Overland Track Lecture.

[ULWalkingPhil]

Tonight I attended a lecture on the Overland Track at one of the outdoor stores in Sydney on Kent St tonight, A few things I want to point out they mentioned that really stood out.

You must have waterproof boots at all times.

They told everyone in the lecture room that the cost of the ferry ride at the end is included in the $200.00 fee payable.

The heaters in the huts are set to obtain a maximum of 10c and no more.

Majority of the track is timber planked.

There is someone at the start of walk checking your gear and banning you if they think you don't have the right gear.

These are the main things That really stood out to me.

I did get up and mentioned, thats not true, that the ferry service is included in the $200.00 fee. I shut up on the rest.






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[ULWalkingPhil]

Oh, and they also said there is a hut you can stay at for free at the start of the Overland Track so you can get an early start on the following day, was going to question this one, but time got away.

I am not aware of any free huts at the start of the walk. Than again I have not completed the walk so far.

Is all this stuff they saying true?


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[tastrax]

PM sent

[Strider]

Wow, I really should walk the OLT then!!!

[ULWalkingPhil]

One more, your going to love this one,

They mentioned that the boardwalks has wire mesh over it, so in winter you don't slip on the ice. One picture shown does show some chicken wire wrapped on the boardwalk.

Two lecturers, one did the walk back in 1988, the other a young lady appears to have walked it a couple times in winter.

Just goes to prove, what I say all along, these outdoor stores, majority of workers don't know *&%$#! about bushwalking.

It must be so difficult for beginners. I can imagine how many must give up after the first overnight hike.


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[frenchy_84]

One more, your going to love this one,

They mentioned that the boardwalks has wire mesh over it, so in winter you don't slip on the ice. One picture shown does show some chicken wire wrapped on the boardwalk.

Two lecturers, one did the walk back in 1988, the other a young lady appears to have walked it a couple times in winter.

Just goes to prove, what I say all along, these outdoor stores, majority of workers don't know *&%$#! about bushwalking.

It must be so difficult for beginners. I can imagine how many must give up after the first overnight hike.


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Ah phil that is correct and the majority of the track is boardwalk.
Also with the heaters, it's advised not to use them if its above 10 deg or so, so as to save fuel. And let's face it if you don't have the gear to handle 10 degs without a heater than your unprepared.

[ULWalkingPhil]

One more, your going to love this one,

They mentioned that the boardwalks has wire mesh over it, so in winter you don't slip on the ice. One picture shown does show some chicken wire wrapped on the boardwalk.

Two lecturers, one did the walk back in 1988, the other a young lady appears to have walked it a couple times in winter.

Just goes to prove, what I say all along, these outdoor stores, majority of workers don't know *&%$#! about bushwalking.

It must be so difficult for beginners. I can imagine how many must give up after the first overnight hike.


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Ah phil that is correct and the majority of the track is boardwalk.
Also with the heaters, it's advised not to use them if its above 10 deg or so, so as to save fuel. And let's face it if you don't have the gear to handle 10 degs without a heater than your unprepared.

I known about the advice to only use heater if below 10c. Ive read that here a while back, they said the heaters will heat room up-to a max of 10c, wanted to know if this was true, as a lot what they where saying sounded a bit far fetched to me.

I was not aware its nearly all boardwalk.

I must go and found out myself one day soon, but I don't want to go during the silly season. I want to go when theres not to many people about, that will have to be winter. I got a chance to test my gear below zero in the past few weeks and they have passed with flying colors.





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[philm]

Seems like most of the information is not correct or misleading at best!

There is a fair bit of board walk but much of the track is still track!

In relation to waterproof boots - if it is wet highly likely your feet will get wet! so yes water "proof" boots are good but will ultimately not stop your feet getting wet!

No one checks your gear at the start and there are no 'free huts' at the beginning.

If you want to stay close to the start of the track the Waldheim Huts in the National Park are good but these need to be booked and there is a cost.

Interesting that this was an information night as it sounds like misinformation.

[ULWalkingPhil]

In regards to free hut at start of walk, young lady said it's at Dove lake. And she also mentioned that there is paid accommodation at Dove Lake.

[tibboh]

Did the OLT recently and although there is alot of duckboarding, I would estimate it to be less than 20% of the track and virtually none of the sidetracks (except Barn Bluff).
Without the chickenwire cover the boards ar more dangerous, especially in winter.
Maybe the free hut they are talking about is the boatshed at Crater Lake

[bailz66]

Seems like most of the information is not correct or misleading at best!

There is a fair bit of board walk but much of the track is still track!

In relation to waterproof boots - if it is wet highly likely your feet will get wet! so yes water "proof" boots are good but will ultimately not stop your feet getting wet!

No one checks your gear at the start and there are no 'free huts' at the beginning.

If you want to stay close to the start of the track the Waldheim Huts in the National Park are good but these need to be booked and there is a cost.

Interesting that this was an information night as it sounds like misinformation.

Did this walk last year in summer. No one used the heaters as it was warm enough in February.
I don't believe there is a hut you can stay in at the start of the walk for free. I believe there is a camping area near by which you can use. There is also the Cradel Mountain Cabins (Expencive but nice apparently)

Most of the walk has chicken wire over it and nearly all of the damper areas do now. Except for the stretch between Frog Flats and New Pellion which was very muddy and wet when we went through.

As for people checking gear, you might get someone making a comment about appropriate gear to wear. A friend went a few years ago and was wearing thongs on the Bus to the start of the track. His boots were in his bag. The bus driver had a go at him and said he couldn't go without the right sort of shoes. In Principal he wore thongs for the entire walk and go through ok.

The ferry costs extra at the end but you can easily walk the last bit (Its a great walk at the end of the trip and the ferry ride wasn't that good. They say you can book the ferry from the last hut via a Radio in there but the Radio doesn't work. We had a Sat phone which we used to book in for some other people.

Also you would be mad to not bring some shoes to wear at night because if your boots do get wet you want to have a bit of comfort

[creeping_moses]

I think we need to be careful about saying it's "its nearly all duckboard" as this is a myth I hear all the time from people who haven't done the walk.
The notion of the OLT being all duckboard is not at all true, it's not even half duckboard or a third duckboard I don't think (it may be close to a third, but I would think about 20-25% maximum). Once one is beyond Windermere Hut (usually second night for most groups) the duckboard is very intermittent, and only for small sections, such as near the Forth Valley Lookout for a few hundred meters. There is also some just beyond Pelion Gap, but from there on from what I remember from many trips over the track is that there is no major boarding all the way through to the visitor centre at Lake St. Clair (other than a bit near Narcissus). All recent boarding has been between Waterfall Valley hut and just after Windermere from what I have seen.

Many a time have I been at Pelion hut or Kia Ora hut and heard groups remarking that they are shocked how muddy/slippery/rough the trail is for much of the way. In reality it is an excellent trail, but its not all duckboard!

[peter-robinson]

I think we need to be careful about saying it's "its nearly all duckboard" as this is a myth I hear all the time from people who haven't done the walk.

Many a time have I been at Pelion hut or Kia Ora hut and heard groups remarking that they are shocked how muddy/slippery/rough the trail is for much of the way. In reality it is an excellent trail, but its not all duckboard!

I would guess 25% and had one person in our group constantly complaining about having to step in puddles. i was surprised - do we not go there for some wildness?

[tastrax]

OK - lets take out the guesswork - in 2009 the Overland had the following lengths of track by technique

OverlandTechniques.JPG (28.48 KiB) Viewed 24385 times

[Mark F]

Could you possibly identify the store where this talk took place. Given the gross errors, the store should be informed and their response made public if for no other reason than to stop those who attended from ending up in difficulties or making fools of themselves when they act on the (mis)information.

[creeping_moses]

OK - lets take out the guesswork - in 2009 the Overland had the following lengths of track by technique

OverlandTechniques.JPG

Nice! I would think since 2009 the amount of duckboards would have increased a bit (new stuff near Windermere that has been built in last year or so?), but not much else. So by those figures, looking at about 37-40% of the track being non-natural, which surprises me! I don't know what cordwood is, however, and that's a large proportion...

[Ent]

OK - lets take out the guesswork - in 2009 the Overland had the following lengths of track by technique

OverlandTechniques.JPG

Useful numbers but a lot of the cording is in such bad repair it is often better/safer walking beside it. Chicken wire is noticeable in large areas by it absence.

Yeap, name the store as the amount of false information is alarming. Some people have been questioned on gear but many have not at WFV.

Finished walking it last weekend. The OLT for a regular bushwalker is not that hard but for a lot of punters it can be very hard, especially if the weather plays up.

Frankly store advice ranges from excellent to terrible. Trouble is many newbies are not sufficiently aware to pick it. Many local shops have sales assistance that are guides so have good local knowledge But some stores like Kathmandu Devonport have a complete no event giving advice.

Cheers

[corvus]

Tonight I attended a lecture on the Overland Track at one of the outdoor stores in Sydney on Kent St tonight, A few things I want to point out they mentioned that really stood out.

You must have waterproof boots at all times.

They told everyone in the lecture room that the cost of the ferry ride at the end is included in the $200.00 fee payable.

The heaters in the huts are set to obtain a maximum of 10c and no more.

Majority of the track is timber planked.

There is someone at the start of walk checking your gear and banning you if they think you don't have the right gear.

These are the main things That really stood out to me.

I did get up and mentioned, thats not true, that the ferry service is included in the $200.00 fee. I shut up on the rest.






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Phil you need to OUT This Store PLEASE.

[tastrax]

I don't know what cordwood is, however, and that's a large proportion...

Cordwood are the large slabs of timber generally held together with fencing wire on either side. It was a common technique in the mid/late eighties but is seldom used these days as you need really good timber (mill grade) to make the best cords. These days you would put in double planking instead.

The inventories are done every 4-5 years

[Strider]

I don't know what cordwood is, however, and that's a large proportion...

Cordwood are the large slabs of timber generally held together with fencing wire on either side. It was a common technique in the mid/late eighties but is seldom used these days as you need really good timber (mill grade) to make the best cords. These days you would put in double planking instead.

The inventories are done every 4-5 years

I think he meant he didn't know what proportion it comprised.

[biggbird]

14%, I think even he can read that :p I think he was asking what it actually was! But yes, it's that stuff that always looks like it was once a good track, but now is generally just found in the middle of bogs in my experience .

[doogs]

Pretty poor form to leave out the danger of drop bears from the lecture, people need to be properly informed. I am also surprised that there was no mention of the day spa and casino at Pelion?

[Overlandman]

Don't forget the Takeaway shop at Pelion

[creeping_moses]

I think he was asking what it actually was! But yes, it's that stuff that always looks like it was once a good track, but now is generally just found in the middle of bogs in my experience .

Yeah I hadn't heard of it before! You're right regarding the quality of it, I don't think I've come across any of it that is in good nick. The most memorable section of cordwood on the OLT would have to be from Frog Flats to near New Pelion. Last winter that area was was a total mud bath and there was slabs/logs of wood kinds floating on the mud with the wire destroyed. I reckon a good portion of that 14% is some of the worst parts of the track!

[bailz66]

When we went last year most of it was in pretty good nick. Not too much was damaged and they were working on it at the time so it will be better now than what it was.

[creeping_moses]

This photo is from half way between Frog Flats and New Pelion, in late November last year! The sort of track work that is here, which I believe was-once/is this cordwood stuff, is not not at all usable once the mud has set in, from what I've seen anyway. I was looking for a photo from the same area from a dryer summer trip, but couldn't find one. Its a pretty unremarkable area without the mud.

Perhaps this is what should be shown at OLT presentations in Sydney!

Oh what fun!

[bailz66]

I remember that stretch from when we went through in Feb. Was no where near that bad

[ILUVSWTAS]

November is usually a bad time, we;ve just come out of the winter and spring rains, the tracks are usually at they're muddiest around oct/nov.
Still, with companions like the 2 in this photo, I dont think Moses would have cared.

[Snowzone]

Pretty poor form to leave out the danger of drop bears from the lecture, people need to be properly informed. I am also surprised that there was no mention of the day spa and casino at Pelion?

Don't forget the Takeaway shop at Pelion

I'm sure I was told there was a cafe on top of Ossa and one could well imagine there would be if you've ever walked in some other countries where that is the norm.

Sad that there is so much misinformation out there as it can only lead to frustrations when you do the walk and find its not all duckboard and latte's. Even worse when it is coming from those in the industry that should be a bit more aware, and if they genuinely don't know then they should just say so.

[creeping_moses]

Still, with companions like the 2 in this photo, I don't think Moses would have cared.

Moses had no complaints from this OLT trip!