TASMANIA : DAY 2 : OVERLAND TRACK : Barn Bluff Hut to Pine Forest Moor Hut (12 km, 6 hours)

DAY 2 : fine and cool

 

Elevation for Day 2 

Early morning light from Barn Bluff

 

Delicious breakfast of porridge, fruit, homemade toast and freshly-made yoghurt and Tassie jams.  We set off at 9 am, with a homemade lunch and clad in long gaiters in the event of wet and muddy sections and unwelcome guests, such as leeches or snakes. Rob consoled me that snakes were rare but there was an unfortunate story of a trekker who veered off the track to relieve herself and was nipped on the bottom by an unsuspecting snake. Too embarrassed to report what had happened, she continued on, to her detriment, as she died as a result. A sobering story on several levels.





View looking back to Cradle Mountain

In the last few years many more duckboards have been laid in the sodden moorland which makes walking more pleasant. The plan is that 40% of the park will have wooden walkways and the rest will be natural paths. Fairly flat walking today with a side trip to Lake Will - a glacial lake.

Lake Will named after Joseph Wills (1890s) who prospected for coal in this area.



We had lunch at Lake Windemere and persuaded Andy to swim out to an island in the centre. There is a book there, which has been signed by many brave swimmers. He took the challenge well and reported that there were many names in the book. One swimmer had written " I went in a man and came out a woman!" It was absolutely freezing.

Andy braves the freezing waters of Lake Windemere



There were small lakes (tarns) along the way as we passed through plains of button grass , families of pandanus and ancient Pencil Pines. Great views of Cradle Mountain and Barn Bluff behind us and Mt Pelion West ahead.

Colourful moss

Pandanus families along the path

 

Button grass

  

Ancient pencil pines



Scones with local raspberry jam and cream for afternoon tea and another delicious
 meal at Pine Forest Moor Hut. Good company with a games of cards and Scrabble.





 Teaching Franka (from Switzerland) the intricasies of Scrabble in English.

 

M&M