UP THE LAST... UP THE LAST...
The beautiful snow-covered Mt Ossa
Wanting a challenge outside the ordinary, superintendents Anthony Toogood (left) and Phil Hill tackled the 65km Overland Track in Tasmania last August
When you’re trekking five days in the remote Tasmanian alpine region, you’d think you’d make sure that you had the basics covered… food, water, toilet paper. Superintendent Phil Hill doesn’t subscribe to that theory…
Off the beaten
T
asmania is blessed with some of Australia’s most stunning landscapes and over the years has become a mecca for trampers and hikers wanting to reconnect with nature. One of its most spectacular routes is the 65km Overland Track which wends its way through the heart of the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. Golf course superintendents are known for their love of the outdoors and it was at the 2014 Australian Turfgrass Conference on the Gold Coast that Barnbougle superintendent Phil Hill and good friend Anthony Toogood, from the Commercial Club in Albury, got chatting over a few ales. They concurred that completing the Overland would be a great test of endurance for a couple of “old supers looking for a bit of an adventure”, and at the Hunter Valley conference a year later plans were formalised and a start date of 30 August 2015 locked in. Despite Tasmania’s weather being at its most fickle at that time of year, both Hill and Toogood agreed that it would spice up the challenge. However, two weeks before they were due to take their first steps, extreme blizzards and snowfalls saw a number of trekkers needing to being airlifted
Normally taking six days, Toogood and Hill completed the Overland track in five 72
track
AUSTRALIAN TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT 18.5
off the Overland by helicopter. Indeed, when they arrived at the Cradle Mountain Information Centre to start their trek they were strongly advised to reconsider their plans as others were turning back after 2-3 hours because of the conditions. “We were glued to the weather forecast for those two weeks leading up to the trek,” says Hill. “The day before we were due to start the walk roads had once again been closed to some parts of the mountain. But we were well prepared for any event, including an EPIRB in case of a catastrophe, so were confident we would be okay. “The snow-covered mountainous terrain was something you had to see and it wasn’t far into the walk that we both realised just how lucky we were to be walking this famous track in these so called ‘extreme conditions’ which we felt very comfortable with. The Buttongrass Plains were covered with snow 300mm-600mm thick which made for a vastly different landscape than we were anticipating. “We first thought that we were going to be the only ones on the track and after settling in the hut for the first night we heard footsteps and were greeted by four hikers from the US, Germany and Tasmania. We pretty much walked the track with these guys and we would catch up at the end of each day. “Beautiful clear days and freezing cold nights added to the whole experience as we worked our way along the track with the big goal of climbing Mt Ossa. Unfortunately the Ossa was covered in ice at the top which made reaching the pinnacle virtually impossible without pick axes and cramp-ons, but it did make for some amazing photos.” The trek normally takes six days, but being the mountain goats they are Hill and Toogood completed the Overland in five, putting in one big day to ensure they knocked it off. “It did hurt a bit, but that’s what it’s all about – challenging your mind and body in those conditions,” says Hill. “We met some fantastic people on the way, saw some amazing landscapes and encountered some extreme conditions, but we both agree it was one of the best things we have done in our lives!” However, the quick completion time may have been more down to the one somewhat vital item that Hill forgot to include in his backpack. Despite having prepared meticulously, on the first day Hill had to go for a comfort stop only to realise he had left his roll of toilet paper back at home! Needless to say you can imagine the look his walking companion gave him when he asked if he could borrow his…