Which track in July

[yeti2]

Hi there! Coming to Tasmania for the first time around 27.06 - 03.07. Actually wanted to do the overland track earlier this year but now weather seems to *&%$#! + can't get a whole week off .

Anyways.. looking now for a nice alternative that I can walk for 2-4 days (overnight stay in tent or hut, bringing my equipment but not keen to camp in the snow, sleeping bag comfort temp is -8 and has proven true in several spring and fall hikes in norway and scotland ).. Would be keen to hear if you guys have any good recommendations maybe in the walls of j park or so?

Thanks in advance!

[Scottyk]

The WOJ is a good option although you might get some snow, if your only going for 2-4 days then the forecast should let you know if big snow falls are likely.
You could do a great 4 day walk
Day 1 - into the walls and camp at Wild Dog Creek or Dixons Kingdom
Day 2 - Explore the peaks around the walls
Day 3 - Hike down to Lake Meston camp/hut via Lake Ball and Adelaide
Day 4 - out via Lake Myrlte and Lake Ball, gives you a bit of a walk back your car at the start of the walk

Have a look at John Chapmans notes for more info
Be prepared for some truly awful weather, snow might not happen but that doesn't mean it won't be bad weather. Also remember the days are going to be really short so this can catch you out. 5pm dark at this time of year
enjoy

[philm]

Yes couldn't agree more - WOJ is magic in winter - although you may have some snow!

The trip as mentioned would be good and if you wanted to relax a little more then just do the following:

Day 1 WOJ to Wild Dog Creek
Day 2 Wild Dog Creek to Dixons Kingdom - then explore Mt Jerusalem and Temple and King Solomon's Throne
Day 3 to Lake Adelaide
Day 4 back to car park

Lake Meston is great but it will take you about 6 hours from Dixons Kingdom to get there at a medium pace! - good camping at North end of lake Meston then out via Lake Bill track.

[tigercat]

Another warmer option is the Freycinet circuit on the E coast. Better weather far more likely in winter, no snow, beautiful coastal scenery. 2 nights camping at Hazards, Cooks and /or Wineglass.

[Wilkography]

Can anyone advise me on how difficult the trails in this area will be to follow after a good dump of snow?

I realise that if snow covers everything it will make it difficult but for a first timer to the area who wants to photograph it covered in fresh white powder will I be able to navigate my way around?

Thanks for the advice in advance.

[icefest]

Can anyone advise me on how difficult the trails in this area will be to follow after a good dump of snow?

I realise that if snow covers everything it will make it difficult but for a first timer to the area who wants to photograph it covered in fresh white powder will I be able to navigate my way around?

Thanks for the advice in advance.

It will be hard.

If the visibility is at 40m because it is snowing it will be very hard. f

Without a good map and GPS it will be nigh impossible.

Not impossible, but it will be hard, especially if you have not been to Tassie before.
With luck you'll have weather like this, that makes it easy:

[tigercat]

Great photo icefest

[icefest]

Eleven days and I only got two shots like this...

[Scottyk]

Can anyone advise me on how difficult the trails in this area will be to follow after a good dump of snow?

I realise that if snow covers everything it will make it difficult but for a first timer to the area who wants to photograph it covered in fresh white powder will I be able to navigate my way around?

Thanks for the advice in advance.

If you want to take pics after a big dump of snow I think you need to really get to know the weather pattern that brings the snow and then go up straight after when some clear weather is more likely.
Snow over about a foot deep gets very hard to move through and very tiring. A lot of the tracks will become hard or impossible to follow as cairns get buried and a foot pad begins to be hard to follow, that's with good visibility.
I would wait until a big dump has occurred and then go up for an overnighter or day walk after the freezing level has lifted. If the track gets hard to follow then turn around, better that getting stuck up there as the snow comes down.
This is my favourite web site s this one for monitoring expected snow and freezing level.
http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/ ... casts/1617

[Hallu]

Planning a winter trip with only one destination is hard indeed in Tassie mountains, ideally you should stay for 2 weeks, do day walks when the weather's bad and use a nice weather 2-3 day window for the WOJ mentionned. If you can't, maybe do Maria Island instead and enjoy the new devil population ? Freycinet is also a popular destination in winter, and if one way doesn't scare you there's still a beach walk at bay of fires/Mt William.

[tigercat]

Great website scottyk

[Nuts]

Have you met Yowies Yeti http://www.yowies.com.au/
I'd say the chances of that week seeing a good dump of snow just before you arrive, with a lazy high behind it, are very slim.

[Wilkography]

Can anyone advise me on how difficult the trails in this area will be to follow after a good dump of snow?

I realise that if snow covers everything it will make it difficult but for a first timer to the area who wants to photograph it covered in fresh white powder will I be able to navigate my way around?

Thanks for the advice in advance.

If you want to take pics after a big dump of snow I think you need to really get to know the weather pattern that brings the snow and then go up straight after when some clear weather is more likely.
Snow over about a foot deep gets very hard to move through and very tiring. A lot of the tracks will become hard or impossible to follow as cairns get buried and a foot pad begins to be hard to follow, that's with good visibility.
I would wait until a big dump has occurred and then go up for an overnighter or day walk after the freezing level has lifted. If the track gets hard to follow then turn around, better that getting stuck up there as the snow comes down.
This is my favourite web site s this one for monitoring expected snow and freezing level.
http://www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/ ... casts/1617

Fantastic advice everyone, greatly appreciated. Scottyk that website looks realy good and ill start to learn a bit more over the next few weeks about what I should be looking for to get a nice clear few days after a big dump.

For a first timer though can you advise what would be a perfect scenario of weather patter for a trip to get some powder covered tree shots with a good bit of light available?

Thanks so much in dvance

[icefest]

Mountain forecast and me are besties every winter.

Great website even if they only run their models three times a day.