Summer bushwalking options

[Champion_Munch]

Is fergy's paddock available to non-OT walkers (or ones going only as far as Pine valley)?

Yes. Its basic though. Only a long drop toilet, and water from the lake. Although the Visitor Centre is only a 5 - 10 minute walk away, not too far to go for breakfast or dinner.

Dave

We stayed at Fergy's paddock after finishing the OT a few years ago just before xmas, from memory we had the camp ground to ourselves! So it wouldn't be necessary to book a site here, just rock up? We're not looking for fancy accommodation, we're about to spend several more nights camping anyway.

[north-north-west]

Yes, just walk in and hope it's quiet. With most OT walkers using the ferry it doesn't get that much traffic. I've never seen anyone camped there, and I stop in for a quick look every time I'm visit Cynthia Bay. It's a good little spot.

[Champion_Munch]

Hi all,

It's getting close in on December and this trip is only a month away!

We booked transport back out with Tassie Wilderness Experiences, so will have the extra day to either explore Pine Valley area or do Mt Rufus.

If the weather is good (and fitness prevailing) we may end up camping at Labyrinth. What would be the best (and easiest) day trips to do from here? From what I can tell in Chapman's book, Walled Mountain (or maybe Mt Hyperion) would be the best options for us, but would appreciate some comments from those who have walked in the area before.

Cheers,
Munch

[doogs]

A wander up to the Du Cane range highpoint or Walled would probably be better options, unless you like tricky ascents with plenty of exposure (Hyperion isn't a cake walk).

[GPSGuided]

Munch, looks like our itinerary will overlap considerably. Might see you and your dad on one of the tracks around LSC.

[Champion_Munch]

Hi doogs,

Thanks for the heads up - might steer clear of Hyperion then. What's this Du Cane range highpoint that you speak of?

GPS, was just looking through your thread... you seem to have a very similar itinerary, though we'll be arriving a day after you (boxing day). If you see an old geezer and his old man huffing and puffing and stopping every few moments to take photos, you'll know who it is.

Cheers,
Munch

[GPSGuided]

It'd be great to see your dad out on a trip. I'll have wife and teenage son in tow on their first major multi day outing. By schedules, we'll likely cross path there at Pine Valley. Would be great to meet up.

[Scottyk]

Hi doogs,

Thanks for the heads up - might steer clear of Hyperion then. What's this Du Cane range highpoint that you speak of?

GPS, was just looking through your thread... you seem to have a very similar itinerary, though we'll be arriving a day after you (boxing day). If you see an old geezer and his old man huffing and puffing and stopping every few moments to take photos, you'll know who it is.

Cheers,
Munch

Walled Mountain is a good easy one, not too steep and cairned all the way. Would be great at sunset.
The Labyrinth Look Out is worth the climb, this can easily be done from Lake Elysia.
If you follow the cairned route past Elyisa, past the Pool of Memories and then past Lake Selene the cairns roughly continue and take you up to the first peak of Mount Geryon. This is worth a look if you have time.
Also drop down to Lake Helios where you can see Mount Ossa in the distance. Not a bad spot to camp but very, very windy in bad weather.

One word of warning - it isn't called the Labyrinth for nothing. When the cloud rolls in and the visibility drops it becomes a rather hard place to navigate around if your off track. It all starts to look the same, Pencil Pines, Tarns, Rocks etc. Can be very disorientating.

A really nice spot though, especially when the sun goes down on a clear day. The light on the mountains is spectacular.

[GPSGuided]

One word of warning - it isn't called the Labyrinth for nothing. When the cloud rolls in and the visibility drops it becomes a rather hard place to navigate around if your off track. It all starts to look the same, Pencil Pines, Tarns, Rocks etc. Can be very disorientating.

Nice challenge.

I understand there's a proper track leading up to there. Better make sure I have spare batteries for my GPS...

[doogs]

Hi doogs,

Thanks for the heads up - might steer clear of Hyperion then. What's this Du Cane range highpoint that you speak of?

GPS, was just looking through your thread... you seem to have a very similar itinerary, though we'll be arriving a day after you (boxing day). If you see an old geezer and his old man huffing and puffing and stopping every few moments to take photos, you'll know who it is.

Cheers,
Munch

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There's a track/pad that continues from Lake Elysia up on to the Du Cane Range, the highpoint is marked on the map. I have also marked the rough line of the pad up Walled Mt, as there is no signed track up there either. Probably avoid Geryon as the same advice applies to it as I gave for Hyperion. The winning photo by "eggs" in this link was taken from approximately the Du Cane high point viewtopic.php?f=22&t=13228

[GPSGuided]

I note that OSM has captured the track up to Du Cane and looping round to Geryon. No track recorded for Wall Mountain though.

[Champion_Munch]

Thanks for the all the suggestions guys, looks like Walled Mountain and this DuCane Highpoint would be great options for exploring the plateau. That photo taken by eggs is a stunner. Now just fingers crossed for good weather!

[Champion_Munch]

So I've just read about the "ant issue" when camping at Labyrinth (apparently particularly bad in Summer, when we are going). Wondering if anywhere else up on the plateau would be relatively ant-free (or less ant-y) if we arrive to find our planned campsite ant-infested?

Also, what would be a rough walking time (with/without a pack) from Labyrinth to Lake Helios or to Du Cane High Point areas?

Cheers,
Munch

[north-north-west]

Elysia ia where the ant problem is worst. I didn't have any problems with them further up. Actually, even the ones at Elysia didn't bother me much because I was only there late evenings, overnight and early mornings. Arrived after they'd gone to bed, left before they were up and about. But if you're spending any more time at camp than that they'll be a monumental pain.
Elysia to Helios is an hour or so without a pack, from memory, maybe a bit more. I broke camp, went from Elysia to Helios with the full pack, climbed Hyperion without, then took it over to & up Eros, circled around and got almost to the high point of the DuCane ridge by mid-afternoon, when I set up camp because the weather was getting iffy. It would be a fairly straightforward day to shift camp up on to the DuCane ridge or to Helios from Elysia, and then wander around exploring.

[Scottyk]

So I've just read about the "ant issue" when camping at Labyrinth (apparently particularly bad in Summer, when we are going). Wondering if anywhere else up on the plateau would be relatively ant-free (or less ant-y) if we arrive to find our planned campsite ant-infested?

Also, what would be a rough walking time (with/without a pack) from Labyrinth to Lake Helios or to Du Cane High Point areas?

Cheers,
Munch

If the ants are bad at Elysia another option if the overnight forecast is really good is a high camp on Walled Mountain. The top is like a mown lawn with lovely little tarns and views of the Eldon Range. Worth dragging packs up there if the weather is perfect, obviously very exposed in wind.

[Champion_Munch]

Thanks for the advice!

What's water availability like if we're looking to camp around Lake Helios/Du cane high point area? Aside from the lake itself, is the head of Cephissus creek reliable? What about water on Walled Mountain?

Cheers,
Munch

[DaveNoble]

You should have no trouble finding water wherever you camp. There are lots of small pools all over the place. On Walled Mtn and on the Du Cane tops.

Dave

[DaveNoble]

Small black ants can be a bad problem in the Labyrinth (and other alpine places) during summer in fine weather. They are only really a problem when you sit down - and then they start climbing over you and biting! Eg if you stop for a rest or stop to take a photo or to get something out of your pack. If you have a tent with mossie netting - then that stops most of them getting in. But a tent is not a good refuge from ants in fine weather - they soon get very hot and unpleasant. The only refuge I found in the Labyrinth was to go to islands in the lake (Elysia) - and even then they had to be small islands - large islands had ant nests! The trouble then is - no shade. I had a rest day in the Labyrinth last summer and had to sit out on an island. I did some reading and then when I got too hot - had a swim in the lake. Thus was OK.

At night, or in cold or wet weather the ants go back into their nests.

I have encountered ant plagues like this on the Traveller Range and near the Walls of J. But the Labyrinth seems the worst place for them. Perhaps someone needs to take up a pack full of echidnas?

Dave

[GPSGuided]

3 days before the trip and I read about the ant problem at the Labyrinth. Gawd!

[biggbird]

Have fun GPS Pack lots of insect repellent. Not that it will help, but I'm sure it will make you feel better for attempting to do something about them.

[Champion_Munch]

G'day everyone,

Just wanted to say thanks again for all the suggestions and pointers - we had a blast! Walked into Pine Valley, walked to Labyrinth Lookout and the plateau before the acropolis as day trips, walked back via Echo Point and camped at Shadow Lake for the final night. We had some rough weather on the last couple of days, with 40+ mm of rain in less than 24 hours, gusty winds and tiny hail storms! Personal highlight was the labyrinth... really spectacular scenery, totally unlike anything I've seen before... we both had a blast, will definitely be back again one day!

Would be keen to hear trip reports from other forum members who were in the area at the time, may have bumped into you along the way...

A couple of shots from the trip...

[walkabout]

Nice photos, thanks for posting