Day 1 - Cradle Mountain to Waterfall Valley Hut
On the track near the boat shed at Crater Lake.
Theo is not sure about that energy drink Ian gave him ......
Yes, the boat shed at Crater Lake does need some work
Have you got a hammer?
Crater Lake - what a beautiful spot!
"Ian, don't look now but I think there is a Tassie Tiger behind you ..."
Crater Lake expands as we hike along
Looking along the track to the south end of Crater Lake
Here we have the first big test of the trek.
The climb up to Dove Lake Lookout ....
Day 2 - Waterfall Valley Hut to Windermere Hut
Its the morning of Day 2 and we are ready to leave Waterfall Valley Hut for the hike to Windermere Hut.
Quite an experience last night - no electricity and sharing one big bunking area with about 12 other people, mostly strangers.
The thoughts from last night (as I collapsed into my sleeping bag) of "What was I thinking when I agreed to do this ..." and "What the heck have I got myself into???" have all disappeared.
If those five mums from Bondi can do this, we can too!
Someone was talking about someone's snoring last night ... I hope it wasn't me!
It was quite a trek to the loo in the middle of the night
End of Day 2 at Windermere Hut in a Myrtle forest. Quite cosy inside with a gas fire. We even had a bunk each to ourselves - luxury!
Beware of the giant albino possum that is expert in going through the backpacks of people who hang them outside under the verandah at night!
A Ranger visited and provided some helpful tips on things to see tomorrow and how to correctly fit and adjust a back pack. Hooray at last!
Day 3 - Lake Windermere Hut to Pelion Hut
The hike at the start of Day 3 started in mist and drizzle and some nice sections of boardwalk across the heathland
Ian leading Theo as we follow the boardwalk through button grass and moorland
The terrain varies frequently and dramatically within the space of even 5-10 minutes of walking. Here we exit a Pine Forest Moor, an area of King Billy and other pines.
Time for a break and some gear adjustment on one of the button grasses moorlands on the plateau
Zelko rugged up on the boardwalk as we exit the button grass and enter a myrtle-beech rainforest on the eastern flank of Mt Pelion West
Looking ahead to the cloud draped hills
Looking back at the track and forest we have just come from
Peaceful valley views with cloud just hanging and no mobile reception whatsoever
We are truly in the wilderness and it is awe inspiring
It is cold, wet and often windy but what a fabulous experience
Zelko has been wanting to do the Overland Track for a very long time and here he is doing it
But then there is the track and it can be a complete beast at times
In many places it should be called the Overland Creek!
It is vitally important that you have the right gear
Thankfully Zelko was able to provide expert guidance on gear selection months before, which meant we were well prepared throughout the hike
Lunchtime on Day 3 at the spot by the creek recommended by the Ranger
The sun even came out for awhile which was nice
Day 4 - New Pelion Hut to Kia Ora Hut
It is a steep ascent to Pelion Gap through the forest but it has stopped snowing
It looks like it will be cold up at Pelion Gap
At the turnoff for the side trip to Mount Ossa which is Tasmania's highest peak, there is 2-3ft of snow
Ian was keen to climb Mount Ossa but he will have to wait to do this another time
Some handy duckboard on the descent from Pelion Gap to Kia Ora Hut through beautiful Pinestone Valley
It wouldn't be much fun wading through that swamp this time of year
Day 5 - Kia Ora Hut to Bert Nichols Hut (Windy Ridge)
The snow is heavy in the branches of the trees along the way
The sun comes out just as we arrive at Du Cane Hut
Sunglasses are in order for the glare off the snow
Du Cane Hut is the oldest hut remaining in the Cradle Mountain to Lake St Clair National Park and today is a visitors hut only
It is a classic, being made entirely from split King Billy pine shingles. Built in 1910, it originally was used as a base for possum snaring.
The Bondi mums arriving at Du Cane Hut
Zelko and Theo rested after a short break at Du Cane Hut
The side trip to Dalton Falls was down the side of a steep and slippery hill and this stream had to be crossed to get there
Dalton Falls - in full flood, a spectacular wonder of nature
The roar of the enormous volume of water coming down the waterfall was deafening
Theo at the top of Du Cane Gap - at last
For me this was the hardest climb of our adventure
The track was more like a fast flowing stream with rocks, logs and tree roots seemingly placed to make hiking as hard as possible ...
... well at least the sun was out and the mountains either side of the Gap were spectacular
... and it it mostly downhill from here!
Day 6 - Bert Nichols Hut to Narcissus and Echo Point Hut
Time to say goodbye to the Bondi mums as Theo heads off to join Ian at Echo Point Hut
The boardwalk across the swampy Hamilton Plains leading to rainforest beyond
A welcome sign post in the forest
I now know I am going the right way!
The ancient rainforest on the way to Echo Point Hut is peaceful and full of magnificent tall old trees
It is lovely walking through the lichens and mosses, with damp, spongy earth beneath your feet
Echo Point Hut with 4 bunk beds, a bench and coal heater. What else do you need?
Ian had the bunk on the bottom right. Theo's was bottom left. Quite comfortable, especially after the feast for dinner we had, finishing off all our leftover food supplies. ....
Not sure what animal ran across Ian and then Theo during the night though ....
It was cold, rainy and windy outside, but warm and cosy inside the hut. In fact the warmest hut of the whole trek
Day 7 - Echo Point Hut to Cynthia Bay
A sprig of King Billy Pine
On the last day lan and Theo hiked through the rainforest from Echo Point Hut to join Zelko in Cynthia Bay
Many fallen trees from a recent storm were across the track and had to be climbed over or under as often there was no way around
Ian's iPhone had succumbed to a pocket that filled with water and Theo's iPhone had run out of battery, so no photos of the last day unfortunately
What an incredible experience for us all and one that we will always remember - The Overland Track October 2016
Credits:
Photos from Zelko Erdec, Florent and Justine and Theo Vereker