Advice on OT For Early May 09

[scockburn]

Hi all . I am returning to do the OT on about 4 May 09 and at this stage will be on my own , though would like to join up with some others. I saw CherryWs extremes and challenges photos( July) and whilst I realise that I probably might not get that sort of build up and extreme conditions, I was a little concerned and wanted to get some learned advice on the sort of conditions I might be faced at my time with and what sort of extreme gear I might need . I have all the usual 4 season gear and am quite experienced at cold weather (admittedly Qld and Nth NSW) through walking , and was on day one on the OT during that last year's Early April 08 dump and was well and truly hooked after that. So for early- mid May 09 will I need snow shoes or any other specialist gear ?As the season is closed, will there be many other walkers who I might be able to link up with ? Will the ferry and linking buses have different timetables etc.as I'll be coming up from Launceston and going home via Hobart. Any other advice really appreciated. Many thanks . Steve C

[frank_in_oz]

Hi Steve,
I did the track in May last year from North to South. Unfortunately I was doing it with someone who only had four nights free to do the trip.

The weather was very wet for most of the trip with a heap of low cloud. We did not see the top of a mountain until we hit Bert Nicols Hut. I wrote a bit of a trip report up here: http://frankinoz.blogspot.com/2008/05/o ... enery.html

That being said if you have the right gear (I know you frequent this place so I am not going to repeat what is available here) GO FOR IT.

We saw a lot of people. Probably 10 plus in the huts each night (then we three) At Windemere we heard there was a group of 28 the night before we passed though!!.

I would not take snow shoes unless there had been a big dump or the forecast was for one BUT I an no expert on Tasmanian weather not the need for snow shoes.......

As regards the bus and ferry timtables best just check with the companies. I know the boat people had only planned to do a morning (or was it lunch time??) run. Because of the number of people they put on an additional trip. Therefore BOOKING is important.

Hope that helps

Frank

[cherryw]

Hi All
Back again.
I would not think that there would be the need for snowshoes at this time of year but you never know. You can get an idea of the weather from the BOM website http://www.bom.gov.au/products/IDT60800.shtml and look at the Mt Read and that will give you an indication of what to expect. Expect wet and cold conditions and if you are lucky it might snow.

Good Luck
Wayne

[Steve73]

Let me know how you go scok. My wife and I are planning to do the hike in late May/early June. Would be very interested to hear your feedback.

[james cav]

I have done the OT a couple times in winter as this is my preferred time to walk. I nearly hired snow shoes once but even with a fairly strong snow storm it would have been a waste of time. In fact the time you spend putting them on and taking them off will probably be your biggest problem. The distance between huts is just not that far. In my view if you get a bit of snow then all the better. Its amazing out there when everything turns white and the wind howls through the mountains. Must watch Jeremiah johnson..hmmmm snow and mountains. I do recommend a pair of snow goggles though. These were invaluable last time I walked. And of course a warm sleeping bag.