American coming to visit/walk

[Eaglebait Ranch]

Hi, It looks like impulse is taking over and I may be visiting Tasmania in November. I am having a difficult time finding what the weather is going to be then so I can figure out how I want to go about seeing the rural areas ("bushwalking" seems to be your term for our "backpacking" or "wilderness walking"). My wife and I are avid ultra-lite to very-lite backpackers and have been known to spend a week walking trail in our wildernesses here in the NW USA.

I am looking for a website where I can look at November weather in Tas, or getting guidance from you folks as to what to expect as weather. We would have no problem taking day hikes if weather was an issue. We just want to know what to expect and bring for the weather conditions expected.

We are really excited about our upcoming visit.

Chuck

[tazz]

Here is a link for weather forcasts in Australia. http://www.bom.gov.au/ - Generally the weather is ok in November but be prepared for extremes.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Yup, November can be a fantastic month, but it can also still be wintery.
Expect some warm sunshine and some possible snow.

[Tony]

Hi Chuck,

John Chapman's site has some good information on Tasmania, http://www.john.chapman.name/index.html John,s books are very good for information.

Check his weather page out

http://www.john.chapman.name/weather.html

Some caution on using some of the US style UL backpacking gear in Tasmania, some of the scrub is very thick and hard on UL packs, clothes and rain gear and it can be very cold and wet at times.

Tony

[north-north-west]

Hi, It looks like impulse is taking over and I may be visiting Tasmania in November. I am having a difficult time finding what the weather is going to be then ...

Honey, no-one really knows what the weather is going to be like in Tassie from day to day, much less seven months in advance. There are tendencies in Tasmanian weather, but that's as far as it goes. November is nominally late Spring, but all that means is that the average temperatures are getting higher. It can be wet, windy and snowy at any time of the year - and often is.

But you'll love the place regardless.

[tastrax]

I would suggest you check out a few maps and think about the places that you might visit. After that you can delve a little deeper into what the conditions have been like in the past for that location (or a weather station near it)

Start here for the overall weather stations - http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/tas/obser ... sall.shtml

Now delve deeper to say.... the SW of Tasmania at Scotts Peak

http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDT60801 ... 5958.shtml

and then check on last November (under recent months link) http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/dwo/20091 ... 0911.shtml

You will soon get a feel for the changing weather conditions in Tasmania

[JamesMc]

Chuck,
American style ultralight doesn't translate well into Tasmania. If you go to the east coast or the Overland Track you'll be OK but any wilderness walking will need a tent that can stand up in a wind that you can't stand up in. In the high places, you camp where you can, not where it looks comfortable, and if the weather gets really bad you have to sit it out in your tent. Your raincoat will need to be tough as well as waterproof, and you will need to cook with a stove (fires generally not allowed). At least you won't have to worry about bears or have to filter your water.


JamesMc