Party Size

[wander]

There was some comment in another thread (so my apologies if this is a YART) about 3 large groups going into the Western Arthurs in a day period in December 2013. This was shortly after we had exited the WAs after seeing nobody between Junction Creek and Junction Creek over 11 days. Some WA camp sites were clearly going to be very crowded.

Recently on the South West Cape loop a group of 11 (in 6 tents) appeared one evening, going the opposite way to us. It happened that the camp site was large enough for our group of 3 and the larger group without any issue. But we did consider that this single group would completely fill some later camp sites on their route. In conversation we noted they had a large group and the feedback was there was safety in numbers.

The next day we past a group of 8 going the opposite way to us. Another large group to us. It was going to be an interesting evening if they caught up to (very possible) the group of 11 ahead of them.

Is there any real reason that people completely ignore Tas Parks advice repeated through out their website?

Group size
Keep your party size to no more than 6 people. Large groups can be difficult to accommodate at huts and campsites and have greater social and environmental impact

What is the reason or advantage to wandering in large groups?

[Old Fart]

Greetings all


Is there any real reason that people completely ignore Tas Parks advice repeated through out their website?

Probably not though human stupidity is one of the worlds truly renewable resources. i.e walking in large groups, putting the wrong fuel in the new car, pies supporters and so on Stating the bleeding obvious here but large groups tend to be significantly slower , in particular in poor conditions that actually places the entire group at more risk from exposure, fatigue and poor decision making processes. - small groups can find shelter easier if they have to bunk down and so on so imho they can be more dangerous, than a small well experienced self reliant group that are capable of pulling themselves out of the poo .

It would have been interesting when the two groups met on the track 19 in some of those campsites would have been a tight fit, a real wilderness experience

safe walking to all

[Lophophaps]

When dinosaurs ruled the earth I can recall seeing parties of 15-20 people in SW and other parts of Tassie. It did not really matter then as there were not that many people in the bush. But one trip we had to push on for rather longer than we would have liked as the campsite was full.

Even with parties of the suggested size it's entirely possible that several arrive at the same time and there's no room for all. If this happens too often then a booking system like Cradle may be put in place. This will be a great shame. I enjoy my freedom of the hills, and don't like being told where to camp.

Large groups are perceived by some as being safe. But small is fast, able to camp in smaller places. Large groups are seen as being more convivial.