Bert Nichols Hut to Pine Valley

[pulseevents]

Looking for some local knowledge here.
We are doing the Walls of Jerusalem in mid october and plan to cut through the never never to meet the OL track and then on to pine valley.
We did the OL track 5 years ago and due to bad weather the only thing we didnt get to tick off was the acropolis and the Labyrinth for my wife.
What I would like to know is there a decent way to cut from Bert Nichols Hut up to the Acropolis and then down to pine valley?
This would save us walking ground already covered and give us more time to enjoy the area we missed out on last trip.

[Nuts]

You could probably make your way across the valley and up onto the long southern spur but I don't see why.
You'll almost surely get more time in the area by following the new track, even to climb the mtn.

[pulseevents]

Thanks for the reply Nuts, what new track are you refering to?
I thought there was only one track into pine valley that turns of the OLT about 5kms south of Bert Nichols hut.

[philm]

Following the track will be quicker than going off-track. Only a short walk from Windy Ridge to Pine Valley - 3-4 hours?
Only other option would be to do the Ducane Traverse but you would need a few days for this - starting at Du Cane Gap rather than going to Windy Ridge.
I suspect after the never never you will will have enough of off-track!

[Hermione]

Like the others say the track is your easiest fastest option. Plus who cares if you've walked it before I'm pretty sure there are people on this forum who e done it many times, here's always something different to see.

[DaveNoble]

Thanks for the reply Nuts, what new track are you refering to?
I thought there was only one track into pine valley that turns of the OLT about 5kms south of Bert Nichols hut.

There were three tracks that turned off the Overland Track and headed to Pine Valley. There was a track from Narcissus that went to Pine Valley via Nicholls Junction. There is the current track - this leaves the Overland Track and joins the Nicholls Junction track on the west side of Cephissus Creek. And there also another track that turned off between the present track and Windy Ridge and went across to the end of the spur south of the Acropolis. It joined the present track at the suspension bridge over Cephissus Ck. Only the current track is now easy to follow - the others are closed and overgrown. If you could find them - they would be very slow. Also - there were two tracks that went up Pine Valley from the south end to the hut. One track followed up the open valley and the other went via the forest. The valley track offered great views, but was muddy and there were creeks to cross. the valley track went through very nice forest and was more sheltered and better after rain. The valley track has now been closed. A lot of track work has gone into the current tracks - and they are faster, easier and nicer walking than any of the old closed tracks were.

Also - you can "do" the Overland Track, but not "do" the Walls of Jerusalem. It is better to just visit the Walls of Jerusalem. And you should not go to Pine Valley to "tick off" things. It is an amazing place - well worth multiple visits if you can. Lots of things to see and do besides climbing the Acropolis and visiting the Labyrinth.

Dave

[nickthetasmaniac]

What I would like to know is there a decent way to cut from Bert Nichols Hut up to the Acropolis and then down to pine valley?

Short cuts make long delays, and doing that will make a very, very long delay

Unless you're doing it purely for the 'adventure' I'd just stick to the proper track. I followed the last of the routes Dave mentioned perhaps 8 years ago, and even then it was badly overgrown and a bit of a mission.

If you are doing it for the adventure, then go nuts.

[Nuts]

Thanks for the reply Nuts, what new track are you refering to?
I thought there was only one track into pine valley that turns of the OLT about 5kms south of Bert Nichols hut.

Pretty much what Dave (and Nick) have said pulseevents. Iv'e walked up in to explore the head of the valley and it was relatively easy going but trying to follow the older windy Ridge- PV track or carry packs up on to the mountain could indeed add delays, for not a lot of scenic reward.

[tas-man]

I took this "short cut" back in the 1970's when walking the OLT from south to north, and unless there have been fires through this area since then, would not recommend it unless your are a serious masochist! We left the old Pine Valley Hut with full packs and climbed up to the top of the ridge to the east to drop our packs then climb the Acropolis for lunch on top. When we got back to our packs early afternoon, one bright spark convinced us that looking at the map it was a much shorter distance to head down the eastern slopes to join the OLT rather than retrace our route back down Pine Valley to the OLT junction to get to the old Windy Ridge hut that night. The distance was shorter, but no time was saved! I have a slide of our struggle getting through the tea tree thickets on the lower slopes before we reached the creek (which the leader fell into, as he "squeezed" forwards through the tea tree) and progress was as slow as negotiating west coast horizontal! The tea tree was only small - 50 to 100mm diameter trunks but over head height - but growing so close together that forward progress was only made possible by springing the trunks apart step by step and sort of wriggling your way through. I would estimate that this "short cut" took us at least 5 to 6 hours. The Never Never is a breeze compared to THAT tea tree scrub!