Mensa Moor

[naturelover]

Hi there. A friend and I are gong to go to Mensa Moor in two days' time. Can anyone give me an estimate of how long it might take for the return? As it's supposed to be a very long day, I thought of taking tents for the first two hours and then going with day packs from there, thus shortening the total by two. Does that sound necessary or reasonable? Any tips, warnings etc???? Thanks, Louise

[doogs]

It's been a few years since i was there but it's around a 6-8 hour walk from memory. The route is marked on the old 1:50000 map if you have access to it. Walk round the north side of coalmine crag, cut down boulder field towards creek/mensa moor, head towards mensa moor hoping to find pads through scrub, a bit scrubby to gain mensa moor ridge, reasonably open walking along ridge to summit.
EDIT *I didn't do this walk in snow.!!!

[north-north-west]

Given the snow and the relatively short days, you'd definitely be better off camping, although it would be doable as a day trip.
I spent the night before at Menamatta, and the next night at Lake Youl; had a wander out to the high point on Coalmine in the morning before packing up. Left the pack in the gully on a convenient rock, up to Mensa and back, then wandered south over Cotton Moor - and wasn't exactly hurrying.
The line you take down from and around Coalmine is important. There are pads through there but they're of the 'disappear into a tangle of scrub when you least expect it' sort.

[naturelover]

Thanks very much for the advice and 'warnings' NNW

[biggbird]

How'd it go? Interested, as I was up there this past weekend!

We took tents and stayed on top of Mensa Moor, which actually had fairly rubbish camping. Then walked out over Johnson's Moor/Rodway Valley/Giblin's Fell. A nice overnighter, with beautiful weather!

[naturelover]

Hi there Big Bird, long time no see / hear. We met in PineValley Hut, remember? We had a fantastic weekend, the report of which is written up in my blog (with our route and pics and a discussion especially relevant to this weekend - re ice. Go to blog, URL http://natureloverswalks.blogspot.com.au/
Hope you find that helpful. Any further questions, just ask away