Mt Bowes

Sunday 27th July 2014

The second week back of semester and it was time to get some walks going for all our new members!  I decided to do something a little bit unusual and off the beaten track!  Get all the exchange students to a part of Tasmania they never would have heard of! So I decided Mt Bowes in South-West National Park....in my opinion the most superb part of Tasmania and one of its best kept secrets!

Approximately 17 of us ended up going and I enjoyed getting to know some of the clubs newest members in the 2 hour drive to the start of the walk.  We headed along the Gordon River Road and turned left onto Scots Peak Rd and then parked our cars at the first left hand turn just before a locked yellow boom gate.

We walked along the road for 10 minutes or so until we came across the cairn indicating the start of the walk.

Walking along the road to the start of the track

Initially the track was through scrub but then we started to walk through forest which looked like something out of a fairy tale!  The vegetation was a vibrant green, there was many colourful fungi and the tree branches were all twisted...any moment I was expecting goblins to jump out at us!

Initial Scrub

The forest

Through the forest and over the creek!

We walked through the forest for what seems like hours and hours and never started to climb uphill.  We thought that perhaps we had walked straight past the turn off for the summit track as we didn't think it should be taking us this long. However, eventually we came to the obvious cairn that indicated the start of the walk uphill.  It was quite short compared to the long section through the forest. We eventually came to the summit and were relieved to be here!  Everyone was tired and enjoyed the excellent views from the top!  Mt Anne stayed hidden in clouds but all the other lower peaks could be seen clearly.  One party member unfortunately lost one of their boots on the walk in, but nevertheless made it to the top despite having a rather cold foot!  It then turned out that someone else had a spare pair of runners in their bag and was able to lend him one slightly too small shoe to make the walk back to the car less painful!  A lesson in ensuring your equipment is good enough to handle the mud of the South-West! 

Summit group shot

View from the top!

We retraced our steps back to the cars and managed to walk much faster on the way back!  The walk was longer than I had anticipated but that was probably due to the size of the party. The track was easy enough to follow but you spend most of your time in the forest so it can be hard to try and work out where you are.

Grade: Medium
Map: Wedge or Bowes
Time: 6 - 7 hours. 

Mt Picton

Mt Picton

23rd - 24th August 2014

A rare weekend off work mid semester hailed for an overnight trip to be organised.  I wasn't fussed where we would go but given the weather forecast was so glorious I though we would try for something in the South-West.  The destination of Mt Picton was agreed upon.  Mt Picton can be done as a long day walk but given the short winter days it was better suited to an overnighter.

Six club members ended up coming.  As usual we met at the TUU carpark before running up to the club sheds to grab all the gear.   Off we went and at Geeveston we took the Arve Rd as if heading towards the Tahune Airwalk.  We turned off just before the Airwalk and then followed the maze of forestry roads to the start of the walk (described in Chapman and the Abels book).  We decided not to drive the last 1km of road due to the deterioration of the road and instead happily walked to the cairn with a large stick with ribbons hanging off it.

The track was relatively flat through the forest until we crossed the river and then the fun climbing started!  A kind person has put rope in a few sections where the track is slippery and steep.   We were very thankful for these especially given the weight of our packs was pulling us backwards.  We were concerned that perhaps they might be old rope and snap at any point...however they proved to be sturdy and reliable!  After a few hours of climbing we finally arrived at a lookout point over two lakes and from here the wet forest turned into dry scrub.  We got our first glimpses of Mt Picton from here and the blazing sun made it feel like it was mid summer!  A rare treat this time of year!

The forest and river

We trudged onwards and upwards towards Steane's Tarn just below the summit block.  Initially I thought that we were meant to camp at Steane's tarn....so I sent James on a wild goose chase down to the tarn to find some suitable areas because there did not seem to be any obvious ones.  However, we soon figured out that the best camping was actually at the pools to the left of the tarn where the track goes over.  So James went for a scrub bash for no good reason whatsoever! :P

Camp at the small tarns

The small tarns were fine to drink from and it made for a nice little camp site with views of Federation Peak! The only downside was the ground was not very level so we had to pick our tent sites carefully!  After setting up camp we thought we would follow the cairns leading towards the summit to see if we could make it to the top before the sun set.  However, we lost them fairly quickly and decided to turn around and leave the peak til morning.  Then we wouldn't be so rushed.

Looking back at the Tarns at the point we got lost and turned around!

I had a fairly sleepless night given my tent rattled in the wind and I kept sliding down the tent because of the incline!  It rained for a few hours in the morning but stopped around 8am and we all got up. Lying in my tent I thought that we had missed an opportunity to climb the peak because it would be all clouded over. However, to my surprise visibility was good!  So we all got ready and packed our day packs and made our way to top!  We found a cairned route to the top, but as we had heard the cairns are vague and you really had to go looking for the next one!  About an hour later we were standing at the windy summit!  And what a wonderful site it was!  Views of the south west all around - a pretty spectacular way to spend your birthday!  We wrote in the logbook and took some summit photos and then back down the mountain we went. About half way down it started to rain again, so when we got back to the tents we quickly packed up and walked back to the cars.  Arriving back at the cars at about 4pm.

A rather rocky climb!

Awesome view from the top!

Overall it was a great overnight trip!  It was good to get out mid semester and have a weekend off!  The walking was medium level, not too long but the track was steep and slippery in a few sections.

Grade: Medium
Map: Picton
Time: 2 days

Brown Mountain

The Eiger Nordwand, K2, El Captan, Annapurna… The mere mention of one of these formidable peaks can silence a room full of hardy climbers.  But there’s one mountain whose name is spoken in whispers, two words that will send an icy shard of terror into the heart of any Tasmanian walker: Brown Mountain.

Many a time, on a drive through the southern midlands, I would see that colossal, hulking pyramid of rock, and crane my neck to take in all 792 of its vertigo inducing meters. I would always promise myself, “one day, one day.”

That day arrived when our fearless President announced what I had been waiting for - and dreading: The first TUBC attempt on Brown Mountain. There were cries of “madness!” and “it would be suicide!” but we continued our preparation in earnest, carefully selecting expeditioners with the skills we needed, waiting for the perfect conditions to launch our strike. After a sleepless night of anticipation and soul-searching, eight of us met at the TUU car-park. Unsurprisingly the team was down a few due to last minute nerves, and we couldn’t help wondering if they had been the wise ones.      

We steeled ourselves and took to the cars, arriving at the foot of the brooding giant an hour later.

It would be unreasonable for me to even attempt to contain the swashbuckling, death-defying adventure that followed within the confines of this humble blog, so here are a few highlights:

·         Climbing the First Gate (it wobbled a bit)

·         Crossing the Wire Fence (we could have easily tripped)

·         Walking up the Slightly Inclined Road

·         Finding the track marker (we thought that we should have already reached it but then we looked at the map and realised, no, actually it’s probably a bit further along – it was)

·         Stepping over The Branch

·         Struggling to get everyone included in the Summit Photo

·         Liz’s “slide”

Three long hours after beginning our walk we were back at the cars, with a story to tell and a greater appreciation for the fragility of life and nature’s cold indifference to the futile efforts of man.    

Grade: V. Easy
Time: 3+ hours
Map: Buckland

Pelverata Falls, Sunday 17 August 2014

After meeting at the TUU car park and adopting a few extras, we headed out towards Huonville. After waiting for two cars to join us (fill up with petrol before leaving peeps!), we headed towards the start of the walk, narrowly avoiding a boat collision and some nasty potholes. Turns out that would be the hardest part of the day, because the walk was certainly not 3 hours return!

Our group of 27 made it up in 45 minutes, and made roughly the same pace on the way back. The walk started out along the back of some farms, and was only on a slight incline. After about 15 minutes we came to a right hand turn, and it started to get a little steeper as we headed into the bush. The track is fantastic though, and there was only one real muddy spot to tramp around.

The sight of some waterfalls to our right had us tricked, and we thought we were about halfway. It turns out that we were only about 5 minutes away from the real Pelverata Falls! After a little section of climbing on screed, we came to the top! There is a viewing station that curves around the side of the hill and you get a sense of how tall the falls actually are and makes for a great selfie spot. Apparently there is also a 4WD track that gets you to the top, but we didn’t try to find this one. After a few minutes at the top we scrambled down on a beaten path to the flowing river. Some brave souls actually took their shoes off – their poor cold toes! Other rock monkeys scrambled up the opposite side, with two walkers having a nice refreshing shower under the falls!

There were quite a few families and dog walkers out, so the track is obviously a secret the locals are keeping the city folk in the dark about! It is well worth the few minutes drive out of town for on a Sunday afternoon. When daylight savings hits it would be great even as an after work walk or evening picnic!

Grade: Easy

Length: 2 hours return + rock climbing time

Disappearing Tarn

So...where did all that rain disappear to all so suddenly?? THAT was the true question. Hobart Town had been engulfed by a wet soggy blanket for the past week or so, and many a hapless plan had been quashed as a direct result. To counter this, we decided to divert our attention back to our trusty ol' mate Mt Wello for a simple dash up the hill and into the thick of the snow. I'd already visited the Disappearing Tarn on a number of occasions, and all bar one encounter left me disappointed. That day was surreal; and the waters sparkled all so translucently clear like none I'd ever seen before. It was magic - and I'd been hoping ever since for a reunion. Today was to be that day...or so I believed - and I carried the further hopes of a bunch of adventurous followers heavy upon my shoulders.

Winter walkers near Disappearing Tarn

The access road was closed off at Fern Tree, so we had to wander a further 30 minutes up hill to meet the normal access route at The Springs. Even by now we were wallowing in the white powder, and I copped a few snow balls from a few sneaky suckers. Everyone was out having a ball; and the width of the road had been transformed into a makeshift ski slope.

Snow ball fights at The Springs

We braved on along the network of tracks, and began skirting the slopes of the mountain. It was quite a task to follow the route at times, as the build up of snow had weighted and drooped many of the peripheral shrubberies. But the walking was spectacular, and everything seemed to have a mystical presence about it.

White winter wonderland!!

On reaching the tarn, I was well hungry and edgy with anticipation. I'd brought along my snorkel & wet suit; in high hopes of being the first winter warrior to tackle the depths of the pool. Turns out, the Disappearing Tarn had disappeared for reals. There was hardly a drop in the thing!! All the rain which we'd recently got in Hobart had turned to snow & settled at this high altitude. How could I have been so stupid!! In a few sunny days the goods would be a neck deep reach, but for now it resembled a mere meager mud puddle. But we were happy. Cold, wet, hungry & tired but happy. Now we just had to walk back. Back again, only to have to come back again...or maybe again. The tarn always wins out after all Hooray!!

Ohhh yeaa...here is our disappeared tarn!!

Walk details:-

Grade - Easy (More difficult in the snow!!)

Time - 3 - 4 hours

Starting Point - Fern Tree or The Springs

Map - Mt Wellington Walks Map

Report by Nick Morgan