Tents and Possums and nice spots near Overland Track

[Nuts]

In the end educating walkers is also a community responsibility (that means US). I personally think we (the forum) do a reasonable job on behalf of these places, even if every now and then we need some "guidance",
cheers Peter

As it was me that noted the problem I think it's fair asking where those are who's job it is? etc

Last edited by Nuts on Wed 15 Feb, 2012 8:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

[whynotwalk]

The public are still in the dark about where & when they can access the track let alone where (and why) some areas are discouraged for camping.

It seems to me that we can use a few rules of thumb here. They might be something like: "Respect the fact that those paying the OLT fee should reasonably expect fair use of the facilities" and "Minimise your impact on these areas by camping in hardened campsites, or else leaving no trace, social or physical, of your camping." That leaves the "where and why" to the discretion of walkers.

If we're asking for it to be nailed down to "not here" and "not there" we're going to end up worse off than if we simply behave responsibly, and in a way that doesn't "rattle the cage" of either the paying Overland Track walkers, or the Overland Track managers. Whether we like it or not, the OLT is a honey pot - with most paying walkers coming from the mainland or overseas. If people want to push the boundaries on this one, my suspicion is that more prescriptive regulation will be the result.

cheers

Peter

[norts]

As a boy it was always The Park, only started calling it The Reserve after reading people calling it that and not seeing anyone else calling it The Park.
I got The Park from Dad, and I thought it was one of his sayings rather than a wider term used by many. I have had a very sheltered bushwalking life, this is the only place I have had alot of interaction with other walkers. Never been in a club amd only walked with family or friends
Roger

[Nuts]

Yes, The park.. Its not a big deal, any more than inches, wireless or hiking perhaps..

Anyhow.. Peter, yes!! It would likely make life even harder for the most frequent users, nevertheless, that is a price (to me) worth paying. yada

Last edited by Nuts on Wed 15 Feb, 2012 8:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

[norts]

Speaking of The Park, I will be "doing The Park" starting next Sunday 19th . Say hello as you(mbrs of Bushwalk Tas) fly past, I'll be the one with a pack that should be carried by a pack mule and not man. Taking Wife through. She has a medical condition and cant walk fast or carry too much.

Roger

[stepbystep]

lols - I'll be in The Lake St Clair-Cradle Mountain National Park, part of the greater Tasmanian World Heritage Area from the 13-17th and will even be treading the boards for a k or 6, I'll be the guy going the wrong way and camping in the wrong spots. Such a rebel

EDIT - sorry Norts not lolling at your wifes medical condition, that's too bad, good on you for getting her out there, hope the back holds up!!!

[doogs]

Looks like a popular time for forum members to be in that area. I will be around Inglis and Emmett on the 17/18th!

[ILUVSWTAS]

lols - I'll be in The Lake St Clair-Cradle Mountain National Park, part of the greater Tasmanian World Heritage Area from the 13-17th and will even be treading the boards for a k or 6, I'll be the guy going the wrong way and camping in the wrong spots. Such a rebel

Hahaha. And i'll be there with ya mate! Getting a REAL wilderness experience that doesnt cost you a few thousand dollars for the "experience"...

[Nuts]

H ha listen to it... what a bunch of clucking ol chooks
Hope it all goes well Norts...

Last edited by Nuts on Mon 13 Feb, 2012 8:01 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[north-north-west]

No, and i didn't expect you guys would give a dogs danglies, call it what you like. Gives cred in the right minority i guess.

What a godawful fuss about nothing. Am I still allowed to call Mr Rodney William Marsh 'Bacchus' or is that nickname also too outdated for you to tolerate?

[Nuts]

No, and i didn't expect you guys would give a dogs danglies, call it what you like. Gives cred in the right minority i guess.

What a godawful fuss about nothing

I agree yet the fuss continues...

[farefam]

No comment on off grack locations, but I have had my tents savaged twice by possums over the years (once near Pine Valley Hut and once just a month ago at Eagle Creek Camp (Gordon River). My mistake in each case was to accidentally leave a piece of food in the tent unwrapped. From 20 years of Tassie hiking, so long as you wrap your food in plastic bags and keep it well inside your tent (and definitely not in the side pockets) you shouldn't have problems with possums slicing or chewing through your tent.

[gregm]

Good post Phil, particularly for newcomers like myself who needs all the help I can get. I too like going off-track when walking along tracks. The Labyrinth area & west coast of the SW are my favourites. My comments are related more to the question of educating bushwalkers, particularly when going off-track. Started 'bushwalking' 3 years ago at age 55 & most has been in Tasmania. I think the people of Tasmania are extremely lucky to have such a variety of beautiful areas in which to hike. It is very special country & I think the NPWS have done a great job in putting in tracks & boardwalks in all sorts of places, even in some really inaccesible spots. It may not suit everyone; but too bad; it suits many. This allows more people to get to places they otherwise might not experience. Nature is for all to see & everyone has a right to go as far as one is capable of going. If anyone thinks that they are not doing any damage when going bush then they must have smoked too many 'funny' cigarettes.
I follow the NPWS guidelines wherever possible to minimise environmental impact. However I acknowledge that every time one steps off-track to hike, get a better pic or to pee or whatever, one damages the environment. Walking across the Traveller Range or from Bathurst Harbour to SW Cape, I was obviously doing some damage. Obviously digging a deep hole & burying one's waste around campsites or along the trail away from watercources is essential (Some obviously cannot dig or aim but should be buried) but is not as environmentally friendly as the ugly, smelly, putrid but contained toilets of the SC Track.
Peter, a couple of posts above mentions 'educating bushwalkers' which I agree with. I am always willing to learn & indeed for me, part of the experience & challenge of bushwalking is preparing both myself & the equipment to ensure optimum success. My question is, other than the NPWS guidelines, what other sources of info are available to learn 'best practice' from experienced bushwalkers ?
Happy & safe walking Greg

[whynotwalk]

Peter, a couple of posts above mentions 'educating bushwalkers' which I agree with. I am always willing to learn & indeed for me, part of the experience & challenge of bushwalking is preparing both myself & the equipment to ensure optimum success. My question is, other than the NPWS guidelines, what other sources of info are available to learn 'best practice' from experienced bushwalkers ?
Happy & safe walking Greg

Hi Greg - great to hear your story. Goes to show it's never too late to take up bushwalking. I've yet to meet someone who regrets having done it. Sorry for the slow response, but I'm over in NZ sampling some of their tracks

Depending on how expert and detailed you want your "best practice" info, I've found Leave No Trace Australia to be pretty good. They run very detailed "Masters Courses" in some states. Also PWS Tas have a link on their website to a video called "Bushwalking in Tasmania: the Basics". I haven't got the direct link here, but from memory it's on their podcasts and video podcasts page.

I'm off to walk the Greenstone/Caples Track tomorrow. I hope to post a blog about some NZ adventures later,

cheers

Peter

[gregm]

Thanks Peter
I appreciate your help. I am a late starter to bushwalking but also do a lot of other outdoor activities which keep me busy. I guess I am the 'jack of all trades, master of none type' (except perhaps for sailing) but the main thing for me is to get outdoors, have a good time & look after our planet as much as is possible. I enjoy off-track walking the most, but because of my inexperience, only go with experienced & competent bush-walkers. I really enjoy on-track walking in Tasmania though as the scenery is great & with limited resources your NPWS people have done a better than reasonable job of providing infrastructure to make life a little easier on the trail. Last year my favourite day walks were Barn Bluff/Cradle Mtn & the Freycinet Circuit. Both long days for me but without the track work an impossible task.

I live in Brisbane & do the occasional off-track adventure with a local bushwalking group. While we have some great peaks, islands, forests & scenery; for me; nothing compares with the spectacle of Tassie's SW Coast areas. I'm sure I would do a lot more bushwalking if I lived in Tasmania. I recently read your account of your ascent of Federation Peak. A great read & sounds a bit scary in places. I would love to do it one day soon but would need to do some 'scary' scrambling locally to see how well I can handle 'on the edge' exposure. I enjoy scrambling and don't mind some exposure but haven't done any climbing. I really haven't done anything much harder or more exposed than Barn Bluff & Cradle Mtn; which are really just walks with a little scrambling; so my experience is very limited.

Thanks again for your advice & don't worry about your slow response. I am an infrequent computer user & often don't access my PC for several days. Other than a couple of favourite sites, I rarely browse. In the future however, I look forward to reading some more of your accounts of your adventures. Your the type of person who inspires me to continue with my bush-walking journey.

Cheers
Greg