Parked the Ute at Boyle village in a secure parking spot , important as security on the Lewis pass road has a poor reputation as unattended vehicles are looted with windows smashed . Locals blame west coasters looking for easy targets . I had to hitch the 5 km to Barb who was waiting with our packs near the track leading into the first hut of our 3 hut trip . Nina hut

Only a 3 hour walk into this really nice hut makes it a popular in – out hut for families and groups looking for an easy night out . Consequently it is a bookable hut but luck was with us as we had it all to ourselves for the night . A 10 bunk hut and it was full up the night before with families with youngsters . We were pleased to have got our timing perfect . 

We managed an early departure with the mission to tackle the tough trail up and over the Devilskin Pass 1234 metres . It proved a long exhausting day . 

The climb up through the dense bush into the alpine tussock  was not so bad as we arrived at the tiny Devils Den Biv ( 2 bunks ) in about 3 and half hours . Stopped for a quick brew up and lunch before committing to the descent back down in the next valley , the DOUBTFUL 

The Devils Den 2 bunk Biv

The descent was signed for 3 hours but this was an impossibility for us . We finally made it to the valley floor near 6pm . The track is in rather serious disorder and would need men with chainsaws to deal with tree falls that block the track and cause lots of time lost . Track markers on the upper region were sometimes hard to find due to overgrowth particularly in dense fern patches . We last some time when Barb got lost , “ bushed “ when she lost the track . It took some time for me to realise I hadn’t seen my faithful shadow for a time . I backtracked eventually and lots of loud shouting/ calling etc established our relative positions and I was able to get her back on-track . Story of my life !  She had done the sensible thing and stopped moving and started calling . Alls well that ends well eh ! 

As downwards pace could generously be described as geriatric as we shuffled our way down . It was with some joy and relief that we finally made it to the Doubtless river close to 6pm .  . We were initially intending to make it all the way to the nice Doubtless hut but that was another 100 minutes walking away and we were pretty stuffed . 

The backup was the small very basic DOUBTFUL hut that was a mere 100 metres away . Exhaustion made the decision for us and we thankfully moved in to the small 3 berth hut . Barely room to swing a cat but we accepted the shelter with gratitude. Bit like a garden shed in size with a very broken down leaky door that had seem better decades or centuries past . Sandflies absolutely legend . 

We had enough motivation to both have a proper wash in the stream , a race to undress and bath and get clean gear on before the sandflies had drained too much blood .

Slept well and woke to first light then made  the rookie mistake of heading outside for a pee just wearing my tee shirt . It was like a horror movie scene , the sandflies must have been waiting for me and as my stream began I suddenly realised my mistake . In these spots , particularly dawn and dusk , sandflies are simply too plentiful. Thankful that I was at least wearing my tee shirt , the remainder of my bodily parts were fully exposed . In these climes I know now one needs to get properly dressed , longs with socks tucked in etc etc . You still will need 2 hands to wave off the sandflies interested in the exposed available anatomy briefly at risk .

The wonderful exclusive Doubtful Hut and just us again

We left the little Doubtful hut for a delightful 2 hour walk upstream to the Doubtless Hut . We somehow became separated again after Barb took a high water flow deviation off the main track and we lost some time before reuniting. We had some frustrating words .

The little 6 bunk hut was really lovely , and again all ours .. just us . Plenty of space to spread out and have a relaxing restful afternoon . Barb even had a little sleep , well deserved after the taxing day yesterday. 

Sunday we walked out back down the Doubtful River valley to its confluence with the Boyle River . Was a long 6 hour walk in pleasant weather and mostly easy terrain. The last part of the walk was up the Boyle River flats . We stripped for a final refreshing dip before we pushed up away from the river to our Ute parked at Boyle village secure park . 

Boyle village did us a deal , we had arrived back one day earlier than planned so was due a parking refund . We traded this for a pizza and we consumed it like a race concluding we both must be very hungry .

Back to the van parked at Hanmer Springs by late arvo and sorted all gear before the onset of a big thunder storm with heavy flooding type rain . Great to be back safe .