Favourite Tasmanian camp sites [Multiple photo warning]

[doogs]

Hopefully this spring I will be camping on one of the islands on lake pedder. I always have thought a pedalo would be a fun way to do it, but I think I will stick with a zodiac on this trip!

[ILUVSWTAS]

The camping anywhere along the Franklands was amazing, of course you have to be lucky with the weather like we were to camp in some of the exposed places....

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Camping under Double Peak

Camping near the Frankland/Wilmot junction

[mjdalessa]

By luxury I mean; easy access to peaks, quick travel times, fishing, as much gear as you want pretty much, etc, etc. But not to say a luxury boat wouldn't be nice too!

I now do not think a day trip would be at all feasible, despite the short distances. Those ridges look pretty *&%$#! scrubby and those low flood plains look as if they are covered in intertwined tea tree scrub and other nasties. If it does happen coronation will have to be a two day-er me thinks.

[MJD]

And here's Citadel Shelf:

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Citadel Shelf (Frankland Range)

[ColD]

Oh Man soo good, these tent manufactures should be paying you big money for these shots. So before they do what's the general recommendation for a solo packer?

[MJD]

Lots of things to consider when picking a tent. Some people seem to think that it needs to be bomproof and capable of surviving in a howling gale on top of a mountain. Those with a bit more sanity carry lighter tents and take a bit more care selecting where to put it up. You could start by looking at Terra Nova, Tarptent, Hilleberg, & MSR to get a start on a good range of solo tents.

[mjdalessa]

What should I expect on the summit blocks of Coronation, Double and Citadel? As in scrambling, exposure, etc?

[MJD]

The higher & eastern citadel is the only one that was difficult. There is a pad out to it from the camp site. You just need to keep going round until you reach the right gully. It is steep but quite enclosed so there's not that much exposure. There should be some photos of it somewhere on the forum.

[JamesMc]

Lots of things to consider when picking a tent. Some people seem to think that it needs to be bomproof and capable of surviving in a howling gale on top of a mountain. Those with a bit more sanity carry lighter tents and take a bit more care selecting where to put it up. You could start by looking at Terra Nova, Tarptent, Hilleberg, & MSR to get a start on a good range of solo tents.

I'm one of those people who think a tent needs to be bombproof.

Over in the Solo Winter Walking post, there's a bit on the "stupidity" of walking without a tent. Implicit in this view is the assumption that it's worth carrying the weight of a tent in case of emergency, and an emergency could happen any time any where. If you're going to need your tent in an emergency, then chances are you'll be out in nasty weather. A tent that can't stand up in weather that you can't stand up in is not going to be much use. Not much value having a Tarp tent on the side of Mt Ossa in a blizzard!

There are three heavy items in the typical bushwalker's pack. If you are going to cut weight then these are where you'll start. Firstly there's the sleeping bag. If you're bag is not up to the job then you'll end up sleeping in your clothes or getting cold. Secondly there's the pack itself. If it's not up to the job then you'll be doing some sewing in camp, or carrying your gear bundled up in your rain coat. Thirdly there's the tent. If it fails in a storm you die.

This is why I have a light Osprey pack, a very light Big Agnes sleeping bag, and a heavy MacPac tent.

Cheers
JamesMc

[mjdalessa]

Thanks for that. Not sure if I'll end up going up Citadel, planning a 2 or 3 dayer to Coronation and Double. Is there a pad up Coronation?

[pazzar]

why not take the 6 or 7 and do the full range?

[mjdalessa]

Maybe a different time. I'm planning to paddle across the lake doing Scotts Peak and Solitary on the way then an overnight in the Franklands.

[stepbystep]

Maybe a different time. I'm planning to paddle across the lake doing Scotts Peak and Solitary on the way then an overnight in the Franklands.

Question has to be asked mjdalessa, do you have off track experience?

[mjdalessa]

With these kind of distances, like 8km, yes. Just wanted an idea about the summit blocks.

[pazzar]

With these kind of distances, like 8km, yes. Just wanted an idea about the summit blocks.

Short distances does not necessarily equal off track experience. Are you planning on going solo? It might pay to do some easier off track walks first to get used to the possible obstacles. I was up on the Jukes range last week, it is a good walk to learn how to navigate off track. While the walking is generally easy up there, it can get a little hairy if you choose the wrong route. Tyndalls, King William Range and even some of the remote peaks at Mt Field could be some good practice too.

I have done some off track walks, but by no means do I feel experienced in it. Again, if you are walking with others who have some experience you will most likely be fine.

Good luck!

Cheers,

Jared

[mjdalessa]

I probably feel the same way as you towards off track walking, but have plans that will help me prepare for this (will hopefully go at the end of the summer).
Geryon, planning on South and North from Pine Valley using a track to North from there I found in a climbers guide. Will be with those with climbing experience so a top rope can be set up if necessary. (November)
Anne Circuit
Jukes and Tyndalls
Picton and Riveax
Bobs is also a possiblity

http://www.thesarvo.com/confluence/disp ... tern+Crags
This says Coronation can easily be done in a day from pedder, not sure if it means return or one way though?

[tasadam]

This was a particularly memorable time, for all the right reasons.

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[NickD]

Not a particularly talented photographer, so I wont bother to post such pics. However this is my favourite 10 in no order.

1 - King William II Summit - camped here due to low visibility. In the morning, BAM clear skies out to Frenchman's Cap, Diamond Peak and King William III, i only took 2 very crappy pictures due to my frozen hands, everything was under a blanket of deep snow.
2 - Lake Helios - an absolute classic. We were planning to camp higher, but saw this ripper and had to take the afternoon off. This at age 17 with my best friend, doing one of our first big off track ranges.
3 - Florentine Valley - Hidden away from the log trucks in a grove of rainforest so quiet your ears hurt.
4 - Underneath King David's Peak - A great place for a romantic evening.
5 - Lower Battlement Hills - On the North side of Battlement Hills, with views to King William, The Spires and The Gell River Valley, heart of the wilderness.
6 - Lake Rhona - Enough said.
7 - Long Tarns - The temperature didn't rise above 0 all trip however the sun was shining full bore, it was unique. The lakes refroze within an hour after breaking them to get water, even in the middle of the day. It snowed one evening, but the snow was so powdery, we sat it out in our down jackets and happily cooked dinner.
8 - Joan Point, Bathurst Harbor - Another one with good track access, I've stayed here a few times. Its one of the Worlds wonders in nice weather!
9 - Du Cane Hut. - just simply a splendid spot. I cannot be in a fowl mood here.
10 - Lake Oberon.

[tasadam]

Just to throw something different up, this was a really nice place. Can't say where it was because of forum rule 23. Enough said...

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[stu]

Ditto on the rule for this one adam...but probably pretty obvious...

[mjdalessa]

Stu, Is that an MSR Hubba? How did it hold up to the trip?

[Azza]

That's my Hubba Hubba....

It holds up fine.. provided you don't put it in the path of 100km/h winds.
While I quite like the roominess, the stability is rubbish.
The large side panels catch the wind, hence I've had to fit guy ropes to the door tie backs.

On the other hand the single person Hubba seems to be much more stable and fixed lower to the ground.

[mjdalessa]

Hmmm... I'm tossing up between the one man Hubba HP and the Tarp Tent scarp, can't choose! The hubba is much easier to get but doesn't look like it would hold up quite as well, but the scarp is four seasons and has far more options. It weighs 300g or so more to make it freestanding though. What do you recon?

[mjdalessa]

Cuvier Shelf

Lake Rhona

Lake Elysia

(Not my tent)

Last edited by mjdalessa on Mon 19 Mar, 2012 5:12 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Think that first one should be Cervyier shelf, not Citadel??

Last edited by ILUVSWTAS on Mon 19 Mar, 2012 4:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[eggs]

mjdalessa
You might like to relabel the first one - looks like Byron/Olympus is in view.
Might it be Cuvier Shelf? [Crossover - Get the spelling right ILUV]

[ILUVSWTAS]

mjdalessa
You might like to relabel the first one - looks like Olympus is on view.
Might it be Cuvier Shelf? [Crossover - Get the spelling right ILUV]

Thanks Eggs, it's changed.....

[mjdalessa]

Cheers, done.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Here's a nice one.

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[north-north-west]

I loved Wylly Plateau (and not just because it wasn't Leaning tea Tree Saddle). Used one of the more sheltered sites as it was still pretty breezy and overcast when I got there.

Setting up at Wylly

And, while it's hard to beat camping out at Field West in conditions that would have been perfect if not for the wind . . .

Look closely. There is a tent in there.

. . . being up on PB does it.

Nine points for the summit, too . . .