Skyline Traverse of Cradle Mountain

[doogs]

I have been thinking about attempting this route as it sounds like a bit of fun but I can't find too much information on it. Has anyone done this route and are there any particularly tricky sections or points were you have no choice but to abseil? Cheers.

[stepbystep]

I have been thinking about attempting this route as it sounds like a bit of fun but I can't find too much information on it. Has anyone done this route and are there any particularly tricky sections or points were you have no choice but to abseil? Cheers.

Martin has certainly done Weindorfers Tower, he can probably help...

[destroythescrub]

you will require skill with ropes

[corvus]

There is good account of this Traverse by Fred Smithies in Jack Branagans book about Smithies "A Great Tasmanian" published by Regal Press around 1984.
corvus

[stepbystep]

Chatting with someone that has done it from the Bensons Peak end, it's quite easy if you sidle past Smithies Peak and drop off prior to Weindorfers Tower. A true skyline traverse requires either ropes or very good climbing skills.

[Joel]

I've done it. There are two abseils. Definately need to abseil. Down climbing would probably result in death/injury. Lots of loose blocks around too. I would love to try it in winter.

[mjdalessa]

I have been up Smithies Peak, Little Horn, Part way up Weindorfers and up Cradle. Little Horn has a good track on one side, you probably know where this is. Head towards the lake a point 5-10m from the summit, take the obvious way down on the left. The way is soon barred by a 3m slippery face, I lowered myself down on plants, couldn't see any feasible way up though. Easy walking from here. No way up the face of Weindorfers I could see (without climbing), easy gully on the right hand side of the peak (looking from lake) leads to just below the summit. No idea how hard the summit is, ran out of time. Smithies on the other side is quite easy to climb, so is dropping off the back end of Cradle. The ridge from Cradle to Weindorfers may be interesting as a walker.