Bushwalk Australia

I have just read whynotwalk's prompting about what other forum members did on the long weekend (Lovely to meet you, Peter).
My walk did not end up being the one intended due to a ridiculous incident of biting on a cherry seed in between farewelling Peter and starting on the walk a few minutes later. (The wound created got infected and exacerbated by a boiling hot cup of chocolate from the Hungry Wombat. The burn blister was so huge it got infected [as well as the tooth] and I am still in pain and on antibiotics trying to get facial swelling down. Not fun).
So, I backed out of being with others where I might spoil their fun, and set off solo. First I had fun exploring a tiny walk by the Franklin (Keep out, warned the signs), and then Nelson Falls (You might SLIP warned the signs), until I got to Mt Owen, where I ignored a third sign warning me not to trespass, and climbed the worthy mountain, rather enjoying the anarchy of the day.
The second day was much less mutinous, but not lacking in adventure. In the morning I climbed Mt King William I, but unfortunately forgot my skates, but had fun anyway on the newly improvised rink at the top (and GREATLY enjoyed the decking of thick ice on everything). In the afternoon, I climbed Rufus with tent etc, figuring I'd make a final decision about sleeping quarters at the top. The mountain made the decision for me by suddenly snap freezing just as I was approaching the summit. Retreat was impossible, as it wasn't just the icing on top that froze, it was the whole thing. I retreated to just below the Gingerbread House and spent the rest of the night battling the ice stalactites attacking me in the tent. For more detail of my adventure, and photos, please turn to http://natureloverswalks.blogspot.com.au/ (Heading, Mts King William! and Rufus. Mt Owen is a different blog, below that).
Hope you enjoy

Nice tale. Thanks for sharing. BTW, what was the lowest temperature up there? To be cold with a -5 deg bag and additional covers, it must have been really bad.

GPSGuided wrote:Nice tale. Thanks for sharing. BTW, what was the lowest temperature up there? To be cold with a -5 deg bag and additional covers, it must have been really bad.

This time of year at altitude in Tasmania, the nights would be around 0 to -10 with lower extremes.

naturelover wrote:I have just read whynotwalk's prompting about what other forum members did on the long weekend (Lovely to meet you, Peter).

Great to meet you too Louise. And thanks for sharing your tale of mixed fortunes. Shame about the tooth

Re. the overnight temps GPSGuided, I heard it was -9 at Liawenee on the Sunday night. It wasn't far above that in Pine Valley, and I imagine Rufus would have been colder.

cheers

Peter

PS - loved the Rufus blog post. Now that's what I call a cold night!

ILUVSWTAS wrote:This time of year at altitude in Tasmania, the nights would be around 0 to -10 with lower extremes.

whynotwalk wrote:Re. the overnight temps GPSGuided, I heard it was -9 at Liawenee on the Sunday night. It wasn't far above that in Pine Valley, and I imagine Rufus would have been colder.

Interesting how a 5 deg C differential b/n ambient temperature and bag rating can induce such a significant hypothermic response in an individual.

Down to minus 9 degrees at Wild Dog Creek on the Sunday night of that long weekend according to my min/max thermometer. That was in the vestibule of my tent so it was probably a tad colder than that outside. Inside the tent the water in my Nalgene water bottle that was next to me froze solid. But I wouldn't say that I was cold though

I can remember hearing a mountaineer talking about a very cold night out in Alaska, near the top of a big wall, in winter. There were two in the party. They had been climbing all day, and got near the top, when it got dark. They continued on by head torch, until their batteries failed. So they used their ice axes to cut out a small ledge and tied on. They only had thermals and fleeces. They spent the first hour or so huddled near their stove, until the gas ran out. Then, the spent the rest of the night running on the spot. They survived!

Louise - time to upgrade your sleeping bag? I would have warn the down jacket and one pair of thermals and socks to bed. Too much clothing can restrict your circulation and you feel colder. Kept things off the sleeping bag - which may impede the loft. Put shoes and gaiters in a plastic bag - and placed inside the bag. Cooked inside the tent (you stay a lot warmer cooking while in your sleeping bag) and the stove warms the tent a bit. Spare clothing - place under or around your sleeping bag for extra insulation (but not on top). You don't need to worry too much about condensation when it is that cold. It will freeze and not wet your things. And a small medicinal flask......

Dave