camping at the Cap?

[Mechanic-AL]

I'm getting a bit worried Frenchmans Cap will become the next ECO dry boot, ECO luxury hut, ECO fly free, ECO megabuck bookings only type of " ECO wilderness" experience before I get there. So it's on the calendar for early in the new year. What I'm wondering is with the increased level of interest in this walk just how much tent space is there around Lakes Vera and Tahune? Do these sites get crowded and are there alternatives in close proximity to both of these camps. I hate huts and have no interest in staying in one for any reason.

AL.
.

[JamesMc]

Not much tent space at Lake Tahune

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Quite a reasonable camping area about 2 mins walk beyond Vera which would take 8-10 tents quite easily. Not sure how this area fares when the lake level goes up in winter, as there's no raised platforms.

Tahune is very limited. Perhaps enough room for 3-4 small tents around the lake, but I've seen the lake go up a metre over night, so you'd need to avoid being to close to the water if rain is forecast.

I think a sign in the hut allows night-time only occupation of the helipad but I can't remember for sure.

[icefest]

I think a sign in the hut allows night-time only occupation of the helipad but I can't remember for sure.

Yes, you may.


You could probably fit in 9-10 tents around tahune, another five ig you start using the paths.

[stepbystep]

I was there at a very busy time.

Vera can take up to 15 tents(very cosy pitch), that includes heli-pad, next to the hut and the camping areas across Vera Creek. Tahune far less, perhaps 10, total. Lake levels aren't an issue unless camped on Tahune beach.

I've investigated some off-track options also, you can PM me if you'd like to hear any of them. A mate camped on the summit too...!!

[Mechanic-AL]

Thanks for the info. I was guessing that there might not be too much space available up there.
Sounds like it might get a bit hectic at times.

Cheers

AL

[icefest]

The summit is nice when the crowds leave.

[north-north-west]

There are places to avoid the crowds. Sharlands, Agamemnon, Clytemnestra, the Irenabyss track . . .

[Nuts]

There's an 'overflow' site on Vera just before the climb to Barron Pass, other closer sites, pleanty of single spots here and there. We wouldn't all fit on top but yeah, great camping around the lakes/- Irenabyss if necessary.

Haven't noticed any huge increase in popularity (yet)?

[stepbystep]

I deliberately didn't name the site you have just named near Tahune as it's v sensitive and not just pineapple grass. You should know better nuts. Please edit.

There is already a massive increase in popularity. I have noticed it, and don't want to see them pitching there when they could squeeze in at the lake.

[Nuts]

Ok, as I recall it was another designated 'overflow' but hey, i'm all for that sort of advice.

How do you know there has been a 'massive' increase?

[stepbystep]

Ok, as I recall it was another designated 'overflow' but hey, i'm all for that sort of advice.

How do you know there has been a 'massive' increase?

Thanks.

I've seen it, heard anecdotally and also was speaking with the PWS bods out that way. It was highly predictable.

[Nuts]

Before the track works there were 900-1000pa visiting the cap, last year topped out at around 1200-1300(iirc), i'll be interesting to see figures for this summer As I found at the time, may have been worth remarking, haven't noticed any huge increase (or again) (this year)..



not that it would take many at all to start to show, especially if clustered around the same time with campsites overflowing.. I hear April is nice Al

[Mechanic-AL]

Lake levels aren't an issue unless camped on Tahune beach.

I probably should start another thread on this one but seeing as it has been mentioned here I was always of the belief that camping on beaches or too close to creeks was frowned upon. ( and not only because of rising water levels ).
The last time I was at Lake Rohna the beach was where everyone was camped and I have often seen people camped on lakeside beaches in many other areas. Sounds like it might be an accepted practise around Lake Tahune as well.

AL

[icefest]

Sometimes the beach can be the lowest impact campsite.
Creekside sandbanks too.

Undisturbed creeks can be quite erosion prone and should be avoided.

With that many people though the hut would get quite manky. It was bad enough with the 10ish people that were there when I was there.

[pazzar]

Speaking to the track ranger back in April he suggested that visitation had increased by 50% in less than 18 months. I'd like to see the data, but it would not surprise me at all. Vera hut was full on this particular night, and there were 3 or 4 tents up, and it was in mid-April. Lucky I was just on a daywalk!

[Nuts]

There's no track ranger on FC track pazzar. If there was the best they could do would be to research the log book figures.

Expected? yes! So there's really nothing that can be done other than lag behind the damage?

[Mechanic-AL]

Thanks for the offer of advice SBS. Tried sending a PM a few times but for some reason they don't want to fly so I have sent a msg to your website address.

Cheers
AL

[pazzar]

There's no track ranger on FC track pazzar. If there was the best they could do would be to research the log book figures.

Expected? yes! So there's really nothing that can be done other than lag behind the damage?

I was under the impression that Terry Reid was working under an agreement with PWS to look after the huts in an unofficial capacity. so maybe not essentially a track ranger, but a warden perhaps. If anyone knows of the numbers going in there, it is him.

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

Correct Pazzar.

He has retired. He walks it in his own time under an arrangement with Parks, perhaps 5-10 times a season - gathering data and completing hut maintenance. Still wears his old Parks ranger clothing.

Can't fault the guy's enthusiasm for the area. He directed us to find the chockstone on the summit climb, how to climb Sharland's - and also Davern's Cavern, although we didn't go that far.

When my employer gets my retirement resignation, I won't be doing volunteer work - that's for damn sure!

[Nuts]

Apparently there will be some more work on the track set for summer, likely including campsites. So this should help for a while.
Just to add, if there are any concerns over where particular camp platforms/sites may be positioned it's probably a good time to ask/help/express.

[stepbystep]

Work recommenced a little while ago, it was a ten year funding stream and this is year 6 or 7 I think...hopefully some more camping at Tahune will be found.

I was told a traffic counter was installed, no doubt numbers are up.

[Nuts]

If the numbers are up 50% this year, 1500, very likely, or hold at 1250 Tahune probably needs some other solutions for camping.
Better some way to spread use than more sites used less often. A good candidate for a 'voluntary' register trial say I (or .. 'encouraged' for organised groups).

[stepbystep]

There's scope for platforms attached to the huts. I'd hate to see any veg cleared up there.

[Nuts]

Best get the p'shop and email fingers going then?:

Screen Shot 2015-11-22 at 10.14.12 AM.png (364.99 KiB) Viewed 17406 times

[South_Aussie_Hiker]

There's very little space for platforms at Tahune. Best place would be building 4/5 between the hut and the Lake's edge, hopefully without clearing too much vegetation. Any other direction from the hut has very limited platform suitable terrain without going several hundreds of metres - and then you'll get people too lazy to walk to the loo.

I love Tahune hut. It really grows on you (no, I don't mean the mould) - is hexagonal in shape to increase strength for large snow dumps.

[sherpa]

Hi all,
Returned from a five day Frenchman's walk last week. The Mountain Gods smiled and granted us a few minutes of good weather on the summit before it all went to hell.
On arriving at Vera hut on the first day, we were warmly greeted by Terry Reid, who was acting as 'unofficial' host. Although Terry has retired he still carries out many maintenance duties on behalf of of Parks. And when not maintaining tracks and huts Terry freely offers advice, knowledge and stories to anyone happy to listen.
Over the five days l counted 16 people on the track. This includes me and 4 people walking in as I was walking out. I had expected more so was quite happy with these numbers.
Up at Tahune materials were onsite to construct a raised helipad/tent platform similar to Vera. On the walk out I had a chat to a track worker who said that 'this week' they would be working around Vera to clear more scrub around the helipad and construct more tent platforms. I didn't ask how many.
Personally I'd love them to clear some decent access down to lake Vera. Now, I love Tea tree and cutting grass as much as anyone, but if I could sit by that lake and watch the bird life and mist rising off the lake in the morning while eating my porridge, or see the evening sun sink down behind mountain and lake. That would be magic. I'd walk in for that treat alone.
Sherpa

[north-north-west]

Camp over the creek. Get up five minutes earlier. Walk a little further along the track. There are plenty of places where you can reach the lake edge.

[DanShell]

Bringing up an old topic but does anyone know they have extended the camping at either locations?

We are heading up over Easter (well thats the plan at this stage) but we are a bit concerned about not finding a spot for our tents. We know of at least another 8 people personally that are definitely going so you can be pretty certain there will be a lot more.

[north-north-west]

Easter is always going to be busy everywhere. I make it a point of finding somewhere to walk at easter that no-one else wants to go to.

Although it seems TFS is planning to hit my proposed walk with a controlled burn, so plans have to be altered.