Lake Petrarch

[proskub]

How hard is the track to Narcissus via Lake Petrarch? I'm taking a beginner walker out for hist first trip, and don't want to turn him off it for ever by making him wade through mud for 7 hours!

[ILUVSWTAS]

From what I hear, since the closure of the track the buttongrass is taking over again. Apparantly (HWC had trip in there late last year) it isnt as muddy as it was, but is now much harder to stay on the track.

[proskub]

Is it allowed to walk there?

[ILUVSWTAS]

People still do, im not sure if the track is actually closed or just not a recognised track anymore.
Maybe one of our Parks forum members could say more??

[tasadam]

Or if in doubt, contact the Parks office at Lake St Clair yourself, http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/?base=7710#10

Welcome to the forum!

[proskub]

Excellent guys, I'll do that

[bluewombat]

Not a good option for a novice, the track is poorly marked , boggy with button grass and generally hard work . The track is not closed in that you can still walk it, but it is not maintained. (however as ILUVSWTAS says it is less boggy than it used to be). If your friend really wants to see Petrach, catch the boat up to Cynthia and walk in and out via Byron gap.
bw

[Son of a Beach]

I walked the track from Narcissus through Byron Gap to Lake Petrarch and then on to Cynthia Bay a couple of years ago. I would strongly recommend against beginners going there. It's not terribly hard for anyone used to off-track walking, but it could be exceptionally demoralising for a beginner.

The track is not officially close, but there is a Parks sign at the Cynthia Bay end stating that it is not maintained, and warning about how difficult it would be to use it and recommending to use alternative routes.

It's not terribly boggy (although there are a few areas of bog), but it is very overgrown, and in a few places rather scrubby, and in several places there is not visible track or foot pad at all (including several km of trackless button grass.

Even if you were to go in via the Byron Gap route (which is a beautiful walk - great forests!), you still need to take care. The foot pad is not clear in some parts of the forest, and you need to take care to look out for the track markers. Also, with the better camping (and nice beach) being at the southern end of the lake, you might want to walk right around the lake, and it is rather scrubby most of the way alongside the lake.

[proskub]

I'm not a beginner, I've been walking here since I was 7. I'm going with an equally experienced friend, and a novice friend.

[Son of a Beach]

Yes, you said that earlier. I was trying to say that I don't think it would be the best place to take your novice friend. However, it does depend on the individual, of course. It's not an excessively difficult walk, but it is the kind of walk that would be very demoralising for some, and could turn people off bushwalking. Some hardy beginners may cope with it just fine with the right mental preparation and on track guidance.

[Son of a Beach]

PS. My trip report from when I was there is at: viewtopic.php?f=42&t=1186&p=12372

So there's a bit more information there. No photos though, unfortunately.

[Nick S]

Walked to narcissus via lake petrach some years ago in mid winter, we had to wade a couple of strong flowing creeks and the track alongside the lake was flooded. Got soaked plowing through 100m of thigh deep water, then it started snowing over Byron gap and we only reached the hut after nightfall. Plus the last person to use the stove had burnt even the logbook for fuel! In all a very memorable trip.

[Singe]

Lots (and I mean lots) of leeches on that track between LSC and Petrarch - mightn't be the best introduction to bushwalking for a newbie. My wife refuses to walk anywhere she might so much as see a leech after getting a dozens on her within a few minutes of hitting the Cuvier Valley track... So plus one for the Byron Gap track for me

[ILUVSWTAS]

I used to be scared of leeches, then after you get a few on you and realise you cant feel them, they dont seem so bad.
I recently got a tick bite, after THAT give me leeches ANY day

[DaveNoble]

I seem to remember the muddy part of the track as being north of Lake Petrarch. The track from Cynthia Bay to Lake Petrarch was not too bad - and up quite a nice valley (except in the old bushfire zone) - and the campsite at the lake is quite exquisite.

Dave

[norts]

I last walked the from Narcissus to LSC via Petrarch in Jan 09.
It is quite muddy on the north side of the lake and also on the south side between the lake and where you cross over in to dry forest in the middle of the valley. After that you go down on to the button grass, then you just walk from post to post(alot are missing). Doesnt really matter as you just walk down the valley.
Roger