Winter Traverse of Tasmania's Mountains

[Richard W]

For dry feet, you need to find a pair of Arc'teryx mattock drysocks.

http://www.itstactical.com/gearcom/packs/the-importance-of-quality-arcteryx-nemo-redrock-adventure/

I've had dry feet ever since I started wearing these.

Spent a month in Patagonia with a lot of swamps etc and stayed perfectly dry- overland track in winter, south coast track in autumn, same thing.

[weetbix456]

Yeaaa Andy is out there now..all his food drops pre-set. I believe he plans to paddle from Scott's Peak to the base of Frankland Peak - walk north and then paddle to The Pleiades. I think his idea is to be done by the start of July if all goes to plan you're a bloomin' nutter mate. Best of luck!!

[north-north-west]

I believe he plans to paddle from Scott's Peak to the base of Frankland Peak!

Would make more sense to go up via Terminal. Not that getting at either Secheron or Frankland from north or east is particularly easy.

Butt if he's starting now and expecting to be out by the start of July it's more an autumn traverse than winter.

[stepbystep]

A friend said he met Andy near the start of the South Coast Track at the beginning of an 88 day solo walk, including PB, Vanishing Falls, Bobs Knobs, Federation Peak and the Eastern and Western Arthurs, the Frankland Range and the Eldon Range and more. He is one tough adventurer.

I think he's in for a serious sh*tfight. The leg from the SCT to the Farmhouse track will make him or break him. He's doing that solo and he has little or no SW off track experience. I'll be very surprised and very impressed if gets through that lot as planned. He's planned to join up with others through the Arthurs.

[beardless]

It sounds like it will be very very tough.

Last edited by beardless on Thu 12 Apr, 2018 7:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

[farefam]

It will be interesting to see how Andy goes with his autumn/ early winter trip. Having done most of the main ranges solo, I don't think there's anything on his route that is impossible, so long as he has made preparations for safe river crossings. I feel that it's really the psychological misery of weeks and weeks of wet scrub bashing that will be the most difficult thing to cope with on his trip. Particularly since he'll probably be in the clouds for a fair amount of the time and often won't have views to compensate for the physical trials. Still, I'll look forward to reading about it!

[pazzar]

Does anyone know if Andy is carrying a Spot tracker? I'd be interested to track his progress, especially as he will be hitting the PB-Bobs section soon. I think he will be in for a torrid couple of weeks, but if he makes it through that, I think he will have a pretty good shot at going the distance.

[beardless]

And it looks like there will be a fair bit if rain in the South west over the coming days so river crossings will be a challenge.

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South West weather

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Melaleuca weather

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[doogs]

With all the rain forecast Vanishing Falls will be real pretty.

[gonetroppo]

Was watching 'Winter on the Blade' (awesome) just this week when the penny dropped... hang on, this is the fellow we passed on the SCT a few weeks back! Was good to meet you Andy and very much looking forward to hearing about the adventure.

[Mountain Rocket]

Does anyone know if Andy is carrying a Spot tracker?

I don't think so. Last I spoke to him he had only just been convinced to take a PLB, he didn't mention it would be a SPOT one but is possible.

Regardless I wish him all the best. Man loves to push his own limits, those first couple of weeks will be make of break I reckon.

[jimmyharris]

I can shed some light on Andy's trip so far - I joined him at Farmhouse Creek and was planning to traverse the Eastern and Western Arthurs with him until I badly sprained my ankle early on and had to walk back out. Pretty disappointing after all the preparation but these things happen unfortunately.

Andy realised that he didn't have time (food) to get to Vanishing Falls and came out via PB and then biked up to Farmhouse Creek where I met him instead.

He does have a Spot tracker with him and is sending check-in messages most nights. Getting towards the end of the Eastern Arthurs on the last one I saw. The plan is then down to Cracroft Crossing for a re-supply and then the Western Arthur traverse followed by a kayak to the Franklands.

[Tas Tom]

Does anyone have an update on Andy’s trip?

[Mechanic-AL]

I cant tell you where he is.
But I'm pretty sure that when he finally extracts himself from the bush his first pie is going to go down in a single bite, his first hot shower will have the potential to exceed orgazmic delights..............and as for the clothes he has been wearing, I don't think even the Good Sammy's would be brave enough to touch them !!

[beardless]

News reports suggest Andy Szollosi survived, and completed the journey. Look forward to reading about the full story. One tough guy.

There is an article in the Weekly Times:

Tasmanian man explores the state from southeast to northwest, on foot

https://www.weeklytimesnow.com.au/tasmanian-man-explores-the-state-from-southeast-to-northwest-on-foot/news-story/20721a568fe23e85b07d161fadf00dbe

[Warin]

There is an article in the Weekly Times:

The above link is behind a pay wall.

[Nuts]

Have to wait for the movie version.

[beardless]

There is an article in the Weekly Times:

The above link is behind a pay wall.

I can't access it now either. The article is not very long an did not say much. It indicated that "His walk began at South East Cape and followed the ridge-lines of the South Coast mountains to the Tarkine, before concluding at Woolnorth Point in the state's northwest."

[pazzar]

You can view the story and photos here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYTHFnYLnOw

[farefam]

Quite an interesting video, just a slight pity that in the editing it seems to skip a few little bits here and there. The 5 minute time lapse section is excellent. It captures the atmosphere on the trip so much better than a static photo does. The Q and A session was interesting and nice to see Andy's sense of humour remained intact, as the photo at 36:22 in the video would have summed up the downside of the tent bound parts of the experience.

[Nuts]

cough

[potato]

That is just amazing - thanks for sharing the youtube link

[doogs]

Bravely bold Sir Robin
Rode forth from Camelot.
He was not afraid to die,
Oh brave Sir Robin.
He was not at all afraid
To be killed in nasty ways.
Brave, brave, brave, brave Sir Robin....

[bumpingbill]

Any chance of getting a YouTube video that is just the whole talk, rather than it jumping around? Not sure why it's skipping?

It looks fascinating and I'd love to watch the whole thing.

[tastrekker]

Here is some reading material for you -
King Williams, POW, Wilmots, Franklands -
http://www.subw.org.au/archives/POR/Thrash.html
...
Dave

Updated link: https://www.subw.org.au/archives/press- ... al-thrash/