Federation Peak in June

[radson]

I wanted to go to Nepal in April/May but looks like thats a no-go now so looking for something interesting closer to home in June.

Starting to have a look at Federation peak.

Is the weather in Tassie in winter a show-stopper or can some nice windows be found if one has some decent gear.

Have fun

Brad

[tibboh]

Statistics say there is a greater chance of cold and wet weather in winter and early spring. You can have good windows of awesome weather in winter making for a great trip though. If you have the flexibility to depart when the forecast is favourable there is no reason you couldn't have a reasonable trip.
The weather in that part of Tassie is fickle and can change very quickly so it is extremely important to be well prepared. It's hard to get a week long widow of perfect weather in winter.
It depends on which route you choose as to how many days you will need, 3 long hard days if you are fast or over a week to 10 days (or longer) if your'e slow and the weather pins you down. Many variables of which the weather is just one!

[wello]

There's a book by Kevin Doran called Federation Australia's Adventure Peak that describes in detail three winter trips the author made between 1978 and 1981. Gear has certainly advanced since then, but they had the advantage of using fire to dry gear and keep warm.

Feder in winter would be a considerable challenge. It's conceivable to race in and out via Farmhouse Creek in 3 days, in which case a clear weather window is possible. Longer routes you should assume a few days of pretty poor weather and plan extra food an so on. Short daylight hours in winter also limit distances that can be travelled in a day. Extra mud and high creeks also likely to be an issue, as well as the possibility of snow on the final ascent.

Good luck if you try.

Wello

[radson]

Thanks guys for your considered and positive replies. Appreciate it

[Tortoise]

Haven't been there... yet... ... but...

Ice was a problem for us, rather than snow, on much lesser peaks like Ossa & Pelion East. Even my started-climbing-onto-the-roof-of-the-house-before-the-age-of-two friend couldn't get up the last part. About 3 cm of very slick ice on any rock she tried to get a hold on prevented her and another adventurous friend from getting up the last bit. A family were heading up Ossa around the same time, but they had crampons and ice axes, and winter experience in Scandanavia.

Clearly people have done it - but it might need a bigger window of non-freezing weather.

[radson]

Wow, I would be so much more comfortable if there was a layer of ice than slippery wet rock. I might bring down my tools if the weather looks interesting

[Tortoise]

Just noticed your associated organisation!

But like i said, i don't actually know Fedders

[Mowser]

Hard to say what the weather will be like then. The slippery rock around Fed and the southern traverse can be a problem at the best of times. I've spent a lot of time in the arthurs over the years in both summer and winter and for some reason my worse weather has always come in the summer. But, so has my best. In Feb 2011 we spent 2 weeks doing both Western and Eastern Arthurs and got 1 dry day. Ended up at Hanging Lake in a couple of feet of snow for 2 days followed by torrential rain at which point we left hanging lake and basically ran out to Farmhouse as all the rivers rose before us. I think another day and we would have been stuck for a bit longer at hanging. Your biggest problem in June will be the rivers. If coming in from Farmhouse, you'll have atleast 4 or 5 decent river crossings to negotiate. I've had to do a lot of bush bashing up and down the rivers in the region to find suitable crossings. On my last trip the creek at Crest Camp was nearly impassable but after a couple of hours bashing up and down stream we found a log to cross the creek. It's also amazing how big a little creek like Cherry creek at cutting camp (just before moss ridge) can get after a day or twos decent rain. Likewise if coming through the Eastern Arthurs, the creeks on the arthur plains and strike creek before luckmans lead can become huge. If you came in from Farmhouse you can make a basecamp at Bechervaise, then day trip from there. Do forest chute, go to Thwaites plateau etc while waiting for the weather to clear for Fed. My advice would be to make sure you have plenty of time up your sleeve to allow for 'sitting it out' and waiting for rivers to fall. Having said that, you could get 4 or 5 days of clear weather and have no problems at all. Kevin Doran's book is a good read and worth a look. If you go let us know what the conditions were like!