Winter

[MountainMadness]

Just in case any of you are interested we did succeed in what we set out to do.

-We drove out of Launceston first thing Saturday morning (15/08/09) parked at Ronny creek and walked all the way to Pelion Hut.
-Sunday we summited Ossa and walked back to Windermere Hut.
-Monday we walked back to Ronny creek, drove back to Launceston and caught our flight in the evening and back to work on Tuesday.

Pretty tough work though but well worth it. It was cloudy the first day, rain/storms/sleet the next then full snow/blizzards (in the higher regions) on the last day. Some places up on the Cradle Plateau on the final day had up to a metre of snow! We fell into a few holes/streams that were completely covered in snow which made for an interesting last day. We were actually very surprised that we caught our flight home as the snow was pretty heavy.
I’ve got heaps of good pictures but unfortunately it will only let me attach 3.

Paul

PS By the way Joel I am Mountain Bandit on summitpost.

PPS How did you go Erin? I thought we might see you out there but we only met a couple of groups crazy enough to fight the elements!


Near the summit of Ossa

Lake Windermere first thing monday morning

Cradle Plateau with Cradle Mountain in the background (The snow stopped for a brief moment!!)

[Nuts]

Nice pics.

Erin? ... Are you back?

[luke_vic]

Great shots MM...Did you have any snow equipment on your trip (ie snow shoes, crampon, ice axe etc)? Any gear recommendations for an upcoming trip in a couple of weeks?

[Fizzygood]

Yep, I'm still here... did not get leave when I wanted but have it sorted for next week... I will be leaving Monday...

Pics on return!

Cheers, Erin

[jwalker]

Great work MM! Looks like the weather threw at you quite a challenge on day 3. No doubt that'll cement this walk as a memorable one for you.

This style of walking really interests me. Not the type of walking i would always choose to do but i like the idea of challenging oneself to walking a track quickly (Well equipped and with a fall back plan/contingencies should the need arise of course).

I'd be interested to know how long each leg took, particularly Ronny to Pelion?

J

[Steve73]

Looking at all these pics of snow on OLT is getting me toey!! I hiked it in May which was great but I'd love to come back and do it again in winter. Obviously there is no guarantee of getting snow like in the pics, but what month do you locals think would provide the best chance of getting these conditions? Seems early August might be a good bet?

[Fizzygood]

July to September but possible any time of the year

[Nuts]

Yer, If your a bit flexible with travel arrangements just keep an eye on the forum and whats coming:

http://www.snow-forecast.com/maps/dynamic/tasmania

[MountainMadness]

In terms of snow equipment, we didn't bring much at all.

I contemplated taking my crampons but crampons slow down your walking pace so it would jeopardise getting up Ossa and back in time for our flight home - all it meant that there were a few slips and falls but nothing serious. Up on the cradle plateau snow shoes would have been helpful at times. Mostly your feet would sink all the way through the snow onto something solid (walking planks/rocks/shrubs) but on a few occasions we literally got swallowed up in the snow and had to crawl out. I'm not too familiar with Tasmania’s weather but I did think we were a little unlucky (or lucky whichever way you want to look at it) with the shear amount of snow on the last day - heaps!

An ice axe would have actually been handy on some of the assent of Ossa - but probably not worth hauling all the way from Ronny Creek and back for 15 minutes of use.

We did bring a snow proof emergency tent though which we didn't use but was good piece of mind.

MOST IMPORTANT WORD OF ADVICE: Bring plenty of plastic bags and ALWAYS keep a set of dry clothes. Being saturated to the skin (which we were for the last two days) is fine while you are walking but as soon as you stop you will freeze. We were pushing pretty hard though so if you are thinking of a leisurely strole along the OT you may look into trying to keep dry while hiking.

In terms of this style of hiking jwalker, yes always have a fallback plan. If you are walking with others you can never fully estimate their fitness or conditioning for this style of walking.
We had a late start on our first day (8am or so) and were a bit casual with our pace for the first few hours so the last half of the Ronny to Pelion leg was pretty full-on. We ended up getting to Pelion at last light at nearly 6pm.
The next day we were pretty sore but climbed Ossa only with small summit packs (leaving our big packs at Pelion) which was a massive help. On the summit of Ossa there was about 5m of visability and a blizzard blowing so we only spent 5min or so on the summit. Up and down Ossa from Pelion Hut took us a little under 5hrs. Pelion Hut to Windermere hut was a massive grind but we got there in the end at about 5:30pm.
Windermere to Ronny on the last day was the shortest day (by km's) but was the most full on. As soon as there was enough light to see we left and practically didn't stop until we reached Ronny; one because the snow slowed us down so much that we were pushing to get back in time for our flight and two because if we didn't go flat out we would freeze our *&^%$#@! off. We got dumped by snow and hammered by hail/blizzards. It didn't stop snowing until about 1km from the Ronny Creek carpark.

Owell thats my story. I've attached a few more pics, a couple of the first partially clear day - including the only glimpse of Ossa we had in the entire 3 days - and one of the blizzard that hit us while stepping up onto the Cradle plateau.

Paul.

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[Nuts]

MM, Thanks for the honest account. Perhaps your situation didnt get 'dangerous' but I have to say that what you relate in your post contains some of the exact circumstances that get people into trouble out there (and that I and others were trying to get across). I can assure you that if it is possible to get from WV out in a day without snow shoes then yes, it does sometimes get worse than that.....

A lot of people ask here whether snowshoes are needed. The short answer is no, they arent, but in there place you will need time and the discipline to decide when to stay put, stop or turn back (including in this case 'especially' on the first day of the typical OT once you get a feel for the conditions up on the plateau and assessing your capabilities). It sounds simple but it really can be the consequences of simple decisions that have the potential to get people into real trouble. Getting colder when wet or pushing on when not sure or stopping because your forced to rather than a making (fully) conscious and capable decision and having the energy to carry it out makes all the difference.

Anyhow, good luck with your climb mm.

[jwalker]

Thanks for the times and details MM. The 10 hours Ronny to Pelion was about what I thought it might be, mulling over a possible future plan. Cheers.

Coincidently I've been re-reading Into Thin Air this week, the account of the 96 Everest tragedy by John Krakauer. One of the commercial teams was named Mountain Madness! Here's to a much more successful and safe time with your future endeavours!!

J

[MountainMadness]

Thanks Nuts, point taken. However, perhaps your concern was targeted towards the wrong person. Tim Holding could do with a few pointers after his poor effort in the Snowies!!!

By the way, loved Tassie and will certainly be back!!! And hopefully get a better view from some of the peaks.

Cheers,
Paul.

[Nuts]

Yer, nothing personal. Just that i have seen many people (at all levels of experience) encounter the same difficulties. Some have a lot more difficult (and sometimes dangerous) time as a result. I have no experience with the particular area which caught Tim Holding out. Others that have done that walk have pointed to the errors of his planning (I just wouldnt call him a w...ker either way) (unless I had experience, passed it directly to him and he chose to ignore it (given the result of his choices)) Anyhow, yer, Tassie can turn it on over winter, lots of fun to be had

[north-north-west]

Tim Holding could do with a few pointers after his poor effort in the Snowies!!!

Feathertop's been moved to dubberland? Wow!!!