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It is time to prepare something.
Do we need carry tent or stay in hut?
Hut or tent
The huts on the Overland Track are public huts. If the hut seems full and a party arrives late in the evening, dripping wet and frozen, make them feel welcome. They have as much right to be there as you. Put on the billy and offer them a cuppa.
Huts are generally heated with either a gas or coal stove. The heating is not guaranteed; as gas and coal can run out and has to be resupplied by helicopter. Therefore don’t waste fuel, and leave some for the next party who arrives wet and cold.
Whether we camp or sleep in the Huts depends on several factors.
These include:
•• Party size – if you are in a large group you can tend to “take over” the hut and, in our opinion, ruin the experience of others. We generally sleep in our tent but cook in the hut if it is raining.
•• Number of people in the hut – if the hut is not too crowded we may nab a spot and sleep inside. Nice and cosy AND expect the same closeness in the Overland Track huts.
•• Which hut? - huts vary in size with Pelion sleeping 60 people, and Echo Point about 8 at a squeeze. We may sleep in Pelion as there is heaps of space, great facilities and a large veranda all around to dry your gear or chill out with other hikers in the evening.
•• Snorers – Disadvantage, No one like expect himself
•• People – you can’t like everyone in the world and the OT is just a microcosm of the world. Sometimes people just annoy you, or you want your own space so the tent it is!
•• The views – the tent platforms at Kia Ora Hut are great to view the sunset on the Du Cane Range. It can be spectacular. Take a photo or two from the toilet veranda,
as it is the best spot. |
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