Page 18 - Our Favourite Walks by Brian Everingham

The track varied from forested areas to plains and from pleasant and easily seen to exceedingly wide
and deeply muddy. Although there was duckboard it was minimal. This was a time before the major
onslaught of walkers to the area and before commercial walks had become common in the park.
There were no private upmarket cabins in which to overnight.
Walking long distance despite blisters, sun burn, sore shoulders and hips and weary muscles allows
the mind to calm and the worries of the world to disappear. A routine, a new rhythm of life emerges.
Nothing matters except the next step, the next view, the next meal and the next camp. You can
vanish into your own world while sharing that world with your companions.

The first night was spent camped near Narcissus Hut. Here we reduced our packs by one evening
meal and a breakfast but the pack felt no lighter!

We chose not to stay in the huts as they attract rats and possums but near them on flat grassy dry
ground where sunset and sunrise are clearly visible.

The most special wildlife experience occurred one sunny morning when our tent doors were left
wide open for gear to air and a family of baby quoll decided it was the best place to conduct a game
of tag. There are no photographs of this special moment or any other part of this walk as no cameras
were carried in an age before digital photography.

The notorious Black Pete who stole food from packs was mentioned whenever we encountered
other walkers. We never encountered Black Pete at Ducane Hut though and did not lose any food to
wildlife. I wonder how many generations of Black Pete have existed at Ducane Hut.
Only once did we stay in a hut overnight. It may have been Old Pelion Hut. We stayed there because
the heavens had opened. We were soaked and had no chance of staying dry let alone drying out in
our inadequate tents. The hut on arrival was crowded but there was room for us. By late evening

18 | P a g e