General OLT Questions

[Nuts]

Oh, (sorry -long week)
How about something like these.. then!? :

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[DanShell]

Just bringing up a bit of an old topic but I am off to do the OLT on the weekend, hopefully the weather will be ok.
Looking at the booking system it appears as though it is virtually booked out on the day I leave and the days either side so Im expecting it to be busy up there

My final weight with food and water is looking to be around 15kgs. I have one final question...........given that I am up around 15kgs or so, would it be a bit too luxurious to take some alcohol!!

How silly will I look using cuben fibre stuff sacks and dry bags, nice UL quilt and tent etc and I remove a plastic container full of whiskey

What are your thoughts on this?? Varied I can imagine...........

[stry]

I'm a big fan of compensating for the weight saved by carrying a little extra luxury.

The BUT is that alchohol tastes best out of glass, so even if you decide to reduce the extra weight in a big hurry , you are still stuck with carrying the glass. Glass is not light.

There is also the trap of looking at the pack weight (15kg is pretty good I reckon) and after chucking in the extras, like some booze, a bit of extra salami, a hard cover book in case it rains; finding that the extras have become the straw that breaks the walker's back.

I speak from personal experience

[Hiking Noob]

I find the Platypus collapsible bottles the best in regards to taste, the Source ones are horrible as are their hydration pack bladders.
15KG is nothing I would have taken a carton of beer if my pack was that light!

[kitty]

This one is good for red wine.
You wont look silly. Im with stry...Im into going lightweight so I can take some small luxuries if I want. eg...Aeropress 185g (maybe that looks silly though - but the coffee tastes good)
Dont worry about it being "packed", hopefully they will all stay in the huts and you will have a tent platform to yourself.
If you dont want to share a tent platform, find a smallish one that cant possibly fit another tent.

[The Trout Hunter]

Just bringing up a bit of an old topic but I am off to do the OLT on the weekend, hopefully the weather will be ok.
Looking at the booking system it appears as though it is virtually booked out on the day I leave and the days either side so Im expecting it to be busy up there

Dan, I did the OLT over last New Years and it was totally booked out on all days we were there. Myself and a mate were the only two tents on most nights, which surprised me but suited me fine. The huts were crowded but that is always going to happen in peak times I guess..

If you are exclusively using your tent I think you will be fine

Enjoy your walk!

[Hiking Noob]

I went about a month ago and it was dead quiet, 10-12 starting a day, it was great.

[Eremophila]

If my pack were only 15kg I'd definitely be taking something to sip on!

[simonm]

Hey Dan,
I got back fom the track the other week and it was also booked out. Huts were full but there were times when I was the only one in a tent.

My walking partner took a small plastic bottle of rum. His pack weight was also 15kg coincidentally.

[DanShell]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Ill make the decision on the weekend when I do my final pack. Taking some whiskey is one thing but not having a mixer to drink it with...well.....yuck! So Im not sure Ill take any at this stage, no point lugging extra weight if I won't enjoy it anyway.
In the past when I have been doing overnighters or even two nights, I would take some that I premixed myself and it tasted heaps better while hiking than it ever has at home

I could always just put a dash in my morning coffee Just kidding!

As for the crowds, I just hope there are no total w$#@*&s amongst them to spoil the experience and Im sure everything will be fine. Two days after I leave there are very few booked in so I could always just wait a couple of days until the masses all move on

Anything I should watch out for Simon, being so late in the tourist season? Water tanks giving plenty of nice water still? Toilets over flowing? Huts full of rubbish? lol

[simonm]

As for the crowds, I just hope there are no total w$#@*&s amongst them to spoil the experience and Im sure everything will be fine. Two days after I leave there are very few booked in so I could always just wait a couple of days until the masses all move on

Anything I should watch out for Simon, being so late in the tourist season? Water tanks giving plenty of nice water still? Toilets over flowing? Huts full of rubbish? lol

Less preferred company is easy to avoid Dan especially if you are in the tent.

All was running smoothly when I went through. A fairly straight forward walk really, as long as you are prepared. My only advice is to embrace the mud.

[DanShell]

Still plenty of muddy sections then! I love mud

[simonm]

There was quite a bit of mud but it mostly looked a lot worse than it actually was. A lot of wasted effort is spent trying to avoid it.

It was a decent test for Evan's gaiters at least.

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[north-north-west]

The main track doesn't have that much mud, and it's seldom as bad as it looks. Too many people try to edge around what is no more than a thin surface layer over rocks or other hard ground - and actually get wetter and dirtier for their efforts. 99.99% of the time, the driest, least muddy bit is right through the middle.

Doesn't always apply away from the OT, but that is one place where the old rule about not bogdodging is actually the cleanest and driest way to walk.

[dingelberry]

Take some drink 15kg is a great weight . At night when its wet and cold you will be happy you did.You will meet all sorts on the track 99% great thankfully not to many $@%#$@ heads .Stop to smell the roses ( so to speak ) your in a great part of the world enjoy.

[simonm]

Yes. I should have said a bit of mud in certain sections, overall not a lot. I don't have a lot of experience in the Tassie mud yet but I am sure that will soon change.

Definitely the best way is straight through the middle as NNW mentioned.

[north-north-west]

If you want to learn about Tasmanian mud, the South West is the place to go. Arthur Plains, Anne Plains, Vale of Rasselas . . .

[simonm]

If you want to learn about Tasmanian mud, the South West is the place to go. Arthur Plains, Anne Plains, Vale of Rasselas . . .

Thanks, it's on the list NNW. A bit more winter walking hopefully this year.

[DanShell]

There was quite a bit of mud but it mostly looked a lot worse than it actually was. A lot of wasted effort is spent trying to avoid it.

It was a decent test for Evan's gaiters at least.

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That mud looks like nice mud Simon.
Ive had suck your boots off up to your crutch type mud in a special little place in the not so distant past....A light cover of patchy snow camouflaged the holes and this was pre walking pole days

5 more hours of work left................

[simonm]

There was quite a bit of mud but it mostly looked a lot worse than it actually was. A lot of wasted effort is spent trying to avoid it.

It was a decent test for Evan's gaiters at least.

Overland Track March 2015 300_800x600.JPG

That mud looks like nice mud Simon.
Ive had suck your boots off up to your crutch type mud in a special little place in the not so distant past....A light cover of patchy snow camouflaged the holes and this was pre walking pole days

5 more hours of work left................

Ha ha - well you will be fine . It's all relative isn't it.

Enjoy the walk.

[DanShell]

Surprising how quickly the weight adds up. I just did my final weigh in and with those last few items from the fridge I am up around 17 or so kilos

Anyway I can't see how another kilo or so will hurt (famous last words) so Im taking some grog anyway....I could always share it all on the first night, but If I lug it up the hill then theres a big chance Ill keep it for myself

[simonm]

Enjoy the walk Dan.

[GPSGuided]

Enjoy the walk Dan.

+1

[DanShell]

Enjoy the walk Dan.

Thanks Simon and gps
I didn't know why but Im really looking forward to this one even though the whole tourist/crowded thing goes against everything Id normally subject myself too!

Im a bit concerned about the weight, its the most Ive ever started with but its also the longest walk Ive ever set out to do. Im starting to second guess a few things...do I need the extra pair of thermals.....have I got too much food.......do i really need to collect my own data on the gps or should I leave it and all the spare batteries home.......am I taking too many go pro batteries........should I be concerned about weight when Im taking luxuries etc etc

[GPSGuided]

All personal decisions. You'll have to test the value of each on yourself and then you'll know next time. Just eat more if you want to reduce food weight quickly. Just be thankful you don't have to carry litres and litres of water on this one.

[hobbitle]

Personally I think 17kgs is a decent first effort for a 5-6 day walk Experiment and see what you really use and need for next time. Enjoy.


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[simonm]

It is all very personal decisions. I went very minimal, no luxuries, and came back with very little food and having used almost everything except the first aid kit. Heavy packs scare me lol.

[DanShell]

Thanks, Im packed for 8 days because Im hoping to spend a couple of days around the New Pelion Hut and see if I can climb some hills if the weather is kind to me.

No doubt Ill come home with a bit of food, regret taking all the extras I have never needed in the past and learn a lot for my next 5 plus day walk. I just made some salad bread rolls to have for fresh lunches on the first two days and even they weigh 400 grams!

Im about to get my wife to shave my head........

[GPSGuided]

Worried about lice?

[DanShell]

Worried about lice?

LOL nah a tongue in cheek comment to get my weight down