Flash flood in Pine Valley 10 March 2013

[festivus]

Hi all

Just thought I'd share my recent experience of a flash flood at Pine Valley on 10 March - unfortunately i don't have any photos, it was all a bit too exciting to stop for a kodak moment. Another thread referred to the thunderstorm that afternoon, but not to the flash flood we had in the valley.

We were up in the Labyrinth as the storm was developing up on the peaks, and half an hour after we got back to the camping area the rain started falling heavily and continued for a couple of hours, but not in a quantity or quality i would have expected to produce what followed. Just on dusk, water levels in the creek rose rapidly from a mere stream to a raging torrent covering the whole valley floor below the hut under the myrtles about 10 mins later. We were very lucky that the water in the creek 'rose' rather than came down in a wall, otherwise several of us may not be here to tell the tale. Also that it happened in daylight. Would have put this up sooner, but i've been on holidays. A ranger we encountered on the way out said that he'd never heard of it happening there before.

It was a good lesson for me, I'll never pitch my tent near a creek bed again, (even if it was unusual conditions, I guess being so dry the water wasn't absorbed and just came rushing down). But there was a silver lining. In the rush to save my belongings, I had to abandon my lovely Hilleberg tent to the flood. As dark fell I watched water engulf it and I was sure I would never see it again. Next morning, however, there she was, rather wet and dirty on the outside, but absolutely fine, not one tent peg lost. That's one good tent.

[tibboh]

High praise for Hilleberg. Which model? I might have to add it to the list of possible next tent cantidates.
I watched the deluge from the safety of the wide verandahs of the Pelion hut. So much water in such a short time.

[ryantmalone]

Sounds scary. Had a similar experience at Frenchmans Cap a few years back when I decided to camp off track on the final climb up to Lake Vera.

The small creek a few meters below rose in the middle of the night, woke up in a few inches of water. Soon turned into a foot of water, and walking up the track was like walking up a waterfall.

I managed to stuff my gear in my pack real quick, but could have been worse.

[Greenie]

So I made the right decision and left when I heard the first claps of thunder.



Good to the hear the Hilleberg stood strong

I do however kinda hope that the rude women camped right near the hut had troubles with her tent...

[tasadam]

I heard about those women...

[frenchy_84]

I do however kinda hope that the rude women camped right near the hut had troubles with her tent...

I heard about those women...

Oh do tell...

[merlin]

Makes me glad the rain held off on the Tuesday night after that down pour as I also pitched the tent by a river bed and was a little worried with the strong winds that night that heavy rains might follow. I'll bare your story in mind next time I think about pitching the tent near water. The storm did look awesome though over Mt Oakley from Pellion Hut.

[Taurë-rana]

Hmm, I had my tent pitched next to the creek a bit over a week ago, and it rained, but the creek barely came up at all, thank goodness!

[festivus]

It's a Hilleberg Nallo

[Nuts]

The ranger would usually warn people about flooding?, there was a sign on the verandah at one stage. I had a nasty surprise with a group camped there the first time, very few good sites in heavy rain. Some of the ones nth east of the hut can leave you with a mid- night river crossing to get back.. maybe a swim to get gear back

[Greenie]

I do however kinda hope that the rude women camped right near the hut had troubles with her tent...

I heard about those women...

Oh do tell...

I was just annoyed that after walking all day I was asked "what are you doing ?" when about to put my tent up and that she would like her own personal space. That there were plenty of spaces out near the helipad. I then had to pitch my tent on very hard ground and bent a few of my pegs . Then I noticed 15 minutes later that there was a tent pitched next her's, grrrr

Everybody else I meet over the 7 days were very friendly

[ryantmalone]

I was just annoyed that after walking all day I was asked "what are you doing ?" when about to put my tent up and that she would like her own personal space. That there were plenty of spaces out near the helipad. I then had to pitch my tent on very hard ground and bent a few of my pegs . Then I noticed 15 minutes later that there was a tent pitched next her's, grrrr

Everybody else I meet over the 7 days were very friendly

I would have just pitched anyway. It's a national park, not a nudist colony. If she had a problem with her personal space, she wouldn't be on the Overland Track!

[north-north-west]

It wasn't me, OK?! I can be - and often have been - that rude, but on this occasion I'm innocent.

As for the tent that got pitched next to the *&%$#!, it was probably someone who didn't discourage as easily as you.

[Tortoise]

It wasn't me, OK?!

[Greenie]

it was probably someone who didn't discourage as easily as you.

It probably was. No I know what to do if I come across you

[Mowser]

Had a similar experience walking in to Pine Valley a few years ago during winter. The whole valley was flooded. After turning off the overland after about 45 minutes we were in waste deep water. It wasn't a raging torrent but deep, and like it most of the way to the hut. Within a few hours it was gone. Crazy