Federation peak in a day, trip report

[klaashartmann]

Early in January I did the Farmhouse Creek to Federation Peak walk. I didn't have much time and didn't fancy maneuvering a heavy pack over the obstacle course so decided to do it as a day walk. I was hoping to get in under 24 hours but decided to take some time to enjoy the scenery and ended up taking about 25 hours. I really enjoyed doing the walk this way and was able to pick perfect weather for it -- not a cloud in the sky when I was on the summit. I took my time and wasted a few hours due to bad night-time navigation and taking my time on the summit. A really fit person could probably do the whole thing in daylight hours in the middle of Summer.

I've posted a longer trip report on my blog in case anyone is interested. http://www.klaashartmann.net/epics/?p=73

I noticed that in places the track is braiding out quite a lot through the buttongrass and scrub. Often it is quite unclear which of the braids is actually the main track. I was wondering if it would be alright to mark a main track with tape next time I go through, or if public track marking is frowned upon. This would help at least one path through the scrub stay walkable...

Also I was curious if anyone has noticed if the track has been getting worse over time. It didn't seem much changed since I last did it in 2005, but a few people have commented regarding the number of trees on the track etc.

[ollster]

LOL. Nice self portrait on the climb. That's definately an epic!

[woka]

Hey Klaas. Federation Peak as a daywalk! I'm impressed!

Marking the track depends on P&W's classification - have a chat with someone from P&W about it (there's a couple of people from there on here who might answer).

[Phil]

Great effort klaashartmann, inspirational stuff! Thanks for sharing your trip report

[Taurë-rana]

Enjoyed the report, I don't think I'll try it though. You certainly took the bare minimum in with you - I have about twice that much any time I go walking by myself just in case I get caught out in bad weather. Having been walking in Tassie all my life I just don't trust the weather that much! I also have a good enough first aid kit that if I damaged myself badly I wouldn't be too uncomfortable waiting for help, although I have never been injured badly bushwalking. And, now they exist, I take a PLB for the peace of mind of whoever is waiting for me at home.

[isoma]

Top stuff Klaas! Nice trip report and blog site too.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Brilliant!
Well done.

[Taurë-rana]

I forgot to say, well done and thanks for sharing the trip report, it's certainly food for thought. A bit like the difference between mountaineers who go up fast and light, and the ones who carry mountains of stuff, use porters and take ages. I think I did the same trip to Feder in 5 or 6 days, but they were very leisurely - no getting up too early and not hard days. Even Moss Rodge was easier than I expected.

[tas-man]

<Snip> A bit like the difference between mountaineers who go up fast and light, and the ones who carry mountains of stuff, use porters and take ages.<Snip>

Thanks for your inspirational trip report - although it is something I would not attempt myself, your efforts may inspire a new generation of bushwalkers to "get out there", just as one of my early inspirations was the story of how four Americans made an illegal lightweight attempt on Mt Everest in 1962 in comparison to the efforts of the time that used an army of sherpas and oxygen and took "forever". In the book "Four Against Everest" the final chapter documented all their planning, preparation, equipment, food etc complete with weights of every item, and this focus on understanding the risks but "being prepared" for my bushwalking adventures has stood me in good stead over my many years of walking. If anyone is interested in this story, here's a link with further information http://www.4everest.org/sayre/1962.html

[sirius Tas]

Absolutely brilliant effort Klaas...top stuff. Obviously the criteria for a walk of this duration is super fitness and superb resilience. That smile half way up Fedder says it all....huge congrats.

[durks]

I read this trip report - great effort! - and then, by chance, came across the following paragraph the other night when I was browsing in 'The South West Book' (edited by Helen Gee and Janet Fenton) published by the Australian Conservation Foundation in 1978. It may be of interest.

--------------------------------------------------
Bushwalking Today
R E Saunders

"Today, bushwalking is the most popular activity in the South-West, with 400 or more people travelling through the area on extended trips each year. Although a reasonable degree of fitness and self-reliance are required for lengthy trips, the ease of access to Melaleuca (30 minutes by light aircraft from Hobart) and Junction Creek (8 kilometres from the Scotts Peak Road) facilitates shorter trips to the area. Since the bulldozing of the 'Yo-Yo' track, access to the Eastern Arthurs and Federation Peak has been improved (a term despised by many bushwalkers) to such an extent that a walker was able to complete the round trip from the Picton River bridge to Federation Peak and back in 22 hours, in 1973. It is sobering to consider that when first ascended, Moss Ridge, Federation Peak, required three weeks of hard cutting through dense scrub."