Global Adventure - Backpack Wild Tasmania on the Overland Track

Meet in hotel (TBD) lobby in Launceston, Tasmania, December 29, 2017

Itinerary Highlights:   Over this six day trek, backpackers will journey through a landscape of spectacular glacially-carved valleys, ancient rainforests, fragrant eucalypt forest, golden buttongrass moorlands and beautiful alpine meadows. A variety of optional side-trips can be done to breathtaking lakes and mountain summits, including Cradle Mountain (5,069 ft) – Tasmania’s highest peak – and Mt Ossa (5,305 ft). To top it off, the backpack concludes at Australia’s deepest lake – Lake St Clair. The trek will finish at Narcissus Hut at the head of Lake St Clair where will return via a small privately run ferry which will take us to the Lake St Clair Visitor Centre at Cynthia Bay.

• Day 1 - Dec 28 – Depart Seattle or home city on international flight

• Day 2 – Dec 29 – DEVONPORT, TASMANIA - Arrival in Devonport via air or Spirit of Tasmania Boat from Melbourne (not included in price), Accommodation:  Devonport hotel (included)

• Day 3 - Dec 30 – DEVONPORT, TASMANIA – Group Check-in 8am in hotel lobby. Gear check. Purchase personal food and fuel for trek.  Organize and pack gear. Contingency for late arrivals.  Accommodation:  Devonport hotel (included)

• Day 4 – Dec 31 – CRADLE MOUNTAIN - Depart for Cradle Mountain on charter shuttle (2 h) 10am, Luggage (15 kg max) pick-up for transport to Hobart. Check-in with Park and Pick-up Permits at Cradle Mountain Visitor Center.  Accommodation: Cradle Mountain Discovery Park rustic lodges with kitchens.

• Day 5 – Jan 1 – WATERFALL VALLEY – Take shuttle to Ronny Creek, Trek Ronny Creek to Waterfall Valley Hut - 4-6 h, 7 miles, approx. 1300 ft elev gain; Optional Side Trip:  Cradle Mountain 2-3 h, 1.5 miles, 1050 ft elev gain, scramble skills required. - Happy New Year!

• Day 6 – Jan 2 – WINDERMERE - Trek to Waterfall Valley Hut to Windermere Hut 2 1/2 - 3 1/2 h, 5 miles, approx. 330 ft elev gain; Optional Side Trip enroute – Lake Will and Innes Falls, 2 miles, 1.5 hour.  Accommodation:  tent.

• Day 7 – Jan 3 – PELION – Trek Windermere Hut to Pelion Hut - 5-7h, 11 miles, approx. 660 ft elev gain. Optional Side Trip:  Mt. Oakleigh 1500 ft, 4 hours. Accommodation:  tent.

• Day 8 – Jan 4 – KIA ORA – Trek Pelion Hut to Kia Ora Hut - 3 hours, 5 miles, approx. 1000 ft elev. gain.  Optional Side Trip:  Mt. Ossa – 3.5 hours, 1640 ft elev gain.  Accommodation:  tent.

• Day 9 – Jan 5 – WINDY RIDGE – Trek Pelion Hut to Windy Ridge and Bert Nicholes Hut - 3.5-4.5 hours, 5 miles, approx. 1000 ft elev gain. Spectacular views.  Accommodation:  tent.

• Day 10 – Jan 6 – NARCISSUS / HOBART - Trek Windy Ridge to Narcissus, 4hours, 6 miles, approx. 300 ft elev. loss. Take ferry at 3:45pm (30 min) to Cynthia Bay and Lake St. Clair Visitor Center.  Shuttle transport to Hobart, capital City (2 hour).  Accommodation:  Hotel in Hobart, capital city.

• Day 11 – Jan 7 – Depart

Review the Essential Information About the Overland Track and the more detailed Daily Walk Notes from Tasmania Parks & Wildlife.

Wildlife:  Variety of flora and fauna only found in Tasmania including wombats, Bennett’s wallabies, pademelons, and possibly the rare Tasmanian devil.  We will pass through Alpine/subalpine, Buttongrass moorland and Myrtle beech rainforest ecosystems.

Time of Year:  It will be summer in the southern hemisphere however weather conditions can change quickly and frequently, especially in mountain areas of Tasmania.    Snow, rain, wind and sun are all possible at any time of the year.  Weather conditions for the Overland Track can be found on the Tasmanian Bureau of Meteorology website.  

Lodging: Lodging will be in self provided tents along the trek.  Before and after the trek we will stay in hotels or one on occasion, a rustic camp lodge, immediately prior to starting the trek.  At each campsite there is a hut with heat, cooking area and tables.  There are bunks at the huts but they cannot be reserved and we should not rely on their availability.  Campsites will have clean drinking water and a compositing toilet.

Food:  Participants will need to bring their own food for 6 days of trekking plus emergency food.  Trekkers must provide their own cooking stoves and fuel which can be purchased in Devonport. No fresh fruits or vegetables may be brought into Tasmania.  There are opportunities to purchase food and camp stove fuel in Devonport prior to the trek.

Leader’s Experience:   The leader Eileen Kutscha, eileenmtn007@gmail.com, has over 25 years of experience in the outdoors backpacking, mountaineering and backcountry skiing.  She has planned and led trips to Thailand, Patagonia, Peru, the Swiss Alps, and the Wapta Icefields in Canada.  Mountaineers leader for the climbing and skiing and backpacking programs.  Wilderness First Responder training.  This is her first Global Adventures trip.

Participant Requirements:   View the daily distance-elevation profile for the trip.

• Must be a Mountaineers member with an up-to-date waiver on file.
• Fitness and Experience - Participants should have the fitness to hike a minimum of 12 miles a day on a rough trail with an overnight pack carrying 6 days of gear and food.  Participants will need to have the experience and willingness to pack appropriately and to deal with some discomfort, cold and inclement weather for extended periods.    This outing includes strenuous hiking on rugged terrain for consecutive days without such amenities as showers or laundry.  
• Selected optional side trips will require the ability to climb approximately 1000 ft / hr with a day pack using hands in some cases to maintain stability and some minor exposure. 
• Group dynamics - Recent experience with multi-day strenuous backpacking, scrambling or hiking, plus a positive attitude and a demonstrated ability to get along well with groups under demanding conditions, will be very important. 
• Gear - Weather conditions in Tasmania can change quickly and frequently, especially in mountain areas.   Snow, rain, wind and sun are all possible at any time of the year.  For these reasons, participants will need to have suitable clothing, equipment, food and water to cope with all conditions. You must carry a tent or effective form of emergency shelter in case the huts are full or injury or weather prevents you from reaching a hut before nightfall. 

NOTE:  Your leader makes most of the arrangements and provides logistics support during the trip, but is NOT a tour guide!  As a Mountaineers group we will operate as interdependent, capable travelers making our way together and helping one another succeed and be safe. 

Trip Price Detail:  $1150 includes park permit fees, transport to and from trailhead, lodging 3 nights before and 1 night after the trek.  Your airfare (~$2200) and travel insurance (cancellation, evacuation, medical) (~$200) and most meals are not included.  NOTE:  The member price shown at the top of this listing is just the price of the 50% deposit.

Registration Instructions:  Leader permission is required before registering for this trip.  To seek leader approval, complete the Application Form. After the leader’s approval, click on the "REGISTER" button to the right on the trip listing to pay the 50% deposit and hold your space on the roster.  Final payment is due 45 days prior to trip departure by November 13, 2017.   Promptly upon approval, participants will also be asked to complete and submit a signed Trip Agreement and a Global Adventures Liability Release and Indemnity Agreement.

Application          Trip Agreement          Release

Cancellation Policy:  If you cancel because of an emergency, you may receive a refund less expenses incurred and a $100 administrative fee.