I wanted to do was get back to the bush. I wish I could be there now! Things are so much simpler.
That night in Hobart we rushed out for some thai, and then to the republic, the cool place in Hobart. We were pretty tired though.
The next day we packed out of the hostel, and wandered around town, and had lunch. Spanna, Luke and I went to the cascade brewery and after an informative tour with bogans, we sat I the brilliant sun and drank beer. A perfect ending to the trip.
The first walking day was the hardest – skirting around the base of cradle mountain in sometimes waist deep powder, and a real blizzard. At the start it was steep, but towards the end, the pitch flattened out as well, and the weather calmed for a while. We spent that first night in a hot and crowded hut, warm comfort in comparison to the outside.
The second day was a short day, and we left after all the other groups who were skipping the hut we were to stay that night. It was beautiful in the morning and then quite miserable weather some of the time, but luckily didn’t close in completely until we arrived at the hut at about lunch time. Its funny how snow is beautiful when you can look out at it from a warm hut, but a bitch when you’re in it. We stopped briefly at lake will which was pretty. That night we also met matt and simon, guides to the group which were doing it at the same time as us. They were fun and we had great discussions with them. Matt was a wealth of natural knowledge.
The third day was longer and had some beautiful scenery including button grass, spectacular views of mt ossa and barn bluff as well as little glades of rainforest. The walk was generally easier, and there was much less snow by this stage, but lots of mud from melted snow, and rain.
The fourth day was a short hard hike from new pelion to kia ora, where again we arrived early. By now the weather was so pleasant, warm enough to hike in a thermal top, tshirt, shorts and overpants – no waterproof jacket or long johns required! This was quite a hard short walk, with spectacular views again. Halfway we reached the pelion pass, and tried to ascend ossa. There was a strong cross wind blowing through the first saddle, and deep snow up the other side. After a harrowing ascent up a narrow chasm (as seen in a photo with blue sky on the map) we were faced with ice and a blizzard we couldn’t get through. So, we slid down our bums. It was a fantastic experience though, and fun to be mountaineers.
On the fifth day we were greeted by perfect sunshine and a ‘hot day’. It was a shortish walk again, but with the most spectacular waterfalls I have ever seen. The snow had continued to melt, and it was as if a dam had burst its banks! It looked about 10 times as much water as there usually is (from looking at photos). At Fergusson falls we stayed about 40 minutes lying in the sun and bathing our feet, it was just so lovely. A lot of the day was through magnificent rainforest covered with moss.
The sixth day was also beautiful, but the walk out was through pretty standard aussie bush, we even spotted a snake! We arrived early to have lunch at the ferry platform in the hot sun and caught the ferry to the other side. They sent a boat which couldn’t fit everyone so they compensated us with a free beer! Yum. Funny to see civilisation, everyone was clamouring for hot showers and all I wanted to do was get back to the bush. I wish I could be there now! Things are so much simpler.
That night in Hobart we rushed out for some thai, and then to the republic, the cool place in Hobart. We were pretty tired though.
The next day we packed out of the hostel, and wandered around town, and had lunch. Spanna, Luke and I went to the cascade brewery and after an informative tour with bogans, we sat I the brilliant sun and drank beer. A perfect ending to the trip.
posted by ben at 10:20 AM
1 Comments:
Absolutely amazing Ben!! The descriptions and the photos show what a memorable and outstanding experience it all must have been. The photos of walking through snow look more like something from a mountaineering expedition that "Tassie" - I guess it was!
I look forward to seeing more photos and hearing more stories one day. Well done in recording it and well done to you all for doing it!
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