OLT in two weeks time

[slparker]

Hi,
i have a colleague who is walking the OLT with his wife in a couple of weeks time. he has walked it before in a commercial group but is going unsupported this time.

Given the weather he is concerned about snow and the capacity of his wife to push though the white stuff. he is reasonably experienced walker but has never walked in snow.
What's the best advice? On the assumption that the forecast is good on his week of walking (but still snow lying around):
Snowshoes?
Pick another walk?
wait to see what teh conditions are?

cheers

[Tortoise]

Hi,
i have a colleague who is walking the OLT with his wife in a couple of weeks time. he has walked it before in a commercial group but is going unsupported this time.

Given the weather he is concerned about snow and the capacity of his wife to push though the white stuff. he is reasonably experienced walker but has never walked in snow.
What's the best advice? On the assumption that the forecast is good on his week of walking (but still snow lying around):
Snowshoes?
Pick another walk?
wait to see what teh conditions are?

cheers

My suggestion is to have a good plan B in place, and ring the ranger at Cradle & maybe Lake St Clair 2 or 3 days ahead to check current snow conditions (and check the forecast).

This time last week, I went in to help a friend on the OLT. She's done it twice before with no snow, no probs. She trained for this one, but is not as well as she was last time. On the plateau, there were a plenty of deep drifts. She quickly tired from walking in snow, and still fell a lot, even using poles and my snow shoes. We bailed well before the Scott Kilvert track junction, as she wasn't going to make it to Waterfall Valley before dark at that rate, we had no real idea how far the snow would last, and some more snow was forecast.

2 others with us (one a first timer 17 yo, and the other ridiculously fit) handled it just fine without snow shoes or poles.

We met a range of people on their way in late in the day - some with apparent invisible floatation devices on their boots (!), and others who were exhausted from post-holing and generally not having their feet stay where they put them.

So it depends entirely on the person.

2 of us had a scary experience in the drift just after Kitchen Hut. We sank in up to our hips (hadn't put the snow shoes back on yet), and that foot somehow got trapped. 'Tortoise goes to help friend and ends up in the same predicament.' It wasn't a good feeling, with the other leg on the surface of the snow. The only way out in the end was to slowly dig ourselves out with a potty trowel.

If it's possible for your friends to take a pair of snow shoes that could fit either of them, that might be a reasonable compromise. I found the snow baskets on my poles made it very much easier than when I swapped with my friend's basketless ones.

[slparker]

Thanks, Tortoise. Sounds like good advice.

[Strider]

I am starting the OLT from Lake St Clair this Saturday (first timer). Is a bail out via the Arm River track a feasible option if conditions are unfavourable?

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[corvus]

I am starting the OLT from Lake St Clair this Saturday (first timer). Is a bail out via the Arm River track a feasible option if conditions are unfavourable?

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Doubt that conditions will be so unfavourable despite a bit of snow above the 600 m mark tomorrow and the Arm River Track will only be feasible if you can arrange a transport pick up.
Enjoy your walk.

[Strider]

Thanks Corvus. I doubt it will be that bad either and am surprised to hear of the conditions last week.

Transport pickup from ART would definitely be an issue but any backup plan is better than no backup plan!

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[Tortoise]

doubt it will be that bad either and am surprised to hear of the conditions last week.

Yes, I was surprised too about how deep the drifts were after some warm days and some rain. I guess it's just an unusual year because the big dumps provided a base Cradle doesn't usually have.

The pair who continued without snow shoes did fine - except for a large deep gash in a leg from something unexpected in the snow. They did have a great time despite that, though.

Have fun, Strider.

[corvus]

Thanks Corvus. I doubt it will be that bad either and am surprised to hear of the conditions last week.

Transport pickup from ART would definitely be an issue but any backup plan is better than no backup plan!

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Good to have a backup plan but if you were to be faced with difficult Snow I believe from experience it would be between WFV and Marion's Lookout, so at a bit of a point of no return (which I doubt you will experience ) you may need to backtrack and head down to SKH and up over Hansons which offers( again from experience) an easier exit if the Snow is deep on the Plateau .

[Strider]

Thanks again. Great advice.

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[rbyusi]

May I just ask, I tried checking into their site to somehow book the OLT in this coming 24th of december forward, but there were no slots left, if I am not planning to stay in the huts nor be guided by some rangers or tour guides, do I still need to book? Will really appreciate your answers.

Thanks,

Ryan

[kitty]

Hi Ryan, absolutely you need to book the OLT if you walk between 1 Oct and 31 May, including if you are walking independently, regardless of whether you stay in the hut or in a tent. Bookings open 1st July each year and this year the peak season (Dec-Jan holidays) was pretty much booked out by end of July...you got to be quick. Plenty of spots left in shoulder season.