Walking Tasmania’s Overland Track – Winter 2015
This years adventure is taking a slightly different approach to ‘Overland Adventure’. It’s still Overland, just not as we usually do it.
The Overland Track is Australia’s most well known, multi-day alpine walk. It’s a 65 km, six-day trek through the heart of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, part of the magnificent Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area. The stunning scenery and the physical challenge of the Overland Track have assured it a national and international reputation as one of the great wilderness bushwalks.
The trip came about because my friends Simon and Edwina decided it was a good idea to do this in winter. With less people on the track there would be more wilderness for us to enjoy. Sure its going to be harder with the cold weather and snow but it will be worth it.
The nature of the trip demands that you carry all your gear and supplies for the 6-7 day duration. In winter the bulk of down sleeping bags, clothing and fuel for the stoves soon adds up. My estimated bag weight currently sits at 20kg which includes snow shoes.
On the lead up to the trip I have been watching the weather and track reports with a close eye. The weather has become increasingly inclement with Tasmania experiencing its coldest and most snowbound winter since the 80’s. Many roads have been closed across the country and there have been snow drifts of 60cm reported at Cradle Mountain with temperatures around -5˚c. Still, we are keeping optimistic and hoping the track will remain open when we arrive later next week.
We arrive into Launceston on the 15th August and hopefully getting the bus to Cradle Mountain on the 16th. With all being well we finish the walk the following Sunday and leave Hobart on Monday 24th.
Keep an eye on Facebook and Instagram for updates and photos as I am sure this is going to be another eventful trip for Sirocco Overland!
Photo of the week: Cornwall, UK – July 2010
In the summer of 2010 we took a week off to walk along part of the 630-mile South West Coast Path, which runs along the entire coastline from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset. We took the train to St Ives in Cornwall and walked the 40 miles to Penzance and the mystical St Michael’s Mount. (more…)
Photo of The Week: Hidden Valley, Scotland
We had never spent much time in Scotland before we left the UK. We had planned a short tour with the Land Rover in 2008 but ended up in Morocco instead. Later in 2011 we planned a cycling tour through the Outer Hebrides but again, I ended up in Africa instead.
When our good friends Si and Ed mentioned joining them and Si’s brother in Glen Coe for a weekend, we jumped at the chance. It was a few months before our departure but splitting fuel costs helped a lot! We all jammed into the car for 4 days climbing, camping and hiking in the rain.
This photo is taken using a well placed rock and timer on our Leica at the start of the hidden valley. Another great day out with good friends.
Photo of The Week: Pembrokeshire Sunset
In 2011 we set off from Milford Haven in west Wales with two 50 litre packs containing everything we needed to sustain 10 days on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
This photo is one of many clifftop sunsets we saw as the sun dropped into the Atlantic ocean.
Lisa
Griff
Sirocco Overland | Сирокко Оверленд 