April 1997
Our first view of Cradle Mountain was similar to the picture at the top of this page.
The weather was alternating snow showers and sunshine, and we caught glimpses of snow on the peaks of the mountains around.
We signed into the walkers' log, and began the climb. Judith still looks fresh halfway up!!
This is where we spent our first night out in the wilderness.
The Scott Kilvert Memorial Hut.
On the second day, we walked across to Waterfall Valley hut in freezing conditions.
This is the newest hut in the park, and it has a bottled gas heater. Most of the others
have coal burning pot-bellied stoves. Lots of rain - lots of mud - and the tracks
have been hardened by boardwalks like this.
With everything wet... Heavy packs... Views to admire...
This is one of Judith's little accidents!!!
Knees and elbows suffered on most days. Our fellow travellers and hut occupants
got used to the sight of swabs and bandages. And the medical profession
in Melbourne are still celebrating their good fortune, and placing orders for
new BMWs !!! It's an ill wind ..... as they say!
Still raining heavily on the third day. Spectacular waterfalls to explore, and
that special Tasmanian thigh-deep mud to get through before we arrived cold and wet
at the Old Pelion Hut. The oldest hut still in use in the park - it was our refuge from the
elements that night. No heater, and some noisy rats in the walls, but at least we
could dry out a bit. Rather cosy really after a hard day, and all the other people
we had met during the day apparently decided to go on to the new Pelion hut, giving
us sole occupancy. By the way, the fireplace and chimney here are not usable.
In the morning the clouds had disappeared and this view of
Mount Oakleigh was just out the door. We prepared to climb the highest mountain
in Tasmania (Mount Ossa) in high spirits!
The best weather of the trip let us get spectacular views like this for 360 degrees
from the summit of Mount Ossa.
After this, we walked on down to Kia Ora hut for the night.
On this day we wandered along very pleasant tracks, passing old DuCane Hut,
which is used only as an emergency shelter these days. It has been repaired substantially
since I was last in the park. Also, we visited several really awesome waterfalls just off
the main track. After the recent rain they had LOTS of water. After another of
Judith's classy ballet exhibitions, we stumbled into Windy Ridge hut for the evening.
The guide from the commercial walking party who carried her pack for the last
few kilometers decided we all needed a bottle of Tasmanian red for medicinal purposes!
Nearing Lake St. Clair now. Gently down hill past the turnoff to Pine Valley
(maybe on the next trip?). Over this interesting bridge and into the large Narcissus hut.
Some people catch the regular boat down the lake from here, but we decided to walk.
Meanwhile we admired nature putting on a colourful show on the track leading to the jetty.
Our last night in a hut turned out to be very cold, and in the morning there
was a crunchy frost over everything outside. Very beautiful in the early morning sunshine.
The last day's walking was to be around the western side of Lake St. Clair.
The small hut at Echo Point was our lunch spot. While we were there the ferry arrived
bringing walkers who were heading for the summit of Mount Olympus, as well as a group
of canoeists paddling the length of the lake. It made for a colourful, interesting
place to rest. We arrived at the ranger station in time to sign ourselves "OUT" in the walkers
journal, set up a tent in the camp ground, have a beautiful hot shower, and
enjoy a "civilised" meal in the restaurant!
If you would like more information about bushwalking
you might like to contact the Catholic Bushwalking Club of Victoria
This page created by Bernie O'Shea