Bushwalk Australia

Planning the traverse from SP via WA, EA, Fedder exit FC. In Jan 2013.

My wife and I are considering the extra effort to walk accross the arthur plains to CC to do a food drop for the remainder of the trip.

Pros of this are obviously the weight deduction for the WA traverse.

Cons are the extra time it takes to walk out and back accross the arthurs plains.

Is there anyone who has done this or highly reccommends doing this, or not? Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

If a food drop has been done at cracroft crossing, what is reccommended for keeping it safe and secure for a sucessful pickup?

Lastly, would a Nallo 3gt be to large and troublesome to pitch on the ranges. Given its not freestanding I feel it could be an issue on the platforms and possibly to large.

Has anyone used a Nallo 3gt on the Western or Eastern Arthurs ranges and had no problems? They are great but may need to use one of my other tents with a smaller footprint.

Any feedback and advice is greatly appreciated.

Cheers, KM

I did a very similar thing a couple of years ago. I walked in to Cracroft Crossing via the Huon Track from Picton Rd and left my food drop at Pass Ck camping area. I then walked Mckays track to the start of the W Arthurs. I walked down to Pass Ck via Lucifer Spur and picked up my food before walking the E Arthurs and out via Farmhouse Ck. The other advantage of this was the closer proximity of my car to the end of my walk. Full trip report here: http://www.hikingoz.com/2011/11/sw-tasm ... ckays.html

I once did a similar trip - we walked into Junction Ck from SPD and carried two weeks food. We dumped a week's worth at Junction Ck, traversed the WA's to Craycroft Crossing. Then two of us walked back to JC picked up the food and then back to CC (a long day!). The other two in the party had a nice rest day at CC. We then traversed the EA and went out via the Picton Range. Collecting the food was a bit of a pain. Since then I have done trips alone the WA and EA with no re-supply. I think that is a better option. You do need to be more selective about what gear you take and what food however.

For a food depot - we have kept food in a thicket of scrub tied up in a few strong plastic bags. This worked well. Also - tied in a bag hanging from a tree (this was at Pass Ck) - that also worked well.

Dave

Thanks for the replies so far. They are very much appreciated.

My Minaret was too long for some of the platforms on the WA, I can only presume the Nallo will be too.

Thanks David, some good helpful points that we will definetly consider over coming months. Also thanks David for your inspiring site with back dated trips.

Thanks abceight, I read your link and it was awesome. what a great trip. It is definetly something we will consider coming in the Yo Yo track due to location for food drop deposit and proximity to Farmhouse Creek at the end as we will have a vehicle in Tas.

I definetly think my wife would enjoy the trip more if we can ease the weight burden with a convenient food drop. You guys have been a great help and we will investigate our options.

Cheers KM

KM, I have left food drops at Pass Creek before, and without any problem. Both times, I was walking the Eastern & Western Arthur Ranges. I walked in from Scotts Peak Dam along the Arthur Plains, left a food drop at Pass Creek on the way through to Federation Peak and then picked it up on the way back, ascending the Western Arthurs by way of Lucifer Spur. I didn't have any trouble. The food & fuel drops were in a couple of lightweight canoe sacs and strung up in trees near to the Pass Creek 'campsite'. They weren't touched by animals or by other walkers.

I have a Nallo 2, (same length as a Nallo 3), and I did a solo traverse of the Western Arthurs last October, camping on platforms all the way and I didn't have any trouble, so your Nallo 3 should be fine.

rucksack

Thanks Rucksack

Your advice in conjuction with the others is re assuring. Pretty confident that a food drop will be the way to go. Just need to plan and decide on an interesting route. I really like abceights idea as it involves no backtracking of the same route. A good way to avoid doing the arthurs plains twice (Mc kays track). I hadn't thought of going in the Yo Yo track but its kind of appealing as ive read a bit about its history so it would be good to experience it. (Kevin Doran mentions it a lot in his recolections of Federation Peak trips.

As for the tent, just to confirm we have a nallo 3gt model. Please correct me if im wrong but I think from memory the gt models have the extra large vestibule but the sleeping area is the same as the standard nallos. (I should just look it up). I realise that all the Nallos are the same length regarding the size eg nallo 2,3 4 etc it just means they are wider as they sleep more people. From memory the GT model is the (Grand Touring Model). As I said, I should just look it up.

Thanks again as I really value everyones input as its going to be a great trip but like advice from people like yourselves with valuable experience in the area.

Cheers KM

I did the same as rucksack on my first ever walk in Tasmania. If I was to do it again, I'd probably walk in via the Yo Yo track, it's nicer walking than the Arthur Plains in my opinion.

I am aware of one party who had food stolen by humans ( using the term loosely) at Pass Creek, so I suggest you hide it well off the track.

JamesMc

Sorry KM, I should have read your post more closely. Yes, the Nallo GT is longer than the equivalent models in 'standard' spec, but I still think that you should be OK, as long as you aren't jostling for space with another tent on the same platform. I camped on the platforms at Lake Oberon, High Moor and Haven Lake last October and I think that you would be able to fit a 3GT onto at least one of the platforms at each site. I have used the Yo Yo Track before, walking into the Eastern Arthurs to climb Federation, and it is the more 'scenic' route, as others have said, although there is much excitement to be had in wandering up the Arthur Plains when the creeks are flowing strongly, especially Seven Mile and Nine Mile creeks, and I have had an altogether interesting time crossing both Cracroft River and Strike Creek at high water levels too.

My food drops are always well away from the beaten track, so unlikely to be spotted by walkers of a pilfering bent, succumbing to temptation. It is always slightly depressing to hear when food drops have been broken into.

rucksack