For the second morning I row I had a magic view out towards Barn Bluff from Pelion Hut.
Once again today dawned fine, and once again I had great views across the foggy Pelion Plains to Mt Oakleigh from the heli pad. I wasn't mucking around too much this morning as I'd had stayed two nights at Pelion Hut I'd decided to push onto Windy Ridge today and skip Kia Ora Hut, which meant I had a fair day infront of me. I had a bus to catch at Derwent Bridge in a couple of days and I was looking forward to a big steak with heaps of vegetables at the hotel... and maybe a cold frothy? So after a quick breakfast I packed my gear away, said my goodbyes and set off for Kia Ora Hut.
Mt Oakleigh from Pelion Hut.
This was my last (and as I type this, it still is my last) look across Pelion Plains.
First up this morning I climbed the Overland Track back up to Pelion Gap with Graham, the track to the gap is familiar to me now and it is a nice walk with a pretty gentle gradient as I climbed up the valley of Douglas Creek passing numerous cascades and waterfalls. When we got to Pelion Gap I stopped had a bite to eat and drink, Graham stashed his pack here and we said our goodbyes, he was climbing Mt Ossa and then staying at Kia Ora, I was pushing onto Windy Ridge. After leaving the gap I passed through Pinestone Valley, this is a particularly pretty section of the track and the gentle downhill gradient felt good after all yesterdays climbing.
Another sensational morning up at Pelion Gap.
By mid morning I was basking in the sun on one of the camping platforms at Kia Ora Hut. I'd certainly had got lucky with the weather on the Overland Track section of the walk, where as the preceding Penguin Cradle Trail walk had been done with precipitation on every day that I was on the track my walk, on the Overland Track I hadn't seen a drop of rain yet. Leaving Kia Ora Hut it was less than an hour before I got to Du Cane Hut, the most rustic and traditional looking hut on the walk I think. With Castle Crag and the Du Cane Range towering over the hut this is a very scenic spot to stop for awhile. Taking off my shirt I laid it out on the heli pad to dry the sweat in the bright sun, I'd gone from wringing wet because of rain to wringing wet with sweat although I'd prefer the heat any day. I celebrated the glorious day by using my second last satchel of Tang and eating copious quantities of scroggin.
Morning smoko was enjoyed on one of the deserted camping platforms at Kia Ora Hut.
The view towards Mt Massif from Kia Ora Hut is pretty special.
The heli pad at Du Cane Hut was all the excuse I needed to stop for lunch...and get in some more shirt drying.
All too soon I decided that it was time to move on, the track from Du Cane Hut gently climbs up the valley of the Mersey River deep in the myrtle forest. There are two side tracks to waterfalls which are both worth a look along here if time and energy permit. I passed the Cradle Mountain Huts guided walkers at the turnoff to Hartnett Falls, they certainly smelled better than me. Guided walks are a bit of a contentious issue in national parks for some people, my personal thoughts are that the more people that enjoy these areas sustainably, then the more chance we have of preserving these areas forever. I have seen many people on these guided walks who would not have the skills or fitness to experience these places any other way, although there has to be a balance.
With Castle Crag towering overhead Du Cane Hut is another pretty spot.
By early afternoon I'd arrived at Du Cane Gap, the last point on the track that reaches over 1000 metres. I was getting a little tired by now so the gap was all the excuse that I needed to once again drop my pack and stop for awhile. The eucalypts at Du Cane Gap largely block out the views, however you can still see cliffs Falling Mt and the Traveller Range towering over the gap. From Du Cane Gap the Overland Track got a little rougher as it descended through more Myrtle forest to reach the shiny new Windy Ridge Hut.
Du Cane Gap provided my last reasonable climb on the Overland Track. That's Falling Mountain behind me. I'm looking pretty rooted tired... must of been a solid day.
Arriving at Windy Ridge Hut I staked a claim on one of three bunk rooms (the snorers quarters) and went to explore the hut a bit more. The new hut is massive, it has a drying room, a huge communal area to cook and socialise and big panoramic windows facing out towards the huge cliffs buttressing The Acropolis. Having skipped Kia Ora Hut I was now pretty much in the bubble that started the Overland Track in so I was reunited with Jess and Julie. The girls had saved me a bit of salami so I off loaded all my extra scroggin to them, they seemed to like the trade and by now I was craving meat, a win win situation for everyone. That evening was spent eating and telling tales and generally enjoying my last night on the Overland Track. Eventually I retired to the snorers quarters to read and then sleep the sleep of the contented.
The Dirt.
I walked 16.8 kilometres and climbed 550 metres on what I'd call a medium grade day's walking. Over the five days that I'd been trudging my way south on the Overland Track I've walked around 77.2 kilometres and climbed around 3420 metres. The track today was pretty well typical Overland Track standard, by that I mean no super steep climbs and a fairly well constructed pad. Camping is available at a couple of spots on the climb to Pelion Gap, Kia Ora Hut, Campfire Creek at the start of the climb to Du Cane Gap and Windy Ridge Hut (once again check on the legalities of the camps away from the huts). If anyone wants a roof over their heads then Kia Ora and Windy Ridge Huts are the only choices, Du Cane Hut is an emergency hut only. Water was once again pretty easy to find today. Once again I was using the House of Chapmans notes and maps out of their Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair & Walls of Jerusalem National Parks book.
Relevant Posts.
No comments:
Post a Comment