Overland Track Reference - Important stuff

[tasadam]

I thought it a good idea to have this post as a sticky so it's easy to find - containing all the necessary stuff for the Overland Track.
If you think of anything that should be added to this post, PM me or Son of a Beach and we will change or add as required. As such, the topic will remain locked for normal replies.

The Tasmanian Parks site has a lot of info on this walk.
There is the Visitors Guide to Cradle Mountain, as well as Lake St Clair.
Note that both these links have drop down boxes right at the top, to select the different pages of information. Subjects such as Introduction, activities, highlights, access, map, etc can be found there.

Their Fact Sheets are well worth a look. You will find several fact sheets of relevance, and many others that are well worth a read. Ones that jump at me as being relevant to this post are
Cradle Mt - Lake St Clair National Park
Camping and Cabin Fees (bottom left of page 2 for Cradle Mtn, middle left of page 3 for Lake St Clair info.
Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area
Disabled Access - Parks for all People Numbers 6 and 7 in this booklet are of interest. Anyone who is disabled should getone of these booklets - great info.
Overland Track
Overland Track FAQs
Plant Checklist for Cradle Mountain
Bird Checklist for Cradle Mountain
Fauna Checklist for Cradle Mountain
There are a number of other fact sheets worth looking at - there are a few on walks from Lake St Clair, as well as ones that cover such things as minimal impact walking, walking safely, and cooking and food tips.
Parks also have some audio podcasts on the Overland Track, they can be found here. Thanks to "whynotwalk".

As well, there is the Before You Walk - Tasmania's Essential Bushwalking Guide & Trip Planner that you should also take a look at - most useful info.

Tas Parks have set up a dedicated Overland Track site.
That page has a big blue button to Book your walk Online so follow that link.
There is an absolute sea of information on this site and I encourage you to browse at your leisure.

There are a number of maps available to you. There is a Cradle Mtn Day Walks map, a Cradle Mtn - Lake St Clair map, as well as the topographical 1:25000 maps that cover this walk which any map shop would be able to assist you with. There are likely to be others too, 1:100000 and so on, which are to my way of thinking, a bit small for any reliable navigation.

There is a lot of published information as well. Two of which are the Overland Track and the Cradle Mountain Lake St Clair & Walls of Jerusalem National Parks books by John Chapman.

The Windy Ridge hut has been replaced with the new Bert Nichols hut.
Some topics of interest on this forum -
Windy Ridge Name Change
Overland track Windy Ridge Hut - upgrade scheduled...
Windy Ridge - Bert Nicholas Hut

Here is a great reference video for the Overland Track...

[tasadam]

Initially I said

If you think of anything that should be added to this post, PM me or Son of a Beach and we will change or add as required. As such, the topic will remain locked for normal replies.

But nobody has contacted us for things to add, so I figure I would unlock this topic and open it up for anyone to add things they think will fit here.

[Iluvtheoutdawz]

For those with a GPS, a full set of Track waypoints are
available in different formats at:

http://www.overlandtrack.com.au/doing_maps.html

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=7827

[kramster]

Looks like Parks have re-arranged their website a little - so the FACTSHEETS above are no longer accessible.
Try from the following link...
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=5679

[tasadam]

Looks like Parks have re-arranged their website a little - so the FACTSHEETS above are no longer accessible.
Try from the following link...
http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=5679

All links in this topic have been updated, let me know if you find any errors.
Cheers!

[Liamy77]

any information around on possible side trips and waypoints etc ? - off course i don't condone any "bush-bashing" - just the legitimate tracks please

[tasadam]

any information around on possible side trips and waypoints etc ? - off course i don't condone any "bush-bashing" - just the legitimate tracks please

I've gotta say I use the Chapman Day Walks and Overland Track books.
Then there's the Parks fact sheets for some areas.

[Biggles]

Each day I take in more and more information from the Chapman/Siseman books, the NPWS website and personal contacts publishing eBooks on the Overland Track. The picks of "side tracks" to me for my March 2011 walk are Cradle Mountain, Lake Will/Barn Bluff (sunset, sunrise on millpond-still water) and Pine Valley, the latter two could easily use an additional day or two for exploration. For now, I'm just getting some preparatory exploration going with a 4-day walk and around Pine Valley for some localised photography from 28th August. Hopefully the weather will put on some springtime prettiness! Speaking of weather, this does look strange: the BOM rainfall stats show that only 1.2mm has fallen at Lake St Clair in the last 5 days. What is going on?? Is it drier this year, below normal, average or about to get (torrentially) wet... (maybe I shouldn't have said that... ).

[tasadam]

Just added an Overland Track video to the first post (above). Thanks to whynotwalk.
Might as well put this new Youtube embed feature to good use!

[dunamis]

For those with a GPS, a full set of Track waypoints are available in different formats at:
http://www.overlandtrack.com.au/doing_maps.html

There's no waypoints at this link, it defaults back to Parks & Wildlife index.

This page - http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=7827

[stepbystep]

BOM now have a page dedicated to the OT weather forecast http://www.bom.gov.au/tas/forecasts/cradlevalley.shtml

[norts]

Also on their 7 day clickable forecast has Pelion hut
http://www.bom.gov.au/tas/forecasts/map7day.shtml

[tastrax]

For those with a GPS, a full set of Track waypoints are available in different formats at:
http://www.overlandtrack.com.au/doing_maps.html

There's no waypoints at this link, it defaults back to Parks & Wildlife index.

try this new link

http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=7827

[charlie59]

any information around on possible side trips and waypoints etc ? - off course i don't condone any "bush-bashing" - just the legitimate tracks please

I've gotta say I use the Chapman Day Walks and Overland Track books.
Then there's the Parks fact sheets for some areas.

John Chapman in his book, has the distance of Windermere Hut to Pelion Hut as 14.2km.
The Visitor Guide "The Overland Track, One Walk Many Journeys" by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife 2012 has it as 16.8km.
Not that 2.6 makes too much difference. We start the Overland next Monday, I'll just keep telling myself it's only 14.2!

[eggs]

Google Earth kml file shows that segment as 15km.
We took about 5:15 of actual walking time on an April treck.

[redbruce]

We did the overland a couple of weeks ago.

GPS showed 17.1km between Windemere and Pelion which included the short walk to Forth Valley lookout so 16.8 would be correct.

[peter-robinson]

I'll just keep telling myself it's only 14.2!

I was a bit concerned about that long walk with a heavy pack but it was ok with lots of long flat sections. The distance was fine

[north-north-west]

any information around on possible side trips and waypoints etc ? - off course i don't condone any "bush-bashing" - just the legitimate tracks please

I've gotta say I use the Chapman Day Walks and Overland Track books.
Then there's the Parks fact sheets for some areas.

John Chapman in his book, has the distance of Windermere Hut to Pelion Hut as 14.2km.
The Visitor Guide "The Overland Track, One Walk Many Journeys" by Tasmania Parks and Wildlife 2012 has it as 16.8km.
Not that 2.6 makes too much difference. We start the Overland next Monday, I'll just keep telling myself it's only 14.2!

While there is a lot of useful information in the Chapman books, I've yet to find a distance measurement in any that is accurate. Some shorter bits are, according to my GPS, out by as much as 40%.

[icefest]

While there is a lot of useful information in the Chapman books, I've yet to find a distance measurement in any that is accurate. Some shorter bits are, according to my GPS, out by as much as 40%.

After much lengthy discussion about this with a friend we decided that Chapman has probably read distances off a map (probably using a drafters compass) and has made his elevation profiles using maps too. We decided that he was still using the diagrams/distances he first measured for his first editions. (We had no older editions to compare)
That's the only way we were able to explain some of the gross variances in his charts and real life.

[north-north-west]

While there is a lot of useful information in the Chapman books, I've yet to find a distance measurement in any that is accurate. Some shorter bits are, according to my GPS, out by as much as 40%.

After much lengthy discussion about this with a friend we decided that Chapman has probably read distances off a map (probably using a drafters compass) and has made his elevation profiles using maps too. We decided that he was still using the diagrams/distances he first measured for his first editions. (We had no older editions to compare)
That's the only way we were able to explain some of the gross variances in his charts and real life.

Yes, that has been my conclusion too.

[Nuts]

Think like the Raven.

These humans have been warned that you'll raid their pack, so you check the top zips as a matter of course, it throws off future planning.. then hit the main compartment drawstring and wrestle a few things out, the stash is there somewhere. You'll aim to give the impression the haul was a one-off and you just got lucky.. couldn't have known the goods would be there, just beyond yer bridie reasoning, under that jacket they've decided wasn't needed on such a nice day?.. scatter some morsels (not m&m's nor the tastier nuts) for the Currawongs so they get the blame. Watch the disbelief from a perch, chew the cud and cackle at the arvo show.

Think like the Raven, just as smart, with shorter tools!

[Nuts]

Assquake season is on us comrades!

Screen Shot 2016-01-12 at 6.26.31 PM.png (122.88 KiB) Viewed 306248 times

Despite the thought waters safe when we boil it, I'd suggest an extended appointment with the Pelion Hut toilet.
Or p/u and carry that carefully wrapped log, PC in the city, we do for a dog!

[OrangeMaple]

Hi

Saw this picture and note that it's recent. I'll be walking the OT with friends in 2.5 weeks and there is a lot of discussion about the water (happy to move this another post if appropriate), and we've heard conflicting information about the water. I've hear it's pristine and others have heard that it's got some nasty bugs in it. Just wanting more info - is the water safe or the only option is boiling or steri-pen. Thanks

Assquake season is on us comrades!

Screen Shot 2016-01-12 at 6.26.31 PM.png

Despite the thought waters safe when we boil it, I'd suggest an extended appointment with the Pelion Hut toilet.
Or p/u and carry that carefully wrapped log, PC in the city, we do for a dog!

[north-north-west]

Some people pick up bugs on the OT. Mostly they blame the water when it's more likely to be from handling toilet lids or doors or the like.
Experienced locals don't tend to have problems, but we're more used to drinking the wild water. (Those of us with sense also avoid the huts;) )

Follow correct hygiene practices and you should be OK, particularly if you stick to tank water. When in doubt, treat the water. If you're at all prone to stomach upsets, it's better to be safe than sorry.

[Azza]

Hi

Saw this picture and note that it's recent. I'll be walking the OT with friends in 2.5 weeks and there is a lot of discussion about the water (happy to move this another post if appropriate), and we've heard conflicting information about the water. I've hear it's pristine and others have heard that it's got some nasty bugs in it. Just wanting more info - is the water safe or the only option is boiling or steri-pen. Thanks

Well I personally think there is a hygiene issue around the huts and toilet facilities. The only place I've ever had gastro issues walking in Tassie has coincided with use of said facilities on the OLT.
Depends where or not you trust other people not to wipe their poo fingers all over the taps on the hut water tanks or bench tops? Or the poo explosions that have preceded you.
I know of at least one incidence in a hut where the toilet walls were sprayed in diarrhoea and the perpetrator didn't clean it up.

If your sensible about where you get your water then you won't have a problem.. e.g. taking water down hill from tracked areas or huts is probably not advised.
Water flowing off the side of Pelion West for example is going to be fairly pristine.
The area shown in that picture around Mt Ossa is heavily trampled with people going up Ossa and Pelion East, I wouldn't drink the water around Pelion Gap in the "Turd Fields." Common sense says you won't do that anyway???
A spot below where everyone has a break at the top of the hill.

Good luck.. and have a bit of a look on a map and have a think about where the water is coming from and you'll be right..

[north-north-west]

The only place I've ever had gastro issues walking in Tassie has coincided with use of said facilities on the OLT.

ditto

[aloftas]

sooo....tell me I am wrong....

that some purist bushwalkers simply crap wherever they like?

CLOSE THE PARKS

end of problem.

[north-north-west]

It's not the purists who do it. By definition.

[OrangeMaple]

Thank you all for the info. Definitely appreciate it and didn't mean to hijack the thread. Thanks a bunch

[Nuts]

Great place to ask Orange M. Lots of general advice from parks and various sources though some things are more unpleasant to discuss or difficult for management to discuss publicly (if they ever did try) without then acknowledging and acting. I'd mostly agree with the above, (taking groups) we still don't boil water other than for cooking but the point is to just consider the source, take a look around at the drainage. If there is some popular campsite or waypoint up higher there is the possibility of contamination. It may take multiple visits to work out where may be of concern but just some forethought will help.

Running water is almost a must aside from larger tarns and lakes. But then even here at Pelion Gap, perhaps also serving as a demonstration, is that you Can find good water. The easiest answer is just to treat it but the best is to consider the source.. as 90% will be fine. Is fine. Is a precious highlight on a hot summer day... and who really wants to be drinking treated human poo particles anyway.. My internal flora is also likely pretty robust but not so for those we take walking, groups of often reticent over-educated

My feeling too, (while it's difficult, without any testing, to pin down to one source) is that, in the dry seasons, 'gastro' is most easily acquired from hut toilets, door handles etc.. each other, and not from the water courses themselves (even though critters concentrate around and in remaining water) Even so, before all the more modern facilities and with old campsites mostly centered around water, gastro was rampant without us touching communal touchables.. so who knows.. there's some incubation 'lag' so definites given are at best a guess. Even strong poisons is such small amounts would dissipate quickly in any flowing volume of water, but I'd not risk these places knowingly.

Anyhow.. not the purists. The ill-informed and perhaps sometimes, on forums, the herding 'experienced'. On the Overland Track, desperate newbies out of their comfort zone, up to 7,000 'one-off's' (and yes, to acknowledge, we were all one once).. The same 'dilemmas' played out day by day. As far as any sort of 'purist' attitude.. Yes! Respect for wilderness First, other walkers- next. Both independent.. how this relates, the brevity of simply- errant crapping (a relatively minor issue alone), is in the Need for growth of attitude, or respect, That is Everything! And, for those perhaps yet to realise, very much Includes/starts with, places like our Overland Track..

All aside (including rants), with 'exotic waste' the thought isn't Just watercourse contamination, devils would have, quolls will have a munch, ravens will peck it, the rest is rained-in. Soon enough, just the paper remains visible. But back to 'you', tell me how you'd enjoy your lunch knowing what those swarms of flies just had for theirs:

Jan 18th (i'll save us a close up of the fly count on that stack)

Screen Shot 2016-01-20 at 9.42.49 PM.png (628.02 KiB) Viewed 305867 times

PS. 'Purist', Iv'e seen that term a lot lately, being related to the use of wild (pure) places.. '