Windy Ridge and Lake St. Clair
Two very long days...first the way to Windy Ridge Hut, past Cathedral Mountain with beautiful views everywhere. Today, we actually ran into a few Freedom Walkers who were very impressed that we were staying in the lap of luxury (a cabin), while they roughed it in the adequate, but occasionally rat-infested, huts (all part of the experience, so they said). Each Freedom hut
You do have to book with the Forest Service in advance as they only allow a limited amount of people on the trail each day.
The eight hours flew by thanks to ...Fergusson and Hartnett waterfalls...the Mersey River and Myrtle Forests.
All that was left to complete the Overland Track was one last easy day through the Eucalyptus forests, all on boardwalk to Lake St. Clair.
The last day was the sunniest and hottest day of the entire Overland Track and I was a nervous wreck. Remember all those highly deadly, aggressive mating snakes on the posters? I knew that if any were in the vicinity, the sun and heat would bring them out onto the boardwalk for a little sunbath. There was only one obsessive though in my mind...hike those 10km's as fast as my short legs could carry me, constantly scanning the boardwalk and terrain for snakes. We reached Lake St. Clair in record time, and ex-Marine said, "Gosh, Sheila...you almost ran the entire distance. Why were you moving so fast?" (I told you...the man is oblivious...and that is when I shared the "Killer snake secret" with him......) Not a snake in sight, we were intact and Ian phoned for the boat to take us across Lake St. Clair for the transfer back to Launceston. Ian presented us with little certificates stating we had successfully completed Tasmania's 65km Overland Track and put us on a Red Line bus heading to Hobart.
We did it!!!!
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