ISSUE 47 | TRAILRUNMAG.COM
MAD MISSION: TRUE TASSIE
Trails
THE TASMANIAN TRAIL IS A 470KM-LONG ADVENTURE FILLED WITH EXPERIENCES FOR EVERY TRAVELLER – FROM ADEPT AND SKILLED LONG-DISTANCE RUNNERS TO THOSE WHO WANT SHORTER AND MORE RELAXED EXCURSIONS FOR RELAXATION AND PHOTOGRAPHING. PIOTR BABIS SHARES WITH TRM READERS HIS 2022 (IM)POSSIBLE7 PROJECT WHERE HE TOOK ON SEVEN OF TASMANIA’S BEST TRAILS ON OFFER. WORDS: PIOTR BABIS IMAGES: LIAM CROZIER It was November 2020 and day 3 on a stretch of the 470km-long Tasmanian Trail. I remember mentioning to my friend who was crewing me that day, that it would be amazing to do all major Tasmanian trails as one single project. The idea stuck in my head. I thought of doing it at the end of 2021, but that winter I did ‘Everesting’ at Cradle Mountain and satisfied my need for the adventure. The following year (2022) was a bit complicated because of my visa situation and a possibility of moving to NZ, but once I knew I’d be sticking around I decided to give it a go. Some of my past adventure projects brought a bit of media attention and I thought it would be a good idea to add a fundraiser to this project, so I decided to support Westpac Rescue Helicopter Tasmania. The total accumulated distance of my original project was 380km with nearly 20,000m of elevation. Tasmanian trails are well known for their difficulty, with most being exposed to harsh
weather conditions. Roots, sharp rocks and deep mud is quite common; Parks & Wildlife recommend about 30 days altogether for those trails to be completed. Logistics was another challenging aspect, since the trails are located in different parts of the island. The project required one flight and about 1600km of driving. In the end, I decided to cover 7 of the iconic trails.
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Southcoast Track 85km, 4000m A 6-8 day hike that starts with a small plane flight from Hobart to Melaleuca to access the trail that provides a sneak preview of the landscape and rugged coastlines and river inlets from above prior to commencing. Federation Peak 43km 2500m A remote peak in the Eastern Arthur Range. Declared by Sir Edmund Hillary as ‘Australia’s only real mountain’ it’s known for its exposed ridge and notorious for muddy approaches. Western Arthurs Traverse 45km A range that contains 22 peaks and 20 hanging lakes. The ‘lollipop loop’ is ranked by many experienced bush
walkers as Tasmania’s greatest walk and is undoubtedly the most spectacular, but it’s also one of the most dangerous walks in the state.
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Frenchmans Cap 45km The hardest of Tasmania’s Hut-based bush walks. Out and back tracks climbs to the summit of a prominent and outstanding 1446 meter peak in Franking-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park.
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Overland Track 80km Arguably Australia’s premier bushwalk. The internationally renowned track stretches from Ronny Creek to Lake St Clair.
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Three Capes Track 52km The journey in Tasman National Park leads through a myriad of natural landscapes and exhilarating cliff top outlooking Cape Pillar, Cape Hauy and stunning views to Cape Raoul.
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Freycinet Peninsula Loop 29km Internationally renowned as one of the most breath-taking coastal peninsulas in Australia, the Freycinet National Park showcases beautiful crystal waters, stunning granite peaks and thriving wildlife. 59
