“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” Gary Snyder
Being in nature always feels like home to me, no matter where it is but places like this extra special.
I feel blessed to have had time away with wonderful women with Pine Valley Hut as our base for 3 nights .
It was challenging for me to carry in a heavy pack but I am glad I did it.
Day hiking from the hut was great to explore the Du Cane Range.
It was great to return to this region as I didn’t come this section
when I did the Overland Track back about 11 years ago
First lured to Tasmaina years ago after seeing documentary films I am very grateful
to have visited Tassie’s amazing wild state multiple times now.
I am enchanted by her every time and highly recommend it to you.
Just us for the boat ride across Lake St. Clair to the start of our hike in to Pine Valley Hut.
Lake St. Clair is Australia’s deepest lake
It took us QUITE a bit longer…. and that’s ok….
And around the corner we found Pine Valley Hut
Nestled so close in nature made Pine Valley Hut a perfect base
A relaxing place to rest and dream some more
We heard the mice a little bit at night but they were fine. We hung our food up high on the pegs.
Composting Toilets (Helicopters winch these waste containers out)
Each of the Labyrinth and Acropolis walks are suggested to take 5-7hours each.
We met one young woman who did both in one day. I think she was pretty fast. Wow! Clare Hutcheson disappeared Christmas Eve 2000 going up to the Labyrinth.
To our knowledge her body was never found.
Following the track cairn by cairn….
Our little group selfie
Lake Elysia, Labyrinth Track
The Acropolis (from the Labyrinth Track)
“The Earth laughs in flowers” E.E.Cummings
“Look deep into nature and you will understand everything better” Albert Einstein
Our dear little hut friends, Connor and Maia decorated the sign.
It made us smile to see their little friend on the way back in
The Acropolis – Annie and I decided just to walk to the boardwalk area.
Others did the rock scramble to the top
We climbed gently and carefully up the mountain on root paths
– we wondered how those with big feet get up.
You could walk a long way on paths like this photo on the right.
At times the Leatherwood blossoms fell gently upon our heads and decorated our pathways.
Leatherwood honey is also very delicious.
A myriad of roots everywhere lay upon the tracksHave I ever told you how much I love moss? I was in heaven here.
BUT it was a lot drier than last time I’d been in this region.
Some of the moss when you touched it was so very dry.
(early morning selfie)
I left early morning on my own for the walk back toLake St. Clair
to take my time and go a bit slower.
I knew the others would catchup, and they did.
Leaving at this time of the morning allowed me to see wildlife that I hadn’t seen the others days
– a little wallaby, another type of small marsupial (a little friend called Connor told me maybe a Betong) andddd I almost stepped on a large Black Tiger snake, but only got one leech.
Walking in the rain (which we did for about one hour) I thought I’d get many leeches especially walking in shorts and I didn’t have my gaiters on. Just lucky I think.
“Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked,
in which you can walk with love and reverence.”
Henry David Thoreau
I must look up Annie’s book to check some of these plant names.
I absolutely loved seeing so many plants bloomingSome use Narcissus hut at the end of the Overland Track to stay over,
the last hut before the ferry across Lake St. Clair.
Or if you want a longer walk you can walk another 5-7 hours out around the lake.
For many it is a the end of the Overland Track, for others it’s a place to come
to explore side tracks, to walk, to climb or just be….
This is the spot I first saw a platypus in the wild, very early one morning after I’d finished the Overland Track (I think about 11 years ago). I always said if I was to come back in another life as an animal I’d love that to be as a platypus – swimming freely and quietly away from it all.
And so we return for now….
“Hiking is a bit like life: The journey only requires you to put one foot in front of the other…again and again and again.And if you allow yourself the opportunity to be present throughout the entirety of the trek, you will witness beauty every step of the way, not just at the summit”
Unknown
Lesley O'Donnell - Liz, your photos of this stunning natural environment are so alluring. They sure show how beautiful nature is and why exploring it is so very rewarding. Thank you for sharing.
Jennie Patterson - Your hike to Pine Valley hut looks so lovely, Liz. Leo is keen to get into hiking. We don’t have the gear you’ve used here. Still. The tracks look well marked which is better than some we’ve walked elsewhere. Never had to carry a huge pack like that – not yet. But very interested in doing some hiking before we get too old!! Thanks for sharing.
lizarcus - It sure was Jennie. I can lend you gear if you wish. Some are well marked, some are not. I suggest some practice walking with pack leading up to a hike. But day hikes are really lovely and you don’t have to carry too big a pack. Feel free to chat to me more about it sometime.