will Ray-Way tarp work well in Tasmania?

Nathaniel,

I haven't walked the south coast track, (apart from Scotts Peak Dam to Farmhouse Creek), but have walked the Western and Eastern Arthurs (in one trip-13 days), and also did an 8-day trip on the overland track and through the Walls of Jerusalem area.

I wouldn't recommend a tarp for the south coast track, or anywhere in tassie except maybe some places on the east coast (if you know you have sheltered campsites).

Wind's can be extreme in the SW at any time of year, and the weather has a habit of coming up really bad at any time. While I haven't used a Ray-way tarp, I think you would potentially have some trouble keeping it together. It does look well beaked and guyed compared to most tarps…but if wind gets under the beaks (and wind direction has no trouble changing down there) then you could be in strife.

I know people who have used a hubba hubba and a mutha hubba down there, and they reported no issues. I think the sinlg person hubba would be fine.

Remember, unlike the the overland track, you don't have the safety of huts along the way (which can be full, but will get you out of a pinch of your tent is destroyed), though I think you would have a better chance of getting away with the ray-way tarp on the overland track.

The other things to consider are leaches…looks like the ray-way has this covered with a sealed netting inner…and snow. Snow is quite likely on the Overland Track in Summer (on any of the ranges in Tassie). I'm not exactly sure about the south coast track (off the ranges closer to the water), but I would say it is possible.

Also, campsites that are sheltered and actually have a bare patch big enough for your ray-ways footprint might be hard to find away from the designated campsites on the South Coast Track. You wouldn't have much trouble with the Hubba though…probably the best thing about using single person tents down there (I know someone who was in a five-man team which did Vanishing Falls-mostly off track through the jungle. They wish they had single man tents rather than a two and a three-man).

But anyway, either walks are a great trip. You probably can't get a pass anymore for the overland track this coming feb/march-they will be booked out. BUT…we didnt use a pass (which are $150 each) and didnt need it, as we entered the OT from the state forest on the eastern side off-track and joined it about a days walk north of Mt Ossa, the left the place again off-track about 25km further south near the Ducane Range. Make sure you confirm whether or not that is still OK from the Rangers though…I did that March 2006.

Have fun though…this is all pretty spectacular wilderness!

Adam

> Wind's can be extreme in the SW at any time of year, and the weather has a habit of coming up really bad at any time.
Several times in one day, and straight from the Antarctic.
But a tarp would make a good kite down there.

Cheers
Roger

Haha

I also just realised that ray-way tarps don't really have that much of a tub floor (from the pics)…not a great idea unless you like swimming or you have a bivy to float in. Many available campsites (in my experience) in Tassie are either swamps, flowing creeks, rising lakes, or hard-pan sites that turn to wading pools as soon as it rains (if they aren't already).

I have hiked the South Coast track once in January. We didn't encounter any major storms, just a couple of rainy days, so I can't say for sure what it would be like in windy weather. But I think a Ray-Way tarp would be fine. Unlike some of the other places that Adam mentioned, all the campsites are at sealevel and are well sheltered by tall gumtrees and/or dense teatree. The campsites are spacious by Tassie standards and I doubt that standing water or leeches would be an issue. We did encounter some leeches on the trail but not around the campsites. Campsites on the Overland track are well sheltered but can be a bit boggy. There is an occasional snowfall but not enough to be an issue with a tarp. Both the South Coast and Overland trails can get seriously muddy in spots and knee-high gaiters are popular for keeping the mud and leeches out of your socks.