Overland track Windy Ridge Hut - upgrade scheduled...

[tasadam]

I was poking about on the net and thought I would have a look at this site...
http://www.overlandtrack.com.au/

In it, there is this text - thought it worth sharing.

Please Note: Hut use at Windy Ridge may not be available due to infrastructure upgrade for the 07/08 season. Please check at time of departure for availability.

[Son of a Beach]

Interesting... makes sense. It's probably the worst of the public huts on the track and gets very crowded. I wish they could do something about the kamakazi possums there! (not that I'm likely to stay in the hut there again, even after it's upgraded).

[norts]

I never understood why the hut was placed where it is, no permanent water. Hardly any camping areas. Does anyone know why the hut site was moved when the original hut burnt down?
Did stay on the platforms in Jan this year. I thought they were pretty good, but I didn't stay in the ones that look like they are built over a swamp.
Norts

[chapman]

Windy Ridge Hut is scheduled to be pulled down and replaced this coming summer. I have suggested that the new hut be built on the level ground 300m to the north which is the site of the previous Windy Ridge Hut (that was burnt in a fire) but then most staff would know nothing about the history of the track and the old hut sites. I suspect they will just use the existing sloping site which as others have said is not very good. I suspect the reason it was built on the steep slope was it was close to the helipad saving some walking and also when it was built they cut the trees and there was a nice view of Mt Geryon. As the trees have grown the view is no longer very good. Also I dont see why they could not build the new hut at the new site, gut the old hut and remove some walls and make it into a lunch or camping shelter. In New Zealand those camping get their own shelter away from the main hut. The idea of removing the old hut completely seems a bit wasteful to me. Ah well - i guess by spending more they can then justify raising the track fee even more later on. At least they are doing a really good job with the new huts if is anything like the pelion one.

Regards
John

[tasadam]

From http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/reserve_closures/index.html

Windy Ridge Hut (Overland Track)
Updated 14 February 2008
A new bushwalkers hut will be constructed at Windy Ridge beginning February 25. Between now and then all hut accommodation and tent pads will be available.

Between February 25 and approximately March 24, there will be approximately 10 spaces available in the hut, and all tent pads will be available.

Between March 24 (approximate date) and the end of May, there will be no hut space available. However all tent pads will be available.

It is anticipated that the new hut will be open from late May/early June, weather permitting.

For all enquiries and the most up to date information, please check at Cradle Mountain when departing or call (03) 6233 6047 or (03) 6289 1172.

[tasadam]

BTW- Trees are gone from the track to the hut and surrounds- awesome view to the west

Any photos?

[tastrax]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/52144762@N00/2397418265/

From a couple of days ago

[frank_in_oz]

Couple of photo from last week, taken by my wife, Sue.
This is a link to the post (they are about half way down) One is the hut and the other the new Ranger's Hut

http://frankinoz.blogspot.com/2008/04/o ... -trip.html

[Damien]

Spoke to the Ranger on site about a week ago and he said that it would be finished by the end of June.
There were only tent platforms available for use. Most of the people we walked with decided to push through to Pine Valley or Narcissus instead of setting up a tent at Windy Ridge.

[frank_in_oz]

We were past there Saturday and the supply chopper was doing a run to "somewhere" about every 10 - 15 minutes so we saw a lot of it as we headed into Narcissus from Kia Ora. One of my walking companions got his rubbish flown out which we reckon was a pretty good move.
These two links are pics of the construction (which seems to be going pretty well)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/80658983@N00/2488446955/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80658983@N00/2488446789/

This link is his rubbish flying out...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80658983@N00/2488446613/

[cherryw]

Hi All
Rang the ranger at Lake St Clair and he advised that last week he was informed that Windy Ridge will be finished in about 4 weeks. Hope that this is true as I will be there around July 16th.

Wayne

[cherryw]

Hi All

Just checked with Parks at Lake St Clair and they said that Windy Ridge should now be finished by mid July ...........I hope so as will be walking on the 17th.

Wayne

[Nuts]

You sound a bit worried Wayne? Spending the week in your tent is a far more memorable experience And just keep going if it is too noisy at Windy Ridge...

[cherryw]

Hi Nuts

Yes spending a week in a tent with my mate would get the wives talking but I can do without the gossip. It will still be a great walk no matter what the weather.

Wayne

[whynotwalk]

I was up at Windy Ridge last Friday checking out the new Bert Nichols Hut . It was a magical winter's day, with snow lathered all over the Du Cane Range (see piccies below). Overall I am quite impressed with the new hut. It is larger than the old one (thank heavens!), but it doesn't impose on the landscape to a much greater degree. Actually it snuggles in quite well.

It's close to finished, but may not be open for a few weeks yet. (Take your tent Wayne!)

cheers

Peter

View of the Du Cane Range over the new Bert Nichols Hut

Bert Nichols 1.JPG (73.21 KiB) Viewed 29313 times

View of hut from the helipad/toilet area

Bert Nichols2.JPG (86.82 KiB) Viewed 29311 times

[Son of a Beach]

Fantastic shot of the hut and the mountains! thanks for the update on the hut progress.

[cherryw]

Thanks Peter,

Looks impressive, loved the snow. Will either use the tent or skip and go to Kiaora. Did you do the track and if you did how was it and how long did you take? Will be starting from Cynthia Bay on the 17th.

Wayne

[whynotwalk]

Thanks Peter,

Looks impressive, loved the snow. Will either use the tent or skip and go to Kiaora. Did you do the track and if you did how was it and how long did you take? Will be starting from Cynthia Bay on the 17th.

Wayne

The snow is already melting fast (until the next dump). The track was heavy with snow, but quite passable. Kia Ora in those conditions would be something like 6 hours from Narcissus. Camping an hour before Kia Ora, at Du Cane Hut (not inside - it's emergency use only) would be another possibility. Just watch out for Black Pete the marauding possum. He's a tent-breaker, and very persistent. Chewed up my copy of Deny King's biography "King of the Wilderness" by Christobel Mattingly (a great read by the way).

cheers

Peter

[tas-man]

<Snip>Just watch out for Black Pete the marauding possum. He's a tent-breaker, and very persistent. Chewed up my copy of Deny King's biography "King of the Wilderness" by Christobel Mattingly (a great read by the way).

cheers

Peter

How long do Possums live for? If it is the same Black Pete that I encountered in 1971, then his longevity is amazing, given his antics. Perhaps he has passed on his talents and expertise to his decendents

PS Deny King's biography "King of the Wilderness" by Christobel Mattingly IS a great read, and some of the info from the book is presented here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZZCeR31srk

[cherryw]

Hi All

Just got back from the Overland and have some photos of the new Windy Ridge hut, should be finished either this week or next.








The artwork


One of the external drying rooms


Stairs leading from the back of the hut to the front


Parks Tasmania storage room


The front drying room


The bunks in one of the three bedrooms


The storage area outside the bunk rooms


The front of the hut


Tristan - one of the builders


Joshua - The other builder


The new rangers hut


I found out how to post photos from PBase site to the forum. Now working.

[EDIT by Mod - as these images do not display due to Pbase linking issues, I have inserted a URL to the images.
To use the links, open them in a new window or a new tab. You will get a "Forbidden" error. Then just click in the address bar and hit enter.
Refresh doesn&#39;t work, but clicking in the address bar and hitting Enter does. I dunno - don&#39;t ask me... But it works.]

[thelummox]

Is it just me or is there a problem with viewing Cherry's happy snaps ?

[Son of a Beach]

Is it just me or is there a problem with viewing Cherry's happy snaps ?

Yes, unfortunately, they are hosted on a site that doesn't allow them to be viewed embedded in other sites unless they are already in your cache. So they probably look OK when cherryw views there here (after viewing in the original location). You can cheat by hitting the 'quote' button for the cherryw post, then copy/pasting the URLs into new window/tabs. Rather tedious, but it works (just don't hit the submit button after hitting the quote button ).

[Son of a Beach]

Wow... the hut is looking good, especially with the snow-topped mountains in the background (I did the copy/paste URL thing - I was bored).

I'm not too keen on the suspended artwork on the ceiling though. Rather odd. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[cherryw]

Hi Guys

Sorry about that but try the URL.

Wayne

[tas-man]

<SNIP>

I'm not too keen on the suspended artwork on the ceiling though. Rather odd. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

They are the new "possum proof" food repositories to foil the resident "Black Pete"

[Hingrock]

<SNIP>

I'm not too keen on the suspended artwork on the ceiling though. Rather odd. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

They are the new "possum proof" food repositories to foil the resident "Black Pete"

More like hangers for morons to hang up dripping, festy, stinkin, diseased socks.

[kramster]

I was planning a trip up to check-out said hut (and meet some friends finishing the overland track) next weekend (8th-9th)
Wrote to parks to check if the new lodging is "open for business" yet - they replied as follows...

Unfortunately the Bert Nichols Hut will not be open when you intent making your trip.
The site is still classified as a construction site, until the council supply the 'certificate of occupancy'

Suppose that means we can't stay there until some nice burocrat ticks a box and stamps a form somewhere in the corridors of power...

[cherryw]

Hi Kramster

I think that if you ask nicley they would let you stay "Unofficially". The guys working on the place are OK. When we went through they said we can stay in the meals area so we swept the area clean for them. Maybe you could ask if there was anything you can help them with eg cleaning up the site, maybe.

Good luck on your trip.

Wayne

[sarge]

Let us know how you go Kramster, we are heading up in a few weeks and are hoping to stay in the new hut if it is ready/ Let us know if they have put any heating in it too if you can.

[corvus]

Hey sarge,
Don't rely on the huts having heating !! I believe some have run out of gas or coal so make sure you have some dry gear to wear when you get to them and enjoy putting on damp socks,boots and possibly other clothing in the morning (tip for the coal heaters clean out the crap that others have left ,find some dry kindling which you can even in the wet and take a newspaper with you, start small and add the coal gradually and voila perfect fire ,worked every time for me)
corvus