How long are your day walks?

[corvus]

Igor,
One important thing I forgot to ask, exactly from where and what time do you intend starting your walk??
corvus

[icemancometh]

And what happens if it rains or there's low viz the 2 days you are there? I hope you get some decent wx because it is beautiful country and is right up there if not better than NZ for walking, but like NZ it has it's wx. ( I've been pretty lucky myself the last few summers but don't count on it.) You will walk the OT still but you won't even know you're there what with all the boardwalk and lack of views.

The suggested time is for side tracks, exploration and wx I believe.

And with the boardwalks now you could easily walk it in thongs in dry conditions. So what? You can walk it in a day if you wanted but would you really experience it the same as if you took the time to really 'walk' it and not just cover the distance?

[icemancometh]

really? and how do you not accept it? When ordering the permits online there is no way of not having this information pack. The map of OT is not part of the pack, it comes as part of the permit. And the brochures are full of wonderfully useful info about wombat droppings and how to distinguish them from kangaroo ones. Very useful indeed.

Because it isn't right, the information pack is a numbered box option when making a booking. The information pack contains Chapmans book, map and various notes.

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=7827#3

Thanks for clearing that up for Igor

And re the hut fees, how do you think you would walk the track in 2 days if no one maintained it year round and built all those toilets and huts?
In the words of Parks: "revenue raised from the overland track facility fee is directed to the long-term sustainable management of the
track."

[icemancometh]

How long are your day walks?

About a day usually.

Love it!

[igor]

Igor,
One important thing I forgot to ask, exactly from where and what time do you intend starting your walk??
corvus

We walk from north to south, which I believe the only option possible in summer. The track company is picking us up from the hotel in Lounceston early in the morning and dropping at the beginning. Then I'll be relying on my gps to get to the starting point.
So what I've noticed - there are two groups of people. One that does the walking mostly for fitness and treats nature stuff as an added value. And then another group of how to say it gently and not offending anyone, maybe girly-men? These people seems to be unable or unwilling to walk proper distances or time. Their walks consists mostly of 3-4 hrs exercise and a lot of seating, watching, meditating whatever they do during the time being out there and not moving. Us - we either sleep in the tent or moving. Just last weekend we went into Snowy mountains and did the big circle of 45 km in a day. We haven't run or jog. We just walked, stopping frequently to take pictures and walk again. So don't tell me that you can't see the nature, we seeing more of it because we are not seating at one spot but moving and observing.

[MrWalker]

Igor,
One important thing I forgot to ask, exactly from where and what time do you intend starting your walk??
corvus

The track company is picking us up from the hotel in Lounceston early in the morning and dropping at the beginning. Then I'll be relying on my gps to get to the starting point.

I think that is worrying some of us. Unless the "track company" is picking you up by about 4am then you probably won't make Kiaora by dark, so you'll have a longish walk the next day. Unless they pick you up by about 7am then you'll have to rush a bit to make Pelion Hut.

The bit about "from where" is relevant since there are at least 4 alternative ways to get to Kitchen Hut and several more that would get you to Waterfall Valley without seeing Kitchen hut. Some of these are better than others for people with limited time or requiring fast walking.

We've already agreed here that different people have different reasons for walking. Personally I'm a fast walker who likes to stick to tracks and go places and see stuff. My son likes to dawdle and take pictures of flowers and beetles. We both get along fine when out walking provided we don't try to walk together.

[Azza]

I think provided you've got the money to make a sizeable donation to the rescue helicopter (if required) then I reckon go for it..

I can accept that accidents happen from time to time but I get annoyed when people come down here with 'ambitious' higher risk plans and then need bailing for free by the tasmanian tax payers.

[corvus]

Igor be aware that on the information you have provided it looks like you will be starting the Walk at around 12:30 pm and sunset is around 9:00 pm.
You can forget the GPS to find the start as we actually have signs telling you where it is (your OT fee help pay for them) and as my final word on this most of us Bushwalk for pleasure which for many includes social interaction with our mates and or other walkers, if it was fitness we were looking for we could run around the oval and go to the gym
corvus

[Chris]

One that does the walking mostly for fitness and treats nature stuff as an added value. And then another group of how to say it gently and not offending anyone, maybe girly-men? These people seems to be unable or unwilling to walk proper distances or time. Their walks consists mostly of 3-4 hrs exercise and a lot of seating, watching, meditating whatever they do during the time being out there and not moving.

Igor, I suspect I'm wasting my time, but now my blood pressure has returned to its normal healthy level I can't resist pleading for a little tolerance and less superiority. By what authority is YOUR way of walking the ONLY "proper" one?

most of us Bushwalk for pleasure which for many includes social interaction with our mates and or other walkers, if it was fitness we were looking for we could run around the oval and go to the gym
corvus

Absolutely! Not to mention listening to the birds, inhaling the bush smells, feeling the texture of the vegetation, even tasting the nectar; in other words, using all senses to appreciate the wonderful environment we are experiencing.

[MrWalker]

Unless the "track company" is picking you up by about 4am then you probably won't make Kiaora by dark, so you'll have a longish walk the next day. Unless they pick you up by about 7am then you'll have to rush a bit to make Pelion Hut.

I've been checking driving and walking times and I may have exagerrated a bit (but only slightly).
Google maps says it takles 2hr from Launceston to the Visitor Centre and 2:14 to Ronny Creek, where you are presumably starting. In practice the road may be closed to non-park buses when you get there, so you would need to stop at the Visitor Centre, wait up to 10min for the next minibus, which would take 20min to Ronny Creek. So that might be 2:30 from Launceston to start walking, assuming you have all your paperwork fixed in advance and don't need to stop at the Visitor Centre for anything else. If you travel from Launceston in a minibus rather than a sedan, the travel times may be a bit longer on the winding roads.

If you walk as fast as I do (and your comments suggest you do) then you should take about 7hr 40min to Pelion Hut and 9:40 to Kiaora.
So if you leave Launceston at 8:45am you could reach Kiaora by 8:40pm or leave Launceston by 10:45am for Pelion Hut by 8:40pm (approximate sunset time).
Note that this assumes the 2:15 travel time and does not allow for any stops while walking. I eat on the move, since I get stiff if I stop for more than a few minutes. You had indicated up to 2hrs stopped in about 11hrs walking. So you should leave at least one hour earlier than those times to allow for minor delays on the way and even earlier would be much better.

So that you can judge how well you are going while on the way, my intermediate times for the first part of that walk were
Waterfall Hut turnoff (you don't need to visit the hut since it is well off the main track) 2:30 (for 10.4km)
Windermere Hut 4:10 (17.4km)
That rate should get you to Pelion in 7:40 (I turned back 40min after Windermere since I was doing an out and back day walk).
You are almost certainly younger than me so you can probably make those times while walking, but add stoppage times if required.

If your times are similar to mine then you will take about 6:50 from Hartnett Falls junction to Cynthia Bay Ranger Station, which you need to reach by about 8:40pm. Use that to judge whether to spend 30min to see the top of the falls or one hour to visit the bottom, again adding stoppage time if required.

[mikethepike]

Snowy Mountains national park has also plenty of huts and nobody is crazy enough to send helicopters to fly out the waste. And the park entrance is just 18 bucks per car. Of course one can invent all sorts of super expensive activities,

That's $18 per car per day and for a 9 days stay as we've just experienced, the cheapest option is to book a 7 day pass, get a wiper 'reminder' sticker on day 8 and then pay for days 8 and 9 retrospectively... if you're honest. That's over $100 all up and there are no heated huts and in fact the official line is that the KNP huts are for emergency use only and not for premeditated overnight stays. Igor if the park fees bother you, restrict OT visits to the months when it's free. If money is a concern, plan trips so that you can use the scheduled bus service from Derwent Bridge to Hobart rather than a 'taxi'. New Zealand has gone to far greater efforts to extract money from bushwalkers than has Australia ('user pays' ) though perhaps Tassie is showing signs of catching up.

[icemancometh]

KNP huts are emergency use only and some of them, well you wouldn't want to stay in them anyway.

[geoskid]

most of us Bushwalk for pleasure which for many includes social interaction with our mates and or other walkers, if it was fitness we were looking for we could run around the oval and go to the gym
corvus

Kinda like saying if it's social interaction with your mates your after, why not go to the RSL. Point is, theres no Bush at the oval, gym or RSL. I am sure Igor gets immense pleasure sharing his Bushwalks with his wife, doing it their way, despite some locals thinking they are 'missing something'. I am sure they will be using all of their senses.
I can imagine doing the OLT several times eventually, and there are many ways to do it. On one of the times, doing it fast does have a certain appeal. If for no other reason than "because I can" - works for Peakbagging and Golf (for some )

[geoskid]

So what I've noticed - there are two groups of people. One that does the walking mostly for fitness and treats nature stuff as an added value. And then another group of how to say it gently and not offending anyone, maybe girly-men? These people seems to be unable or unwilling to walk proper distances or time. Their walks consists mostly of 3-4 hrs exercise and a lot of seating, watching, meditating whatever they do during the time being out there and not moving. Us - we either sleep in the tent or moving. Just last weekend we went into Snowy mountains and did the big circle of 45 km in a day. We haven't run or jog. We just walked, stopping frequently to take pictures and walk again. So don't tell me that you can't see the nature, we seeing more of it because we are not seating at one spot but moving and observing.

Hi Igor - interesting thread. The meeting of different cultural backgrounds adds interest too!
Girly - men? Playing Russian Roulette there. Questioning Aussie males masculinity will always be risky business, but luckily were not in bogan territory Would it be fair to suggest that your wife is a 'manly-girl', or at least more manly than our 'girly - men'? At the very least she must be very fit, and great that she does these walks with you.
I looked up the Caucasus Mountains, is the majority of walking there done like you do it?
The suggestions above to get into a Club in Sydney and get known, see who's there that is like minded, seems to be the way to go.
When you are doing the OLT on Aus. Day, I will be in the Walls (half a days walk away for you ) with my wife and boys bagging a few peaks, but moving a lot slower.
Please let us know how the trip went when you get back.
Cheers

[Nuts]

I think provided you've got the money to make a sizeable donation to the rescue helicopter (if required) then I reckon go for it..

I can accept that accidents happen from time to time but I get annoyed when people come down here with 'ambitious' higher risk plans and then need bailing for free by the tasmanian tax payers.

yep, and tasmainian donations also.
i doubt those times without breaking into a trot, moreso in the rain. I couldn't think of a more miserable torture.. wait.. putting yer feet in a top loader while doing squats maybe har har..

whatever

[sthughes]

Overland track without side trips is like a pie without sauce to me, but I'm a "girly-man" who did it over 7 days. If you like to do it in 2 days that's cool, each to their own. It will be too big days in good weather or to really really big days if the weather is bad.

I have no probs with people using the OT for exercise, thats partly why i walk. But crikey that's a lot of money for a weekend exercise!

The superiority complex is just a laugh, grow up.

[corvus]

most of us Bushwalk for pleasure which for many includes social interaction with our mates and or other walkers, if it was fitness we were looking for we could run around the oval and go to the gym
corvus

Kinda like saying if it's social interaction with your mates your after, why not go to the RSL. Point is, theres no Bush at the oval, gym or RSL. I am sure Igor gets immense pleasure sharing his Bushwalks with his wife, doing it their way, despite some locals thinking they are 'missing something'. I am sure they will be using all of their senses.
I can imagine doing the OLT several times eventually, and there are many ways to do it. On one of the times, doing it fast does have a certain appeal. If for no other reason than "because I can" - works for Peakbagging and Golf (for some )

Hey Mark,
?????
corvus

[geoskid]

most of us Bushwalk for pleasure which for many includes social interaction with our mates and or other walkers, if it was fitness we were looking for we could run around the oval and go to the gym
corvus

Kinda like saying if it's social interaction with your mates your after, why not go to the RSL. Point is, theres no Bush at the oval, gym or RSL. I am sure Igor gets immense pleasure sharing his Bushwalks with his wife, doing it their way, despite some locals thinking they are 'missing something'. I am sure they will be using all of their senses.
I can imagine doing the OLT several times eventually, and there are many ways to do it. On one of the times, doing it fast does have a certain appeal. If for no other reason than "because I can" - works for Peakbagging and Golf (for some )

Hey Mark,
After everything I am so very disappointed in this reply !! are you trying to prove something to us .
corvus

It would help if you explained why you are dissapointed. If its because I wasn't clear, I can fix that. If it's because I dare to comment on your comment, I can't.
This whole thread is about preferences. I'd also noted that Igor doesn't use emoticons.
I also thought his 'Girly-man' comment was a scream, and a just comeback to those that were suggesting he walk around an oval to get his exercise simply because they couldn't understand how anyone could get pleasure out of doing long days walking.
So, when in your parting shot you again mentioned walking around the oval to get fitness, my point was that it was about as relevant as suggesting to someone that walks to socialise with mates, to socialise at the RSL.
In a nutshell, it's about actively trying to see things from anothers point of view.
I don't see a superiority complex, I see a guy that started off asking around to see if there was anyone around here like him, and he came back with a beauty when he'd had enough.
Or have I got it all wrong?
We can get more personal if you want to go to PM.

[walkinTas]

We can get more personal if you want to go to PM.

You'd better go to PM's if you are going to indulge in that sort of thing, 'cause you know personal attacks and negative comments about individuals are not tolerated on the forums. Besides, we can have a difference of opinion, surely, without the need to be nasty.

There has been plenty of discussion on the forums about the OLT. It is well known that conditions on the track can be very treacherous at times and many lives have been lost, so it is not to be taken lightly. However, walking the track in two days is not impossible in favourable conditions. I know a person who walked it in 23 hours non stop. He started in the dark and finished in the dark. That doesn't appeal to me at all, even the thought of walking 23 hours non-stop is too much for me, but each to their own. I'd be surprised if there aren't others who have walked it in shorter times than that.

[Son of a Beach]

how to say it gently and not offending anyone, maybe girly-men? These people seems to be unable or unwilling to walk proper distances or time. Their walks consists mostly of 3-4 hrs exercise and a lot of seating, watching, meditating whatever they do during the time being out there and not moving.

Many forum members would fit into the category of people you've described here, and therefore would probably find this offensive. You will need to try harder if you are genuinely trying not to offend people (it ain't that difficult, really). Please check the forum rules, and in particular, keep all content polite and friendly. I've received several complaints about this post - (mostly from females). Warning issued

[Nuts]

Overland track without side trips is like a pie without sauce to me

.. hold on there!..I like pies without sauce

[doogs]

Overland track without side trips is like a pie without sauce to me

.. hold on there!..I like pies without sauce

...I just like the sauce....

[Nuts]

Great let me know when your next buying pies then

[corvus]

Fantastically great Curried Lamb Pies at "The Hungry Wombat" at Derwent Bridge only $4.50
corvus

[geoskid]

Overland track without side trips is like a pie without sauce to me

.. hold on there!..I like pies without sauce

Yeah, most of us like sausage rolls around here.

[corvus]

What no Sauce !!