Birthday magic on the way from Kia Ora Hut to BERT NICHOLS Hut (Overland day 4)

Day 4th turned to be my second rainy day. Considering the Overland Track statistic says that 3/5 days are rainy/wet no matter what season, my first two sunny days were a encouraging start. Yesterday it started raining around half way through to the Kia Ora hut and it did not stop yesterday, not today.

 

Kia Ora Hut, source: Nele&Andrew around OZ

 

It was a shame as Kia Ora is placed in near neighbourhood of Mount Ossa -  the Tasmania's highest peak. Upon my arrival I could hardly see above 30 meters distance, everything was covered in a fog and puring rain.. otherwise the view would have been stunning.



Not quite 360 degree view from top of Mt Ossa (Tasmania), source: Wikimedia

There were several overlanders who took their chances to get to the top. They returned all beaten up and wet.. The terrain is difficult enough in good weather conditions. Never mind in bad weather..

As we were sitting and chatting away the rangers mentioned that there are many accidents happening as people tend to overestimate their chances in getting over to the top. Many end up injured. Some end up going there .... and never coming back..

 

Mount Ossa (Tasmania), source: Wikipedia

The Overland Track day 3 - New Pelion Hut to Kia Ora



The evening at New Pelion Hut was also the first opportunity to get introduced to other fellow bushwalkers... I had the time to observe how others prepared for this trip and how they were managing on their 4th day (while it was mine 3rd). Interestingly..


I was not doing bad at all. But I was different. I did not have cooking stove with me. I did not have fancy gear or comfortable sleeping mat..nor I was bushwalking in a company. It was soon to be my third day and I was walking it on my own, with great enjoyment!

Well I had some company. Like the one below. On one of my stops, while sitting on a fallen tree covered with my waterproof jacket, I felt a slight discomfort at first. As it started to grow I began to check what's the reason, just to discover quickly that there were two reasons... one of them captured below.

 

Meeting with a local Jumping Jack ant... not a pleasure it was I must say. It left two swollen bites that were growing quickly on my bottom.

"The Jack Jumper Ant is a close relative to bees & wasps. It is the most dangerous native ant known in Australia and its venom is one of the most powerful in the insect world. Jack Jumpers are widely found in the eastern states of Australia and are on the move."http://www.jjant.info/

I don't know how it happened as I carefully checked before sitting down, besides there was this additional layer of my jacket as well. The itchy point was that I had to take off my trousers and apply an antibiotic which I gladly did. I admire myself for taking this precaution until this day. If not for the antibiotic I think it could have ended with very nasty skin irritation in best case scenario. But with the antibiotic applied it was healing in no time, actually next day there was no marks or anything.

The Overland Track Day 2 - Windermere to New Pelion Hut

The next day I woke up with the sunrise at 6 am. Beautiful and brisk day. I had to put socks over my hands to be able to bring the tent down and pack my belongings. It was sooooo freeeeezing cold.
A quick breakfast - piece of bread with hard boiled egg - and I was ready in no time.




Getting ready at Lake Windermere. I am starting my day 2.





Now I could think about yesterday with fresh mind. I did 24,6 KM in 7 hrs time. Definitely the day was more challenging than I had anticipated. I quickly went through my planning and there was only one more day coming close to the distance. It was 17 KM... and it was today. The trail from Windermere to New Pelion Hut... How lucky to be having it straight after my stretched day 1 ;). Normally it would have been day 3 if not for my crazy run. So normally it would have been working out well - day 1 stretch with two mountain tops, day two a bit of a rest going down from the mountains, and day 3 a stretch again, flat walking though.



Overland Track - my day 2 - Windermere to New Pelion Hut



Looking at the map, I had a secret hope of stopping over at Pine Forest Moor as the map was indicating a hut there. It was half way through, so if it was too difficult to walk the 17 KM I could maybe have a stop-over there.


For now it was enough just to start and continue my venture. I was walking around Windermere lake for about 25 minutes and imagine my astonishment when I came across a big sign for a public Windermere hut...It turned out I was camping in the middle of nowhere while not even 30 min away I could have gotten a bunk bed, hot water and a decent company of 9 other hikers.


Windermere hut (from wildsight.com.au)

Their faces when I entered the room at 7 AM were more than anything saying (...)