Western Arthur Range Potential Congestion

I recently went on a bushwalk through the Western Arthur Range where we met a commercial party from Tasmanian Expeditions at Lake Oberon. They were camped at lake Oberon and staying there for 3 nights and group of 4 (2 clients and 2 guides) were spread out on 3 of the 4 available platforms.  The leader did offer to consolidate to two platforms to allow our party of 4 room, but as no one else arrived that day we did not need the space and manage to fit on the hardened area need the lake shore.  However in differing circumstances it could easily get overcrowded there with the limited camping available.

I probably would not have thought much more about this, but have just received an newsletter (don’t know how I got on the mailing list) from Tas Expeditions, in which they promote future Western Arthur walks.  These are described as 13 days with 12 nights which includes side trips for “6 trekkers” plus I assume 2 guides and departures  in 2010 for 10 January, 7 Feb and 7 March.  This has the potential for big problem with campsites for others. 

The day is fast approaching when the Parks and Wildlife Service will have to impose a numbers limit and a booking system similar to the Overland Track.

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