
Take five on the Overland: Barb's Recap
Permission to get muddy and don’t forget gaiters
Our new mini blog series asks recently-returned walkers five questions about their trip. Here’s Barb’s account of the Cradle Mountain Signature Walk –tips and inspo included!
Did the Overland match/beat/challenge expectations?
Match
What was the weather like and how did it affect the walk?
We had all four seasons which is what people tell you will happen at Cradle, but I was still surprised. The sleet and rain while unpleasant, were also what gave you the high of the day. It’s a great achievement to walk through inclement weather.
Explain the feeling of reaching a hut (and glass of wine!) after a big day on track:
Finishing each day is a rush. You’re tired and joyous. It’s such a fantastic sensory experience to enter the warm hut that is full of delicious cooking smells. I was tired and would fight to get off my gaiters and boots to hang up my gear but felt like a child on Christmas morning.
What piece of gear helped the most and any advice to people considering the Overland?
Gaiters and waterproof gloves. The mud and puddles are real. My gloves got soaked in 10 minutes and were useless.
Which part of the experience was most rewarding/which moment really stopped you in your tracks?
The guides explained that to protect the vegetation beside the path (because the soil is thin) it’s best to walk through the middle of the path/puddle. As an adult you are always working to avoid puddles and avoid mud. Being told it’s best to walk straight through unlocked a permission that I needed to let myself get muddy (and trust my gear) and just walk through puddles. It sounds weird to say that with all the beautiful mountains to look at that I enjoyed walking through mud puddles the most - but I did. What a joy!
Where to next?
I’d love to go to Kangaroo Island.
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Image captions: Barb's Overland Track experience with Tas Walking Co.