Good Weather For Antelope

My blistered feet tread rhythmically over the track-cum-swamp. A gush of wind knocks me sideways. I catch my fall, but the sudden force causes my walking pole to collapse into itself. I hastily re-extend the pole and continue moving forward in a daze. My body is wet and cold. I curse my Gore-tex jacket and gaiters.

In the following days I will discover the gale-force winds, pounding rain, and sub-zero temperatures cost the life of a 21-year-old Chinese man. He was ill-prepared for the changeable weather conditions, which were so ferocious that a rescue helicopter could not reach his body.

This is only day two of six and already, in bitter moments of weakness, I begin to question how I ended up here, and why, from within the warm comfort of my apartment, did I decide to part with thousands of dollars to subject my body to hours of pain. However, one look at the glacier-carved landscape reminds me why I came. Nothing, including the weather, could ruin this experience.

In fact, for most hikers, the weather forms their first impression of the Overland Track in Tasmania, Australia. The world famous 80 kilometre multi-day trek, which begins at Cradle Mountain and culminates at Lake St Clair, winds though magnificent landscape that has literally been carved by wild weather.

A thirst for human powered adventure, the lure of untamed wilderness, and the romanticised Heideggerian notion of being-towards-death is what placed me here; so for me, the harsh climate is part of the appeal. Though, in truth, with warm waterproof clothing, emergency shelter, and ample nourishment, the track is a relatively safe and achievable goal for almost anyone.

What the journey genuinely offers is an ever-changing kaleidoscope of deep valleys, ancient rainforests, golden buttongrass moorlands, alpine meadows, and wild rivers with ever-flowing waterfalls. It is a truly sublime experience with side-trips that include Mt Ossa (1617 m)—Tasmania’s highest mountain—, riverbeds covered with Permian-era fossils, and Australia’s deepest freshwater lake.

The quest for self-knowledge and awareness must involve hardship—experiences that force us to face ourselves and come to terms with our shortcomings. The beauty of the Overland Track is that the journey includes World Heritage listed wilderness. It is the perfect blend of physical endurance, fortitude, and stunning scenery.