Day 3
Lake Windermere to Pelion Hut
Truth was that we were very much susceptible to the extreme weather in the Tasmania mountains.
On the other hand it was one of the most thrilling experiences to be exposed to such extreme conditions
but with protective gears and some mental and physical preparations.
We woke up as the sun rose and we went to bed when the sun down.
There was no modern amenities in there.
There was neither electricity, nor flush toilet( composting toilet. Very smelly on a warm day.)
Huts had heaters but it was only on with under certain circumstances like first night.
Usually day time the temperature got higher on fine days and then it dropped dramatically
down below zero easily at night even in summer.
We didn't prepare extra socks for night and didn't have warm enough clothes like down jumpers
for early morning or late night.
While we were not walking, spending time in a cold place was a hard part.
I found Suze' feet became so red from cold when night fell which was kind of a shock to me.
As a mum I should have known it....poor thing.
We had distances to cover every day so everyone went to bed most by 8pm.
In actual fact it was too long to wait until 8 pm cos we had dinner very early
but if you went to bed too early you ended up waking up too early.
So 8 pm was optimal time we decided.
Over the second night I heard in my light sleep it raining with gusty winds which was a typical unpredictable
and changeable weather in Tasmania.
Unlike the first quiet night it was a little noiser with some snorers which didn't bother me at all.
I was simply happy sleeping in the proper bunk bed.
I slept with Suze side by side on upper bunks while Eddie was with someone else in lower one.
There was a guy who was middle aged with a big fat belly.
At one quick glance he never looked like a hiker.
I saw him talking loquaciously on the first night at the hut as a good hearted person
you could come across in your neighbourhood easily.
During our hike he was the last person who arrived at each hut every night.
Unbelievably he told me he did 6 foot track to train himself before this.
On top of that people said he spent a night at Marion's Lookout or at Kitchen Hut on the first day.
Nobody knew exactly where tho.
He was considered kind of quirky with so many speculations.
When he arrived with his big fat pack with extra items dangling outside at the second hut very late
Eddie offered him his next spot very willingly.
Early morning I woke up and went to the kitchen area and I found him there.
He told me he couldn't sleep very well due to the noise.
I didn't tell him I knew he was one of the snorers but it made me smile.
M came to kitchen to make breakfast from her tent and she also complained she couldn't have a sound sleep
due to rain and wind.
I cooked proper breakfast and made coffee while Eddie and Suze were packing.
In the huts they had huge rain tanks we used for drinking and cooking and the water was purely
clean and delicious.
We didn't need to treat them.
Many times you had to be in a long queue for water or toilet but it was quite manageable too.
Day 3 was the longest walk in terms of the distance of 17 km.
I recalled it the most scenic day out of the total hike.
We walked through a forest first and then passed button grass moorland.
The combination of different terrains with unique plants of colours was intriguing.
I absolutely loved it.
Day started cloudy and wet but progressed into a fine day with low temperature.
Then we crossed through a forest glade with beautifully coloured mosses and fungi.
One stage we came across a big group of hikers with guides.
They only carried light day packs which made me feel proud of myself with my tall and heavy pack.
Whenever we stopped it was not easy to heft this heavy thing on your shoulder again
but I was getting more and more used to it by then.
It was not an extremely strenuous route but it felt like a real good hike this day with the good combination
of distance and views.
We had lunch on the way and made it at around 2:30pm at the hut.
The hut was modern and the largest in the track to hold huge numbers of people.
When we arrived there there were only a few people before us.
Eddie and Suze went to see Old Pelion Hut which was built in 1895 after the discovery of copper.
Miners came first and then cattle drovers, trappers followed there until the area was proclaimed
a scenic reserve in 1922.
By end of day 3 Suze started talking about food.
Like other people ate some pan cakes or even some cakes(?) and how nice it must have been etc.
We tried to prepare snacks and bars etc. but it was not enough.
This was a long haul we'd never done before.
Breakfast was only very light and lunch was usually one small tin.
Dinner was dehydrated food whose quantities were very little without any side dishes or vegetables.
Usually we never were full during the whole hike.
We walked every day with tall heavy packs and ate less than normal.
I was surprised to find out these meal plans were prepared for this long hike.
However I rather enjoyed it cos I couldn't do it at home where there was too much food.
But it must have been a kind of torture for Suze.
Night fell.
I wore possible layers as many as possible and went into my sleeping bag shivering from head
to toe.
Nevertheless it took quite some time to warm myself with my own body temperature.
But by dawn I discovered the cruelly cold wall and floor became so much cosy and comfortable
already protecting me very surprisingly.
In the middle of night with a torch on my head I had to go pee through a long corridor, passing
grass field outside the building to the toilet.
It was so serene and quiet as if the whole mountains stopped breathing isolated from the human world.
As if they erased any trace of living existence for the time being under the veil of night.
