9 & 10 July 2005 - Kate & Athol
Chatfield
The information we had on Belcher Hut led us to believe that the walk might be a pleasant re-introduction to bushwalking, having had a 6 month break from it.
We headed off along the track at about 12.30 on Saturday. The weather was calm, the water on the track was frozen in fantastic patterns. As we got closer to the tall trees we could see light snow had settled, much to my excitement. The slight incline to this point was gentle and enjoyable, but on descending the track had an almost constant cover of slippery ice which made staying on two feet a challenge. Descending on slippery boulders to a little stream that has a few logs to enable crossing. Whilst walking across the stream I pictured myself on 'Funny home videos' slipping over, landing on my bum then head first in to the icy water.. Thankfully that wasn't to be. After the little stream crossing the track turned unpleasant. I wouldn't recommend this track
for this time of year. Maybe in the middle of summer, or after a heavy snowfall, but not in-between. Lots of water, very boggy with thigh deep bog holes to swallow you up. I'm not a fan of bog at the best of times, especially when I hadn't prepared myself mentally for it. It reminded me of the track in to Federation Peak two years ago after 3 days of rain. Once Belcher hut was in sight I felt much better. Belcher is a wooden
hut with a tin roof. It has a little fireplace, couple of glass windows and 2 bunks. There was no hut book when we were there, although there was a holder for one. Notes written in a novel at the hut would suggest that a couple of people despised the track and were very upset with the condition of it and at it being called a track. That's Tassie bush for you though. Apparently there is good fishing at the lake 500 meters from the hut but it was far too cold for me to even think of having a look. Standing at Belchers hut looking up to the surrounding snow covered mountains made me feel so little and insignificant. The view was breathtaking. Anyway, the sun disappeared and the cold set in, and it was cold. The bottle of water sitting on the hut floor was frozen solid
by morning. The fireplace gave out little heat but was comforting and gave enough light to let us organise the gas stove and set up the bed. After a fantastic curried fish meal and a couple of bourbons we were ready for sleep. It was simply too cold to do anything else. Time: 7.30 pm. The weather stayed calm, the night was long. In the morning it was on with the cold wet socks and saturated muddy boots ready for the walk
out. This time we put our wet weather overalls and rain coats on which kept the bog out much better than just wearing gaiters as we did on the way in. The walk out was long. The ice and snow of the day before had
melted and was now sloppy and mushier.. The snow covered boulders on the incline were slightly better to gain footing on the way out due to the ice melting a little and much of the snow from the day before had gone.
The walk out seemed a long way and on arriving at the car the weather was looking like turning bad.
All in all it was a great experience, but if you plan on going there, be prepared for very wet, boggy walking and a cold night. You may want to take in some firewood also.
The information we had on Belcher Hut led us to believe that the walk might be a pleasant re-introduction to bushwalking, having had a 6 month break from it.
We headed off along the track at about 12.30 on Saturday. The weather was calm, the water on the track was frozen in fantastic patterns. As we got closer to the tall trees we could see light snow had settled, much to my excitement. The slight incline to this point was gentle and enjoyable, but on descending the track had an almost constant cover of slippery ice which made staying on two feet a challenge. Descending on slippery boulders to a little stream that has a few logs to enable crossing. Whilst walking across the stream I pictured myself on 'Funny home videos' slipping over, landing on my bum then head first in to the icy water.. Thankfully that wasn't to be. After the little stream crossing the track turned unpleasant. I wouldn't recommend this track
for this time of year. Maybe in the middle of summer, or after a heavy snowfall, but not in-between. Lots of water, very boggy with thigh deep bog holes to swallow you up. I'm not a fan of bog at the best of times, especially when I hadn't prepared myself mentally for it. It reminded me of the track in to Federation Peak two years ago after 3 days of rain. Once Belcher hut was in sight I felt much better. Belcher is a wooden
hut with a tin roof. It has a little fireplace, couple of glass windows and 2 bunks. There was no hut book when we were there, although there was a holder for one. Notes written in a novel at the hut would suggest that a couple of people despised the track and were very upset with the condition of it and at it being called a track. That's Tassie bush for you though. Apparently there is good fishing at the lake 500 meters from the hut but it was far too cold for me to even think of having a look. Standing at Belchers hut looking up to the surrounding snow covered mountains made me feel so little and insignificant. The view was breathtaking. Anyway, the sun disappeared and the cold set in, and it was cold. The bottle of water sitting on the hut floor was frozen solid
by morning. The fireplace gave out little heat but was comforting and gave enough light to let us organise the gas stove and set up the bed. After a fantastic curried fish meal and a couple of bourbons we were ready for sleep. It was simply too cold to do anything else. Time: 7.30 pm. The weather stayed calm, the night was long. In the morning it was on with the cold wet socks and saturated muddy boots ready for the walk
out. This time we put our wet weather overalls and rain coats on which kept the bog out much better than just wearing gaiters as we did on the way in. The walk out was long. The ice and snow of the day before had
melted and was now sloppy and mushier.. The snow covered boulders on the incline were slightly better to gain footing on the way out due to the ice melting a little and much of the snow from the day before had gone.
The walk out seemed a long way and on arriving at the car the weather was looking like turning bad.
All in all it was a great experience, but if you plan on going there, be prepared for very wet, boggy walking and a cold night. You may want to take in some firewood also.
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| Ahtol heading to Belcher |
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| Approach to Belcher Mt Field |
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| Belcher Hut |
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| Inside Belcher Hut |
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| Mt Field Hut |
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| Belcher |