Yet another itinerary thread

[mountnman]

I'm looking at finalising my itinerary for the OT next summer (I like to get in early ).

Day 1: Ronny Creek to Scott Kilvert Hut via Cradle Mountain
Day 2: Scott Kilvert Hut to Waterfall Valley Hut via Barn Bluff
Day 3: Waterfall Valley Hut to Windemere Hut via Lake Will/Innes Falls
Day 4: Windermere Hut to Pelion Hut via Mt Oakleigh if time permits
Day 5: Pelion Hut to Kia Ora Hut via Mt Ossa
Day 6: Kia Ora Hut to Bert Nichols Hut via all the falls
Day 7: Bert Nichols Hut to Pine Valley Hut with sidetrip to Labyrinth Lookout
Day 8: Pine Valley Hut to Echo Point Hut
Day 9: Echo Point Hut to Cynthia Bay

Does this seem pretty reasonable? I know that 9 days is a long time, but I can carry that much food. Any other suggestions?

[frenchy_84]

I would suggest,
Just do one of cradle and barn (Barn bluff instead because its not as crowded as cradle)
Dove lake to waterfall valley in a day with side trip up barn so you have more time for the more scenic southern end of the reserve.
On the day you walk in to pine valley climb the acropolis the next day spend a whole day in the labyrinth.
or even extend the day from kia ora to pine valley (I have never understood the placement of windy ridge hut (bert Nichols McMansion) walking in both directions its a lunch destination) you will still have time to see the waterfalls on the mersey. and instead of walking the lake do a daywalk around lake st clair, Hugel or Rufus or King William 1

[gregm]

If I lived in Tassie (I'm from Qld) I would agree with giving Cradle a miss (It is an easy day walk for locals) but the views from the summit are great so I would definitely include it as a visitor to this walking utopia. I haven't done the OT but, as a day walk, I have walked from Dove Lake to Barn Bluff via Hansons Peak / Scott Kilvert Memorial Hut, returning via OT + Cradle Mtn a couple of times.. My suggestion for Day 1 would be Dove Lake to Cradle via Hansons Peak/Face Track leaving pack at intersection Lake Rodway/Face tracks. After leaving the summit & retrieving pack, head to Lake Rodway or Scott Kilvert for the night. The views are much better going this way & on a fine day the views from Cradle Mtn are stunning, particularly the first time.
I have done some of the southern end. I think on the sixth day of a 10 day hike, we descended from the Traveller Range to the OT just north of Bert Nicholls Mansion where we camped nearby for the night. The next day was a relatively comfortable walk into the Labyrinth where we camped beside Lake Elysia. The views in this area are amazing & worth an overnight stop. Retreating to Pine Valley the next day, doing the Acropolis then camping at PV Hut overnight would work well. It is then downhill & flat walking for a couple of hours or so to Narcissus Hut where you can catch the ferry back to Lake St Clair, set up camp overnight & freshen up for the next day for what I found to be a relatively easy day-walk on a good track around the Mt Rufus circuit. On a good day, the views of near & distant mountains + lakes are awesome. The day I did this walk I had short periods of hail & snow at the beginning with sunny sesssions between. The afternoon was sunny & clear weather. Despite a bad fall on the return journey (Nearly knocked myself out through hurrying to get back to the missus) I still managed to limp home in 7h15m for the 18.5k's.
Have a great hike & hope you have good weather. You'll love Tassie. If you haven't done it, try the SW next time.
Cheers Greg