OT Crowd?

[juju]

I am looking at doing the OT 'in season' and was wondering about how crowded it can get when the track allows for 50 - 60 people at a time. Looking at the booking page it sometimes is full to capacity and I wonder what sort of a bush experience can be had with such large numbers. Does this mean every day 50 - 60 people can depart from Cradle Mountain? Have I got that right? What is other walker's experience with this? thanks, Julie

[Son of a Beach]

Yes, it is crowded during most of the year to the extent that it does not feel like 'wilderness' as such (at least to me). Of course it is still an enjoyable and worthwhile trip through some fantastic landscapes, but not quite a wilderness walk (at least in Summer). Sleeping in tents rather than in huts can mean things feel a bit less crowded. And some camp sites are less used than others.

[Bap]

If I was you I would Stay away from the OLT During those times if your after a bush experience. I did the DuCane traverse and when I did the section from Lake St Clair to DuCane Gap and we passed so many people it really ruined that first day for us it was lucky we were going off track.

[Nuts]

Thats correct juju up to 50-60. Its not the sort of walk to do if solitude is a large requirement of your 'wilderness experience'.
To me The Overland Track experience is great! Probably not rare around the world or on a few of the more popular tracks in more popular parks but i just reckon its great that so many people are out using and enjoying (and gaining employment from) such a resource. Its pretty much a given that you wouldn't cram into a hut if solitude was the goal but traveling early (or late) can avoid meeting so many during the day.
I dont really associate meeting others as detracting that much from wilderness, to me it's more the 'place' regardless.

[corvus]

A walk in one of my favourite locations , social interaction with visitors from near and far (what crowd?) guess I must like people so if you are looking for a quiet walk do it off season or as others have suggested head elsewhere .
I think that the maximum independent walkers allowed on the track daily during the season is 34 and a total of 26 for Guided Groups and Cradle Huts.

[juju]

Thank you for your replies. I'm planning to take my partner, my 21 and 15 yr old son to Tas. I've had overnight walking experience in Tasmania but they haven't and I don't know if the conditions will get to them. it didn't get to me - but I - I couldn't see the rain for the beauty of it all...and now the photos of the rugged terrain have got them in but I'm not sure about crowds. A friend of mine just got back from the 5 day Jatbula Trail which has a 10 person limit and a fee of $3.30 per night...even though they don't need heaters up there and there are no huts or boardwalks to maintain, I wonder at the hefty fee of the Overland but thought I might be a good first Tassie walk for my partner and sons, unless anyone has a suggestion?

[Erica]

I think that the maximum independent walkers allowed on the track daily during the season is 34 and a total of 26 for Guided Groups and Cradle Huts.

corvus is right, its 34 "independent walkers" (as we at CMH tend to call them) and then the CMH group (up to 12) and anyone else thats booked as either a tour company (camping) or school/scout groups. The number of people on the track can vary a lot within the peak season, so it also depends on when in the season you're planning on doing it. It might be an idea to remember too, that whilst there are that many people "on the track" you're still allowed to camp in other places, or stay on the tent platforms that are often located away from the huts, so you wont encounter as many people whilst camping either (if you wish). Also (again... too many alsos...) while, yes, there are lots of people on the track, almost everyone is going in the same direction, so if you're walking at an average sort of pace, you don't really see that many people while on the track, because they'll be walking at a similar speed an hour or so infront or behind.

the OLT is a great first long overnight walk for introducing people to bushwalking, especially with the comfort of the huts, toilets and tankwater when the creeks are running dry.