We started a seven-day trek on the Overland Track, one of Tasmania’s most famous hikes. This hike is limited to 34 hikers starting each day and must be booked well in advance. I think we booked back in August. The first day was quite gruelling, with a steep climb up into the Tasmanian high country, but it offered beautiful views of Crater Lake and Cradle Mountain. Today’s hike was 10.7 km, taking about 4-6 hours.
We arrived at the Waterfall Valley hut for the night, only to discover that the fuel compartment of my Trangia stove was sealed shut due to pressure changes at the higher elevation. Fortunately, there was a ranger at the hut who seemed to be there to ensure everyone was equipped and ready for the next six days of the hike. After trying several strategies to open the fuel burner in his workshed, he found that good old WD-40 did the job.
