Bushwalk Australia

PWS have seen fit to supply damp, green, timber in lieu of coal. It's quite the challenge to keep the fire going and does very little to warm the hut. Door needs to be left ajar to have any hope of continued combustion.

Good. You don't need a fire. Take appropriate gear.

popcorn.gif

headwerkn wrote:popcorn.gif

Just trying to liven the place up a bit.

north-north-west wrote:

headwerkn wrote:popcorn.gif

Just trying to liven the place up a bit.

It's true though. Heating is nice but it's not the end of the world if there is none.

Been a long time since I've been in any huts on the OLT. But from memory there was a sign saying not to press the button to turn the heater on unless it was below a certain temperature.

There was always that one person who would turn it on anyway just because they want to dry their socks...

gatesy wrote:Been a long time since I've been in any huts on the OLT. But from memory there was a sign saying not to press the button to turn the heater on unless it was below a certain temperature.

There was always that one person who would turn it on anyway just because they want to dry their socks...

On one of our OT trips, there were two Queenslanders who would go all out to get to the huts first, then crank up the heating. We use our tent on the OT but on this occasion, I stuck my head inside Kia Ora hut to check it out (had not been inside previously) and it was stifling! The two people in question were prancing around in tank tops and undies. I pity anyone who stayed in that hut that night.

Or more recently - Easter at New Pelion Hut. We cooked inside the hut and left our packs in there to protect them from the local possums. I was sitting there eating my breakfast dressed in t-shirt and shorts and watched in bemusement as someone tried to light the heater. The inside thermometer was reading 15C at the time.

I love the coal heaters. A hut trip is different from a tent trip in my mind.
One can take friends less acquainted to the bush and the cold realities of winter walking in Tassie.
Can recall dozens of pleasant evenings spent with the coal fire facilitating conversation and joy for all.

I was at SKH recently without coal. We were completely fine, however, it was certainly cold even in full winter garb (I don't skimp).
At 7pm the inside thermometer read -1. Without the coal heater, you're better off in a tent than in such a cavernous hut.

gatesy wrote:There was always that one person who would turn it on anyway just because they want to dry their socks...

That's always been the issue - people not understanding how the heaters have been intended to be used. And actually thinking they stand a chance of drying anything on the low-output gas heaters. At least the fancy new huts have a design that prevents people from completely swamping the heaters with their clothing and filling the air with stinky dankness.

Ironically the coal heater in Pine Valley - and probably Echo Point too, though I've never witnessed its use - are by far the most efficient at actually heating anything. Still, environmentally bad and rather missing the point of it all.