Lake MacKenzie - Nameless

[Clownfish]

Hi Everyone!

Well, it's been a year since I tore my Achilles tendon, so I guess it's as good as it's ever going to get, and I've just been informed that the blood clot in my leg wot nearly done me in is all gone, so I'm looking forward to getting back on my feet!

I want to start off with something a bit easy, so I was thinking an overnighter from Lake MacKenzie to Lake Nameless (we were going to do this last Christmas, but my son got sick and we had to turn back after about 2 ks).

I'm just wondering, does anyone know how the lake level is at MacKenzie, and is the track to Explorer Creek past the spillway still accessible? What's the best way to get started if the lake is high - or is it a case of fuggeddaboudit?

[Son of a Beach]

According to the Hydro's lake levels web page, it's currently at 1.62 metres and falling.

From hearing about other people's experiences, it can be exceedingly difficult to get through the scrub, and to cross the river if the lake is full, or the river is flowing rapidly. When I did this trip a couple of years, the lake was near empty and the river was only trickling, so it was quite easy.

My only other tip is to make sure you cross Explorer creek where it is rocky, before it flattens out at the top. In the flat slow section of the creek between the lake and the slope, the mud is very deep, even though the water is shallow (my mate went down to his waist, and very nearly got stuck - I went back and crossed over where it was easier).

In any case - welcome back! I hope you enjoy getting back into the walking.

[Clownfish]

Thanks for that information - the link will no doubt come in useful in the future.

One stupid question, what does '1.62 metres from full' actually mean? Does that mean it's 1.62m from the top of the wall?

I'm trying to recall how high it was at January last year - I imagine it wasn't too high - as the track was pretty easy to get to, then.

[Son of a Beach]

I don't know exactly how that related to the dam wall height. I would guess that it is in relation to the top of the spillway, or perhaps to a little higher than the spillway, to allow for the amount of water that flows over it after heavy rain.

In any case, I would think that 1.6 metres in height would mean a fair bit of exposed shoreline between the bush and the water, which is the main thing.

[taswegian]

Now - hope this isn't breaching rules for off track walking.

you can always go around the north side of lake Mckenzie and then back down east side.
Obviously longer and it can be wet (ground) to north but its easy to negotiate.
You could chose to wander across to Lake Balmoral and on to Lake Lucy Long.
From memory the scrub on south side Balmoral can be 'interesting'.
But its an enjoyable walk.

Fisher River valley is interesting too - just keep on west side.

Other option and longer again is to take a SSE approach from just west of the spillway and head southerly to Blue Peaks region then east.
Its all easy walking but does need some navigational skills which in this instance aren't highly technical.

[sthughes]

I was in there a few weeks back and if the water is up then the shore south of the lake is not a good option due to the scrub and rocky terrain. I ended up swimming and floating my pack as it was easier (and a beautiful day).

Someone told me you can go around the north side if the river is too swollen to cross, but that it takes a heck of a long time.

The best option is to go south of the lake through a saddle on an old hydro bulldozer track. I haven't been there but am told it's easy to follow and an easy walk. If you PM Flyfisher he has a GPS plot of it (my computer is out of action so can't post it). I found it best to cross the river quite close to the lake where it is wider and shallower. On the way in we crossed calf to knee deep up further wearing crocs, but on the way out I crossed in boots near the lake, and would have had dry feet if I hadn't forgotten my gaiters.

From there it's pretty straight forward following a cairned route basically along the north side of Explorer Creek, Lake Explorer and Snake Lake until you reach Higgs Track at Lake Nameless.

If you wand to tent the Hut has pretty rubbish sites, but does have a toilet. Better camping is along Higgs Track close(ish) to where Nameless discharges to Snake Lake.

Assuming Hydro go by usual dam terminology then 1.6m from full would mean below the crest of the spillway. However at McKenzie the spillway crest is a concrete wall built up about 1 to 1.5m above the natural surface. So for all practical bushwalking purposes I'd say it is full. Also note that the data is at least a day old (and often older) and with a lake that small a big downpour (or no rain and Hydro turning on the taps at Lemonthyme Station) will see it change fairly quickly.

[corvus]

The track around the edge of the lake was impassible (swimmable) the other month so you will need to do some serious scrub bashing rock scrambling or take the easy track that heads right over the spillway and up the hill ,the creek crossings were reasonably easy knee to thigh deep but the weather will obviously determine their levels.
Chapman in his Cradle Lake St Clair book give a good description including a map of the track over the hill ,just a pity I had not read it prior to our horrendous scrub bash on our last walk
corvus

[north-north-west]

Yes, Chapman's route looked the best option when I was up there.

Good to see you back, Clownfish, and great to hear you're healthy again. Please take better care of yourself from now on, eh?