Quickest route to Waterfall Valley Hut

[dazfromtaz]

Hi there fellow bushwalkers. I am going on the OT end of the month, which way is the quickest route to Waterfall Valley Hut? I appreciate your tips!

[frenchy_84]

up marians lookout and straight along the track past kitchen hut for the quickest route should only be 3hrs i think if you want to do it quickly

[Miyata610]

The goat chain up to Marion's from dove lake. Assuming you start from the dove lake carpark. 2.5hrs.

[Tortoise]

The goat chain up to Marion's from dove lake. Assuming you start from the dove lake carpark. 2.5hrs.

Hmm - some of us take a good deal longer than that

Since you're asking re a very well known walk, I'm wondering what other Tassie walks you've done, and how long they took you.

[Miyata610]

The goat chain up to Marion's from dove lake. Assuming you start from the dove lake carpark. 2.5hrs.

Hmm - some of us take a good deal longer than that

Ah yeah well I do that particular walk quite often. Sometimes leaving the vehicle in the arvo and getting back to it in the dark. Maybe familiarity reduces the time a bit. Lol.

[nq111]

The goat chain up to Marion's from dove lake. Assuming you start from the dove lake carpark. 2.5hrs.

Yep - and has to be the most scenic route as well.

[Tortoise]

The goat chain up to Marion's from dove lake. Assuming you start from the dove lake carpark. 2.5hrs.

Hmm - some of us take a good deal longer than that

Ah yeah well I do that particular walk quite often. Sometimes leaving the vehicle in the arvo and getting back to it in the dark.

Is that carrying a full pack for the OT like he'll be doing?

[Miyata610]

Is that carrying a full pack for the OT like he'll be doing?

No, carrying even more. Doing a food drop.

[Overlandman]

Helicopter, 8 minutes from Old Cradle Airstrip

[Tortoise]

Is that carrying a full pack for the OT like he'll be doing?

No, carrying even more. Doing a food drop.

Oh to be so fit!!

[dazfromtaz]

Thank you, my wife's first time and we need to go the quickest way so we can take our time in case she's reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllly slow!

[MrWalker]

Thank you, my wife's first time and we need to go the quickest way so we can take our time in case she's reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllly slow!

Everyone here is assuming that you'll start from Dove Lake, which is probably correct if you really want the quickest route.
But you wife may prefer the slightly longer but easier route starting from Ronny Creek, going to Marions Lookout via Crater Lake. This starts at a higher level, so there is less climbing, which makes up for the longer distance.

[corvus]

The goat chain up to Marion's from dove lake. Assuming you start from the dove lake carpark. 2.5hrs.

"Miyata610"
Phil that is a "boast" not a reasonable comment IMHO !!
Normal walkers can expect to take up to 4 hours plus to reach WFV Hut without side trips, what you are suggesting is that they walk at around 4.5 kph up a steep rise and at times over uneven footing with a full pack yeah !!
Phil I have done some food drops and can remember them being not an easy experience just glad that you seem to deem them a mere bagatellele
corvus

[Tortoise]

edit

[Miyata610]

Lol. The question was "quickest".

For the inexperienced taking the goat chain would be a mistake. Especially for someone not used to carrying loads. I might even go as far as saying that it could be dangerous. Certainly for some it would not even be possible.

But it's the quickest.

As noted above, a far better route for beginners is via crater lake. I've no idea how long that would take, I've never done it.

I don't think 2.5 hours is particularly fast. However it doesn't allow time for some sightseeing, a stop for a meal, or all those photo opportunities that crop up along the way.

Btw, the goat chain isn't even part of the OT. I believe most people doing the OT want to actually follow the official route.

Why are we assuming that the original poster is a novice? Isn't that a bit presumptuous?

[stepbystep]

The route via Crater Lake is far more scenic anyway. Given its your wife's first time start early and take all day. No point feeling like you should be rushing. The climb up Marion's is a bit of a shock to any newbie but she can be assured that it's the steepest part of the whole OT.

[pazzar]

I took a bunch of beginners up there in winter. We started at Dove Lake, and walked up to Crater Lake and Marion's via Wombat Pool. We would have been up the top in 90 minutes. We started walking at 10:30am, and then we summited Cradle, and the next little bit took us longer than expected due to heavy amounts of ice on the track on the descent to WFV. We were all at the hut by 5pm and we certainly weren't setting a cracking pace. I think going from Dove Lake via Crater Lake is definitely the most scenic route. Well worth the trip.

We exited via Scott Kilvert and out over Hanson's Peak. Took us roughly the same amount of time - only 2 hills on the way out, and it makes for a nice circuit walk.

Cheers,

Jared

[matagi]

Thank you, my wife's first time and we need to go the quickest way so we can take our time in case she's reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllly slow!

Do you mean this is your wife's first time bushwalking? Or first time on the OT?

If it's her first time walking, then you should definitely take the easiest route not the quickest route. If you are concerned she's going to be really slow, then start early so you have all day.

[stepbystep]

I took a bunch of beginners up there in winter. We started at Dove Lake, and walked up to Crater Lake and Marion's via Wombat Pool. We would have been up the top in 90 minutes. We started walking at 10:30am, and then we summited Cradle, and the next little bit took us longer than expected due to heavy amounts of ice on the track on the descent to WFV. We were all at the hut by 5pm and we certainly weren't setting a cracking pace. I think going from Dove Lake via Crater Lake is definitely the most scenic route. Well worth the trip.

We exited via Scott Kilvert and out over Hanson's Peak. Took us roughly the same amount of time - only 2 hills on the way out, and it makes for a nice circuit walk.

Cheers,

Jared

Do you mean you dropped down to Crater Lake or simply went to the saddle above it? Jared's proposed route is also very scenic regardless of my question above. I'd still go from Ronny Ck though, Crater Lake is too nice to bypass...

[Ent]

Good post Corvus. About four hours pulls the average walker up but if not fit or use to walking over broken ground with a pack and or up climbs more than a few take longer. Last walk we struck a family that did not make it as they left their run too late so camped on the way in. Times that I see flying around seem more a brag (and no doubt that people have done the times claimed) rather than a practical indication for many walkers doing the OLT as their first major walk.

Distance is one thing but quality of the track and gradient play a roll. A super human pack hauler uses the chain route up to Marions (skirts around part of Dove Lake then straight up) but I would not recommend that. Starting at Dove Lake and going by Wombat Pool might be a bit quicker but never really time that. I would say it might be much of a muchness. Main thing is to allow plenty of time for breaks and rests so you get there in the end. And is that not the main thing?

Cheers

[dazfromtaz]

Thank you all for your insightful information everyone!