Ducane Hut
Day 5 Kia Ora to Windy Ridge(Bert Nicholas Hut): 9.6km plus 2.5km to waterfalls
Our grandeur hiking trip was almost closing to end and it was our last night sleeping at the hut.
It was 40 minutes' walk from Kia Ora Hut when we were facing Ducane Hut.
Old wooden historic hut mainly for an emergency shelter like Kitchen Hut on the first day.
We mostly walked through deep forests that day.
We had 3 side trips to Mersey River gorge for D'Alton Falls, Fergusson Falls and Hartnett Falls after lunch.
Waterfalls were spectacular as always and they were Eddie's favourites too.
As usual we arrived early afternoon at the hut before most hikers.
Just as we got there it started raining and the rain got thick and strong.
The hut was well designed for the purpose of giving best conveniences to the hikers.
It was super modern and very spacious.
But suddenly darkened sky and dropped temperature made dramatic effects to the praised building.
I couldn't feel much comfort with freezing draught from outside.
Eddie liked his solitary the night before and even though the weather got really bad he insisted on sleeping
in the tent.
First Suze agreed on it but later the rain became heavy snow which made change her mind.
Luckily she managed to squeeze in next to me we could sleep together side by side.
Everybody stayed inside that night except only two tents up.
There was one more tent set up next to Eddie's which belonged to one elderly seasoned hiker couple from Holland.
They regarded sudden treacherous weather change as nothing but an usual daily happening.
They arrived at the second night's hut late afternoon straight from the start of the hike by skipping the first hut.
They chose a tent spot and husband was seriously trying to gauge which direction should the tent face depending on
where the sun rise the next morning.
It was a totally new world and language to me.
We were chilling out on the next wooden platform and I was instantly impressed with them.
When ever we went out for water or toilet gradually stacking snow was slippery on the ground.
It was also freezing cold.
We cooked our simple dehydrated food before 5 pm and we had nothing much to do before bed.
Suze was trying not to show but she looked not satiated at all.
But our food stock went down to almost nothing except the next day's breakfast and lunch.
Soon people started putting on their head torches or lighted left-over candles on the kitchen table.
Dim candle lights or a little bit brighter torches flickering around in the dark kitchen here and there which made
huge grotesque or funny shadows.
Outside was lightly illuminated from snow.
There were 3 young boys.
2 from Queensland and 1 originally from Holland but working in Sydney.
They became a group here and walked together.
I noticed two Queensland boys were very strict about their time management and food instalment.
We actually had dinner too early many times and by the time or even before we went to bed
Suze was too hungry most of the time.
Also we finished all snacks before day 5 already.
Or we didn't prepare enough?
I saw them patiently wait for their allocated dinner time playing card games and after dinner they had one block
of chocolate each as dessert.
Until 8 pm we were lingering in the kitchen and we happened to sit together with them.
Suze joined them for the card games as I watched them play.
They talked about noisy snorers and they told me who were snoring during last 4 nights.
And we giggled talking about these silly things like children.
I learned one of the snorers settled in the same room as us that night.
The next morning one boy whispered me how the night was with the severe snorer
when we were getting ready for the day.
haha
While we were at the kitchen Eddie didn't hang out with us enjoying his own solitary in his freezing tent.
Finally when it's past 8 pm we decided to sleep.
Me and Suze were too tired and cold to check on him even though we were crazily worried about him.
But Suze got angry at me for not checking her Daddy.
It was incredibly hard to make myself come out of already settled sleeping bag to a freezing cold and wet night.
As expected I came back to my bed with my heavy heart full of worries about him.
Day 6 Windy Ridge to Narcissus(Ferry Terminal)at Lake St Clair( 9km)
Day broke and I woke with worries about Eddie.
I was about to get up when Eddie quietly came to let me know that he survived the night.
Finally we were finishing this hike in half a day!!!
We found it's raining heavily in the morning.
I didn't know when snow became rain.
But outside looked more promising and positive than last night.
We were going to Narcissus where we would board a ferry at 1pm to Lake St Clair information centre.
A guide was supposed to pick us up there to go back to Launceston.
Usually M took time to do a daily hike arriving at a late time in a very relaxed manner every afternoon but she had to make it
for the ferry with us so she was a little worried in the morning.
Most other people seemed to spend one more night at either Narcissus Hut or another hut
reaching by foot the destination one day later.
Later I found almost every seats in the ferry were occupied by guided hikers who stayed at luxurious private huts.
Plus my family, M and 3 more seats.
One young guy from Melbourne was injured in his ankle at day 1 or 2 and some other two people gave their seats
to him and his girl friend.
One last seat was taken by I from Saudi Arabia.
He made inquires to the ranger at day 4 and he got a seat luckily.
It was steadily raining during the whole hike that morning.
So by the time we arrived at the Narcissus hut we were wet and cold.
Suze left earlier in the morning with other young people whom she became friends with.
We thought we could catch up with her on the way but it was around 3 hours' easy walk so she was
waiting for us at the hut.
She must have wanted to reach there super fast to conquer her hunger or craving for food.
The quicker you arrived the closer it became to the place with plenty of food.
She kept mentioning food items last couple of days numerous times and looked never content after meal time.
Poor thing.
Anyway when we arrived at the Narcissus Hut a big group of people applauded us to congratulate our completion of this big hike.
Also they were laughing about what happened on the way between me and Eddie.
In the middle of track there was a junction where this big group of family were standing resting and Eddie suddenly
turned right to Pine Valley hut way instead of into Narcissus Hut direction.
Again!!! After that Barn Buff on the first day.
OMG
OMG
Eddie's excuse this time was they were blocking the sign!!!!
I stopped him and tried to mock-hit him on the shoulder and they saw it.
They exploded with big laughters and told this to Suze with somewhat a little exaggerations.
So I was a bit embarrassed when people started laughing again when they saw us.
I'd got an impression that people regarded me as an inexperienced hiker.
I felt slightly offended for that cos I was proud of myself as a decent hiker.
But admittedly I was actually inexperienced in terms of multi day hikes at that time.
Suze pointed out that Eddie from time to time fastened my shoe laces and I asked how to fold my sleeping bag
on the first morning which didn't help.
As we had one lunch menu for breakfast on the first morning we had two breakfast porridges for breakfast
and lunch that day.
Very much liquidish meal in a row for our empty flat stomachs.
We were finally at the ferry wharf.
M was commenting the small wharf was shabby and not impressive which was not relevant I thought.
A big group of young people with guides wearing same shirts arrived.
It seemed they were sent here for this track from a company event.
Not for their own interests.
M told them the ferry would be late about which I didn't understand where she got that information.
Funny thing was that as soon as she said that the particular ferry showed its small figure around the corner.
Soon raucous and a little rude young uniformed people started laughing in an unpleasant way.
I was a bit surprised at their rude reactions.
We boarded on the ferry and I had noticed these young people had funny attitude which could
probably be described as close an expression as mob psychology I thought.
Through a week of sharing same experiences they must have acquired their camaraderie in that way.
It was freezing cold on the boat and we were still wearing wet rain gears embracing winds and rain.
Many people wanted to close the window understandably but M strongly objected.
She told people that it's not cold (but it was cold) and we should enjoy fresh air with her own dignified gesture
and tone.
Those young people booed and screamed very loudly all together like little kids at this.
But it didn't make any influence on our strong M at all until something happened.
Even 'I' who was shivering from head to toes seated behind us shouted at M to close the window.
Numerous times Suze copied his exasperated yelling later which made us laugh and reminiscence it.
Suddenly the lake water involuntarily splashed to us via the opened window with the sudden jolt of the boat
which made M mostly and Eddie too very wet and even we had a shower of this water too.
Young group of people chortled and almost fainted to witness this interesting turnout of event and in no time M was standing (after escaped this water bomb and totally wet) next to other closed window across the corridor with a little awkward movement which was too funny a scene.
Anyhow the ferry safely arrived at our destination with no further ado after that.
We met our designated guide soon.
This time he brought a decent new van with proper seats inside.
Before our journey to Launceston I visited the toilet.
I couldn't believe how strange I felt with hot tap water and flushing toilets in the information centre.
It was only 6 days but I already felt like a lady from wilderness.
This guide took us a country style café on the way to Launceston very soon.
Eddie and Suze gorged on big buggers with coffees.
Me and M had small cakes with coffees.
We had congratulated ourselves on completion of this grandeur hike with all our hearts.
M appreciated Eddie about first day's help around Marion's Lookout which was a kind of surprise to me.
I didn't expect that kind of comment from her but it was good to hear that.
On the way to Launceston I dozed on and off sitting on the comfortable seat.
It seemed like a different and more scenic route than before.
This time I was more relaxed to enjoy peaceful and splendid scenery outside.
When we got in Launceston in the late afternoon it was still very warm and sunshiny under the blue sky.
I savoured a huge feeling of achievement and accomplishment.
Not to mention dinner that night was one of the yummiest meals in our life.
Narcissus Ferry Terminal
