Fagus watch 2014

[stepbystep]

Speaking to a chap at Mt Field. He said he'd been going there for 30 years and never seen it so late.

Also a friend in PWS gave me a botanists report on the Marions Lookout dieback event this year. Troubling times for this species

Here's one I took on the weekend.

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[Buddy]

It's a pretty terrible track but the Fagus on the lower slopes is unique. Larger, thinner leaves due to the micro-climate I think.

I found that also on Fagus Creek. Given that N.gunnii rarely grows under an overstory, perhaps leaves are bigger to better take up enough light to make chlorophyll?

[Buddy]

Speaking to a chap at Mt Field. He said he'd been going there for 30 years and never seen it so late.

Also a friend in PWS gave me a botanists report on the Marions Lookout dieback event this year. Troubling times for this species

Here's one I took on the weekend.

The "chap" was me "step by step" .Pleased to meet you lol.

[stepbystep]

The "chap" was me "step by step" .Pleased to meet you lol.

Haha! Likewise. Just as well we chatted about Fagus and not APCA 4WD tracks

[Buddy]

I'm sure there is common ground stepbystep. Like the fact that the Sandy Cape hut has just been gifted from Parks to 4WD Tasmania who will insure it and facilitate its upkeep and maintenance for all users of the APCA, bushwalkers included. Cheers.

[stepbystep]

I'm sure there is common ground stepbystep. Like the fact that the Sandy Cape hut has just been gifted from Parks to 4WD Tasmania who will insure it and facilitate its upkeep and maintenance for all users of the APCA, bushwalkers included. Cheers.

Of course there's common ground, always. That's what my job up there and that of PWS was all about finding, did you see the film I made? 4WD Tasmania has taken it up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFXvKGkrtYs

Now, back to fagus

[tigercat]

Beginning to turn near Lake Fenton, Mt Field

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[Pteropus]

As a temporary Tasmanian, I wanted to see the fagus changing colour since I might not get another chance for a bit. I managed to get to Mt Field today and do the Tarn Shelf. This weekend might be a good bet to get up there coz it most definitely is turning.

[Davo1]

Cradle has really turned the corner this week.

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[north-north-west]

Nice. Might be time for a wander up Mt Field. Snow and fagus is a good mix.

[Chrisbulldog]

Not changed much since I was at Hounslow Heath a few weeks ago . Going up tomorrow with a small group ..hopefully this colder snap has moved the colours along a bit.

[Chrisbulldog]

Fagus shots

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Fagus shots

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Hi all.Ventured up to Cradle 3/5/14 . Around dove lake itself , the fagus is ok up in the heights ..but very little change of colour around the lower flanks and the lake itself .
However , traversing up to Lake Wilkes ..then through to Twisted Lakes and Lake Hanson ..there was a much better display. In some areas the "show ' seemed to be all but finished . Apparently there is a good "red" display around lake Rodway. So in summary , the fagus seems to be of a more erratic display this year rather than uniform change.

Probably another couple of weeks to show the full glory.

[robl]

I have posted some pics here from today.
http://bushwalk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=17009

[bcshort]

Whoops, meant to post here...

I made the trek up to the Tarn Shelf at Mt Field today and it was totally worth it. Although I had not really expected to spend the day on the shelf with only a t-shirt required! Absolutely magnificent and could be seen from Wombat Moore.

This weekend is it if you want to see the Fagus at the Tarn Shelf. The groves further down near lake fenton are a bit hit and miss - some have coloured up nicely, but most are still green-yellow

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[skog]

I was at the mawson ski fields the other afternoon at it was lucky to be zero out of the wind.

Was the walk clear to the shelf bcshort? Or was there snow?

[bcshort]

Was the walk clear to the shelf bcshort? Or was there snow?

The snow was patchy, you could walk along the duckboards with no issue, with snow is some of the holes, but you could rock-hop without having to tread in snow. I got as far as the crest before the decent to that last tow before making the call not to go further - a pair of sneakers do not make good bushwalking boots - something I intend to rectify tomorrow! It would have been a slippery descent, and I probably would have broke an ankle by tempting fate. Here's a view looking back over the duckboard to Seal Lookout to give some idea:

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Lots of snowmelt & water though - I would have been much happier with waterproof boots and gators to just tread through the streams that were flowing down the track. There was also a school group down on the Tarns camping, from reports of people walking back.

[skog]

I might have to go up Saturday. I spoke to a couple of guys the other night and they said there was snow upto a foot over the back.

[bcshort]

I might have to go up Saturday. I spoke to a couple of guys the other night and they said there was snow upto a foot over the back.

It's be barely that now. Perhaps 3-4 inches in most places. Meant to be a lovely day again tomorrow so assuming nothing drastic happens overnight on Friday, I suspect you would see plenty of water and little if any snow at all.

[skog]

I have never walked to that part of the park. Is it suitable for an 8 and 5 year old?

[bcshort]

Hi Skog,
Today was my first walk here too. I'd say if you stuck to the duckboard walks yes, but some of the rock-hopping may be a struggle for kids. You'll also be climbing 150m over 1km up to the ski fields - this is is steep and slow going if you aren't fit. also remember what goes up must come down - my knees are really feeling that tonight
Once at the ski fields, the track levels out at it is quite good walk across the plateau on duckboards until you reach broad river where some rock hopping begins. Thttp://maps.thelist.tas.gov.au/listmap/app/list/map is a fantastic tool to help get an idea for what you are in for, as is google maps with it's 3D elevation mapping.

[skog]

No doubt they will want to run up the hill? How many hours return would you say?

[Binder]

It's worth a look at the Mt Mawson webcam below to get a rough idea what stage the Fagus is at along Tarn Shelf. Cam is at the top of the Mawson ski tow facing Tarn Shelf. Fagus is about halfway up the image.

http://mtmawson.info/?page_id=22#!prettyPhoto/1/

Cheers

[skog]

Thanks for the link binder

[tibboh]

Yes Mt Field is in it's prime now.
For those who can't walk up to Tarn Shelf there is a good show right near the road below Lake Fenton. A nice short little nature walk easily accessible.
The good weather forecast for next week has come at the right time. Plenty of lookers up that way today. I counted 40 cars at Lake Dobson at lunchtime today.

[tigercat]

Tarn shelf Friday may 9

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[Regnan]

Tarn Shelf late yesterday afternoon. Not a soul to be seen after 3:00pm

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[bcshort]

Regnan, if you were walking back between 3 and 4pm Thursday, theres a chance you probably went past me walking back Blue Stripey t-shirt

[PeterJ]

It is at peak at Cradle. Actually I can't recall it being so late to peak.

Fagus at Cradle

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Photo looking down on Lake Wilks

[Regnan]

Took some mature ladies up to Lake Fenton (Mt Field) today. It looks stunning at the moment. So good I'm heading up there again tomorrow morning with camera in hand. A mix of green, yellow and dark orange - should be good for a number of days to come. Hoping to get a nice shot of Fagus and snow gum together.

[MrWalker]

It's still looking good in the Cradle Mt area. I'm not sure if I have any decent photos because it was rainy and misty all day and my camera lens kept fogging up. Monday would be a better day to be there.

Crater Lake is very good, and so is Lakes Wilkes.
Cradle Cirque has some really good fagus and the east side of Cradle Mt looks great from Flynns Tarn over to Artists Pool. If you are going to Twisted Lakes to see it, I suggest walking in at least to Artists Pool and possibly a bit further.
I may not have spent enough time at Twisted Lakes (due to weather), but to me it looked best from the track up to Hansons Peak.