March 14th
Hartnett Falls-Narcissus Hut
Mileage: 13.5 kmon track + 16.2km side trip=29.7km/18.5mi
OLT Trip Total: 72.9mi/117.2km
Campsite Elevation: 2550ft/777m
Thankfully, the canyon we slept in wasn’t as cold and damp as it could’ve been. It was pretty dark, and we got a bit later of a start just after 7:30am. We hiked the short bit to reconnect back to the Overland. It was a relaxed wooded morning with plenty of spiderwebs to clear. So far, I’d say the constant spiderwebs in the face are my main annoyance in Tasmania since we haven’t had to deal with mud at all. They clear the more people walk the trail, but in the mornings, we tend to be the first ones through doing all the clearing. It was wooded hiking for most of all the morning as we turned off at Pine Valley for our next side hike.
The Pine Valley forest is enchanting with lush green all around, roots winding across the trail, and boardwalks curving along a bending stream. I was really lethargic with menstrual cramps the first half of today, so I didn’t take many photos going into Pine Valley. I knew we’d be heading back out after our side trip and took photos then. The Overland Track is all about the side trips, and this one was a lengthy one that took most of the day, but was worth it. In Pine Valley there are two main side hikes and a hut. This hut is 3mi/5km off the Overland Track. It is close enough to hike in from the south end of the track, so people other than Overland Track hikers often go here to explore Pine Valley for a few days. We had lunch at the hut, left the majority of our gear there and took our packs with food, water, and jackets up to the Acropolis. It was a steep hike up through the forest before we broke out to see what we’d be climbing.
The Acropolis. The summit is on the right side.
We had it all to ourselves and stayed up there about an hour with some cell service and figuring out our plans for our finish tomorrow and where we are headed next. It will rain the day after tomorrow, and then be amazingly clear for about a week. It’s the perfect window to do the Western Arthurs Traverse that is the most challenging hike on our list. It takes about a week and can have very challenging weather, so we are making a go for it with this awesome open window of opportunity. More on that when we get to it, but we are pretty excited to get a good window for it!
While up there, we could see down to the other hike that many do in Pine Valley, the Labyrinth. It is lower down and goes to a network of lakes with nice views. It seems most do the Labyrinth as it affords good views without the exposure and higher climb of the Acropolis.
The Labyrinth is the plateau with the lakes.
Great views!
It hit me that most of today was one big out and back. We’ve had a lot of those with all the side trips we are doing. It’s awesome to be able to do these without a full pack, but it definitely feels less exciting than a thru-hike where everything is new and you don’t double back. I can say though, that things often look new hiking it from the opposite direction. We are quite spoiled as thru-hikers, and I’ve come to be less tolerant of out and backs over the years, but these have been quite enjoyable.
We made it to the hut by 6:30pm, and there were few others there. It is where many choose to take a ferry to get out and not walk the 9mi/15km or so along Lake St Clair. We had the camping platform area all to ourselves. We even had a bit of phone service. It is along the Narcissus River, and we heard we might see a platypus on our hike out in the morning. That is the one animal Griggs really wants to see here, so he’s excited about that possibility. I know many are wondering if we will see a Tasmanian devil. We’ve read that they are not as common as they once were as there is a disease of some sort that has reduced the Tasmanian devil population by 80%.
The weather is great and not as cold or damp as the other nights. Just a morning hike out to the end tomorrow remains. It’s been a great experience along the Overland Track, and we’ve really enjoyed it! What a great way to kick off our month here.
“There were a couple sheer walls we needed to climb up that I wondered how I’d get down later.”
How did you get down?
I don’t know what I’m going to do when you take your “home” break.
It was one of those blind ones easing down with Griggs below telling me where I could place my feet.
I would expect you had good practice from the Sierra High Route. At least that rock in Tasmania looked solid, not like some rock I’ve come across in the Sierra and Trinity Alps. And, I haven’t even done the prolonged off trail hiking of the SHR like you have.
Yeah, I mentioned how I can’t believe I ever did that route, ha. I definitely would need time to readjust back to rock stuff.
Good luck with seeing a platypus but be warned that the are very hard to see in the wild, they are shy and retiring and quite rare (though maybe not so much in Tasmania). Yes the devils are in big trouble with a communicable facial tumuor disease though there has been some good news lately about a trial where some have been successfully inoculated.
I was very impressed with your seven leeches on the previous day, Erin. Seven! that almost showing off….
When I do something, I like to do it right;)
Erin you should have had a “Picnic At Hanging Rock”.
There would have been allot less spider’s, and leeches 🙂
Just spooks……
I’d never heard of this reference and had to look it up. You like your suspense/mystery!
That is sad to hear about the Tasmanian Devils.. I hope the trials Steve mentioned help turn things around. Also hope you have a platypus sighting. I know Griggs would enjoy and wildlife and his enthusiasm is contagious. I finally watched his walks by video clip on my desktop.. My smaller Kindle Fire choked and then said it would take an hour to download but the desktop was no problem.
I remember your kangaroo adventures from the beginning of this trip..
Good thing you have poles to help real with the spider webs.
Beautiful views but I’d have hated to go back down too.
Seems like holding a hiking pole out in front of you at an angle would clear the spiderwebs?
Yes, but a good 20mins of that while trying to stay upright with rocks and roots gets old quick.
Oops. REAL with the spider webs.
I was worried until there were replacement poles..
DEAL. ihateautocorrect.. ?
The key to avoiding spider webs across the trail is to always have some one (Griggs?) in front of you. So long as they don’t figure out what you are doing, you are golden. 😉
Haha, yeah we sorta take turns but he conveniently walks faster and tends to be in front;)