Private tour operators versus walking it ourselves

[sweetiepark]

I am contemplating walking the overland track next Christmas New Year period with another 4 people. None of us are experienced at overnight hikes and we dont know whether to walk the track unguided or whether it is worth the expense to walk guided with one of the private companies. I understand most people on this forum are experienced walkers and so I am aware of the bias of responses but 5 people unexperienced at overnight hiking trekking though alpine terrain sounds a bit like it could be a recipe for disaster. Any thoughts?

[tastrax]

If you can afford it then take the commercial tour and simply enjoy yourself - the guides really look after you and you will have less worries, less weight to carry and you should have a great time. Then after you have done the tour use the knowledge gained on the walk to start and build up your own skills for further walks. Spend extra time in Tassie after the trip and take in a few of the "Great short walks" around the rest of the state.

[Ent]

Good advice. No reason why you would not survive the experience but unless you build up for longer walks you will likely wind up carrying too much or not enough. Guiding tours will give you the best chance to enjoy the experience with out the hassle of a learning curve.

The hut experience is a more luxury way but to get a better feel on of the hike and camp tours might be the go.

Cheers

[corvus]

+1 if you are inexperienced.
corvus

[sweetiepark]

Thanks for the responses. Great advice. I do want to enjoy the experience without the hassle of "learning the hard way". Dont need advice on the Tassie short walks - I live in Qld but am ADDICTED to tas managing to have a holiday down there at least once a year hence the want to do the overland .

I now need advice on training. Does anyone have a link to a training tool for getting fit to walk the track please? Cheers.

[Ent]

I now need advice on training. Does anyone have a link to a training tool for getting fit to walk the track please? Cheers.

Live in a cold shower for a week or maybe a desert or better still alternate every five minutes with a stay in a freezer overnight. Just kidding, well almost. The main thing is the fitter that you are the more that you will enjoy the walk. Now fitness means training as you are expecting to walk so find some nice steep streets and strap on a pack and head up them. Make sure that you are happy with your footwear. No last minute boot buying. Big hint, often the more you pay for a tough leather boot the longer to break in period. Also maybe lighter footwear will suit you. Footwear choice is a highly personal thing so the main thing is to find out beforehand what suits you.

The OLT is achievable with reasonable fitness as long as you allow yourself time for breaks. Guide companies must get the gold medal in motivation and planning as I have seen a few brilliant examples where they have got rather unfit people over the line.

A remarkable simple list of gear will make or break the trip so if not been guided then hunt around for a good rainshell and clothing materials that will remain warm even if wet. Be rather compulsive on ways to keep your gear dry and make sure whatever pack you buy or use suits you with the load that you intend to carry. Too many people figure training walks with say 16 kilograms is ok then that start out with 25 plus and suffer. Smart gear selection is needed to keep pack weight down to sensible levels. Ok, I started at around thirty kilograms for a five star experience but honestly unless you are use to that load try to keep below 20 kilograms or even lower down to 15 kilograms fully loaded.

The main thing is to get the confidence that you are going to make it to the respective day end points. As mentioned guiding companies excel at that.

Cheers Brett

[Erica]

Just to follow up Brett's comments, if you're thinking about going with Cradle Huts, you're likely to have an even lighter pack (say 10kgs), I can't speak for the other guided companys though.

I used to guide with Cradle Huts, and one of the main problems that our clients encountered was the rocky/rough/rooty terrain. If you can find a track in your area that has quite an uneven surface then it might be worth walking that with a pack on and your boots to prepare.

Cheers,

Erica

[wayno]

at least one long walk on hilly terrain a week, building up to several hours, , and whatever else you can fit in during the week. if you're going to carry a pack do it more on the shorter walks to start with, its not necessary to carry a pack all the time. if you havent got access to hills all week then try jogging on the flat , whatever duration is comfortable. you only really need to push yourself once a week or fortnight, have your biggest exercise session three or four weeks out fromt eh walk then drop your training volume tapering back to just short brisk exercise sessions int he last week, very short over the final half week, five ten minute jogs so you're nice and fresh for teh big walk...

[Nuts]

It's not a cheap holiday, even privately.
Packs should be around 12kg for a tent-based/guided tour.

Most companies would supply 'preparation notes' when you book. Advice above sounds fine, gradual increase in stamina, practice with pack-weight, building up along with distance covering rough/uneven ground, lots of flexibility/stretching work.

[wayno]

one way to train is follow hard day easy day philosophy, or easy day medium day hard day.. only one really long session a week is neeed, the rest of the week ease off to recover properly, maybe a hardish session mid week then ease off before the weekend.
dont train long or hard on sore legs or if you're over tired. listen to your body... increase gradually, pay attention to injuries, ease back till they heal properly or cross train to keep fit, ie swimming, cycling, gym...

[Solohike74]

Early in 2012 I went down to do the Overland Track. I don't walk regularly, just a few walks a year. I'm of average size. My gear since has been.getting lighter through wisdom & experience.

Nonetheless, being of little means I, of necessity chose the independent option. I went out alone. It was tough a bit, but I had a ball. You will meet other people & if you don't start too late each day, find your not alone.

By way of note I've camped a lot before, including winter alpine, and hike occasionally. Talk to me about joining up, I'd love to get out there again. Or, a packing list even.

[madmacca]

I now need advice on training. Does anyone have a link to a training tool for getting fit to walk the track please? Cheers.

Aim at a pack carry nearly every weekend.

If you can run 5K, then you should have enough fitness to cope with the OT. This may sound scary, but is actually pretty straightforward with a Couch to 5K plan over just 8 weeks http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml Keep your running to just 3 days per week.

Some basic strength training also helps.

* calf raises for the foot and ankle (helps prevent sprains and rollovers) http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Gastrocnemius/BWStandingCalfRaise.html
* squats for the thighs and butt muscles - helps powering up the climbs http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/Quadriceps/BWSquat.html
* planks for enough spine and back strength to carry a pack all day http://www.exrx.net/WeightExercises/RectusAbdominis/BWFrontPlank.html

[Lophophaps]

A lot of walking is psychological. If you can get into a mindset of expecting to be cold, hot, tired, dirty etc, then when these happen it will not be as great a mental shock. Also, I like to think very short-term, the next rest, creek or camp, rather than the end of the trip some days away. Thinking short-term allows you to achieve goals immediately instead of waiting for the end. Stamina is most important.

[ybi2]

Only done the track only twice (once each way) as well as come in from Arm River Track. I have not gone with the private tour operators as I can not afford it. However, along the way I have met some of the leaders. All have been really nice friendly people. They are helpful with information not only to their customers but other non tour hikers as well. If I had the funds I would go with them for a change.

[alanoutgear]

A bit off topic, but ... a couple of years ago we were having a rest at the turn off to Pine Valley and a Cradle Huts group came along. One bloke (who would have been 150kg and looked pretty unfit) was walking in thongs (the footwear not the underwear - although he might have been wearing that too). They rested with us for a few minutes and the guide told him several times to put his boots on and each time he refused.

I asked him why he was walking in thongs - turns out he bought new boots for the walk, and the first time he had put them on was the first morning of the walk and by lunchtime he had feet full of blisters, so he reverted to his night footwear - the thongs. Didn't have far to go either.

We didn't see them again.

Make sure you've got comfortable boots and that they are worn in before you take your first step on the track.