Western Arthurs Traverse Itinerary

[GregChinery]

Hi All - My wife and I are doing the WAT in Feb 17, buoyed on from a successful South Coast Track early this year. We are planning to do the itinerary as recommended by Chapman, but I was interested in whether anyone who has done the WAT would vary the schedule, and if so, why? Thanks for the feedback, I have pasted the Chapman schedule below:
1 Bus to Scotts Peak, walk to Junction Creek, 7km, a half day
2 Up Moraine A to Lake Oberon,11km , a long day
3 Over Mt Pegasus & Mt Capricorn to High Moor, 4km
4 Along the Beggary Bumps to Haven Lake, 4km
5 Over Mt Scorpio to Promontory Lake, 5km
6 Over West Portal to Lake Rosanne, 10km
7 Descend to Arthur Plains and walk to Cracroft Crossing, 5km
8 Walk along plains to Junction Creek, 19km
9 Return to Scotts Peak, 7km, and catch bus back to Hobart

[eggs]

Not sure what bus you are expecting, but transport to Scotts Peak has seen some changes over time.
There is no public bus anymore.
But a web search suggests you could hire bus transport from "Transport Tasmania" which appears to be under "Tasmanian Wilderness Experiences" based in New Norfolk.
There are others - but web page links appear to be defunct?

For myself, I would hire a cheap car to leave at Scotts Peak. About the same costs and gives more flexibility.
While you have Telstra mobile coverage off most of the high places on the range, there is no coverage when on the plains.

I have only gone as far as Pegasus, but your day 2 is definitely a hard day. It was roughly equivalent to our day 2 - but some of my young fit lads were flagging at the knees by the end.
A lot of groups would stop at Cygnus.

I also know of another group who went Rosanne to Promontory in a day - and due to the weather thought it was life threatening. So take care.

[Scottyk]

I'm with eggs
The day from from Junction to Oberon is a big one.
Bear in mind that you'll have very heavy packs on and Moraine A is a beast of a climb, seems to go on forever!
Just leave your options open there so if you get to Cygnus and everyones had enough you can stop without worrying about your ongoing schedule.

[JohnR]

Did essentially the same walk in January 2016 but we walked out on the Huon Track from Cracroft Crossing. Took us 5 days in total (4 to get from Scotts Peak to Cracroft Crossing).

I think that time wise your schedule is very conservative. Obviously weather will dictate variations and you should provide for an extra day of food.

Great that you are doing the full traverse. The remote feeling and spectacular scenery from Promontory on is worth the effort.

Enjoy your walk.

Cheers,

[Snowzone]

Did full traverse in 2014 over 8 and 1/2 days. The half day was a late afternoon walk into Junction Creek because we were there early enough to get a head start. Yes very big day if you then go straight to Oberon. We had excellent weather so were able to keep to this schedule but bad weather would change it. After Rosanne we didn't stop at Cracroft Crossing but continued along Makays track until we'd had enough for the day, and found a suitable camp.

[Snowzone]

Did essentially the same walk in January 2016 but we walked out on the Huon Track from Cracroft Crossing. Took us 5 days in total (4 to get from Scotts Peak to Cracroft Crossing).

I think that time wise your schedule is very conservative. Obviously weather will dictate variations and you should provide for an extra day of food.

Great that you are doing the full traverse. The remote feeling and spectacular scenery from Promontory on is worth the effort.

Enjoy your walk.

Cheers,

Four days from Scotts Peak to Cracroft crossing is very fast John. What was your breakdown of days?

[JohnR]

Day 1: Scotts Peak to Lake Oberon
Day 2: Lake Oberon to Haven Lake
Day 3: Haven Lake to Promontory Lake (This was really only a 1/2 day as we turned back a bit beyond Promontory due to poor visibility.)
Day 4: Promontory Lake to Cracroft Crossing
Day 5: Cracroft Crossing (along Huon Track) to Picton Road (Got a lift to Geeveston from an old couple visiting from the ACT. They were driving back from the start of the Farmhouse Creek track - reminiscing about their earlier trips to Fedder. Great stuff.)

It was worth sitting out 1/2 a day at Promontory (although that is not the best campsite). The next day was clear which made for easier navigation and magic scenery (the views across to the Eastern Arthurs are unbeatable).

[Snowzone]

Day 1: Scotts Peak to Lake Oberon
Day 2: Lake Oberon to Haven Lake
Day 3: Haven Lake to Promontory Lake (This was really only a 1/2 day as we turned back a bit beyond Promontory due to poor visibility.)
Day 4: Promontory Lake to Cracroft Crossing
Day 5: Cracroft Crossing (along Huon Track) to Picton Road (Got a lift to Geeveston from an old couple visiting from the ACT. They were driving back from the start of the Farmhouse Creek track - reminiscing about their earlier trips to Fedder. Great stuff.)

It was worth sitting out 1/2 a day at Promontory (although that is not the best campsite). The next day was clear which made for easier navigation and magic scenery (the views across to the Eastern Arthurs are unbeatable).

Some big days in that John! You must be very fast. There is no way I could do Oberon to Haven Lake in a day.

[GregChinery]

Not sure what bus you are expecting, but transport to Scotts Peak has seen some changes over time.
There is no public bus anymore.
But a web search suggests you could hire bus transport from "Transport Tasmania" which appears to be under "Tasmanian Wilderness Experiences" based in New Norfolk.
There are others - but web page links appear to be defunct?

For myself, I would hire a cheap car to leave at Scotts Peak. About the same costs and gives more flexibility.
While you have Telstra mobile coverage off most of the high places on the range, there is no coverage when on the plains.

I have only gone as far as Pegasus, but your day 2 is definitely a hard day. It was roughly equivalent to our day 2 - but some of my young fit lads were flagging at the knees by the end.
A lot of groups would stop at Cygnus.

I also know of another group who went Rosanne to Promontory in a day - and due to the weather thought it was life threatening. So take care.

Thanks Eggs. Already organised transport. I like the idea of Cygnus. Cheers.

[GregChinery]

Did full traverse in 2014 over 8 and 1/2 days. The half day was a late afternoon walk into Junction Creek because we were there early enough to get a head start. Yes very big day if you then go straight to Oberon. We had excellent weather so were able to keep to this schedule but bad weather would change it. After Rosanne we didn't stop at Cracroft Crossing but continued along Makays track until we'd had enough for the day, and found a suitable camp.

Thanks Snowzone - Good idea to get early starts, which come easily after "hiker's midnight". So the weather will be a key factor in all this; also, keep flexible.

[DaveNoble]

You need to bear in mind that only about 1/4 of the parties that set out to do a full traverse of the Western Arthurs are able to achieve that. Most are able to complete an A - K traverse, but around 30% of those that set out on a full traverse make it no further then Lake Oberon. Weather and the terrain can change plans.

In summer, where you have long daylight hours, then the best advice is, if the weather is OK (and you are fit) then do as much as you can each day. So, rather than do a very short day to Junction Ck the first day, it can be worth walking further to the base of Moraine A or even further. This is possible even if starting after noon.

Also - you do need to add a few spare days to any itinerary in case of bad weather, even with the added flexibility of a retreat down Moraine K.

Dave

[GregChinery]

You need to bear in mind that only about 1/4 of the parties that set out to do a full traverse of the Western Arthurs are able to achieve that. Most are able to complete an A - K traverse, but around 30% of those that set out on a full traverse make it no further then Lake Oberon. Weather and the terrain can change plans.

In summer, where you have long daylight hours, then the best advice is, if the weather is OK (and you are fit) then do as much as you can each day. So, rather than do a very short day to Junction Ck the first day, it can be worth walking further to the base of Moraine A or even further. This is possible even if starting after noon.

Also - you do need to add a few spare days to any itinerary in case of bad weather, even with the added flexibility of a retreat down Moraine K.

Dave

Great advice Dave. We are fit, so I think it is perhaps the weather that will be the major shaper of whether we make it the whole way. Good idea about day 1. I think we shall walk as far as practicable each day then plan the next day as it comes. Thanks again.

[Graham51]

If you are fit you should be right although your Day 2 seems tough. Having said that we walked from Rosanne to Cracroft to Junction Creek in one day.

[icefest]

Days seven and eight can be combined into one longer day (that's what I've done at least).

The thing to remember us that the section from Oberon to Haven is not a nice area to be in during a storm - high winds and rain make for a dangerous walk. If the weather is bad it is worth waiting even if it means you exit at kappa.

[Channas]

Day 1: Scotts Peak to Lake Oberon
Day 2: Lake Oberon to Haven Lake
Day 3: Haven Lake to Promontory Lake (This was really only a 1/2 day as we turned back a bit beyond Promontory due to poor visibility.)
Day 4: Promontory Lake to Cracroft Crossing
Day 5: Cracroft Crossing (along Huon Track) to Picton Road (Got a lift to Geeveston from an old couple visiting from the ACT. They were driving back from the start of the Farmhouse Creek track - reminiscing about their earlier trips to Fedder. Great stuff.)

It was worth sitting out 1/2 a day at Promontory (although that is not the best campsite). The next day was clear which made for easier navigation and magic scenery (the views across to the Eastern Arthurs are unbeatable).

Some big days in that John! You must be very fast. There is no way I could do Oberon to Haven Lake in a day.

It sounds very relevant, I've done this vice versa from east to west, but literally exactly on the same itinerary.

FYI https://youtu.be/BawLXTVqb3s