The Western Arthur's Miracle

[NickD]

Hey all. Don't normally report on my walks, post walk, but this one was a corker.

This being my 2nd crossing of The Western Arthur's, my first being in January 08 from A to Promontory where fires turned us back.

I started the track on the 19th of May, aiming to build my Western Arthur's knowledge and experience up as I hope to guide on the range next summer. Tim and I thought a 'Winter Trip' would be an amazing and challenging experience. We packed a mountaineering tent + bivy bags + tarp, food for 12 days (despite plans to finish quicker) and plenty of extra warm winter gear.

However....
As some of you may have noticed, a long holding blocking high began over the state during this time, and didn't break apart till Tuesday the 26th, just perfect enough time for us to get through all clear!!!! We didn't get a drop of rain until about an hour from Scott's Peak. Mild nights and t-shirt temperature days, with very little wind. An absolute gem of a trip.

I built such a love and obsession for this range, and as I'm just 21, am sure I'll see many many more crossings of this magical area before time.

I'll post pics later.

[DaveNoble]

Hey all. Don't normally report on my walks, post walk, but this one was a corker.

This being my 2nd crossing of The Western Arthur's, my first being in January 08 from A to Promontory where fires turned us back.

I was on a trip that also got turned back by these fires - we saw them up close - see -

http://www.david-noble.net/Tasmania/Wes ... Tas135.jpg

and

http://www.david-noble.net/Tasmania/Wes ... Tas136.jpg

(and on a previous trip - we got turned back by fires at Hanging Lake!)

I started the track on the 19th of May, .

May is a really nice time to traverse the range - as long as the weather is not too bad. I have recently been scanning some old slides from a May 1980 trip - and we really only had one day of good weather - but it was the day from Lake Oberon to High Moor and what a day it was - magic soft lighting

Dave

[sthughes]

I'm so jeaalous - that same high pressure system brought with it over a foot of rain to the Cairns area in the first week of my holiday there! Who would have thought that for nice weather in winter I should have gone to south west Tassie instead of North Queensland! Glad you had a great time and look forward to some pics!