INteresting 3 day walks based around or arriving at Cradle

[Mafeking09]

Hi all. In 2010 a whole bunch of us are turning 50. We're regular walkers and now take our kids. We're looking at a Big Chill gathering late Autumn at Cradle and I was wondering if anyone had ideas on interesting walks that could end at Cradle. Thoughts have included coming in the Arm River or Wolfram mines and back tracking to Cradle but we've trodden those routes before. Anyone been up the fury gorge for example. Any ideas welcome.

[kramster]

You could always take the Lee's Paddocks track into Pelion (this connects to the Arm River a little East of Lake Ayr).

Alternatively (if you were up for some slightly more remote route), consider heading to Kia-Ora Hut via Lee's Paddocks or the Never-Never, then over Pelion Gap. Depending on how many people a "whole bunch" is (these are sensitive areas, not suited to large parties).

Depending on how late in Autum you intend, there still might be issues with Overland Permits (so Hut space) and North-South walking.

[wello]

How about starting at Taylor's Flat and heading up Black Bluff, then on from there to Cradle via the Penguin / Cradle trail? This would be about 30k, with Black Bluff and Mt Beecroft as additional short sidetrips.

Another option would be to start at the West Coast Link Road and head along the Penguin Cradle trail from there. This is much closer to Cradle and should allow the full day side trip to Reynolds Falls.

For more detail on these, Chapman's Cradle Mountain book has maps and route notes.

Mind you, if you're serious about walking up Fury Gorge you might be looking for something a bit more adventureous. Somewhere on this site is a description of a walk from Mt Cripps to Reynolds Falls.

I'll PM another idea too.

Wello