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The Overland Begins

Dealing with wild weather was always going to be on the cards at some stage of the Relay.

Dealing with a Covid lock-down (while also on the cards) was something we hoped we could avoid.


Photos: Jason (Darren Emmett); Pandani (Darren Emmett); Barn Bluff (Daniel Parkhurst)


After the completion of the first 85 kilometre stage from Penguin to Cradle Mountain, the next team of three was preparing to commence the iconic Overland Track at Cradle Mountain on Saturday morning. As the team and support crew were arriving on Friday afternoon, we were greeted by the news that the bottom half of Tasmania was about to go into a three day lockdown. While the start of the Overland Track is not in the lockdown affected area, the end point at Lake Saint Clair is. Following a flurry of messages, texts phone calls and emails, we were informed that the track would remain open, so the relay was able to continue for the moment.

Darren, Daniel and Jason headed off from Ronny Creek as planned, accompanied by horizontal sleet and 70 kmh winds, headed for their first night at Waterfall Valley, a world away from the Covid events unfolding in the south of the state. The first day on the Overland Track saw the team cross the Cradle Plateau, the highest point of the relay at over 1260 metres in elevation, and past Cradle Mountain itself. Over the next five days they will wind their way south through glacial landscapes and start descending slowly towards Lake Saint Clair.

Meanwhile in the background, the Relay Management Team are keeping a careful eye on the constantly evolving Covid situation in southern Tasmania. With any luck, the lockdown doesn’t get extended and the Relay will get to roll on as planned.

A big thanks goes to the Parks crew at Cradle Mountain for assisting with endless questions and hospitality!


Overland outset photos and all text by Brendan Moodie; Devil mascot photo Daniel Parkhurst

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