From Totally Inexperienced to Trekking the OT

[Lophophaps]

Some of us would need to carry a hell of a lot of salami

LOL! It's a principle, and that is what you need to carry.

[RonK]

Thanks for the encouragement Ron.

Just a quick question, does everyone carry an empty day pack in their main pack to do side trips? Our empty day packs range from 600g to 960g!

I had an epiphany at high altitude in the Himalaya and resolved to be rid of heavy packs, boots and gear. Now I use an (older version) 70l Osprey Aether pack with a Daylite addon. It's an extremely versatile arrangement - since many of my trips have involved air travel it's also my cabin luggage and my about town pack, and it can take the hydration bladder from the Aether for side trips.

Stove - Trangia's a great stoves, but so bulky, and heavy too with fuel. I have a collection, but my preferred stove is a Kovea Spider. It's tiny and very light. Best of all, the canister can be inverted in cold weather.

Food - I'm more interested in packabilty and convenience when it comes to food, so it's freeze-dried stuff for me. And the best freeze-dried stuff (to my taste) comes from right there in your home state - Chefsway.

Tent - I didn't bother lugging a tent, even in spring, when the snow (on one trip) was waist-deep in places on the Cradle Cirque. Yes, I know what the web site says. But now the booking system is operating the huts should never be full, and then there are the tent platforms. In case of emergency I carried a Coghlans Survival Bag and WE Overhang Tarp as a tent supported on trekking poles.

To keep you interested, here's a link to my 2004 Overland Track album.

For anyone who is travelling from interstate, Graham and Jenny MacLean organised everything on this trip. Transport, accommodation at base camp, food - the lot.