Do the heaters work in winter?

[matto]

Hi everyone a group of friends and I will be walking the OLT this winter (August/September).

I was just wondering if anyone knows if the heaters in the various huts work during these months? I know that we definitely should NOT rely on them and take all the necessary gear but has anyone had experience with this in recent times?

Thank you all.

[corvus]

Yes heaters work in Winter if they have Gas/Coal (briquettes)
The Coal burning stoves need to be cleaned out to operate efficiently and nice dry kindling to get started.
corvus

[north-north-west]

Like most fuel burning heaters, they work as long as they have fuel. Which means you may have to pack in your own coal . . .

[Doonish]

Yes, coal in the huts is never guaranteed - Pine Valley was out when I was up there last July, and seemed to have been for a little while. Worth carrying a couple of firelighters for the coal when your fingers are chilly and the kindling is damp.

[dazfromtaz]

Well and truly no heaters by then!

[dazfromtaz]

It was this time last year and there was no wood at Bert Nichol, so everyone started pinching coal from Kia Ora! It will be gone by June! Heaters are inefficient, people completely cover them with stinking socks etc and trap most of the heat anyway! Exception Kia Ora. Who's idea it was to stick a heater in the corner at BertNichols? Another Australian design award right there!!!!!! Silly.

[Solohike74]

I say take firelighters. My plan is if at a hut with an abundance of coal, to take some, just in case another has ran out. The stronger ones can also carry a bag of barbecue coal fuel, its one thing where you won't have to pack it out, just drop off leftovers at Narcissus, Pine Valley or Echo Point.

[Solohike74]

... Who's idea it was to stick a heater in the corner at BertNichols? Another Australian design award right there!!!!!! Silly.

Plus the separate bedrooms that are like iceboxes in autumn. They should've dropped in some leftover Rudd insulation for walls, underfloor areas and ceilings.

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Contact Parks at either Lake St Clair or Cradle closer to the date... they may be able to provide an update on which places have fuel/how much.

And when you finish, ring Parks again and let them know which huts have fuel and how much - that way they can pass the info on to others who are walking later in winter.

If you want to know why they run out of fuel, read on...

I was at Kia Ora in February last year (Feb 9&10 2012). The maximum temp at Cradle was 21.1 degrees that day, so down at Kia Ora it would have been a few degrees warmer. I would have estimated it to be at least 25 degrees, and full blazing sun.
I arrive in the hut mid afternoon (perhaps 2pm) after doing Pelion Hut-Pelion Gap-Ossa-Pelion Gap-Kia Ora, to find a bunch of old women who have walked straight through, sitting in front of a raging fire inside the hut, and with stinky socks and underwear draped everywhere.
I was in disbelief... the sign clearly says the temperature on the thermometer MUST BE BELOW 10C before the heater can be lit, and it now indicated well over 30C.
They proceeded to stink out the hut and heat it up until it was virtually inhospitable. Felt like throwing all their drying clothes into the river, but managed to calm down enough to pitch the tent and forget about them.
THIS is why poor people like you don't get heaters in the depths of winter, when it could potentially be a life and death situation... because inconsiderate, rule breaking idiots, who think their $200 OT fee allows them to do whatever they like.
I reported them at Lake St Clair, but really, what can they do? Next time, I will just read the sign aloud to them, and pour the contents of my water bottle in the heater.

Perhaps it would be a good idea if Parks asked autumn/winter walkers to report on fuel levels at Lake St Clair when they finish, and they could keep that information up on their website. I'd be very hesitant to do a winter trip without the knowledge that the huts I'm planning to stay at have fuel... not just for keeping warm every night, but in case of medical emergency or bad weather (big snow dumps) so that I knew I could at least keep myself alive.

[matto]

Thank you everyone some great advice there. I will take it on board.
Safe walking.

[creeping_moses]

Anyone got the latest on heater supplies at Pine Valley Hut??

[Ent]

Three weeks ago plenty of coal at Pine Hut. Windermere heater not worth the effort. The rest ok but New Pelion time was random as short as ten minutes so very frustrating.

[creeping_moses]

Cheers, Ent. Visited Pine Valley and Narcissus in the last few days and both still had lots of coal.