10" rain in 4 days...wet wet wet.
Ive certainly found where my gear is good in wet weather and where it needs improving.
We looked at the weather map and saw wet weather but wanted to go anyway.
Montane Atomic DT Jacket did not win the wet gear of the year award of 2010. It won the Im soaked through and all wet award.
Star performer was the TarpTent RainShadow 2 Kept us both dry and safe. Even when sitting in a small depression between some shrubs whilst 80-100k gusts came blasting at the front from the north (after setting the rear to the south the wind swung during the middle of the night) near the top of Badjala Sandblow. Sandblast was a problem and small particles did get in as well as some tiny rain particles forcing there way trough the noseeum mesh. It was either that or camping at Valley of the Giants with branches and the odd tree falling around us as of the strong winds. Easy option. Nice view from the tent that night...always nice having a storm lash around you whilst your safe, warm and fulltummied looking down over a very large sandblow with an ocean backdrop
We came in at Wanggoolba creek as planned and managed to get a free ride from Peter a tour operator who took us as far as Pile Valley just after Central Station to begin our walk. We then walked South through to Dilli Village. Boxing day we walked along the beach and hitched a ride to Eurong where after gorging on chips and pizza we got the Taxi for $65 to Happy Valley and stated walking the remainder of the trail. However...on the 5th day after the night at Badjala Sandblow and constant steady rain throughout the day we were heading to Lake Mckenzie that night for an early exit the next day trekking out to the ferry, when at Lake Wabby another Tour Operator stopped and said "Gday, do you wanna lift?" Debbie had been saying all morning that she wanted a lift out, whilst I tend to be a bit more pigheaded and always want to finish what I started upon. However, when he asked I looked at Debbie, weary, wet, bugging out at leaches, spotted from the mossies and Sandflies, blisters on both feet and thought its up to her. She wanted to opt for the ride. Sooo a day on a 35 seat 4wd Bus with a joyous smorgasbord free lunch..ooooo yeah...and some good company from overseas backpackers and the single Ozzie backpacker and a ferry ride at 5pm.
We ended up experiencing a lot of the goodness the track has to offer, and seeing things most people wouldnt (as they are too sane to go trekking in wet conditions
) whilst seeing those remarkable island tracks and some good company to boot!
A great trip and one I would highly recommend.
Hindsight 101:
Waterproof Camera with HD - Panasonic DMC-ZS5 and water dont mix
Inner waterproof Bag - Pack covers just dont cut the mustard in really wet weather, Pods kept warm and S/Bag dry
One piece tent pegs - Easton Stakes with their two piece configuration just dont work that well when the top pulls off....
2 x sand/wind pegs - a Spyderco and a tree branch are a close second
Outer Jacket must be waterproof - the Montane Atomic DT Jacket is meant to be a great UL jacket. However with its Entrant DT, backpack straps over a couple of days wears it enough that water just comes on in....research that one some more.
Prepare your own food - I prepared snacks and B/Fast for myself, however lunch and dinner were [repared by the other half.....dried peas and beans with rice noodles gets sickening after a while....ground hyrdated bean paste on crackers...its food and you can live on it, but it tastes like *&%$#!.
Regarding logistics, in future I would look at making the whole trek a 2 week adventure with entry and exit via Hook point at the bottom of the island. I would take a couple of days to trek up to Dilli Village, do the track in 7 days and then have 4 days to casually walk south along the beach back to hook point, allowing for a day off somewhere along the fortnight. Food drop points would be 2 at Dilli Village, 1 at Central Station and Happy Valley. That way you would only carry a max of 5 days food and get to expore the island and see its differnt facets even more.
Either ways go do it...its well worth it.