WOJ in Hot January

[philm]

I took my daughter into the Walls from 14 to 20 January. It was a great trip but we changed plans slightly due to the warm weather - it was about 34 degrees in the sun on the first 2 days. This made for some great clear days but we walked early and relaxed in the afternoons having a swim at the lakes along the way.

We were well prepared with plenty of warm clothes but did not use any of them!

Plenty of snakes around including a resident tiger living under the board walk up the hill from Dixon's - had to keep an eye out when collecting water as it was that hot the snake was often in the flowing stream cooling off!


We were both surprised at the number of other walkers with sand shoes, shorts and nothing much else given the heat.



A few photos to share:

From temple early morning back to West Wall

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Looking out from Solomon's Throne

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Sun set at Dixon's camp

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Towards the Overland

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Great view

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[Strider]

Funny you should say about the snakes. We were up there Jan 20-22 and didn't see any! Fantastic area

[philm]

Yes we saw an average of 4 each day! - one is plenty for me.

Always were just by the side of the track and one I nearly trod on as my boot landed about 10 cam from it. I froze and it just slowly went off into the bushes. I'm glad they are timid and after the first few days we got used to seeing them. The one at Dixon's seemed quite tame we watched it as we gathered water and it did not seem too alarmed at our presence - I think it was more concerned about cooling down in the water given the heat!

I must have scared them off for you!

[taswegian]

Philm those photos came out well in that heat.
The haze says it all.
I like the one of sunset at Dixons on the pines
Must have been nice all the same.

re the snakes. It is true if you can just let them be they don't get aggressive and you can walk in safety in Tasmania despite the snakes.
I don't advocate too close an inspection as that can tempt fate.

Liawenee just to the east recorded these temps.
It sure was a hot week then came Sunday. Brr.
Day Max
13 28
14 31.1
15 31.3
16 32.3
17 31.3
18 21.3
19 13.1
20 18.4

[simonm]

Thanks for sharing Phil.

I will be in there for a few days in March - can't wait.

[Graham51]

Funny you should say about the snakes. We were up there Jan 20-22 and didn't see any! Fantastic area

The first time I went to The Walls in January long weekend in 1974 we saw dozens of snakes every day. In about ten trips to and through the area since I don't think I have seen any.

[GraemeSpedding]

Was in there from Jan 12 to 16 or thereabouts. Ridiculously hot and at the end of a trip that started on Jan 8 and was conducted in hot sun and blue sky all the way. Not complaining but quite surprising. Saw tigers at Lake Adelaide, Lake Ball and the hut, and Dixons. So there are a few around.

[Watertank]

I'm planning to be in the Walls later this week for my first visit. Trying to decide whether to take my +5 degrees down sleeping bag or something lighter. Seems like it has been very warm. Is two nights in the walls sufficent or should I allow three?

[taswegian]

If you have spare time I'd spend it exploring the area. Take an extra day.

There's plenty options north and south of the mountains making up The Walls.
Do you have a decent map?
Check out the area around Lake Meston. You could also head north to Mersey Crag.
There's been a number of posts on both recent months.
Its not an area where you really have to be super fit.
But if you want only to explore The Walls, 2 nights would suffice. 3 could see you wasting time just sitting and gazing aimlessly across the landscape. And that's never difficult, well not for me!

Bag! The forecasted minimums are 4 and above for next week.
But things can change suddenly and get decidedly cold.
Personally I wouldn't take a lighter option, but I'm not the warmest of sleepers. My bag unzips to base so making it easy to adjust the heat.

One thing about the place is never far from a swift retreat to the car if weather turns daggy.

Enjoy it. Great place to be.

[Strider]

+5C is already a very light sleeping bag for Tasmania. I would definitely not take anything colder than that.

[Watertank]

Thanks Taswegian and Strider,
Yes I have the national parks map, the chapman book and a gps so I should be covered! I will take the +5 bag, I used it on the OT in November, it does unzip and I've got a good tent - so if I'm too hot I can cope. I'm looking forward to the Walls, it has been on my list for years. I've read the must see list that was on the forum recently and I will make sure I've got plenty of time.

[Lophophaps]

I'd take an extra day. There's heaps to see and the extra day will allow more to be done for minimal extra effort, especially if the weather bombs out. It can get cold. An article about the WOJ in the magazine on this website reported snow over Christmas on the OLT. I'm tending towards basing at Dixons Kingdom rather than Wild Dog Creek, as Dixons is closer to Mt Jerusalem, the Temple, and the Solomons access to King Davids Peak. A GPS is hardly necessary.