Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year

Here's wishing you a fabulous New Year full of Hope!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Overland Track, Tasmania - Day 6

Windy Ridge Hut to Narcissus Hut
Distance Hiked 9.5km/6miles



Ah, look at all that flat
We woke at 5am our last day to hike our last three hours in the morning- and it really was a lovely morning for it- cool morning air, no bugs, sun not to high and hot in the sky. We arrived at Narcissus Hut at 9am, had a cup of tea and waited for our ferry to take us to the bus heading back to hobart.

Lovely boardwalk

streams are turning into a river

Very cool suspension bridge to walk

Keep your eye on the prize- there it is Lake St Clair. Our destination

Spreading Guineaflower- they were everywhere and so brilliant with yellow

Waiting at the jetty for the ferryboat to take us across the lake.

Lake St Clair- the deepest lake in Australia- 168 meters deep to be exact

The end of the journey

I think I will shower now. Good-Bye

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Overland Track, Tasmania - Day 5

Kia Ora Hut to Windy Ridge Hut
Distance Hiked 8.6 km/5.2 miles


See that downward hill towards the end? it was killer

So nice to be wearing a tanktop and shorts.

DuCane Hut- built in the 1930's for hikers to stay- no longer used as a stop on the trail for sleeping

Cindi taking a rest near DuCane Hut

Somewhere in here is a wombat- I can't find it but I know it's there somewhere


A cute little skink- if it is attacked, to defend itself it will drop off its tail and run like crazy while the preditor is playing with the tail


These balloons off the side of the tree are sap balls that the tree grew around. Artists will cut them off and make bowls out of them.


This was the downhill that was killer. Nearly 2km down stepping on the roots descending steeply.

All done for the day- We had planned on continuing on to the next hut that day but the sun was so nice to sit in we decided to call it a day and relax.

And this is where we chose to relax all afternoon. Its the helipad for the hut. It was just lovely.

Overland Track, Tasmania - Day 4

Pelion Hut to Kia Ora Hut
Distance Hiked 8.2 km/5miles

Is anyone sick of seeing my dirty fingernail yet?

Lots of trees down in the forests due to wind throw.


Beautiful spot were two waterfalls joined together. Just lovely



Yup, we had to walk right through that and many, many more spots just like it. Some were up to the mid calf, some were up to the knee. Loads of fun.

Another hiker in the mud

View of Mt Pelion East. Notice anything different about this picture? The sun graced us with her presence, YEAH!



A Black Currawong. These birds have figured out how to unzip backpacks, so we had to be careful not to leave food in zippered pockets of the backpacks when we left out packs on the sidetrips. And I would not want to go head to head with that beak to get my food back.


We managed to eat really well on our track. Here we have Moroccan Cous Cous and Curry Chicken with rice. Gotta love dehydrated meal packs.

Our first night of putting up the tent. Due to the rain, the first three nights we slept in the hut. Our site was right next to a waterfall and look at the view we woke up to. The Cathedral Mountain. Amazing. It was the best nights sleep we had the entire trip- cool air, sounds of the waterfall, no snoring- heaven

Hanging out with a few other hikers- the father/daughter and the germans

This day was loads of fun- because we did not need to wear any rain gear, the sun was shining and we hooked up with another team of hikers and traveled together and had an awesome time.

I haven't mentioned anything about the water on the hike. Each hut has a tank that collects rainwater for us to use for washing up and drinking. But the great thing about the area we were in is the water from the streams is the purest of anywhere in the world. We were able to just dip our waterbottles right into the streams and drink the water without filtering or adding iodine tablets to it. It was incredible.

Another great day, make even better with the addition of the beautiful sun shining.


Thursday, December 17, 2009

Overland Track, Tasmania - Day 3

Windermere Hut to Pelion Hut
Distance Hiked 14.2 km/8.8 miles

I would say this was the toughest day. It was the longest and lots of ups and downs. The rains did let up periodically, but the winds were quite hard at times. So much so that when walking across the moors I had to lean into the wind and use my walking poles to keep me from falling over. During this portion of the track we got out of the alpine and moved more into the subtropic region from time to time. Beautiful lush mossy trees and ferns were everywhere, streams and waterfalls were abundant.



Our destination- Pelion Hut

How will I fit it all back in the pack?

Will this be the day the rain goes away?


I think not....... well at least not entirely

We did have periods of no rain long enough to take off our hoods



A couple of the many beautiful waterfalls


I don't know what happened when taking this photo- I think it focused on the walking poles. Which by the way- takes 25% of the stress off your knees. I didn't have hardly any knee pain, so it must be true.

Crossing a little stream


A Tasmanian Waratah- its known as the "Christmas Decoration" of the bush and only blooms in December. They were brilliant.



Frog Flats- an area between huts you can camp at, but only when not rainy due to flooding

When we stopped at frog flats for a break we saw a pademelon and her baby. You can see her holding her hands in front of her pouch where she hid her baby from us to protect it.

A wallaby and her joey outside of Pelion hut

An echidna looking for insects in a fallen log. This was the first echidna I have seen in the wild. Very cool


At Pelion Hut- this hut is situated about halfway through the track and sleeps 60 hikers. Many people will stay here a few nights and do some of the side hikes out and back from here.

View of Mt Oakleigh from the hut

All dry and warm making a cup of tea

Halfway through my journey and loving every minute of it!