Help with trekking legs through Tasmanian wilderness

[MHTeamPink]

Hi,

I was looking for some help (through knowledge and information) about trekking in the tasmanian wilderness we will be doing for the 10 day world championship adventure race starting in 3 weeks time. My team isn't professionals and we are doing to raise money for the NBCF (www.mhteampink.com - has race links etc) and the 200k trek (a component of the 700k race) is going to push us to the limit.

I came across the map below when I was trying to work out how many river systems there are in Tasmania and although we are only given the map and course one day prior, they have indicated that we will be doing the majority of our time where all the red rivers are in the map below:
http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/ ... tas_id.jpg

There are a huge number of rivers there!!!

The questions which I was hoping someone might be able to answer are
1) How deep are all those rivers (even the little ones)?
2) How fast do they flow?
3) With using purification tablets are they safe to drink?
4) If we went along them, are their many waterfalls which would block our path?

I realise it is hard to be specific as there are so many of them, but just general answers will help.

Thanks!

Ross.

[Macca81]

1) Good question, there are so many that there are bound to be a couple of deep ones...
2) As above, so many that at least a couple are likely to have a decent flow...
3) Im not sure anyone in Tas uses purification tabs... or any sort of water sterilisation... Our water is just that good!
4) As for questions 1 and 2...


I really cant imagine that you will go even close to hitting them all, a fair bit of the map area there has likely never had a white man set foot upon it.
A good number of creaks are just that, small creeks. However with so many options, there is likely to be the odd river amongst all of those red lines...

[DonQx]

You've taken up a bit of a challenge ... hey?

Wouldn't worry too much about the rivers, presumably the trek route will be chosen to be at least do-able.

For good maps go here: http://www.thelist.tas.gov.au/listmap/listmapstart.jsp. The maps change scale & detail level as you zoom in & out.

Quick ansa to your questions:

1) How deep are all those rivers (even the little ones)?
... varies between location along rivers and on rainfall. Anywhere between 10cm and several metres at least.

2) How fast do they flow?
... depends on width, rainfall, etc. some are flowing very fast, whitewater Grade 4-6.

3) With using purification tablets are they safe to drink?
... absolutely, I've been drinking untreated water in wild Tassie places for decades, no bad expereiences yet, except some busy places (go upstream there)

4) If we went along them, are their many waterfalls which would block our path?
... depends very much on which river, some waterfalls, but more likely gorges & rapids


Enjoy the prep!

On the run ... a.

[MHTeamPink]

Thanks guys, any information helps!

The prep has been huge, but fun too! Thanks for that website, that is an amazing site showing all topography of Tassie! That will be a great help.