Mt Sunday
1st – 3rd November
Coordinator Dale Lisson
Maps: 1:25,000: Interview & Lagoon, 1:100,000: Nelson
Grading: PTB/L
The
November Long Weekend walk to Mt Sunday will be a first for the
Launceston Walking Club. (Well for at least as long as I have been
around, which is a while). Some members may well have visited
this remote west coast peak in the past as part of a traverse of the
Norfolk Range. It is the Southern most peak and it rises out of the
plains as a stand-alone mountain, separate from the main range. It is
701 metres high so from the plains below at 200m it will be a good
climb. When Clarence & I were on the summit of Mt Edith earlier on
this year, looking over to Mt Sunday, We couldn’t help noticing some
very clear climbing ridges from the north & west. This 3 day trip
will be a copy of a recent successful NW club trip and it is not
desperately hard, as much of the walking will be on old 4wd tracks,
some beach and dune country, ending by coming back along the old
Interview river hinterland trail (called Elliots Track) to the Pieman
Heads. The only off track walking will be the middle day with light
packs to the summit in very open country. Sound interesting!
So in
summary we will travel with Donal’s group in the bus Friday night to
Corinna or somewhere near by to camp. Sat morning an early boat trip up
the Pieman River which will either be provided by club members or the
Tullah boat man. There will be a cost over and above the bus levy. (The
commercial boat up the Pieman may not be operating or leave too late in
the morning to be of any use.) This will be advised closer to the time.
Our party will be dropped off on the northern banks at the Pieman Heads
where we will walk 10km on a good 4wd track to the first main beach to
the north. Walking about a km along the beach to the Interview River
where we head inland over a few dunes and pick up the old 4 wheel drive
track that continues inland to the old Interview River mine site. This
is another 7 or 8 kms walk from the coast. So the first day will be
fairly long but it is essentially all on track and no desperate climbs.
Camp site and the base for 2 nights will be at the 200metre above sea
level mark. The middle day, a Sunday, will be very appropriate to climb
Mt Sunday. (On top we can twirl our rosemary beads & say a few Hail
Mary’s!...just joking! ) Day packs to the summit and return across open
country (but off track) following button grass leads 14 kms return with
a 500 metre climb (there will be some scrubby creek line). If the
weather is fine, we will get brilliant views of all surrounding country
and the west coast for miles around and a good look at the Norfolk
range to the north. We can have a swim on our return in some nice pools
on the Interview River. (These pools are in an interesting Gorge not
far from camp) Monday will complete the circuit walk via another old
mining route called; Elliots Track, 14kms back to the Pieman Heads. An
early start will see us back by 1.00pm at the latest. This will be a
great round walk passing thru many varied terrains and vegetation
types. Plus a boat trip along the beautiful stretches of the lower
Pieman River. Come and talk to me if you are interested. Numbers will
be limited due to boat space- availability, so get your names down
quickly. Contact Dale for further information 6333 0375.
Pieman Heads
1st-3rd November
Coordinator: Donal McIntee
Map: Hardwicke 1:25 000
Grading: PT/I
This
trip to the Pieman Heads will be limited to around 12-14 people.
Leaving Friday night we will most likely camp along the way, before
launching our boats at Corinna fairly early Saturday morning and
heading to our camping spot at the heads, the remainder of Saturday we
will explore the immediate area around our camp and most likely little
further south down the coast, on returning to camp there will be plenty
of drift wood around to have a camp fire at night. On Sunday we will
ferry people across to the other side of the river and walk north up
the coast and explore the coastline, going as far as time permits.
Monday will see us packing up camp and making our way back down
river, exploring as we go to the cars and home
Lake Lea
3rd November
Coordinator: Patrick Dickson
Map: Lea 1:25000
Grading: NT/I
Lake
Lea is situated just North of the Cradle Mountain Link Road below the
Black Bluff Range. The route is untracked over uneven terrain starting
from Rocky Mount on the range, along the Eastern side of the range
approximately 3 km and down to the lake. Lunch and a walk around the Southern end of the lake. Return via the same route.
Carrick to Blackwood Creek Bike ride
8th November 2008
Coordinator: Anne-Marie Avery
Map:
Grading: T1
The
aim of this trip is to be a relatively non technical, strength
building, social ride mainly on bitumen, although there may be some not
too technical dirt road. We will be riding on relatively flat
terrain through farmland from Carrick to Blackwood Creek and return by
probably a slightly different route depending on time available and how
the group feels. We should have good views of the Western Tiers
heading out to Blackwood Creek. We will be riding an absolute minimum
54Km and more if we choose a different route home. Helen and Jim
Tubb have kindly offered to open the Blackwood Creek Cafe again for us
offering tea, coffee and goodies. This will be a great social
ride through pleasant rural countryside. Please note at the time of
writing I am still recovering from a broken shoulder so am not 100%
certain that I will be able to ride at this time, so if another
coordinator wants to volunteer to be a fall back for me I would greatly
appreciate it.
Liena Gorge
9th November
Coordinator: Rachael Baylis
Map Cethana 1: 25000 & Gog 1: 25000
Grading:
This
walk begins on the road between Mole Creek and Union Bridge. There are
a few options as to where we park the bus which can allow us to
shorten or lengthen the walking distance depending on the
weather. The walk is on some fairly level old forestry roads
between Dogs Head Hill, an area known for its limestone and caves, and
Standard Hill. We will be following the old logging track in the
direction of Mt Van Dyke. We will be stopping at a bend in the
river (depending on the weather this is a potential swimming hole) and
then continuing along for a further hour or two to a view of Liena
Gorge where there is a rocky outcrop and views of the river. The
walk is predominately on old logging tracks and occasionally you can
see signs of the old sawmill that used to be in the area. There is
a possibility of exploring further upriver depending on the water level
on the day however this will be an option and those that would prefer
to stay dry and enjoy the chance to rest can stay and watch the
others or just relax until they return. If you are interested in
doing a bit of exploring, please bring along some alternative footwear
(e.g river walking shoes) just in case.
Penguin to Cradle part 1
15th -16th November
Coordinator: Maria Monypenny
Maps: Ulverstone, Kindred 1:25000, Forth 1:100000
Grading: T/I
This
is the first of three weekends that will see us complete the Penguin to
Cradle Trail. The first two parts will be on this programme and we will
complete the final part in autumn. This section will be the easiest.
Good opportunity to brush the dust off your boots and put on the
backpack again in preparation for a great summer of walking. Day 1 will
see us start in the Dial Range just south of Penguin. The trail will
take us over Mt Montgomery and we do have the option of climbing Mt
Dial or/and Mt Gnoman if there is interest. The trail follows a mixture
of trail, 4wd and tramways over this section. We will go over Mt
Lorymer and make our way down to Adit Creek to set up camp. Depending
on what we climb and detours we make could take up to 6 hours. Day 2
will see us have a leisurely breakfast before starting off on our 4 to
5 hour walk to Gunns Plains. More information on this walk can be found
on the internet, including maps. Just Google Penguin to Cradle. The
weather should be mild by now but don’t forget your thermals and wet
weather gear just in case. Hopefully there will be enough water in the
creeks for a swim!!
Pardoe Beach to Hawley Walk
22nd November
Coordinator: Donal McIntee
Maps:
Grading: B/I
Starting
from Pardoe Beach East Devonport we will follow the coast line around
to Hawley Beach near Pt Sorell, this is a fairly longish one
way walk consisting of beach, rocks and track, if there is a
high tide some detouring may be necessary. Depending on time and
inclination a swim for those brave enough might be possible.
Remus/ Back Peak
22nd – 23rd November
Coordinator: Carolyn Mills
Maps: Sophia 1: 100000, Cradle 1: 25000, Pencil Pine 1: 25000
Grading: NT/I
These
two mountains are located in the Cradle Mountain/ Lake St. Clair
National Park. I believe that these are the last two mountains which I
need to climb before I can say that I have climbed all the peaks in the
Cradle end of the Reserve, hence my motivation for coordinating this
backpacking trip! Mount Remus at 1110m and Back Peak at 1162m are south
and south-east of Reynolds Falls. We will commence walking from the
Cradle Mountain Visitors Centre and walk west across the Speeler Plains
on track, we will then head south on a track following the general
direction of Fleece Creek. On the Saturday we will set up camp north of
Anio Creek , then attempt a summiting of Remus. This is likely to
involve some scrub so please bring your scrub gloves. On the Sunday we
will pack up camp then summit Back Peak, north of the track, on our
return journey. Both days will be fairly long and would be most suited
to those with some backpacking and off-track experience. Please come
prepared for all weather conditions and remember your long pants and
scrub gloves. Please contact me if you would like to know more about
the trip.
Mts Jukes & Huxley
29th – 30th November
Coordinator: Maria Monypenny
Maps: Darwin, Owen 1:100000, Franklin 1:25000
Grading: PT/I
These
two mountains are on the southern section of the West Coast Range. We
will probably leave very early Saturday morning and climb Mt Huxley
first. This is not a big mountain and access is gained through the
Queenstown waterworks reserve. There is a 4wd track for a lot of the
way, the final ascent is through some scrub and then clears towards the
top. Saturday night camp will be at the side of Lake Burbury and on
Sunday we will climb Mt Jukes for the high point on the hydro road.
This walk will be a bit more challenging but once on the range, Jukes,
Proprietary Peak and South Jukes are all within reach. Both peaks
should give great views of Frenchmans Cap and the Eldons. As this is
the west coast bring all your wet weather gear along with some
delicious food to enjoy on Saturday night.
Howells Bluff
30th November
Coordinator: Patrick Dickson
Maps: Rowallan 1:25.000, Walls National Park map 1:100,000
Grading: NT/I
Howells
Bluff is on the western escarpment of the Walls of Jerusalem National
Park approximately 3km from Trappers Hut. The walk is mainly on track
and climbs from 700m to 1245m over about 6km to the tree covered peak
overlooking the Mersey River Valley. Although on a made track, expect
rough walking, tree roots, wet areas and plenty of uphill. Carry
clothing for fine and wet/cold conditions as this is a central plateau
walk.
Kate Reed Bike ride and Technical tips
2nd December
Coordinator: Rodney Mills
Grade: T2 (Beginners)
If you have a bike and want to know more about how to ride it and set it up better this evening ride is for you.
We
will be meeting at the boom gate entrance to the Silverdome at 6pm.
First up we are going to set our bikes up so they fit us correctly. You
cannot ride properly and in comfort if your bike doesn’t fit correctly.
Then it’s off to the tracks to learn some skills. We will mainly be
practising bike handling, braking and body positioning and may split up
into two groups if some would like to try a little more advanced
riding. So come along with your bike (mountain or commuter) helmet and
tools if you have them and some snacks (I like chocolate) for a fun
learning evening. Who knows we may even see you on one of Denty’s rides
next
Cethana Bike Ride
7th December
Coordinator: Rodney Mills
Grade: T3/Intermediate
Maps: Pencil Pine, Liena 1:25000
This
is a return trip to a track I did a while ago. This time it is going to
be considerably shorter and take in the best part of the last attempt.
We will be starting at the Quail Falls junction of Dove river road and
follow this old road though rainforest and alpine meadows. It’s some of
the most enjoyable scenery you can ride through.
Because we are
starting up high there is lots of descending to do but saying that
there are two big hills to climb up also. The distance is about 30km
and you will need to be reasonably fit with good MTB handling skills.
One of the descents is the steepest fire road I have ever ridden down.
Please bring lunch, warm clothing, rain protection, spare tubes, pump,
spare derailleur hanger (if you don’t have one I’d advise purchasing
one for your model of bike, they save a long walk out), torch and
clothes to change into after, as you will get muddy and wet, so come
along for an AWESOME (sorry Carol had to put one in) ride.
Cathedral Mountain
13th – 14th December
Coordinator: Rolfe de la Motte
Map Cathedral 1:25,000
Grading:PT/I
Cathedral
Mountain is a flat-topped plateau whose tall cliffs face the Overland
Track westwards. It's a beautiful place in one of my favourite areas.
About 2/3 of the walk is on track- becoming vague further up. The first
2 hours ascends fairly steeply through rainforest and dry eucalypt
forest up 450m to lovely Grail Falls for lunch. Then, after a steep
climb to above the falls, the next 100m is gained over 4 km of pleasant
walking to 'Tent Tarn'- the bad weather campsite. If the weather is
favourable though, we will take our packs up another 150m to camp on
the mountain near one of the tarns. We will visit Twin Spires on the
way over. I love a campsite with a view and these views are fantastic.
The walk should take around 6 hours or so, each way. Overall ascent is
about 750m. Perhaps not a walk for first-timers but experienced
overnighters will find it of 'moderate' difficulty. Some really nice
walking, great waterfall and brilliant views. 'Be there or be square'.
Crater Peak and Surrounds
14th December
Coordinator: Malcolm Pryor
Maps: Cradle 1:25000
Grading: PT/I
This
walk will be a good opportunity to take a look around the Crater Peak
area just near Cradle Mountain. We will be heading up the Overland
Track and climbing up to Marion’s Lookout, and then we’ll leave the
track and head around Crater Lake to Crater Peak. We’ll visit
Kathleen’s Pool, cross the Horse Track and then head off-track west for
hopefully some great views of Little Plateau and areas further west.
There will be some steep climbing at the start but nonetheless the trip
should be within the reach of most walkers. Take note though that we
will be going off-track and there may be a bit of scrub bashing
involved. New members and anyone in any doubt as to whether this walk
is for them should check with the coordinator.
Turana Bluff
20th December
Coordinator: Phil Dawson
Turana
Bluff preview: leave Launceston 7am and from little Fisher car park we
walk up past Rinadeena falls to below the saddle and follow a pad left
up on to Turana bluff. The actual summit is a small airy rocky pinnacle
out from the cliff but views are just as good from the safety of the
main cliff line for the squeamish, but I will take a rope for anyone
who needs it. Then its an easy walk gently downhill north to a break in
the cliffs, a short dolerite scree hop (small stuff) then forest above
the sandstone cliff line which is easily descended and nice rainforest
down to river which is easily followed back to car park. A very nice 7
hour circuit with spectacular views and a good variety of scenery,
hopefully some wildflowers, but no lakes big enough for a swim I’m
afraid.
Westbury to Trevallyn Dam Kayak/Lilo
21st December
Coordinator: Graeme Pennicott ph 63 623 141
Maps: 1:50 000 1:25 0000
Grading: I / T
The
Meander River should have a good flow now that the Meander Dam is in
operation. We will be on the river just north of Westbury by 9:00am.
Those who have had enough by Hadspen will have the option of stopping
there where the South Esk and Meander Rivers meet, otherwise it is a
gentle further one hour paddle to the Trevallyn Dam. I’m expecting it
to take 5-6 hours of relatively easy paddling with great scenery on a
river that most would not have experienced. For more details contact me
as this will be a popular trip.
Markham Heights night walk
27th Dec 2008
Coordinator Clarence Blake
Maps:
Grading: PT/I
This
is a twilight version of a walk the Club did last Christmas. We will
start in the daylight, but by the time we finish it will be dark. If we
time it right, we should be able to watch the sunset from the high
point of Markham Heights (which is one of the highest points in the
state) while having dinner. The last hour and half walking will be in
the dark. We will start walking at Carr Villa near Ben Lomond, walking
steadily uphill along a well-formed track for a kilometre or so, before
we head off track though a mix of herb fields, boulders and light
scrub. The off track section traverses the north edge of the Ben Lomond
Plateau to reach Markham Heights. In total there would be about 350m of
climbing. From the high point of Markham Heights we will continue off
track along the plateau to reach the road near the top of Jacobs
Ladder. For off track walking it is relatively easy, but you will need
a good torch. Bring some nice food (Christmas goodies that are left
over) and some warm clothes.
Central Plateau
27th – 30th December
Coordinator: Phil Chalmers
Maps: ADA 1:25,000
Grading: NT/I
This
is a four day trip starting on Saturday morning, so you will have a day
to recover and pack after Christmas, and ending on Tuesday, so you will
have time to repack for the Lake Rhona trip! Starting at Lake Ada west
of the Great Lake we head for Antimony Lake via a track. But then
I’m afraid there are no more tracks on days 2, 3 & 4. It will
be mostly open going and great walking as we head for Silver Lake and
then to Lakes Silvia, Sonja and Sally up a 100m scrubby hill. The
hardest part of the trip will be to Lake Fanny and New Year Lake,
across the southern tip of Pillans Lake and then turning south to Lunka
lake and Christys Lagoon before heading back to the bus on track for
the last 5 km.
Wilmot Gorge
28th December
Coordinator: Maria Monypenny
Maps: Wilmot 1:25000
Grading: T/S
The
Wilmot River has a couple of fine gorge sections which were scoured out
when the river was a much wilder waterway than it is now. These days
the water is captured in the Lake Gardiner dam and tunnelled off to the
Wilmot Power Station and the Forth and the river only comes back to
life when in flood. Despite this, past activity has left some lovely
rock scenery, and there is also some lovely pristine forest in the
area. Our walk will descend to the middle reaches of the northern
Wilmot Gorge, not far from Nietta. It will only be a short return trip,
but we have the option of extending the time by doing some rock-hopping
along the gorge. Swimming in the many rock pools is also an option,
particularly if the weather treats us well. This may be a suitable walk
for children, but please check with the coordinator first.
Blue Peaks – Fisher Bluff
1st January
Co-ordinator: Phil Dawson
Maps
Grade: NT/I
An
easy alpine stroll in fine weather, if its bad weather we will relocate
to a lower altitude for a waterfall or wildflower walk. From Lake
McKenzie a track leads to the open plateau and a stroll to Blue Peaks
for views, then another stroll to Fisher Bluff for lunch and better
views. There should be some flowers out so bring your cameras. Lovely
alpine grassy going so you can wear shorts and leave your gaiters in
the pack if it’s warm.
Eldon Abels
31st December – 9th January
Co-ordinator: Graeme Pennicott
Maps: 1:100 000 1:25 000
Rating: L/NT
The
last assault on the Eldon Range was not successful in scaling the Eldon
Abel near Eldon Bluff. As well there is a new Abel between High Dome
and the Guardians. We will most likely travel from Lake St Clair via
Gould’s Sugarloaf and Junction Hill to High Dome, the new Abel and then
on to Eldon Bluff and the Eldon Abel before Castle Mt and then back via
the “Hills” and the Pidgeon House Hill track to the Lyell Highway. If
the weather is kind there will be some high alpine camping. This will
be a hard trip involving 8-10 hours of “off track” and “scrub bashing”
each day. Be prepared to damage clothing .Your reward will be
breathtaking views from an area most people will never visit. Numbers
will be limited so please get in “early” to reserve your place. I will
only consider current LWC members with proven experience for this trip
as we will “bag” the two Abels in difficult weather or not!
Lake Rhona
1st - 4th January
Coordinator: Adrian Geard
Maps:1:100000 Wedge
Grading:PT/L
Leaving
early on New Years Day, we intend to travel via Maydena to the
Florentine Valley. A good track leads to the Gordon River. There is no
bridge and we will have to ford the river, which hopefully will be low
after a dry summer. We will walk North on the Vale of Rasselas for
a further couple of hours on an occasionally muddy pad and camp at
Gordonvale, an area with an interesting history. The next day we will
continue on to Lake Rhona, an alpine glacial lake in the Denison Range
with a spectacular white beach, with Reeds Peak arising abruptly from
the Western end. On the third day, people can either enjoy the beach or
climb Reeds Peak and/or Bonds Crag with their magnificent views. The
fourth day will see us return to the cars for the drive home (provided,
of course, that we can get back across the Gordon River).
Wielangta Day Walks
10th -11th January
Coordinator: Malcolm Pryor
Maps: Prosser 1:10000, Orford, Kellevie 1:25000
Grading: T/I*
Some
members may recall a base-camping trip we did a couple of years ago
where stayed on a beachfront block just south of Orford. On this
upcoming trip we will again avail ourselves of this great campsite, in
between a couple of interesting day walks. On one day we will start at
Marion Bay and complete a beach walk around The Long Spit and then
north along Marion Beach. On the other day we will head for the
Wielangta Forest, maybe to the Three Thumbs and/or Prossers Sugarloaf.
Exact details of the walks will be confirmed closer to the date:
however, the plan is to select walks that are fairly easy in terms of
terrain, and of intermediate length (approximately 4-5 hours). We
plan to repeat some of the things we enjoyed so much on our previous
trip – body surfing, and a social gourmet evening. Bring lots of yummy
food, and bring your bathers!
Distillery Creek
13th January
Coordinator: Kathy Williams
Maps:
Grading: T/I
Please contact the Coordinator for details of this walk.
Table Mountain/ Old Mans Head
17th January
Coordinator: Kathy Williams
Maps:
Grading: RT/I
Please contact the Coordinator for details of this walk.
Douglas-Apsley
17th-18th January
Coordinator: Rolfe de la Motte
Grading:T/I
Map: National Park Map 1:50,000
On
the East coast, this National Park has a different character to most;
it's at low altitude, it's warmer and consists mostly of dry eucalypt
forest. As it's a through-walk, we will do a car shuffle before we
begin. Despite the low altitude it's fairly hilly, and the track goes
up and down a bit over its 28km length. Being dry, it would be wise to
carry plenty of water in summer, although there should be water in the
rivers for the first day's lunch and tea, and at the end of the walk.
There are views out over the coast and good views at Nichol's Needles,
as well as some side-trip options depending on how we feel at the time.
We will most likely enjoy a splash in the Apsley Water-hole at the end
of the walk. Hope you can come.
Federation Peak
23rd-26th January
Coordinator: Wayne Tyril
Maps:
Grading: RT/L
Please contact the Coordinator for details of this walk
Mountains of Jupiter
24rd-26th January
Coordinator: Anne-Marie Avery
Maps:
Grading: NT/I
Please contact the Coordinator for details of this walk
Wedge and Sentinels
January 31st/February 1st
Coordinator: Sally Coltheart ph 63 436 153
Map 1:100000: Wedge , 1:25000: Bowes and McPartlan
Grading: T/I
These
two mountains provide a wonderful opportunity for people who are still
day walkers, but have at least a good sleeping bag, to be introduced to
walking in Tasmania’s wonderful South West. The trip involves quite a
long journey down on Friday night, an overnight stay at a campsite in
the area and two strenuous walks on fairly reasonable tracks. Both
Wedge and The Sentinels give good views over the dams and mountains of
the south west and provide experienced walkers with an opportunity to
show off their knowledge of the surrounding peaks, and hopefully share
some of their enthusiasm for walking in the area. If you are interested
in joining in, but are unsure about your level of fitness or the
appropriateness of your gear, please check with me beforehand.
Seaport Saunter, Ride and Paddle
3rd February
Coordinator: Sally Coltheart
This
evening is really an opportunity for people to work off their dinner
before they eat it! We will walk/ride and possibly kayak from the
Riverside tailrace park (meet in the car park) along an almost flat
walk/bike track that runs parallel with West Tamar Road, crosses over
the old Kings Bridge and wanders along the foreshore track/boardwalk to
Fish and Chips at The Seaport, a distance of a couple of kms. There
will be separate coordinators for the three styles of traveling, and we
will all meet for the meal. After we have finished, we will return to
our destination feeling quite satisfied that the exercise and the food
have balanced each other out. Last time our first effort was washed
out, but usually this is a very pleasant social exercise.
Bridport To Barnbougle
7th February
Coordinator: Bruce Pike
Grade B/I
Map: Bridport 1:25000
This
will be a beach walk in the height of summer, hopefully in weather that
will allow for swimming or paddling stops along the way. Full details
yet to be worked out.
Devonport to Railton Bike Ride
8th February
Coordinator: Donal McIntee
Maps: Tasmanian Trail
Grading:T2/I
This
section of the Tasmanian Trail starts in Devonport beside the river, we
start riding on sealed roads until we reach Latrobe where we will make
a quick stop at the bakery for supplies. We then branch off onto
gravel roads and tracks all the way to Railton. Contact me for more
details closer to the date.
St Valentines Peak
14th Feb 2008
Coordinator: Clarence Blake
Grading: T/I
St
Valentines Peak lies just south of Hampshire, and overlooks much of the
northwest. There is a track all the way to the summit, passing through
a wide variety of vegetation types. The walk is fairly short with a
steady climb from Plain Peak Road to the summit. We will return via the
same route.
Snowy North
14th – 15th February
Coordinator: Ian Green
Maps: Skeleton, Nevada 1:25000, Tyenna 1:100000
Grading: PT/I
Last
year saw a successful ascent of Snowy South and Nevada Peak so it’s now
time to go back and climb the remaining peak. Friday night we will camp
near Geeveston. On Saturday we will follow the track up to Woolleys
Tarn and up over Wetpants Peak. From Wetpants Peak the walking will all
be off track as we make our way over Scrivens Cone and under Snowy
North. Hopefully the weather will be really nice and we camp up high
(if weather not so good we will camp at Woolley’s Tarn and daypack to
the top). It will be a bit of a scree scramble to get up to the summit
but we will then have fantastic views. Sunday we will retrace our steps
back via Woolleys Tarn. Should be a great trip, with the longer
evenings making it much more enjoyable. Remember to bring all your warm
gear as the nights can still be very cold.
Mt Mueller
21st – 22nd February
Coordinator :Dale Lisson
Map: Adamsfield 1:25,000, Wedge 1:100,000
Grading: RT/S Long
Mueller
is a big mountain situated in the Maydena range near Mt Field National
Park. It is an Abel, at 1245 metres. Distance return is approx 14kms
& total height gained is 750 metres. It’s a case of 3rd or 4th time
lucky. The club has had a couple of attempts at this peak recently but
has been thwarted due to bad weather, access problems &
coordinating issues. In fact the last time the club had a successful
trip was back in Jan 2003. Hopefully this time around we can get
it up & running. The trip is a Base Camping weekend leaving on
Friday evening. We will stay Friday night in the Mt Field National
Park. I hope to climb Mueller on the Saturday as a day return trip with
day packs. It will mean a long day’s walk (8 hrs plus) on a rough track
& the summit section involves rock hopping over boulder fields. The
walks starts at about the 500 metre level & climbs steadily over
5kms firstly thru rainforest up into sub-alpine scrub & then onto
more open alpine country at the 900metre level. At 1000 metres we will
reach Fossil Lake & a possible early lunch. The next 1.5 to 2
kilometres will be in part over rough ground & some boulder fields.
Intending walkers will need previous experience & have appropriate
gear for the day and to be in good physical fitness. (I recommend
wearing garden or riggers gloves.)
If I cannot organise a key to
the Mueller road I would be keen to ride the short distance of 6kms on
mountain bikes from the Styx Road to the start of the walk. If you are
not sure about this trip but think this could be a good challenge
please give me a ring. The fact that we are not carrying big packs
could make this trip appealing to more people in the club. Saturday
night we will camp next to the Florentine River or return to Mt Field.
On Sunday before we head home we will have a look at climbing either
Wherretts Lookout or Mt Field East depending on group inclination &
weather. Wheretts is “off track” thru the forest. A steep short climb
is involved and starts from the Florentine valley. This walk will take
about 4 hours return. Mt Field East is a longer option but on a good
track. Either way we will finish early afternoon, leaving good time to
travel back to Launceston.
Bluff River Gorge
22nd February
Coordinator: Phil Chalmers
Maps: Buckland 1:25000
Grading: T/I
Bluff
River Gorge is just north of Buckland in Tassie’s south-east, and can
be comfortably completed as a day-walk from Launceston in summer. It is
also a hidden gem, as it boasts some of the state’s finest sandstone
cliffs. During a 3-4 hour walk you will complete a circuit around the
gorge and enjoy some quite spectacular sand patterns – imagine Maria
Island’s Painted Cliffs, only much better! On two different occasions
we will descend down one side of the gorge, cross the river and then
climb up the other side, so a bit of climbing will be involved but
nothing too strenuous. There is also a great swimming hole about
halfway down the gorge so a swim is definitely a possibility.
Please
note that as the area around the cliffs is very sensitive to erosion
the numbers on the trip may need to be limited, so get in early!
Penguin to Cradle part 2
28th February – 1st March
Coordinator; Maria Monypenny
Maps: Riana, Loyeta, Loongana 1:25000, Forth, Inglis 1:100000
Grading: T/I
This
weekend will see us continue our journey along the Penguin to Cradle
Trail. This will be a much slower and more arduous section of the
Trail, especially if it has been wet. The track maybe slippery but we
will have excellent views of the wild river and a great camping site.
We will start where we finished last time at Gunns Plains and it will
not be long before we are following the river and along the gorge. This
section should be specky but could be very slippery. After about 5
hours of walking we will set up camp at Blackwood Camp by the river. On
Sunday we will have a steep climb up and through cliffs which are on a
knife–edge, Griffiths Ridge on the Loongana Range. After a 20 minute
walk along the knife edge we will drop steeply again to meet the river.
We will great views of the Canyon as we descend. Once down at the
footbridge it is another 2 hours walk to Griffith Flats where we finish
this section. It should be a great weekend. See you there.
Rocky Cape through walk
28th February
Coordinator: Carolyn Mills
Grading: BT/I
Map: Loongana 1:25000
Rocky
Cape is north-west of Wynyard and offers some lovely walking with
beaches, coastal scenery and a rocky coastline. This day walk should
suit most members of the club commencing at the Rocky Cape Road at the
western end of the park, and ending at the eastern end of the park at
Sisters Beach. On made track we will walk the 1.5km on an
ascending track to Postman’s Pass where extensive views of the coast
can be gained. From the pass we will head south east and downhill
towards the coast to meet the turnoff to Cathedral Rocks. We will take
this diversion off the track to Cathedral Rocks then return to the
coastal track following the beach to Anniversary Point. We will then
follow the length of Anniversary Bay, and finish at Sisters Beach. The
walk is undulating but should suit most walkers and the opportunity for
a swim is high. Please bring your sunhat, and goretex as it could be
sunny but also windy as well as good sturdy footwear as the track can
be quite rocky underfoot at times. Please carry water and your lunch
and enjoy a lovely coastal day out!
Gorge to Lake Trevallyn (with barbeque)
3rd March (evening)
Co-ordinator: Janice March
Maps: Launceston 1:25,000Grade: T/I
Make
the most of the long daylight while you can and join me on an evening
walk from the First Basin through a large portion of the Gorge Reserve
around to Lake Trevallyn where we will enjoy a BBQ dinner together in
the fading light.I will finalise the meeting point closer to the day,
but I'm thinking of setting off from the Trevallyn/restaurant side
carpark at 6pm sharp. If we go via the Snake Gully track then along the
fire trails to the Hoo Hoo Hut, I anticipate at least 45 minutes of
fast walking on a good track for most of the way. The track to the dam
carpark narrows and becomes more indistinct in sections for another 30
mins. Further along the Lake Trevallyn shoreline, the track is even
rougher for another 30 mins. There will be some short rocky sections
and we will need to keep regrouping, because we could have a big
group.We will probably be arriving for our BBQ past 8pm, so bring some
nibblies and a drink for enroute. Also pack a torch is case of delays
and for around the BBQ. Pack all your own BBQ stuff if you are planning
to stay and socialise. I will co-ordinate getting people back to their
cars if they are parked where we start.
Perrins Bluff
7th – 9th March
Co-ordinator: Graeme Pennicott
Maps: 1:50 000 1:25 0000
Rating: L/PT
The
plan is to walk in to Pelion Plains on the Friday night. This will
allow us to head to Frog Flats early Saturday morning and then off
track to our camp at Leonards Tarn. Sunday will be Mt Achilles and
Perrins Bluff. Depending on the group, we may retrace our steps to Frog
Flats or Pelion or we may opt for over Mt Thetis with a higher camp at
Thetis Saddle near Paddys Nut. On Monday we may be able to visit Mt
Oakleigh or look at the plane wreck near Warragurra Creek on our way
back to the car park. This will be a busy weekend. Numbers will be
limited so get in early as I would like to finalise the list by the
February 25th meeting night.
Schouten Island
7-9th March
Coordinator: Malcolm Pryor
Maps: Freycinet NP, Schouten 1:25000
Grading: NT/I*
Every
few years we head to Schouten Island for a three-day camping trip, and
our time has come around again! This is a great opportunity to truly
escape and to enjoy both some great bushwalking and some great time by
the beach. We’ll be setting up camp at the campsite at Crocketts Bay,
and there will be walks on each of the three days.
During the
weekend we’ll attempt to climb both Mt Daedalus and Mt Story, and on
one of the days we also plan to walk west to the dunes at Sandspit
Point. The walking to the two mountains is quite scrubby with no formed
track (scrub gloves may be a good idea) but we don’t have a great
distance to cover so we should still be able complete both without too
many worries. The climb to each mountain is approximately 400 metres.
Mind you, it’s also acceptable for those who prefer to do so to stay by
the beach and swim! At the time of writing one thing that is still
being negotiated is our transport to the island. This may affect our
departure time and we may end up having to leave on Friday evening. You
should also expect that a significant outlay beyond the trip levy will
be required for the boat travel. Details will be provided as they
become available. A final consideration to take into account is that
there will be a limited number of spaces on the boat, so anyone wanting
to go will have to get their name down early and pay a deposit on the
boat fare. Expressions of interest for the trip will be called for in
early January.
Anyone who’s been on trips to Schouten Island before always says what a great time they had, so make sure you don’t miss out!
Lake Fergus
9th March
Coordinator: Patrick Dickson
Map: Miena 1:25,000
Grading: T/I
Lake
Fergus is a rather large lake with sand dunes on the northern end which
makes this an unusual Plateau destination. The lake is situated on the
Central Plateau, West of Little Pine Lagoon and Skittleball Hill and
the walk is about eight kilometres each way over fairly uneven ground
and some rough old four wheel drive tracks.
Central Plateau walking means both bad and good weather clothing. so please come well prepared. I look forward to your company.