overland track both ways

[not drowning waving]

I'm looking at walking the overland in the next couple of weeks and from reading http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=7827 it is ok to walk in either direction in the off season. I was looking at starting at the Lake St Clair end and taking 10-12 days to go both ways. I've done a few 3-4 night trips but never anything of this length and thought this would be a good way to try a longer trip with the option of bailing out half way. Any opinions on which direction would be better or any tips to pass on?
cheers

[Bap]

I did the Overland track last year in September starting for Lake St Clair and going north and I really enjoyed doing it this way. It is a fact that you are doing more climbing this way but if your going up and back it doesn't really matter. I recommend going up into Pine Valley and spending a night or two up there.

[Drifting]

what are doing about food? You might find food availability a bit of a problem at one end or the other.

[Lizzy]

If you don't need to get back to the same end, you could easily spend the 10 days going one direction....I did this (>10 years ago). We started at Lake St Clair, walked the lake track into Pine Valley. Base camped there and spent up a day up at the Acropolis and another exploring the Labyrinth. This is a good way to use up some of your heavy food before having to lug it too far. Then back to the OL track and we did it pretty leisurely and did quite alot of the sidetrips (which are wee worthwhile). I must say the only dissapointment was getting to the end at Dove Lake & no food! (compared to the burgers @ Lake St Clair) But our bus did stop briefly for us
have fun
Lizzy

[not drowning waving]

Thanks for the replies. I'll be taking all the food with me. No doubt I'll be cursing the weight the first few days but that's how it goes. At the moment the plan is to do a number of the side trips on the way in with a quicker return leg. Are there any dramas as far as leaving a car at Lake St Clair? Is it a bad place for break ins or things like that?

[Erica]

like said, you can always spend a few days at pine valley on the way in, and pelion hut is also somewhere really lovely to spend a few nights if you're looking to pad it out a bit, i really love that hut!