Walls of Jerusalem - access in early Dec 2016

[GazmanfromMelbourne]

Hi

I have a group of four planning to visit the WoJ for 4 days, 3 nights, starting Dec 9.

Will the road be open by then? If not, what alternate walks would people suggest?

Many thanks

Gazmanfronmelbourne

[yyhazy]

I believe that Mersey Forest Road is not accessible at the moment. I also heard that the section of the road to the Walls itself is not too much damaged but the authority decided to block the entire road from public for some reasons. Given that, you'll have to walk across the Central Plateau. Drive along Lake Augusta Road and you'll find an overnight car park. Walk further down the road you'll be able to access the Talinah Lagoon Track, which leads you into the park until Lake Fanny. I don't have any idea on the track condition or the time it will take though. I recommend you to call the rangers before heading there.

[north-north-west]

I believe that Mersey Forest Road is not accessible at the moment. I also heard that the section of the road to the Walls itself is not too much damaged but the authority decided to block the entire road from public for some reasons. Given that, you'll have to walk across the Central Plateau. Drive along Lake Augusta Road and you'll find an overnight car park. Walk further down the road you'll be able to access the Talinah Lagoon Track, which leads you into the park until Lake Fanny. I don't have any idea on the track condition or the time it will take though. I recommend you to call the rangers before heading there.

Ada to Fanny is an easy day, even allowing for detours (eg: Antimony). And Fanny to Dixons is also one day via Great Pine Tier (provided you don't get lost).

[benoloughlin]

I believe that Mersey Forest Road is not accessible at the moment. I also heard that the section of the road to the Walls itself is not too much damaged but the authority decided to block the entire road from public for some reasons. Given that, you'll have to walk across the Central Plateau. Drive along Lake Augusta Road and you'll find an overnight car park. Walk further down the road you'll be able to access the Talinah Lagoon Track, which leads you into the park until Lake Fanny. I don't have any idea on the track condition or the time it will take though. I recommend you to call the rangers before heading there.

Ada to Fanny is an easy day, even allowing for detours (eg: Antimony). And Fanny to Dixons is also one day via Great Pine Tier (provided you don't get lost).

Thank you, NNW. That concurs with what I have been advised elsewhere.
I;m not expecting work to commence on the Mersey Forest Road until March 2017.
I think I;ll just keep an eye on this thread in the event I am wrong with regards to road works.
B

[GazmanfromMelbourne]

Thanks for the advice.

I spoke to Parks Tas office at Deloraine. Mersey Forest Road will be closed for another 6-8 months with repairs yet to even start.

The ranger suggested the Lake Ada route with track to Lake Fanny. From Lake Fanny to Dixon's it is navigation. Sounds challenging. The post above advises 2 days for this, is it doable in one day or would that not be sensible?

With regards following the Great Pine Tier, what is the vegetation like?

[Nuts]

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=23624&start=30

[north-north-west]

Time would depend on when you start and how fast you walk. The track to Fanny is a bit overgrown in places but still easy to follow. From Fanny it's off-track and requires a certain amount of dodge-and weave to avoid the occasional bit of scrub and low cliffline. Not hard going but if you aren't used to off-track Tassie you'd want to allow the extra time in case.
Navigation on the GPT is basically a matter of following the main ridgeline. It's not scrubby by Tassie standards but knowing how to read the vegetation makes for easier going. There are plenty of places to camp all the way, however, so you can easily start from Ada and just keep going until you run out of energy or light. Plenty of water too. Just take a good map (Tasmap 1:25000 Ada) and you should be OK.
To give you an idea, I went from a camp on King Davids, picked up the track at Halls Buttress, followed it to just above Jaffa Gate, meandered along the GPT and camped on a lump above Fanny. Next day was down to the lake then along Powena Creek until the scrub on that side got too yukky for comfort, across Powena to pick up the Antimony track, into Antimony and back out to rejoin the main track near Talleh lagoons. Reached Ada carpark around 3pm from memory. And I'm slow as, particularly with the camera.

[GazmanfromMelbourne]

Thanks so much everyone.

As three of the four of us are new to Tassie walking we have decided to change plans and go to Pine Valley Hut area, just off the end of the OT. Trip report to follow in late December.

[Overlandman]

ABC update

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-16/b ... od/8126130

Regards OLM

[benoloughlin]

Thank you, OLM,
I was just listening to the news report on Radio National.
I wasn't expecting road access to the Trappers Hut track until Feb/Mar.
kind regards,
Ben